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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 12, 2019

KORN FERRY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-14505

 

95-2623879

 

 

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

 

1900 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 2600

Los Angeles, California

 

90067

 

 

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (310) 552-1834

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

  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, par value $0.01 per share

 

KFY

 

New York Stock Exchange

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

    On December 16, 2019, Korn Ferry (the “Company”) completed its previously announced offering of $400 million in aggregate principal amount of its 4.625% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Notes”) in a private placement conducted pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Company used the proceeds from the offering of the Notes to repay all amounts outstanding under its existing five-year senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Prior Credit Agreement”) and to pay expenses and fees in connection therewith and intends to use the remainder for general corporate purposes.

    The Notes are governed by an Indenture, dated as of December 16, 2019 (the “Indenture”), among the Company, as issuer, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries named therein, as guarantors thereto (the “Guarantors”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Indenture, which includes the form of the Notes, is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. The description of the Indenture and the Notes in this report are summaries only and are qualified in their entirety by the terms of the Indenture and the Notes, respectively.

    The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and rank equally in right of payment with any of the Company’s existing and future senior indebtedness and senior in right of payment to any of its future subordinated indebtedness. The Notes are effectively subordinated to any of the Company’s existing and future secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt. The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries that are restricted subsidiaries jointly and severally guarantee obligations under the Notes with guarantees that rank equally in right of payment with any of the existing and future senior indebtedness of each such Guarantor and senior in right of payment to any future subordinated indebtedness of such Guarantor. The guarantees are effectively subordinated to any of the Guarantors’ existing and future secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt. The Notes are also structurally subordinated to the liabilities of subsidiaries of the Company that have not guaranteed the Notes.

    The Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.625% per year from the date of issuance. Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on June 15, 2020. The Company will make each interest payment to the holders of record of the Notes on the immediately preceding June 1 and December 1.

    At any time prior to December 15, 2022, the Company may redeem all or part of the Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus (ii) a make-whole premium as of the date of redemption, plus (iii) accrued and unpaid interest, if any. In addition, the Company may redeem some or all of the Notes on or after December 15, 2022, at redemption prices set forth in the Indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any. At any time prior to December 15, 2022, the Company may use the proceeds of certain equity offerings to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, including any permitted additional Notes, at a redemption price equal to 104.625% of the principal amount.

    Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined in the Indenture), unless a third party makes a Change of Control Offer (as defined in the Indenture) or the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes, each holder of Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of such holder’s Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase.

    If the Company or its restricted subsidiaries sell assets under certain circumstances specified in the Indenture and do not use the proceeds for certain specified purposes, the Company must offer to use certain net proceeds therefrom to repurchase the Notes and other debt that ranks equal in right of payment to the Notes on a pro rata basis. The purchase price of the Notes will be equal to the 100% of the principal amount of the Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable date of repurchase.

    The Indenture contains covenants that, among other things, limit the Company’s ability under certain circumstances to incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends or make other distributions or repurchase or redeem capital stock, prepay, redeem or repurchase certain debt, make loans and investments, create liens, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of assets, enter into transactions with affiliates, enter into agreements restricting the Company’s subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends and impose conditions on the Company’s ability to engage in mergers, consolidations and sales of all or substantially all of its assets.

    The Indenture also contains certain “Events of Default” (as defined in the Indenture) customary for indentures of this type. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of not less than 30% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may, and the Trustee at the request of the holders of not less than 30% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding shall, declare the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes to be due and payable.


    Credit Facility

    On December 16, 2019, the Company entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Bank of America, N.A. (“BofA”) as administrative agent, and other lender parties thereto. The Credit Agreement provides for a $650 million five-year senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Facility”). The Credit Agreement also provides that, under certain circumstances, the Company may incur term loans or increase the aggregate principal amount of revolving commitments by an aggregate amount of up to $250 million plus an unlimited amount subject to a secured net leverage ratio of 3.25 to 1.00. The obligations under the Credit Agreement are secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and those of its subsidiaries that are guarantors under the Credit Agreement.

    Amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement accrue interest at a rate equal to either, at the Company’s election, LIBOR plus a margin of 1.125% to 2.00% per annum, or base rate plus a margin of 0.125% to 1.00%, in each case depending on the Company’s consolidated net leverage ratio.

    The covenants of the Credit Agreement include customary negative covenants that, among other things, restrict the Company’s ability to incur additional indebtedness, grant liens and make certain acquisitions, investments, asset dispositions and restricted payments. In addition, the Credit Agreement contains certain financial covenants that require the Company to maintain a secured net leverage ratio not greater than 3.25 to 1.00, a total net leverage ratio of not greater than 4.00 to 1.00 and an interest coverage ratio of at least 3.00 to 1.00.

    The Credit Agreement includes customary events of default, and customary rights and remedies upon the occurrence of any event of default thereunder, including rights to accelerate the loans, terminate the commitments thereunder and realize upon the collateral securing the obligations under the Credit Agreement.

    A copy of the Credit Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Credit Agreement.

    The financial institutions that acted as initial purchasers in the Notes offering or that are party to the Credit Agreement, and their respective affiliates, are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage, and other financial and non-financial activities and services. Certain of these financial institutions and their respective affiliates were party to the Prior Credit Agreement and/or have provided, and may in the future provide, a variety of these services to the Company and to persons and entities with relationships with the Company, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

  Item 1.02   Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

    The disclosure required by this Item 1.02 regarding the termination of the Prior Credit Agreement is included in Item 1.01 and is incorporated herein by reference.

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

    The information set forth under “Item 1.01—Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement” is incorporated herein by reference.

  Item 8.01   Other Events.

    On December 12, 2019, the Company issued a press release announcing the pricing of its offering of the Notes through a private placement to certain eligible purchasers. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

    The press release is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes or any other securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful. The Notes and the guarantees thereof have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Notes were offered and sold only to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to non-U.S. persons outside of the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. The press release is being issued in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act.


  Item 9.01   Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit
    No.    

   

Description

         
 

   4.1

   

Indenture, dated December 16, 2019, by and among Korn Ferry, as issuer, certain subsidiaries of Korn Ferry, as guarantors thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.

 

 

   10.1

   

Credit Agreement, dated December 16, 2019, by and among Korn Ferry, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and other lender parties thereto.

 

 

   99.1

   

Press Release dated December 12, 2019.

 

 

   104

   

The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted in Inline XBRL.


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.

 

 

KORN FERRY

(Registrant)

 

 

Date: December 16, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Jonathan Kuai

 

 

 

(Signature)

 

 

 

Name:

 

 Jonathan Kuai

 

 

 

Title:

 

 General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

Exhibit 4.1

Execution Version

 

 

KORN FERRY

the GUARANTORS party hereto from time to time

AND

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

4.625% Senior Notes due 2027

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of December 16, 2019

 

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Page

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

SECTION 1.1.

  Definitions      1  

SECTION 1.2.

  Other Definitions      36  

SECTION 1.3.

  No Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act      39  

SECTION 1.4.

  Rules of Construction      39  
ARTICLE II

 

THE NOTES

 

SECTION 2.1.

  Form, Dating and Terms      41  

SECTION 2.2.

  Execution and Authentication      46  

SECTION 2.3.

  Registrar and Paying Agent      47  

SECTION 2.4.

  Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust      48  

SECTION 2.5.

  Holder Lists      48  

SECTION 2.6.

  Transfer and Exchange      48  

SECTION 2.7.

  Form of Certificate to be Delivered upon Termination of Restricted Period      50  

SECTION 2.8.

  [Reserved]      51  

SECTION 2.9.

  [Reserved]      51  

SECTION 2.10.

  [Reserved]      51  

SECTION 2.11.

  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes      52  

SECTION 2.12.

  Outstanding Notes      52  

SECTION 2.13.

  Temporary Notes      53  

SECTION 2.14.

  Cancellation      53  

SECTION 2.15.

  Payment of Interest; Defaulted Interest      53  

SECTION 2.16.

  CUSIP and ISIN Numbers      54  
ARTICLE III

 

COVENANTS

 

SECTION 3.1.

  Payment of Notes      54  

SECTION 3.2.

  Limitation on Indebtedness      55  

SECTION 3.3.

  Limitation on Restricted Payments      60  

SECTION 3.4.

  Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries      66  

SECTION 3.5.

  Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock      68  

SECTION 3.6.

  Limitation on Liens      70  

SECTION 3.7.

  Limitation on Guarantees      71  

SECTION 3.8.

  Limitation on Affiliate Transactions      71  

SECTION 3.9.

  Change of Control Triggering Event      74  

SECTION 3.10.

  Reports      76  

SECTION 3.11.

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      77  

SECTION 3.12.

  Compliance Certificate      77  

SECTION 3.13.

  Further Instruments and Acts      77  

SECTION 3.14.

  Statement by Officers as to Default      78  

SECTION 3.15.

  Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries      78  

SECTION 3.16.

  Suspension of Certain Covenants on Achievement of Investment Grade Status      78  


ARTICLE IV

 

SUCCESSOR ISSUER; SUCCESSOR PERSON

 

SECTION 4.1.

  Merger and Consolidation      79  
ARTICLE V

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 5.1.

  Notices to Trustee      81  

SECTION 5.2.

  Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased      81  

SECTION 5.3.

  Notice of Redemption      81  

SECTION 5.4.

  [Reserved]      82  

SECTION 5.5.

  Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price      82  

SECTION 5.6.

  Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part      83  

SECTION 5.7.

  Optional Redemption      83  

SECTION 5.8.

  Mandatory Redemption      84  
ARTICLE VI

 

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

SECTION 6.1.

  Events of Default      84  

SECTION 6.2.

  Acceleration      87  

SECTION 6.3.

  Other Remedies      88  

SECTION 6.4.

  Waiver of Past Defaults      88  

SECTION 6.5.

  Control by Majority      88  

SECTION 6.6.

  Limitation on Suits      89  

SECTION 6.7.

  Rights of Holders to Receive Payment      89  

SECTION 6.8.

  Collection Suit by Trustee      89  

SECTION 6.9.

  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      89  

SECTION 6.10.

  Priorities      90  

SECTION 6.11.

  Undertaking for Costs      90  
ARTICLE VII

 

TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 7.1.

  Duties of Trustee      90  

SECTION 7.2.

  Rights of Trustee      91  

SECTION 7.3.

  Individual Rights of Trustee      93  

SECTION 7.4.

  Trustee’s Disclaimer      93  

SECTION 7.5.

  Notice of Defaults      93  

SECTION 7.6.

  [Reserved]      93  

SECTION 7.7.

  Compensation and Indemnity      93  

SECTION 7.8.

  Replacement of Trustee      94  

SECTION 7.9.

  Successor Trustee by Merger      94  

SECTION 7.10.

  Eligibility; Disqualification      95  

SECTION 7.11.

  [Reserved]      95  

SECTION 7.12.

  Trustee’s Application for Instruction from the Issuer      95  
ARTICLE VIII

 

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

 

-ii-


SECTION 8.1.

  Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance; Defeasance      95  

SECTION 8.2.

  Legal Defeasance and Discharge      95  

SECTION 8.3.

  Covenant Defeasance      96  

SECTION 8.4.

  Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance      96  

SECTION 8.5.

  Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions      97  

SECTION 8.6.

  Repayment to the Issuer      98  

SECTION 8.7.

  Reinstatement      98  
ARTICLE IX

 

AMENDMENTS

 

SECTION 9.1.

  Without Consent of Holders      98  

SECTION 9.2.

  With Consent of Holders      99  

SECTION 9.3.

  [Reserved]      100  

SECTION 9.4.

  Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers      100  

SECTION 9.5.

  Notation on or Exchange of Notes      101  

SECTION 9.6.

  Trustee to Sign Amendments      101  
ARTICLE X

 

GUARANTEE

 

SECTION 10.1.

  Guarantee      101  

SECTION 10.2.

  Limitation on Liability; Termination, Release and Discharge      102  

SECTION 10.3.

  Right of Contribution      103  

SECTION 10.4.

  No Subrogation      103  
ARTICLE XI

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

SECTION 11.1.

  Satisfaction and Discharge      104  

SECTION 11.2.

  Application of Trust Money      105  
ARTICLE XII

 

[Reserved.]

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 13.1.

  Notices      105  

SECTION 13.2.

  Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent      106  

SECTION 13.3.

  Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion      106  

SECTION 13.4.

  When Notes Disregarded      107  

SECTION 13.5.

  Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar      107  

SECTION 13.6.

  Legal Holidays      107  

SECTION 13.7.

  Governing Law      107  

SECTION 13.8.

  Jurisdiction      107  

SECTION 13.9.

  Waivers of Jury Trial      107  

SECTION 13.10.

  USA PATRIOT Act      108  

SECTION 13.11.

  No Recourse Against Others      108  

 

-iii-


SECTION 13.12.

  Successors      108  

SECTION 13.13.

  Multiple Originals      108  

SECTION 13.14.

  Table of Contents; Headings      108  

SECTION 13.15.

  Force Majeure      108  

SECTION 13.16.

  Severability      108  

 

EXHIBIT A

   Form of Global Restricted Note

EXHIBIT B

   Form of Supplemental Indenture to Add Guarantors

EXHIBIT C

   Form of Certificate of Transfer

 

 

-iv-


INDENTURE dated as of December 16, 2019, by and among KORN FERRY, a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), the GUARANTORS (as defined below) party hereto from time to time and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of (i) $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.625% Senior Notes due 2027 issued on the date hereof (the “Initial Notes”) and (ii) any additional Notes (“Additional Notes” and, together with the Initial Notes, the “Notes”) that may be issued after the Issue Date.

WHEREAS, all things necessary (i) to make the Notes, when executed and duly issued by the Issuer and authenticated and delivered hereunder, the valid obligations of the Issuer and (ii) to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Issuer have been done;

WHEREAS, the Notes will be guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by each of the Issuer’s existing and future Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case that executes this indenture or a supplemental indenture in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, as applicable.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders, as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.1.      Definitions.

Accounting Change” has the meaning ascribed to it in the definition of “GAAP.”

Acquired Indebtedness” means with respect to any Person (x) Indebtedness of any other Person or any of its Subsidiaries existing at the time such other Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or merges or amalgamates with or into or consolidates or otherwise combines with the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and (y) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such Person. Acquired Indebtedness shall be deemed to have been incurred, with respect to clause (x) of the preceding sentence, on the date such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or on the date of the relevant merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or other combination.

Additional Assets” means:

(1)       any property or assets (other than Capital Stock, inventory or other current assets) used or to be used by the Issuer, a Restricted Subsidiary or otherwise useful in a Similar Business (it being understood that capital expenditures on property or assets already used in a Similar Business or to replace any property or assets that are the subject of such Asset Disposition shall be deemed an investment in Additional Assets);

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

(3)       Capital Stock constituting a minority interest in any Person that at such time is a Restricted Subsidiary.

Additional Notes” has the meaning ascribed to it in the recitals hereto.

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such


Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Applicable Premium” means the greater of (A) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note and (B) on any redemption date, the excess (to the extent positive) of:

(a)       the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of such Note at December 15, 2022 (such redemption price (expressed in percentage of principal amount) being set forth in the table under Section 5.7(d) (excluding accrued but unpaid interest, if any)), plus (ii) all required interest payments due on such Note to and including such date set forth in clause (i) (excluding accrued but unpaid interest, if any), computed upon the redemption date using a discount rate equal to the Applicable Treasury Rate at such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over

(b)       the outstanding principal amount of such Note;

in each case, as calculated by the Issuer or on behalf of the Issuer by such Person as the Issuer shall designate. The Trustee shall have no duty to calculate or verify the calculations of the Applicable Premium.

Applicable Treasury Rate” means the weekly average for each Business Day during the most recent week that has ended at least two Business Days prior to the redemption date of the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (or, if such statistical release is not so published or available, any publicly available source of similar market data selected by the Issuer in good faith)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to December 15, 2022; provided, however, that if the period from the redemption date to December 15, 2022 is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a yield is given, the Applicable Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the redemption date to such applicable date is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.

Asset Disposition” means:

(a)       the voluntary 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 Leaseback Transaction) of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (in each case other than Capital Stock of the Issuer) (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”); or

(b)       the issuance or sale of Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries issued in compliance with Section 3.2 or directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals as required under applicable law), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions;

in each case, other than:

(1)       a disposition by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, including pursuant to any Intercompany License Agreement;

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

(3)       a disposition of inventory, goods or other assets in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or held for sale or no longer used in the ordinary course of business, including any disposition of disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations;

(4)       a disposition of obsolete, worn-out, uneconomic, damaged, non-core or surplus property, equipment or other assets or property, equipment or other assets that are no longer economically practical or commercially desirable to maintain or used or useful in the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries whether now or hereafter owned or leased or acquired in connection with an acquisition or used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including by ceasing to enforce, allowing the lapse, abandonment or invalidation of or discontinuing the use or maintenance of or putting into the public domain any intellectual property that is, in the reasonable judgment of the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries, no longer

 

-2-


used or useful, or economically practicable to maintain, or in respect of which the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary determines in its reasonable judgment that such action or inaction is desirable);

(5)       transactions permitted under Section 4.1 or a transaction that constitutes a Change of Control;

(6)       an issuance of Capital Stock by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or to another Restricted Subsidiary or as part of or pursuant to an equity incentive or compensation plan approved by the Board of Directors of the Issuer;

(7)       any dispositions of Capital Stock, properties or assets in a single transaction or series of related transactions with a fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of less than $25 million;

(8)       any Restricted Payment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 3.3 (including any transaction specifically excluded from the definition of the term “Restricted Payments”) and the making of any Permitted Payment or Permitted Investment, or solely for purposes of Section 3.5(a)(3), asset sales, the proceeds of which are used to make such Restricted Payments or Permitted Investments;

(9)       dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens;

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

(11)       conveyances, sales, transfers, licenses, sublicenses, cross-licenses or other dispositions of intellectual property, software or other general intangibles and licenses, sublicenses, cross-licenses, leases or subleases of other property, in each case, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or pursuant to a research or development agreement in which the counterparty to such agreement receives a license in the intellectual property or software that result from such agreement;

(12)       the lease, assignment, license, sublease or sublicense of any real or personal property;

(13)       foreclosure, condemnation, expropriation, forced disposition or any similar action with respect to any property or other assets or the granting of Liens not prohibited by this Indenture;

(14)       the sale, discount or other disposition (with or without recourse, and on customary or commercially reasonable terms and for credit management purposes, including, without limitation, in connection with customary supply chain financing, receivables advance programs, or other similar arrangements) of inventory, accounts receivable or notes receivable in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, or the conversion or exchange of accounts receivable for notes receivable;

(15)       any issuance or sale of Capital Stock in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any other disposition of Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other securities of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or an Immaterial Subsidiary;

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

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

(18)       any disposition of Securitization Assets or Receivables Assets, or participations therein, in connection with any Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility, or the disposition of an account receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

 

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(19)       any financing transaction with respect to property constructed, acquired, leased, renewed, relocated, expanded, replaced, repaired, maintained, upgraded or improved (including any reconstruction, refurbishment, renovation and/or development of real property) by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, including Sale and Leaseback Transactions and asset securitizations, permitted by this Indenture;

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

(21)       any surrender or waiver of contractual rights or the settlement, release, surrender or waiver of contractual, tort, litigation or other claims of any kind;

(22)       the unwinding of any Cash Management Obligations or Hedging Obligations;

(23)       transfers of property or assets subject to Casualty Events upon receipt of the net proceeds of such Casualty Event; provided that any Cash Equivalents received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of such Casualty Event shall be deemed to be Net Available Cash of an Asset Disposition, and such Net Available Cash shall be applied in accordance with Section 3.5;

(24)       any sale of property or assets, if the acquisition of such property or assets was financed with Excluded Contributions and the proceeds of such sale are used to make a Restricted Payment pursuant to Section 3.3(b)(10)(b);

(25)       the disposition of any assets (including Capital Stock) made in connection with the approval of any applicable antitrust authority or otherwise necessary or advisable in the reasonable determination of the Issuer to consummate any acquisition not prohibited by this Indenture; and

(26)       any disposition of non-revenue producing assets to a Person who is providing services related to such assets, the provision of which have been or are to be outsourced by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to such Person.

In the event that a transaction (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of an Asset Disposition and would also be a Restricted Payment, the Issuer, in its sole discretion, will be entitled to divide and classify such transaction (or a portion thereof) as an Asset Disposition that shall comply with the provisions under Section 3.5 and/or one or more of the types of Restricted Payments permitted under Section 3.3.

Associate” means (i) any Person engaged in a Similar Business of which the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries are the legal and beneficial owners of between 20% and 50% of all outstanding Voting Stock and (ii) any joint venture entered into by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary.

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11 of the United States Code or similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

Board of Directors” means (i) with respect to the Issuer or any corporation, the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of the corporation, or any duly authorized committee thereof; (ii) with respect to any partnership, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner, as applicable, of the partnership or any duly authorized committee thereof; (iii) with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any duly authorized controlling committee thereof; and (iv) with respect to any other Person, the board or any duly authorized committee of such Person serving a similar function.

Whenever any provision requires any action or determination to be made by, or any approval of, a Board of Directors, such action, determination or approval shall be deemed to have been taken or made if approved by a majority of the directors on any such Board of Directors (whether or not such action or approval is taken as part of a formal board meeting or as a formal board approval). Unless the context requires otherwise, “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York, United States or in the jurisdiction of the place of payment are authorized or required by law to close. When the payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is stated to be due or performance required on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such payment or performance

 

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shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day; provided that if any interest payment date, optional redemption date or maturity date is not a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the date such payment was due, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the period after such payment was due to such next succeeding Business Day.

Business Successor” means (i) any former Subsidiary of the Issuer and (ii) any Person that, after the Issue Date, has acquired, merged or consolidated with a Subsidiary of the Issuer (that results in such Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary of the Issuer), or acquired (in one transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of a Subsidiary or assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of a Subsidiary of the Issuer.

Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares of, rights to purchase or acquire, warrants, options or depositary receipts for, or other equivalents of, or partnership, membership or other interests in (however designated), equity of such Person, including any Preferred Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, such equity.

Capitalized Lease Obligations” means an obligation that is required to be classified and accounted for as a capitalized lease or finance lease (and, for the avoidance of doubt, not a straight-line or operating lease) for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. The amount of Indebtedness represented by such obligation will be the capitalized amount of such obligation at the time any determination thereof is to be made as determined in accordance with GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof will be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date such lease may be terminated without penalty; provided that all obligations of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are or would be classified as an operating lease as determined in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the Issue Date (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 Capitalized Lease Obligation) for purposes of this Indenture regardless of any change in GAAP following the Issue Date).

Capitalized Software Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by a Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of licensed or purchased software or internally developed software and software enhancements that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be reflected as capitalized costs on the consolidated balance sheet of a Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Cash Equivalents” means:

(1)       (a) Dollars, Canadian dollars, pounds sterling, yen, euro or any national currency of any member state of the European Union; or (b) any other foreign currency held by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries from time to time in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(2)       securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States, Canadian, United Kingdom or Japanese governments, a member state of the European Union or, in each case, any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit obligation of such country or such member state is pledged in support thereof), with maturities of 36 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(3)       certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time deposits, overnight bank deposits, demand deposits or bankers’ acceptances having maturities of not more than two years from the date of acquisition thereof issued by any bank, trust company or other financial institution (a) whose commercial paper is rated at least “P-2” or the equivalent thereof by S&P or at least “A-2” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s (or, if at the time, neither S&P or Moody’s is rating such obligations, then a comparable rating from another Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization selected by the Issuer) or (b) having combined capital and surplus in excess of $100.0 million;

(4)       repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2), (3), (7) and (8) entered into with any Person meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

(5)       securities with maturities of two years or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any Person meeting the qualifications in clause (3) above;

 

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(6)       commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by any Person meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above (or by the parent company thereof) maturing within two years after the date of creation thereof, or if no rating is available in respect of the commercial paper or variable or fixed rate notes, the issuer of which has an equivalent rating in respect of its long-term debt;

(7)       marketable short-term money market and similar securities having a rating of at least “P-2” or “A-2” from either S&P or Moody’s, respectively (or, if at the time, neither S&P nor Moody’s is rating such obligations, then a comparable rating from another Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization selected by the Issuer);

(8)       readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, province, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America or any political subdivision, taxing authority or any agency or instrumentality thereof, rated BBB- (or the equivalent) or better by S&P or Baa3 (or the equivalent) or better by Moody’s (or, if at the time, neither S&P nor Moody’s is rating such obligations, then a comparable rating from another Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization selected by the Issuer) with maturities of not more than two years from the date of acquisition;

(9)       readily marketable direct obligations issued by any foreign government or any political subdivision, taxing authority or agency or instrumentality thereof, with a rating of “BBB-” or higher from S&P or “Baa3” or higher by Moody’s or the equivalent of such rating by such rating organization (or, if at the time, neither S&P nor Moody’s is rating such obligations, then a comparable rating from another Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization selected by the Issuer) with maturities of not more than two years from the date of acquisition;

(10)       Investments with average maturities of 18 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A-2” or higher by Moody’s or the equivalent of such rating by such rating organization (or, if at the time, neither S&P nor Moody’s is rating such obligations, then a comparable rating from another Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization selected by the Issuer);

(11)       with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary: (i) obligations of the national government of the country in which such Foreign Subsidiary maintains its chief executive office and principal place of business provided such country is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, in each case maturing within one year after the date of investment therein, (ii) certificates of deposit of, bankers’ acceptance of, or time deposits with, any commercial bank which is organized and existing under the laws of the country in which such Foreign Subsidiary maintains its chief executive office and principal place of business provided such country is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least “P-2” or the equivalent thereof or from Moody’s is at least “A-2” or the equivalent thereof (any such bank being an “Approved Foreign Bank”), and in each case with maturities of not more than 270 days from the date of acquisition and (iii) the equivalent of demand deposit accounts which are maintained with an Approved Foreign Bank;

(12)       Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of “BBB-” or higher from S&P or “Baa3” or higher by Moody’s or the equivalent of such rating by such rating organization (or, if at the time, neither S&P nor Moody’s is rating such obligations, then a comparable rating from another Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization selected by the Issuer) with maturities of not more than two years from the date of acquisition;

(13)       bills of exchange issued in the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan or a member state of the European Union eligible for rediscount at the relevant central bank and accepted by a bank (or any dematerialized equivalent);

(14)       investments in industrial development revenue bonds that (i) “re-set” interest rates not less frequently than quarterly, (ii) are entitled to the benefit of a remarketing arrangement with an established broker dealer and (iii) are supported by a direct pay letter of credit covering principal and accrued interest that is issued by any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above; and

(15)       any investment company, money market, enhanced high yield, pooled or other investment fund investing 90% or more of its assets in instruments of the types specified in the clauses above.

 

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In the case of Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary or Investments made in a country outside the United States of America, Cash Equivalents shall also include (a) investments of the type and maturity described in clauses (1) through (15) above of foreign obligors, which Investments or obligors (or the parents of such obligors) have ratings described in such clauses or equivalent ratings from comparable foreign rating agencies and (b) other short-term investments utilized by Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with normal investment practices for cash management in investments analogous to the foregoing investments in clauses (1) through (15) above and in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash Equivalents shall include amounts denominated in currencies other than those set forth in clause (1) above; provided that such amounts are converted into any currency listed in clause (1) as promptly as practicable and in any event within ten (10) Business Days following the receipt of such amounts. For the avoidance of doubt, any items identified as Cash Equivalents under this definition will be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for all purposes under this Indenture regardless of the treatment of such items under GAAP.

Cash Management Obligations” means (1) obligations in respect of any overdraft and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository, cash pooling arrangements, electronic fund transfer, treasury services and cash management services, including controlled disbursement services, working capital lines, lines of credit, overdraft facilities, foreign exchange facilities, deposit and other accounts and merchant services, or other cash management arrangements or any automated clearing house arrangements, (2) other obligations in respect of netting or setting off arrangements, credit, debit or purchase card programs, stored value card and similar arrangements and (3) obligations in respect of any other services related, ancillary or complementary to the foregoing (including any overdraft and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository, cash pooling arrangements and cash management services, corporate credit and purchasing cards and related programs or any automated clearing house transfers of funds).

Cash Secured Credit Facilities” means credit facilities of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries of the Issuer, the principal repayment of which is fully supported by fully cash-collateralized letters of credit or bank guarantees issued for the account of other Foreign Subsidiaries of the Issuer or the Issuer.

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

Change of Control” means:

(1)       the Issuer becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Issue Date) that is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Issue Date) of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer; or

(2)       the sale or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to a person (as defined in clause (1) above) (other than the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) and any person, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as so defined) of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the transferee Person in such sale or transfer of assets, as the case may be.

Notwithstanding the preceding or any provision of Section 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, (i) a person (as defined in clause (1) above) shall not be deemed to beneficially own Voting Stock subject to a stock or asset purchase agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, warrant agreement or similar agreement (or voting or option or similar agreement related thereto) until the consummation of the acquisition of the Voting Stock in connection with the transactions contemplated by such agreement, (ii) a person will not be deemed to beneficially own the Voting Stock of another Person as a result of its ownership of Voting Stock or other securities of such other Person’s parent entity (or related contractual rights) unless it owns 50% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock entitled to vote for the election of directors of such parent entity having a majority of the aggregate votes on the board of directors (or similar body) of such parent entity and (iii) the right to acquire Voting Stock (so long as such person does not have the right to direct the voting of the Voting Stock subject to such right) or any veto

 

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power in connection with the acquisition or disposition of Voting Stock will not cause a party to be a beneficial owner.

Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Decline.

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

Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense and capitalized fees, including amortization or write-off of (i) intangible assets and non-cash organization costs, (ii) deferred financing and debt issuance fees, costs and expenses, (iii) capitalized expenditures (including Capitalized Software Expenditures), customer acquisition costs and incentive payments, media development costs, conversion costs and contract acquisition costs, the amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par and amortization of favorable or unfavorable lease assets or liabilities, (iv) capitalized fees related to any Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility and (v) upfront payments related to any contract signing and signing bonus and incentive payments, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP and any write down of assets or asset value carried on the balance sheet.

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

(1)       increased (without duplication) by:

(a)       Fixed Charges of such Person for such period (including (w) non-cash rent expense, (x) net losses or any obligations on any Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments, (y) bank, letter of credit and other financing fees and (z) costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, plus amounts excluded from the definition of “Consolidated Interest Expense” and any non-cash interest expense), to the extent deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

(b)       provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital, including franchise and similar taxes (such as Delaware franchise tax, Pennsylvania capital tax, Texas margin tax and provincial capital taxes paid in Canada), and withholding taxes, in each case, to the extent deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

(c)       Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense (including accelerated depreciation and amortization from the write-off or write-down of tangible or intangible assets (other than the write-down of current assets)) of such Person for such period to the extent deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

(d)       any fees, costs, expenses or charges (other than Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense) related to any actual, proposed or contemplated Equity Offering (including any expense relating to enhanced accounting functions or other transaction costs associated with becoming a stand-alone entity or a public company), Permitted Investment, Restricted Payment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or the incurrence of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Indenture (including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful and including any such transaction consummated prior to the Issue Date), including (i) such fees, expenses or charges (including rating agency fees, consulting fees and other related expenses and/or letter of credit or similar fees) related to the offering or incurrence of, or ongoing administration of, the Notes, the Credit Agreement, any other Credit Facilities and any Securitization Fees, and (ii) any amendment, waiver or other modification of the Notes, the Credit Agreement, Receivables Facilities, Securitization Facilities, any other Credit Facilities, any Securitization Fees, any other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture or any Equity Offering, in each case, whether or not consummated, to the extent deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

(e)       (i) the amount of any restructuring charge, accrual, reserve (and adjustments to existing reserves) or expense, integration cost or other business optimization expense or cost (including charges directly related to the implementation of cost-savings initiatives) that is deducted (and not added back) in such period in computing Consolidated Net Income, including any costs incurred in connection with acquisitions or divestitures after the Issue Date, any severance, retention, signing bonuses, relocation, recruiting and other employee related costs, costs related

 

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to the opening and closure and/or consolidation of facilities (including severance, rent termination, moving and legal costs) and to exiting lines of business and consulting fees incurred with any of the foregoing and (ii) fees, costs and expenses associated with acquisition related litigation and settlement thereof; plus

(f)       any other non-cash charges, write-downs, expenses, losses or items reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period including (i) non-cash losses on the sale of assets and any write-offs or write-downs, deferred revenue or impairment charges, (ii) impairment charges, amortization (or write offs) of financing costs (including debt discount, debt issuance costs and commissions and other fees associated with Indebtedness, including the Notes and the Credit Agreement) of such Person and its Subsidiaries and/or (iii) the impact of acquisition method accounting adjustment and any non-cash write-up, write-down or write-off with respect to re-valuing assets and liabilities in connection with any Investment, deferred revenue or any effects of adjustments resulting from the application of purchase accounting, purchase price accounting (including any step-up in inventory and loss of profit on the acquired inventory) (provided that if any such non-cash charge, write-down, expense, loss or item represents an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, (A) the Issuer may elect not to add back such non-cash charge, expense or loss in the current period and (B) to the extent the Issuer elects to add back such non-cash charge, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA when paid), or other items classified by the Issuer as special items less other non-cash items of income increasing Consolidated Net Income (excluding any amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period or such non-cash item of income to the extent it represents a receipt of cash in any future period); plus

(g)       the amount of pro forma “run rate” cost savings (including cost savings with respect to salary, benefit and other direct savings resulting from workforce reductions and facility, benefit and insurance savings), operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and initiatives and synergies (it is understood and agreed that “run rate” means the full recurring benefit for a period that is associated with any action taken, committed to be taken or expected to be taken, net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions) determined by the Issuer in good faith to be reasonably anticipated to result from actions which have been taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken no later than 18 months after the determination to take such action that is expected to result in such cost savings, expense reductions, operating improvements or synergies (including from any actions taken in whole or in part prior to such date) (with actions for any such transaction occurring prior to the Issue Date occurring within 18 months of the Issue Date), which will be added to Consolidated EBITDA as so projected until fully realized and calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings (including cost savings with respect to salary, benefit and other direct savings resulting from workforce reductions and facility, benefit and insurance savings), operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and initiatives and synergies had been realized on the first day of such period, net of the amount of actual benefits realized prior to or during such period from such actions; provided that (x) such cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and synergies are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable (in the good faith determination of the Issuer) and (y) the aggregate amount of such cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and initiatives and synergies added back pursuant to this clause (g) in any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Issuer shall not exceed 15% of Consolidated EBITDA (calculated prior to giving effect to such addbacks); plus

(h)       any costs or expenses incurred by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan, stock option plan, phantom equity plan, profits interests or any other management, employee benefit or other compensatory plan or agreement (and any successor plans or arrangements thereto), employment, termination or severance agreement, or any stock subscription or equityholder agreement, and any costs or expenses in connection with the roll-over, acceleration or payout of Capital Stock held by management, to the extent that such costs or expenses are non-cash or otherwise funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Issuer or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer; plus

(i)       cash receipts (or any netting arrangements resulting in reduced cash expenditures) not representing Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Net Income in any period to the extent non-cash gains relating to such income were deducted in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clause (2) below for any previous period and not added back; plus

(j)       any net loss included in the Consolidated Net Income attributable to non-controlling or minority interests pursuant to the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 810-10-45; plus

 

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

(l)       unrealized or realized foreign exchange losses resulting from the impact of foreign currency changes; plus

(m)     with respect to any joint venture, an amount equal to the proportion of those items described in clauses (b) and (c) above relating to such joint venture corresponding to the Issuer’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ proportionate share of such joint venture’s Consolidated Net Income (determined as if such joint venture were a Restricted Subsidiary) to the extent deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

(n)      the amount of any costs or expenses relating to payments made to stock appreciation or similar rights, stock option, restricted stock, phantom equity, profits interests or other interests or rights holders of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to equityholders of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, which payments are being made to compensate such holders as though they were equityholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution; plus

(o)      adjustments consistent with Regulation S-X; plus

(p)      the fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the implementation of ASC 606; plus

(q)      (a) any extraordinary, exceptional, unusual, infrequently occurring or nonrecurring loss, charge, expense or special item, restructuring and duplicative running costs, restructuring charges or reserves (whether or not classified as restructuring expense on the consolidated financial statements), facility consolidation and closing costs, severance costs and expenses, one-time charges (including compensation charges), payments made pursuant to the terms of change in control agreements that the Issuer or a Subsidiary had entered into with employees of the Issuer, a Subsidiary, signing, retention and completion bonuses (including management bonus pools), recruiting costs, contract terminations, litigation and arbitration fees, costs and charges, expenses in connection with one-time rate changes, costs incurred with acquisitions, investments and dispositions and professional, legal, accounting, consulting and other service fees incurred with any of the foregoing and (b) any charge, expense, cost, accrual or reserve of any kind associated with acquisition related litigation and settlements thereof; plus

(r)      any fees, losses, costs, expenses or charges incurred during such period (including any transaction, retention bonus or similar payment), or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with (a) any acquisition, recapitalization, Investment, Asset Disposition, disposition, issuance or repayment of Indebtedness (including such fees, expense or charges related to the offering, issuance and rating of the Notes, other securities and any Credit Facilities), issuance of Capital Stock, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument (including any amendment or other modification of the Notes, other securities and any Credit Facilities), in each case, including any such transaction consummated prior to, on or after the Issue Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed, and any charges or non-recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction, in each case whether or not successful (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the effects of expensing all transaction-related expenses in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 805—Business Combinations and any adjustments resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 460—Guarantees or any related pronouncements) and (b) complying with the requirements under, or making elections permitted by, the documentation governing any Indebtedness; plus

(s)      any income (loss) related to any realized or unrealized gains and losses resulting from Hedging Obligations or embedded derivatives that require similar accounting treatment (including embedded derivatives in customer contracts), and the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 815—Derivatives and Hedging and its related pronouncements or mark-to-market movement of other financial instruments pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification Topic 825—Financial Instruments, or the equivalent accounting standard under GAAP or an alternative basis of accounting applied in lieu of GAAP; plus

(t)      the amount of (x) Board of Directors (or equivalent thereof) fees, management, monitoring, consulting, refinancing, transaction, advisory and other fees (including exit and termination fees) and indemnities, costs and expenses paid or accrued in such period to (or on behalf of) an investor or otherwise to any member of the Board of Directors (or the equivalent thereof) of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries, and (y) payments made to option holders of the Issuer in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to equityholders of such

 

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Person, which payments are being made to compensate such option holders as though they were equityholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution, including any cash consideration for any repurchase of equity; plus

(u)       any costs or expenses incurred during such period relating to environmental remediation, litigation, or other disputes in respect of events and exposures that occurred prior to the Issue Date; plus

(v)       the amount of any reversal of non-cash share based payment charges; and

(2)       decreased (without duplication) by non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, excluding any non-cash gains to the extent they represent the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period (other than non-cash gains relating to the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 840—Leases).

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

(1)       consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income (including (a) amortization of original issue discount or premium resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par, (b) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit or bankers acceptances, (c) non-cash interest payments (but excluding any non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement in the mark-to-market valuation of any Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP), (d) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations, and (e) net payments, if any made (less net payments, if any, received), pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations with respect to Indebtedness, and excluding (i) Securitization Fees, (ii) penalties and interest relating to taxes, (iii) annual agency or similar fees paid to the administrative agents, collateral agents and other agents under any Credit Facility, (iv) any additional interest or liquidated damages owing pursuant to any registration rights obligations, (v) costs associated with obtaining Hedging Obligations, (vi) accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities other than Indebtedness, (vii) any expense resulting from the discounting of any Indebtedness in connection with the application of recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition, (viii) amortization, expensing or write-off of deferred financing fees, amendment and consent fees, debt issuance costs, debt discount or premium, terminated hedging obligations and other commissions, fees and expenses, discounted liabilities, original issue discount and any other amounts of non-cash interest and, adjusted to the extent included, to exclude any refunds or similar credits received in connection with the purchasing or procurement of goods or services under any purchasing card or similar program, (ix) any expensing of bridge, arrangement, structuring, commitment, agency, consent and other financing fees and any other fees related to any acquisitions after the Issue Date, (x) any accretion of accrued interest on discounted liabilities and any prepayment, make-whole or breakage premium, penalty or cost, (xi) interest expense with respect to Indebtedness of any direct or indirect parent of such Person resulting from push-down accounting, (xii) any lease, rental or other expense in connection with a Non-Financing Lease Obligations) and (xiii) any interest expense attributable to the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential), with respect thereto and with respect to any acquisition or Investment permitted hereunder, all as calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP); plus

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

(3)       interest income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period.

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

Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the net income (loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends or distributions; provided, however, that there will not be included in such Consolidated Net Income:

 

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(1)       any net income (loss) of any Person if such Person is not a Restricted Subsidiary (including any net income (loss) from investments recorded in such Person under the equity method of accounting), except that the Issuer’s equity in the net income of any such Person for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash or Cash Equivalents actually distributed (or to the extent converted into cash or Cash Equivalents) or that (as determined by the Issuer in its reasonable discretion) could have been distributed by such Person during such period to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution or return on investment;

(2)       solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 3.3(a)(iii)(A) hereof, any net income (loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Guarantors) if such Subsidiary is subject to restrictions, directly or indirectly, on the payment of dividends or the making of distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to the Issuer or a Guarantor by operation of the terms of such Restricted Subsidiary’s articles, charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute or governmental rule or regulation applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders (other than (a) restrictions that have been waived or otherwise released and (b) restrictions pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Notes, this Indenture or other indebtedness containing substantially similar restrictions), except that the Issuer’s equity in the net income of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash or Cash Equivalents actually distributed (or to the extent converted into cash or Cash Equivalents);

(3)       any gain (or loss or expense) (a) in respect of facilities no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries, abandoned, closed, disposed or discontinued operations, (b) on disposal, abandonment or discontinuance of disposed, abandoned, closed or discontinued operations, and (c) attributable to asset dispositions, abandonments, sales or other dispositions of any asset other than in the ordinary course of business;

(4)       (a) at the election of the Issuer with respect to any quarterly period, the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies, (b) subject to the last paragraph of the definition of “GAAP,” the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period and (c) any costs, charges, losses, fees or expenses in connection with the implementation or tracking of such changes or modifications specified in the foregoing clauses (a) and (b);

(5)       (a) any equity-based or non-cash compensation or similar charge, cost or expense or reduction of revenue, including any such charge, cost, expense or reduction arising from any grant of stock, stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, phantom equity, profits interests or other interests, or other rights or equity or equity-based incentive programs (“equity incentives”), any income (loss) associated with the equity incentives or other long-term incentive compensation plans (including under deferred compensation arrangements of the Issuer or Subsidiary and any positive investment income with respect to funded deferred compensation account balances), roll-over, acceleration or payout of Capital Stock by employees, directors, officers, managers, contractors, consultants, advisors or business partners (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer or Subsidiary, and any cash awards granted to employees of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries in replacement for forfeited awards, (b) any non-cash losses realized in such period in connection with adjustments to any employee benefit plan due to changes in estimates, actuarial assumptions, valuations, studies or judgments or non-cash compensation expense resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation and (c) any net pension or post-employment benefit costs representing amortization of unrecognized prior service costs, actuarial losses, amortization of such amounts arising in prior periods, amortization of the unrecognized obligation (and loss or cost) existing at the date of initial application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87, 106 and 112, and any other item of a similar nature;

(6)       any income (loss) from the extinguishment, conversion or cancellation of Indebtedness, Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments (including deferred financing costs written off, premiums paid or other expenses incurred);

(7)       any unrealized or realized gains or losses in respect of any Hedging Obligations or any ineffectiveness recognized in earnings related to hedge transactions or the fair value of changes therein recognized in earnings for derivatives that do not qualify as hedge transactions;

 

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(8)       effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries) in such Person’s consolidated financial statements pursuant to GAAP and related pronouncements, including in the inventory (including any impact of changes to inventory valuation policy methods, including changes in capitalization of variances), property and equipment, software, loans, leases, goodwill, intangible assets, in-process research and development, deferred revenue (including deferred costs related thereto and deferred rent) and debt line items thereof, resulting from the application of acquisition method accounting, recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting, as the case may be, in relation to any consummated acquisition (by merger, consolidation, amalgamation or otherwise), joint venture investment or other Investment or the amortization or write-off or write-down of any amounts thereof;

(9)       any impairment charge, write-off or write-down, including impairment charges, write-offs or write-downs related to intangible assets, long-lived assets, goodwill, investments in debt or equity securities (including any losses with respect to the foregoing in bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings) and investments recorded using the equity method or as a result of a change in law or regulation and the amortization of goodwill or intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP; and

(10)       (a) accruals and reserves (including contingent liabilities) that are established or adjusted within 18 months after the closing of any acquisition or disposition that are so required to be established or adjusted as a result of such acquisition or disposition in accordance with GAAP, or changes as a result of adoption or modification of accounting policies and (b) earn-out, non-compete and contingent consideration obligations (including to the extent accounted for as bonuses or otherwise) and adjustments thereof and purchase price adjustments, including any mark-to-market adjustments.

In addition, to the extent not already excluded (or included, as applicable) from the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Consolidated Net Income shall be increased by the amount of: (i) any expenses, charges or losses that are reimbursed by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted hereunder, or, so long as the Issuer has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed and only to the extent that such amount is (A) not denied by the applicable payor in writing within 180 days and (B) in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (net of any amount so added back in a prior period to the extent not so reimbursed within the applicable 365-day period); and (ii) to the extent covered by insurance (including business interruption insurance) and actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Issuer has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is (A) not denied by the applicable carrier in writing within 180 days and (B) in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (net of any amount so added back in a prior period to the extent not so reimbursed within the applicable 365-day period), expenses, charges or losses with respect to liability or Casualty Events or business interruption.

Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (x) Consolidated Total Indebtedness secured by a Lien as of such date to (y) LTM EBITDA.

Consolidated Total Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to (a) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Indebtedness for borrowed money (excluding Indebtedness with respect to Cash Management Obligations and intercompany Indebtedness and permitted Cash Secured Credit Facilities) on such date, plus (b) the aggregate principal amount of Capitalized Lease Obligations, Purchase Money Obligations and unreimbursed drawings under letters of credit of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date (provided that any unreimbursed amount under commercial letters of credit shall not be counted as Consolidated Total Indebtedness until five Business Days after such amount is drawn), plus (c) without duplication, the Reserved Indebtedness Amount on such date, minus (d) unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents included on the consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal period for which consolidated financial statements are available (provided that the cash proceeds of any proposed incurrence of Indebtedness shall not be included in this clause (d) for purposes of calculating the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio or the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio, as applicable), with such pro forma adjustments as are consistent with the pro forma adjustments set forth in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.” For the

 

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avoidance of doubt, Consolidated Total Indebtedness shall exclude Indebtedness in respect of any Receivables Facility or Securitization Facility.

Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (x) Consolidated Total Indebtedness as of such date to (y) LTM EBITDA.

Contingent Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, any Non-Financing Lease Obligation, dividend or other obligation that does not constitute Indebtedness (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”), including any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(1)       to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor;

(2)       to advance or supply funds:

(a)       for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation; or

(b)       to maintain the working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; or

(3)       to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

Controlled Investment Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person, which directly or indirectly is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person and is organized by such Person (or any Person controlling such Person) primarily for making direct or indirect equity or debt investments in the Issuer and/or other companies.

Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which any time its corporate trust business related to this Indenture shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is 333 S. Grand Avenue, 5th Floor, Suite 5A, MAC: E2064-05A, Los Angeles, CA 90071, Attention: Korn Ferry Administrator. With respect to registration for transfer or exchange, presentation at maturity or for redemptions, such office shall also mean the office or agency of the Trustee located at the date hereof at Corporate Trust Operations, MAC N9300-070, 600 South Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415 or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer).

Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement, dated as of December 16, 2019, by and among the Issuer, as borrower, and certain of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, and the various lenders identified on the signature pages thereto, including Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, swingline lender and issuing lender, together with the related documents thereto (including the revolving loans thereunder, any letters of credit and reimbursement obligations related thereto, any Guarantees and security documents), as amended, extended, renewed, restated, refunded, replaced, refinanced, supplemented, modified or otherwise changed (in whole or in part, and without limitation as to amount, terms, conditions, covenants and other provisions) from time to time, and any one or more agreements (and related documents) governing Indebtedness, including indentures, incurred to refinance, substitute, supplement, replace or add to (including increasing the amount available for borrowing or adding or removing any Person as a borrower, issuer or guarantor thereunder, in whole or in part), the borrowings and commitments then outstanding or permitted to be outstanding under such Credit Agreement or one or more successors to the Credit Agreement or one or more new credit agreements.

Credit Facility” means, with respect to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, one or more debt facilities, indentures or other arrangements (including the Credit Agreement or commercial paper facilities and overdraft facilities) with banks, other financial institutions or investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, notes, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such institutions or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such institutions against such receivables), letters of credit or other Indebtedness, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced, restructured, refinanced, repaid, increased or extended in whole or in part from time to time (and whether in whole or in part and whether or not with the original

 

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administrative agent and lenders or another administrative agent or agents or other banks or institutions and whether provided under the original Credit Agreement or one or more other credit or other agreements, indentures, financing agreements or otherwise) and in each case including all agreements, instruments and documents executed and delivered pursuant to or in connection with the foregoing (including any notes and letters of credit issued pursuant thereto and any Guarantee and collateral agreement, patent and trademark security agreement, mortgages or letter of credit applications and other Guarantees, pledges, agreements, security agreements and collateral documents). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term “Credit Facility” shall include any agreement or instrument (1) changing the maturity of any Indebtedness incurred thereunder or contemplated thereby, (2) adding Subsidiaries of the Issuer as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder, (3) increasing the amount of Indebtedness incurred thereunder or available to be borrowed thereunder or (4) otherwise altering the terms and conditions thereof.

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

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; provided that any Default that results solely from the taking of an action that would have been permitted but for the continuation of a previous Default will be deemed to be cured if such previous Default is cured prior to becoming an Event of Default.

Definitive Notes” means certificated Notes.

Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.3 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 provisions of this Indenture.

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 Regulated Bank or 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 Issuer and/or any one or more of the Guarantors (the “Performance References”).

Designated Non-Cash Consideration” means the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Disposition that is so designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent payment, redemption, retirement, sale or other disposition of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration. A particular item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration will no longer be considered to be outstanding when and to the extent it has been paid, redeemed or otherwise retired or sold or otherwise disposed of in compliance with Section 3.5.

Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) that is issued for cash (other than to the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or any such Subsidiary for the benefit of their employees to the extent funded by the Issuer or such Subsidiary) and that is designated as “Designated Preferred Stock” pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer at or prior to the issuance thereof, the net cash proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 3.3(a)(iii)(C).

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

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

 

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(1)       matures or is mandatorily redeemable for cash or in exchange for Indebtedness pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise; or

(2)       is or may become (in accordance with its terms) upon the occurrence of certain events or otherwise redeemable or repurchasable for cash or in exchange for Indebtedness at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock in whole or in part,

in each case on or prior to the earlier of (a) the Stated Maturity of the Notes or (b) the date on which there are no Notes outstanding; provided, however, that (i) only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date will be deemed to be Disqualified Stock and (ii) any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale (howsoever defined or referred to) shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if any such redemption or repurchase obligation is subject to compliance by the relevant Person with Section 3.3; provided, however, that if such Capital Stock is issued to any future, current or former employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members), of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any other entity in which the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary has an Investment and is designated in good faith as an “affiliate” by the Board of Directors (or the compensation committee thereof) or any other plan for the benefit of current, former or future employees (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members), such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.

dividend” includes a distribution.

Dollars” or “$” means the lawful currency of the United States of America.

Domestic Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person other than a Foreign Subsidiary.

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company or any successor securities clearing agency.

Equity Offering” means (x) a sale of Capital Stock (other than through the issuance of Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock or through an Excluded Contribution) other than (a) offerings registered on Form S-8 (or any successor form) under the Securities Act or any similar offering in other jurisdictions or other securities of the Issuer and (b) issuances of Capital Stock to any Subsidiary of the Issuer or (y) a cash equity contribution to the Issuer.

euro” means the single currency of participating member states of the economic and monetary union as contemplated in the Treaty on European Union.

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

Excluded Contribution” means net cash proceeds or property or assets received by the Issuer as capital contributions to the equity (other than through the issuance of Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) of the Issuer after the Issue Date or from the issuance or sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer for the benefit of their employees to the extent funded by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) of the Issuer, in each case, to the extent designated as an Excluded Contribution pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer.

fair market value” may be conclusively established by means of an Officer’s Certificate or resolutions of the Board of Directors setting out such fair market value as determined by such Officer or such Board of Directors in good faith.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person on any determination date, the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA of such Person for the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending immediately prior

 

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to such determination date (the “reference period”) for which consolidated financial statements are available to the Fixed Charges of such Person for the reference period. In the event that the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, assumes, guarantees, redeems, defeases, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred under any revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and has not been replaced), has caused any Reserved Indebtedness Amount to be deemed to be incurred during such period or issues or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the reference period but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, deemed incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, defeasance, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, any Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, operational changes, business expansions and disposed or discontinued operations that have been made by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during the reference period or subsequent to the reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, operational changes, business expansions and disposed or discontinued operations (and the change in any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in Consolidated EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged or amalgamated with or into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, operational change, business expansion, or disposed or discontinued operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or disposed operation had occurred at the beginning of the reference period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or chief accounting officer of the Issuer (and may include, for the avoidance of doubt, cost savings, operating expenses reductions and synergies resulting from such transactions which are being given pro forma effect). If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire reference period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed with a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the reference period except as set forth in the first paragraph of this definition. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be determined to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Issuer may designate.

Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of (without duplication):

(1)       Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period;

(2)       all cash dividends or other distributions paid (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person during such period; and

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

Foreign Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person that is not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof, or the District of Columbia.

 

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GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect from time to time; provided that all terms of an accounting or financial nature used in this Indenture shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to in this Indenture shall be made (a) without giving effect to any election under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 825—Financial Instruments, or any successor thereto or comparable accounting principle (including pursuant to the Accounting Standards Codification), to value any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary at “fair value,” as defined therein and (b) the amount of any Indebtedness under GAAP with respect to Capitalized Lease Obligations shall be determined in accordance with the definition of “Capitalized Lease Obligations.” At any time after the Issue Date, the Issuer may elect to apply IFRS accounting principles in lieu of GAAP and, upon any such election, references herein to GAAP shall thereafter be construed to mean IFRS (except as otherwise provided in this Indenture); provided that any such election, once made, shall be irrevocable; provided, further, that any calculation or determination in this Indenture that requires the application of GAAP for periods that include fiscal quarters ended prior to the Issuer’s election to apply IFRS shall remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with GAAP. The Issuer shall give notice of any such election made in accordance with this definition to the Trustee. For the avoidance of doubt, solely making an election (without any other action) referred to in this definition will not be treated as an incurrence of Indebtedness.

If there occurs a change in IFRS or GAAP, as the case may be, and such change would cause a change in the method of calculation of any standards, terms or measures used in this Indenture (an “Accounting Change”), then the Issuer may elect, as evidenced by a written notice of the Issuer to the Trustee, that such standards, terms or measures shall be calculated as if such Accounting Change had not occurred.

Guarantee” means, any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person, including any such obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person:

(1)       to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise); or

(2)       entered into primarily for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part);

provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” will not include (x) endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and (y) standard contractual indemnities or product warranties provided in the ordinary course of business, and provided, further, that the amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be the lower of (i) an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guarantee is made and (ii) the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing Person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee or, if such Guarantee is not an unconditional guarantee of the entire amount of the primary obligation and such maximum amount is not stated or determinable, the amount of such guaranteeing Person’s maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by such Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

Guarantor” means any Restricted Subsidiary that Guarantees the Notes, until such Note Guarantee is released in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

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

Holder” means each Person in whose name the Notes are registered on the Registrar’s books, which shall initially be the nominee of DTC.

 

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IFRS” means the International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board as in effect from time to time.

Immaterial Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, each Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that (i) has not guaranteed any other Indebtedness of the Issuer and (ii) has Total Assets and revenues of less than 5.0% of Total Assets and, together with all other Immaterial Subsidiaries (as determined in accordance with GAAP), has Total Assets and revenues of less than 10.0% of Total Assets, in each case, measured at the end of the most recent fiscal period for which consolidated financial statements are available and revenues on a pro forma basis giving effect to any acquisitions or dispositions of companies, division or lines of business since such balance sheet date or the start of such four quarter period, as applicable, and on or prior to the date of acquisition of such Subsidiary.

Immediate Family Members” means, with respect to any individual, such individual’s child, stepchild, grandchild or more remote descendant, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, qualified domestic partner, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law and daughter-in-law (including adoptive relationships, the estate of such individual and such other individuals above) and any trust, partnership or other bona fide estate-planning vehicle the only beneficiaries of which are any of the foregoing individuals or any private foundation or fund that is controlled by any of the foregoing individuals or any donor-advised fund of which any such individual is the donor.

incur” means issue, create, assume, enter into any Guarantee of, incur, extend or otherwise become liable for; provided, however, that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) will be deemed to be incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and the terms “incurred” and “incurrence” have meanings correlative to the foregoing and any Indebtedness pursuant to any revolving credit or similar facility shall only be “incurred” at the time any funds are borrowed thereunder.

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination (without duplication):

(1)       the principal of indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money;

(2)       the principal of obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments;

(3)       all reimbursement obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments (the amount of such obligations being equal at any time to the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such letters of credit or other instruments plus the aggregate amount of drawings thereunder that have not been reimbursed) (except to the extent such reimbursement obligations relate to trade payables and such obligations are satisfied within 30 days of incurrence);

(4)       the principal component of all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of property (except trade payables or similar obligations, including accrued expenses owed, to a trade creditor), which purchase price is due more than one year after the date of placing such property in service or taking final delivery and title thereto;

(5)       Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person;

(6)       the principal component of all obligations, or liquidation preference, of such Person with respect to any Disqualified Stock or, with respect to any Restricted Subsidiary, any Preferred Stock (but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends);

(7)       the principal component of all Indebtedness of other Persons secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person; provided, however, that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (a) the fair market value of such asset at such date of determination (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Persons;

(8)       Guarantees by such Person of the principal component of Indebtedness of other Persons to the extent Guaranteed by such Person; and

(9)       to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, net obligations of such Person under Hedging Obligations (the amount of any such obligations to be equal at any time to the net payments under such

 

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agreement or arrangement giving rise to such obligation that would be payable by such Person at the termination of such agreement or arrangement);

with respect to clauses (1), (2), (4) and (5) above, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing Indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.

The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any time in the case of a revolving credit or similar facility shall be the total amount of funds borrowed and then outstanding plus, if applicable, the Reserved Indebtedness Amount. The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be (a) the accreted value thereof in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount and (b) the principal amount of Indebtedness, or liquidation preference thereof, in the case of any other Indebtedness. Indebtedness shall be calculated without giving effect to the effects of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 815—Derivatives and Hedging and related pronouncements to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness.

Notwithstanding the above provisions, in no event shall the following constitute Indebtedness:

(i)       Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, other than Guarantees or other assumptions of Indebtedness;

(ii)       Cash Management Obligations;

(iii)       any lease, concession or license of property (or Guarantee thereof) which would be considered an operating lease under GAAP as in effect on the Issue Date, Non-Financing Lease Obligations or any prepayments of deposits received from clients or customers in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(iv)       obligations under any license, permit or other approval (or Guarantees given in respect of such obligations) incurred prior to the Issue Date or in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(v)       in connection with the purchase by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of any business, any deferred or prepaid revenue or post-closing payment adjustments to which the seller may become entitled to the extent such payment is determined by a final closing balance sheet or such payment depends on the performance of such business after the closing; provided, however, that, at the time of closing, the amount of any such payment is not determinable and, to the extent such payment thereafter becomes fixed and determined, the amount is paid in a timely manner;

(vi)       for the avoidance of doubt, any obligations in respect of workers’ compensation claims, early retirement or termination obligations, pension fund obligations or contributions or similar claims, obligations or contributions or social security or wage Taxes;

(vii)       Capital Stock (other than in the case of clause (6) above, Disqualified Stock); or

(viii)       amounts owed to dissenting stockholders (including in connection with, or as a result of, exercise of dissenters’ or appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or action (whether actual, contingent or potential)), pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of assets that complies with Section 4.1.

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 ; provided, however, that such firm or appraiser is not an Affiliate of the Issuer.

Intercompany License Agreement” means any cost sharing agreement, commission or royalty agreement, license or sublicense agreement, distribution agreement, services agreement, intellectual property rights transfer agreement, any related agreements or similar agreements, in each case where all parties to such agreement are one or more of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary.

Initial Notes” has the meaning ascribed to it in the recitals of this Indenture.

 

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Initial Purchasers” means BofA Securities, Inc., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BMO Capital Markets Corp., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Capital One Securities, Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

Investment” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of advances, loans or other extensions of credit (excluding (i) accounts receivable, trade credit, advances or extensions of credit to customers, dealers, suppliers, distributors, future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, contractors, consultants or advisors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of any Person in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, (ii) any debt or extension of credit represented by a bank deposit other than a time deposit, (iii) intercompany advances arising from cash management, tax and accounting operations and (iv) intercompany loans, advances or Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms)) or capital contribution to (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of others), or the incurrence of a Guarantee of any obligation of, or any purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other similar instruments issued by, such other Persons and all other items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that endorsements of negotiable instruments and documents in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice will not be deemed to be an Investment.

For purposes of Section 3.3 and Section 3.15 hereof:

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

(2)       any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be valued at its fair market value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Issuer; and

(3)       if the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary issues, sells or otherwise disposes of Capital Stock 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 the Issuer 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 the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Investment to the extent such amounts do not increase any other baskets or availability under this Indenture.

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 the equivalent investment grade rating from 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)       securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the Canadian, United Kingdom or Japanese governments, a member state of the European Union, or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents);

(3)       debt securities or debt instruments with a rating of “BBB-” or higher from S&P or “Baa3” or higher by Moody’s or the equivalent of such rating by such rating organization or, if no rating of Moody’s or S&P then exists, the equivalent of such rating by any other Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organization, but excluding any debt securities or instruments constituting loans or advances among the Issuer and its Subsidiaries;

 

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

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

Investment Grade Status” shall occur when the Notes receive a rating of “BBB–” or higher from S&P and a rating of “Baa3” or higher from Moody’s or the equivalent of such rating by such rating organization or, if no rating of S&P or Moody’s then exists, the equivalent of such rating by any other Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organization.

Issue Date” means December 16, 2019.

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien, hypothecation or charge of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof); provided that in no event shall Non-Financing Lease Obligations be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Like Kind Exchange” means the exchange pursuant to Section 1031 of the Code of the following: (1) any real property used or to be used in connection with the business of the Issuer and its consolidated subsidiaries; or (2) any other real property to be used in connection with the Issuer and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Limited Condition Transaction” means (1) any Investment or acquisition (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination or the acquisition of Capital Stock or otherwise and which may include, for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction that may constitute a Change of Control), whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing, (2) any redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock requiring irrevocable notice in advance of such redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment, (3) any Restricted Payment requiring irrevocable notice in advance thereof and (4) any asset sale or a disposition excluded from the definition of “Asset Disposition.”

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.

LTM EBITDA” means Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer measured for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending prior to the date of such determination for which consolidated financial statements are available, in each case with such pro forma adjustments giving effect to such Indebtedness, acquisition or Investment, as applicable, since the start of such four quarter period and as are consistent with the pro forma adjustments set forth in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.”

Management Advances” means loans or advances made to, or Guarantees with respect to loans or advances made to, future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, contractors, consultants or advisors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary:

(1)       (a) in respect of travel, entertainment, relocation or moving related expenses, payroll advances and other analogous or similar expenses or payroll expenses, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or (b) for purposes of funding any such person’s purchase of Capital Stock (or similar obligations) of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries with (in the case of this clause (1)(b)) the approval of the Board of Directors of the Issuer;

(2)       in respect of relocation or moving related expenses, payroll advances and other analogous or similar expenses or payroll expenses, in each case incurred in connection with any closing or consolidation of any facility or office; or

(3)       not exceeding $10 million in the aggregate outstanding at the time of incurrence.

Moody’s means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any of its successors or assigns that is a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization.

 

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Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization” means a nationally recognized statistical rating organization within the meaning of Rule 436 under the Securities Act.

Net Available Cash,” with respect to any Asset Disposition, means cash proceeds received (including any cash payments received in any Asset Disposition by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received, and cash proceeds received from the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received in any Asset Disposition, but only as and when received, but excluding any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness or other obligations relating to the properties or assets that are the subject of such Asset Disposition or received in any other non-cash form) therefrom, in each case net of:

(1)       all legal, accounting, consulting, investment banking, survey costs, title and recording expenses, title insurance premiums, payments made in order to obtain a necessary consent or required by applicable law, brokerage and sales commissions, relocation expenses, commissions, premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs, underwriting discounts, fees, costs and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) in connection with such transaction;

(2)       all Taxes paid, reasonably estimated to be payable, Tax reserves set aside or payable or accrued as a liability under GAAP (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any income, withholding and other Taxes payable as a result of the distribution or deemed distribution of such proceeds to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes and Taxes that would be payable in connection with any repatriation of such proceeds), as a consequence of such transaction;

(3)       all payments made on any Indebtedness which is secured by any assets subject to such transaction, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon such assets, or which by applicable law be repaid out of the proceeds from such transaction;

(4)       all distributions and other payments required to be made to non-controlling interest or minority interest holders (other than the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such transaction;

(5)       all costs associated with unwinding any related Hedging Obligations in connection with such transaction;

(6)       the deduction of appropriate amounts required to be provided by the seller as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with the assets disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary after such transaction, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction;

(7)       any portion of the purchase price from such transaction placed in escrow, whether for the satisfaction of any indemnification obligations in respect of such transaction, as a reserve for adjustments to the purchase price associated with any such transaction or otherwise in connection with such transaction; and

(8)       the amount of any liabilities (other than Indebtedness in respect of the Credit Agreement and the Notes) directly associated with such asset being sold and retained by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

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 ISDA Credit Derivatives Definitions) to have occurred with respect to the Issuer or any Guarantor immediately prior to such date of determination.

Non-Financing Lease Obligation” means a lease obligation that is not required to be accounted for as a financing or capital lease in accordance with GAAP. For the avoidance of doubt, a straight-line or operating lease shall be considered a Non-Financing Lease Obligation.

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

 

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Non-U.S. Person” means a Person who is not a U.S. Person (as defined in Regulation S).

Note Documents” means the Notes (including Additional Notes), the Note Guarantees and this Indenture.

Note Guarantees” means the Guarantees of the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes.

Notes” has the meaning ascribed to it in the recitals of this Indenture.

Notes Custodian” means the custodian with respect to the Global Notes (as appointed by DTC) or any successor Person thereto, and shall initially be the Trustee.

Obligations means any principal, interest (including Post-Petition Interest and fees accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Issuer or any Guarantor whether or not a claim for Post-Petition Interest or fees is allowed in such proceedings), penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances), damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

Offering Memorandum” means the final offering memorandum dated December 12, 2019, relating to the offering by the Issuer of $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.625% Senior Notes due 2027.

Officer” means, with respect to any Person, (1) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, any Managing Director, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary (a) of such Person or (b) if such Person is owned or managed by a single entity, of such entity, or (2) any other individual designated as an “Officer” for the purposes of this Indenture by the Board of Directors of such Person.

Officer’s Certificate” means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by one Officer of such Person.

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

Pari Passu Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Issuer 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.

Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Issuer to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Note on behalf of the Issuer.

Performance References” has the meaning ascribed to it in the definition of “Derivative Instruments.”

Permitted Asset Swap” means the concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of assets used or useful in a Similar Business or a combination of such assets and cash, Cash Equivalents between the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided that any cash or Cash Equivalents received in excess of the value of any cash or Cash Equivalents sold or exchanged must be applied in accordance with Section 3.5.

Permitted Investment” means (in each case, by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries):

(1)       Investments in (a) a Restricted Subsidiary (including the Capital Stock of, or guarantees of obligations of, a Restricted Subsidiary) or the Issuer or (b) a Person (including the Capital Stock of any such Person) that will, upon the making of such Investment, become a Restricted Subsidiary;

(2)       Investments in another Person if such Person is engaged, directly or through entities that will be Restricted Subsidiaries, in any Similar Business and as a result of such Investment such other Person, in one transaction or a series of transactions, is merged, amalgamated, consolidated or otherwise combined with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all its assets (or such division, business unit, product line or business) to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, and any Investment held by such Person; provided that such Investment was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, combination, transfer or conveyance;

(3)       Investments in cash, Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;

(4)       Investments in receivables owing to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary created or acquired in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

 

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(5)       Investments in payroll, travel, entertainment, relocation, moving related and similar advances that are made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(6)       Management Advances;

(7)       Investments (including debt obligations and equity interests) (a) received in settlement, compromise or resolution of debts created in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and owing to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, (b) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable, endorsements for collection or deposit held by the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary, (c) as a result of foreclosure, perfection or enforcement of any Lien, (d) in satisfaction of judgments or (e) pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement including upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of a debtor or litigation, arbitration or other disputes or otherwise with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(8)       Investments made as a result of the receipt of promissory notes or other non-cash consideration (including earn-outs) from a sale or other disposition of property or assets, including an Asset Disposition;

(9)       Investments existing or pursuant to binding commitments, agreements or arrangements in effect on the Issue Date and any modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment or extension thereof; provided that the amount of any such Investment may not be increased except (i) as required by the terms of such Investment or binding commitment as in existence on the Issue Date (including in respect of any unused commitment), plus any accrued but unpaid interest (including any accretion of interest, original issue discount or the issuance of pay-in-kind securities) and premium payable by the terms of such Indebtedness thereon and fees and expenses associated therewith as of the Issue Date or (ii) as otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

(10)      Hedging Obligations, which transactions or obligations not prohibited by Section 3.2;

(11)      endorsements for collections or deposit, prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and pledges or deposits with respect to leases, workers’ compensation, performance or utilities provided to third parties in the ordinary course of business or Liens otherwise described in the definition of “Permitted Liens” or made in connection with Liens permitted under Section 3.6;

(12)      any Investment to the extent made using Capital Stock of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) or Capital Stock of any Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary whose only material assets are cash and Cash Equivalents) as consideration;

(13)      any transaction to the extent constituting an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with Section 3.8(b) (except those described in Sections 3.8(b)(1), (8), (9) and (17));

(14)      Investments consisting of (i) purchases or other acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials, equipment and similar assets or (ii) licenses, sublicenses, cross-licenses, leases, subleases, assignments, contributions or other Investments of intellectual property or other intangibles or services in the ordinary course of business pursuant to any joint development, joint venture or marketing arrangements with other Persons or any Intercompany License Agreement and any other Investments made in connection therewith;

(15)      (i) Guarantees of Indebtedness not prohibited by Section 3.2 and (other than with respect to Indebtedness) guarantees, keepwells and similar arrangements in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, and (ii) performance guarantees and Contingent Obligations with respect to obligations that are permitted by this Indenture;

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

(17)      Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Issue Date or of an entity merged or amalgamated into or consolidated with the Issuer or merged or amalgamated into or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

 

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(18)      any Investment in any Subsidiary or any joint venture in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, in each case, in connection with any cash management arrangements, cash pooling arrangements, intercompany loans or activities related thereto;

(19)      contributions to a “rabbi” trust for the benefit of any employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant, advisor or other service providers or other grantor trust subject to claims of creditors in the case of a bankruptcy of the Issuer, and Investments relating to non-qualified deferred payment plans in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(20)      Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries, joint ventures and similar entities having an aggregate fair market value, when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (20) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $160 million and 50% of LTM EBITDA at the time of such Investment (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), plus the amount of any returns (including dividends, payments, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) in respect of such Investments (without duplication for purposes of Section 3.3 of any amounts applied pursuant to Section 3.3(a)(iii)) with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value; provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause is made in any Person that is not the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such person becomes the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause;

(21)      additional Investments having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (21) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $80 million and 25% of LTM EBITDA (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), plus the amount of any returns (including dividends, payments, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) in respect of such Investments (without duplication for purposes of Section 3.3 of any amounts applied pursuant to Section 3.3(a)(iii) with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value; provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause is made in any Person that is not the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause;

(22)      any Investment in a Similar Business having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $80 million and 25% of LTM EBITDA (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), plus the amount of any returns (including dividends, payments, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) in respect of such Investments (without duplication for purposes of Section 3.3 of any amounts applied pursuant to Section 3.3(a)(iii)) with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value; provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause is made in any Person that is not the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause;

(23)      (i) Investments arising in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility and (ii) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees and purchases of Securitization Assets or Receivables Assets in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility;

(24)      repurchases of the Notes;

(25)      Investments by an Unrestricted Subsidiary entered into prior to the day such Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary as described under Section 3.15;

(26)      guaranty and indemnification obligations arising in connection with surety bonds issued in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

 

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(27)      Investments (a) made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice in connection with obtaining, maintaining or renewing client, franchisee and customer contacts and loans or (b) advances, loans, extensions of credit (including the creation of receivables) or prepayments made to, and guarantees with respect to obligations of, advisors, franchisees, distributors, suppliers, lessors, licensors and licensees in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(28)      non-cash Investments in connection with tax planning and reorganization activities; and

(29)      Investments made from casualty insurance proceeds in connection with the replacement, substitution, restoration or repair of assets on account of a Casualty Event.

Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

(1)       Liens on assets or property of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor securing Indebtedness and other Obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor;

(2)       pledges, deposits or Liens (a) in connection with workmen’s compensation laws, payroll taxes, unemployment insurance laws, employers’ health tax and other social security laws or similar legislation or other insurance related obligations (including in respect of deductibles, self-insured retention amounts and premiums and adjustments thereto), (b) securing liability, reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees or similar instruments) for the benefit of insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements or otherwise supporting the payments of items set forth in the foregoing clause (a), or (c) in connection with bids, tenders, completion guarantees, contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, utilities, licenses, public or statutory obligations, or to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, government contracts and leases, statutory obligations, surety, stay, indemnity, warranty, release, judgment, customs, appeal, performance bonds, guarantees of government contracts, return of money bonds, bankers’ acceptance facilities and obligations of a similar nature (including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations), and obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments that have been posted to support the same, or as security for contested taxes or import or customs duties or for the payment of rent, or other obligations of like nature, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(3)       Liens with respect to outstanding motor vehicle fines and Liens imposed by law or regulation, including carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, landlords’, suppliers’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, architects’, construction contractors’ or other similar Liens, in each case for amounts not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or, if more than 60 days overdue, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Liens or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(4)       Liens for Taxes that are not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or not yet payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; provided that appropriate reserves required pursuant to GAAP (or other applicable accounting principles) have been made in respect thereof, or for property Taxes on property of the Issuer or one of its Subsidiaries has determined to abandon if the sole recourse for such Tax is to such property;

(5)       encumbrances, charges, ground leases, easements (including reciprocal easement agreements), survey exceptions, restrictions, encroachments, protrusions, by-law, regulation, zoning restrictions or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights of way, servitudes, sewers, electric lines, drains, telegraph, telephone and cable television lines and other similar purposes, or zoning, building codes or other restrictions (including minor defects and irregularities in title and similar encumbrances) as to the use of real properties, exceptions on title policies insuring Liens granted on any mortgaged properties or any other collateral or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties, including servicing agreements, development agreements, site plan agreements, subdivision agreements, facilities sharing agreements, cost sharing agreements and other similar agreements, charges or encumbrances, which do not in the aggregate materially interfere with the ordinary course conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(6)       Liens (a) securing Hedging Obligations, Cash Management Obligations and the costs thereof; (b) that are rights of set-off, rights of pledge or other bankers’ Liens (i) relating to treasury, depository and cash management services or any automated clearing house transfers of funds in the ordinary course of business or

 

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consistent with past practice, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer or any Subsidiary or consistent with past practice or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; (c) on cash accounts securing Indebtedness and other Obligations permitted to be incurred under Section 3.2(b)(8)(e) with financial institutions; (d) encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and not for speculative purposes; and (e) (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the UCC or any comparable or successor provision on items in the course of collection and (ii) in favor of a banking or other financial institution or electronic payment service providers arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with the maintenance of such accounts and (iii) arising under customary general terms and conditions of the account bank in relation to any bank account maintained with such bank and attaching only to such account and the products and proceeds thereof, which Liens, in any event, do not secure any Indebtedness;

(7)       leases, licenses, subleases and sublicenses of assets (including real property, intellectual property, software and other technology rights), in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice or, with respect to intellectual property, software and other technology rights, that are not material to the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(8)       Liens securing or otherwise arising out of judgments, decrees, attachments, orders or awards not giving rise to an Event of Default under Section 6.1(a)(5);

(9)       Liens (a) securing Capitalized Lease Obligations, or Purchase Money Obligations, or securing the payment of all or a part of the purchase price of, or securing Indebtedness or other Obligations incurred to finance or refinance the acquisition, improvement or construction of, assets or property acquired or constructed in the ordinary course of business; provided that (i) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Liens is otherwise permitted to be incurred under this Indenture and (ii) any such Liens may not extend to any assets or property of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary other than assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto and accessions, additions, improvements, proceeds, dividends or distributions thereof, including after-acquired property that is (A) affixed or incorporated into the property or assets covered by such Lien, (B) after-acquired property or assets subject to a Lien securing such Indebtedness, the terms of which Indebtedness require or include a pledge of after-acquired property or assets and (C) the proceeds and products thereof and (b) on any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, franchisor, licensor or sublicensor or secured by a lessor’s, sublessor’s, franchisor’s, licensor’s or sublicensor’s interest under any Capitalized Lease Obligations or Non-Financing Lease Obligations;

(10)      Liens arising from UCC financing statements, including precautionary financing statements (or similar filings) regarding operating leases or consignments entered into by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(11)      Liens existing on the Issue Date, but excluding Liens securing the Credit Agreement;

(12)      Liens on property, other assets or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (or at the time the Issuer or a Subsidiary acquires such property, other assets or shares of stock, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination transaction with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary); provided, however, that such Liens are not created in anticipation of such other Person becoming a Subsidiary (or such acquisition of such property, other assets or stock); provided, further, that such Liens are limited to all or part of the same property, other assets or stock (plus property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto and additions, improvements, accessions, proceeds, dividends or distributions thereof, including after-acquired property that is (i) affixed or incorporated into the property or assets covered by such Lien, (ii) after-acquired property or assets subject to a Lien securing such Indebtedness, the terms of which Indebtedness require or include a pledge of after-acquired property or assets and (iii) the proceeds and products thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which such Liens arose, could secure) the Obligations relating to any Indebtedness or other obligations to which such Liens relate;

(13)      Liens securing Obligations relating to any Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary, or Liens in favor of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or the Trustee;

 

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(14)      Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness that was previously so secured, and permitted to be secured under this Indenture; provided that any such Lien is limited to all or part of the same property or assets (plus property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto and additions, improvements, accessions, proceeds, dividends or distributions thereof, including after-acquired property that is (i) affixed or incorporated into the property or assets covered by such Lien, (ii) after-acquired property or assets subject to a Lien securing such Indebtedness, the terms of which Indebtedness require or include a pledge of after-acquired property or assets and (iii) the proceeds and products thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the Obligations relating to the Indebtedness or other obligations being refinanced or is in respect of property or assets that is or could be the security for or subject to a Permitted Lien hereunder;

(15)      (a) mortgages, liens, security interests, restrictions, encumbrances or any other matters of record that have been placed by any government, statutory or regulatory authority, developer, landlord or other third party on property over which the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary has easement rights or on any leased property and subordination or similar arrangements relating thereto and (b) any condemnation or eminent domain proceedings affecting any real property;

(16)      any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to Capital Stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement;

(17)      Liens on property or assets under construction (and related rights) in favor of a contractor or developer or arising from progress or partial payments by a third party relating to such property or assets;

(18)      Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, hire purchase, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale or purchase of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(19)      Liens securing Indebtedness and other Obligations in respect of (a) Credit Facilities, including any letter of credit facility relating thereto, in each case permitted to be incurred under Section 3.2(b)(1) and (b) obligations of the Issuer or any Subsidiary in respect of any Cash Management Obligation or Hedging Obligation provided by any lender, agent, arranger or bookrunner party to any Credit Facility or Affiliate of such lender, agent, arranger or bookrunner (or any Person that was a lender, agent, arranger or bookrunner or an Affiliate of a lender, agent, arranger or bookrunner at the time the applicable agreements in respect of such Cash Management Obligation or Hedging Obligation were entered into);

(20)      Liens securing Indebtedness and other Obligations under Section 3.2(b)(5); provided that such Liens shall only be permitted if such Liens are limited to all or part of the same property or assets, including Capital Stock (plus property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto and additions, improvements, accessions, proceeds, dividends or distributions thereof, including after-acquired property that is (i) affixed or incorporated into the property or assets covered by such Lien, (ii) after-acquired property or assets subject to a Lien securing such Indebtedness, the terms of which Indebtedness require or include a pledge of after-acquired property or assets and (iii) the proceeds and products thereof) acquired, or of any Person acquired or merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, in any transaction to which such Indebtedness or other Obligation relates;

(21)      Liens securing Indebtedness and other Obligations under Section 3.2(b)(7) (provided that the related Indebtedness represented by Capitalized Lease Obligations or Purchase Money Obligations shall not be secured by any property, equipment or assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the property, equipment or assets so acquired, leased, expanded, constructed, installed, replaced, repaired or improved and any proceeds therefrom);

(22)      Liens securing Indebtedness and other Obligations of any Non-Guarantor covering only assets of such Subsidiary;

(23)      Liens on Capital Stock or other securities or assets of any Unrestricted Subsidiary that secure Indebtedness or other obligations of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(24)      Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments permitted under clause (4) of the definition of “Cash Equivalents”;

 

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(25)      Liens on (i) goods the purchase price of which is financed by a documentary letter of credit issued for the account of the Issuer or any Subsidiary or Liens on bills of lading, drafts or other documents of title arising by operation of law or pursuant to the standard terms of agreements relating to letters of credit, bank guarantees and other similar instruments and (ii) specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or documentary letters of credit issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

(26)      Liens on vehicles or equipment of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(27)      Liens on assets or securities deemed to arise in connection with and solely as a result of the execution, delivery or performance of contracts to sell such assets or securities if such sale is otherwise permitted by this Indenture;

(28)      (a) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto, and (b) Liens, pledges, deposits made or other security provided to secure liabilities to, or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefits of), insurance carriers in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(29)      Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted under this Indenture;

(30)      Liens (i) on cash advances or escrow deposits in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted under this Indenture to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment or otherwise in connection with any escrow arrangements with respect to any such Investment (including any letter of intent or purchase agreement with respect to such Investment), and (ii) consisting of an agreement to sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any property in an asset sale, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or sale, transfer, lease or other disposition, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

(31)      Liens securing Indebtedness and other Obligations in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (a) $80 million and (b) 25% of LTM EBITDA at the time incurred;

(32)      Liens then existing with respect to assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary on the day such Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 3.15; provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(33)      Liens securing Indebtedness and other Obligations permitted under Section 3.2; provided that with respect to liens securing Indebtedness or other Obligations permitted under this clause, at the time of incurrence and after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio would be no greater than 3.25 to 1.00;

(34)      Liens arising in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or a Receivables Facility;

(35)      rights of recapture of unused real property in favor of the seller of such property set forth in customary purchase agreements and related arrangements with any government, statutory or regulatory authority;

(36)      the rights reserved to or vested in any Person or government, statutory or regulatory authority by the terms of any lease, license, franchise, grant or permit held by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or by a statutory provision, to terminate any such lease, license, franchise, grant or permit, or to require annual or periodic payments as a condition to the continuance thereof;

(37)      restrictive covenants affecting the use to which real property may be put and Liens or covenants restricting or prohibiting access to or from lands abutting on controlled access highways or covenants affecting the use to which lands may be put; provided that such Liens or covenants do not interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(38)      Liens on property, assets or Permitted Investments used to defease or to satisfy or discharge Indebtedness; provided that such defeasance, satisfaction or discharge is not prohibited by this Indenture;

 

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(39)      Liens relating to escrow arrangements securing Indebtedness, including (i) Liens on escrowed proceeds from the issuance of Indebtedness for the benefit of the related holders of debt securities or other Indebtedness (or the underwriters, arrangers, trustee or collateral agent thereof) and (ii) Liens on cash or Cash Equivalents set aside at the time of the incurrence of any Indebtedness, in either case to the extent such cash or Cash Equivalents prefund the payment of interest or premium or discount on such Indebtedness (or any costs related to the issuance of such Indebtedness) and are held in an escrow account or similar arrangement to be applied for such purpose;

(40)      Liens securing the Notes (other than any Additional Notes) and the related Guarantees; and

(41)      Liens in respect of cash collateral securing Cash Secured Credit Facilities permitted under Section 3.2(b)(18).

In the event that a Permitted Lien meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Permitted Liens (at the time of incurrence or at a later date), the Issuer in its sole discretion may divide, classify or from time to time reclassify all or any portion of such Permitted Lien in any manner that complies with this Indenture and such Permitted Lien shall be treated as having been made pursuant only to the clause or clauses of the definition of “Permitted Lien” to which such Permitted Lien has been classified or reclassified.

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

Post-Petition Interest” means any interest or entitlement to fees or expenses or other charges that accrue after the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, whether or not allowed or allowable as a claim in any such bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.

Predecessor Note” of any particular Note means every previous Note evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Note; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Note authenticated and delivered under Section 2.11 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note.

Preferred Stock,” as applied to the Capital Stock of any Person, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Person, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such Person.

Purchase Agreement” means, with respect to the Notes, the purchase agreement in respect of the Notes, dated as of December 12, 2019, by and among the Issuer, the Guarantors and BofA Securities, Inc.

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

QIB” means any “qualified institutional buyer” as such term is defined in Rule 144A.

Qualified Securitization Financing” means any Securitization Facility that meets the following conditions: (i) the Board of Directors shall have determined in good faith that such Securitization Facility (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) all sales of Securitization Assets and related assets by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Securitization Subsidiary or any other Person are made for fair consideration (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) and (iii) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be fair and reasonable terms (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings.

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

 

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Moody’s or both, as the case may be, with respect to such corporate rating or the rating of the Notes, as the case may be.

Rating Decline” means the occurrence of a decrease in the rating of the Notes by one or more gradations by any Rating Agency (including, in each case, gradations within the rating categories, as well as between categories), within 60 days after the earlier of (x) a Change of Control, (y) the date of public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or (z) public notice of the intention of the Issuer to effect a Change of Control (which 60 day period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by each such Rating Agency); provided, however, that a Rating Decline otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating will not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus will not be deemed a Rating Decline for purposes of the definition of “Change of Control Triggering Event”) unless the Rating Agency making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply announces or publicly confirms or informs the Trustee in writing at the Issuer’s or its request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control has occurred at the time of the Rating Decline); provided, further, that notwithstanding the foregoing, a Ratings Decline shall not be deemed to have occurred so long as the Notes have an Investment Grade Rating from both Rating Agencies.

Receivables Assets” means (a) any accounts receivable owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary subject to a Receivables Facility and the proceeds thereof and (b) all collateral securing such accounts receivable, all contracts and contract rights, guarantees or other obligations in respect of such accounts receivable, all records with respect to such accounts receivable and any other assets customarily transferred together with accounts receivable in connection with a non-recourse accounts receivable factoring arrangement.

Receivables Facility” means an arrangement between the Issuer or a Subsidiary and a commercial bank, an asset based lender or other financial institution or an Affiliate thereof pursuant to which (a) the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as applicable, sells (directly or indirectly) to such commercial bank, asset based lender or other financial institution (or such Affiliate) Receivables Assets, (b) the obligations of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, thereunder are non-recourse (except for Securitization Repurchase Obligations) to the Issuer and such Subsidiary and (c) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be on market terms (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings, and shall include any guaranty in respect of such arrangements.

refinance” means refinance, refund, replace, renew, repay, modify, restate, defer, substitute, supplement, reissue, resell, extend or increase (including pursuant to any defeasance or discharge mechanism) and the terms “refinances,” “refinanced” and “refinancing” as used for any purpose in this Indenture shall have a correlative meaning.

Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that is incurred to refund, refinance, replace, exchange, renew, repay or extend (including pursuant to any defeasance or discharge mechanism) any Indebtedness (or unutilized commitment in respect of Indebtedness) existing on the Issue Date or incurred (or established) in compliance with this Indenture (including Indebtedness of the Issuer that refinances Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary and Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary) including Indebtedness that refinances Refinancing Indebtedness, and Indebtedness incurred pursuant to a commitment that refinances any Indebtedness or unutilized commitment; provided, however, that:

(1)       (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 being refunded, refinanced, replaced, exchanged, renewed, repaid or extended (or requires no or nominal payments in cash (other than interest payments) prior to the date that is 91 days after the maturity date of the Notes); and (b) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances Subordinated Indebtedness, such Refinancing Indebtedness is Subordinated Indebtedness, respectively, 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;

(2)       Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include:

 

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(i)      Indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor; or

(ii)     Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

(3) such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred in an aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the sum of (x) the aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of 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 financing arrangement being refinanced to the extent the unutilized commitment being refinanced could be drawn in compliance with Section 3.2 immediately prior to such refinancing, plus (z) accrued and unpaid interest, dividends, premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs, underwriting discounts, fees, costs and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) in connection with such refinancing;

provided, that clause (1) above will not apply to any extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of any Credit Facilities or Secured Indebtedness. Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any Credit Facility or any other Indebtedness may be incurred from time to time after the termination, discharge or repayment of any such Credit Facility or other Indebtedness.

Regulated Bank” means a commercial bank with a consolidated combined capital surplus of at least $5,000,000,000 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 of Governors under 12 CFR 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.

Regulation S” means Regulation S under the Securities Act.

Regulation S-X” means Regulation S-X under the Securities Act.

Reserved Indebtedness Amount” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.2(c)(9).

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

Restricted Notes” means Initial Notes and Additional Notes bearing the Restricted Notes Legend.

Restricted Notes Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.1(d)(1).

Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

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

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC or any of its successors or assigns that is a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization.

Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any arrangement providing for the leasing by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of any real or tangible personal property, which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary to a third Person in contemplation of such leasing.

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 the Issuer 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.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

 

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Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien other than Indebtedness with respect to Cash Management Obligations.

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

Securitization Asset” means (a) any accounts receivable, mortgage receivables, loan receivables, royalty, franchise fee, license fee, patent or other revenue streams and other rights to payment or related assets and the proceeds thereof and (b) all collateral securing such receivable or asset, all contracts and contract rights, guarantees or other obligations in respect of such receivable or asset, lockbox accounts and records with respect to such account or asset and any other assets customarily transferred (or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted) together with accounts or assets in connection with a securitization, factoring or receivable sale transaction.

Securitization Facility” means any of one or more securitization, financing, factoring or sales transactions, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated or refunded from time to time, pursuant to which the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries sells, transfers, pledges or otherwise conveys any Securitization Assets (whether now existing or arising in the future) to a Securitization Subsidiary or any other Person.

Securitization Fees” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any Securitization Asset or Receivables Asset or participation interest therein issued or sold in connection with, and other fees, expenses and charges (including commissions, yield, interest expense and fees and expenses of legal counsel) paid in connection with, any Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility.

Securitization Repurchase Obligation” means any obligation of a seller of Securitization Assets or Receivables Assets in a Qualified Securitization Financing or a Receivables Facility to repurchase or otherwise make payments with respect to Securitization Assets arising as a result of a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, offset or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the seller.

Securitization Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer in each case formed for the purpose of and that solely engages in one or more Qualified Securitization Financings or Receivables Facilities and other activities reasonably related thereto or another Person formed for this purpose.

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 Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02(w)(2) of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such regulation is in effect on the Issue Date.

Similar Business” means (a) any businesses, services or activities engaged in by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or any Associates on the Issue Date, (b) any consulting business, (c) any businesses, services and activities engaged in by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or any Associates that are related, complementary, incidental, ancillary or similar to any of the foregoing or are extensions or developments of any thereof and (d) a Person conducting a business, service or activity specified in any combination of clauses (a), (b) or (c), and any Subsidiary thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, any Person that invests in or owns Capital Stock or Indebtedness of another Person that is engaged in a Similar Business shall be deemed to be engaged in a Similar Business.

Standard Securitization Undertakings” means representations, warranties, covenants, guarantees and indemnities entered into by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer which the Issuer has determined in good faith to be customary in a Securitization Facility or Receivables Facility, including those relating to the servicing of the assets of a Securitization Subsidiary, it being understood that any Securitization Repurchase Obligation shall be deemed to be a Standard Securitization Undertaking or, in the case of a Receivables Facility, a non-credit related recourse accounts receivable factoring arrangement.

 

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Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision, but shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means, with respect to any person, any Indebtedness (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter incurred) which is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes pursuant to a written agreement.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person:

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

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

(a)       more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise; and

(b)       such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity; or

(3)       at the election of the Issuer, any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

Taxes” means all present and future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, duties and withholdings and any charges of a similar nature (including interest, penalties and other liabilities with respect thereto) that are imposed by any government or other taxing authority.

Total Assets” means, as of any date, the total consolidated assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as shown on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a pro forma basis in a manner consistent with the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.”

Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

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

Trustee” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, together with its successors and assigns.

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statute) as in effect from time to time in the State of New York; provided, however, that at any time, if by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the perfection or priority of a collateral agent’s security interest in any item or portion of the collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect, at such time, in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection or priority and for purposes of definitions relating to such provisions.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

 

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

(2)       any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Issuer may designate any Subsidiary of the Issuer, (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary or a Person becoming a Subsidiary through merger, consolidation or other business combination transaction, or Investment therein), to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary only if:

(1)       at the time of such designation, such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries does not own any Capital Stock of the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer which is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated or otherwise an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

(2)       such designation and the Investment, if any, of the Issuer in such Subsidiary complies with Section 3.3.

U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are (1) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally Guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of the United States of America, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depositary receipt.

Voting Stock” of a Person means all classes of Capital Stock of such Person then outstanding and normally entitled to vote in the election of directors.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the quotient (in number of years) obtained by dividing:

(1)       the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) 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, by (ii) the amount of such payment, by

(2)       the sum of all such payments;

provided that, for purposes of determining the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Indebtedness, the effects of any prepayments or amortization made on such Indebtedness prior to the date of such determination will be disregarded.

Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary” means a Domestic Subsidiary of the Issuer, all of the Capital Stock of which is owned by the Issuer or a Guarantor.

SECTION 1.2.       Other Definitions.

 

Term        Defined in
        Section         
         

Acceptable Commitment

              3.5(a)(3)(ii)        
     

Additional Restricted Notes

 

     

2.1(b)

 

 

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Term        Defined in
        Section         
         

Advance Offer

      3.5(a)
     

Advance Portion

      3.5(a)
     

Affiliate Transaction

      3.8(a)
     

Agent Members

      2.1(e)(2)
     

Applicable Premium Deficit

      8.4(1)
     

Approved Foreign Bank

     

“Cash

Equivalents”

     

Asset Disposition Offer

      3.5(a)
     

Authenticating Agent

      2.2
     

Change of Control Offer

      3.9(a)
     

Change of Control Payment

      3.9(a)
     

Change of Control Payment Date

      3.9(a)(2)
     

Clearstream

      2.1(b)
     

Company Order

      2.2
     

Covenant Defeasance

      8.3
     

Declined Excess Proceeds

      3.5(b)
     

Defaulted Interest

      2.15
     

Election Date

      3.3(b)
     

equity incentives

          “Consolidated Net     Income”
     

Euroclear

      2.1(b)
     

Event of Default

      6.1(a)
     

Excess Proceeds

      3.5(a)
     

Global Notes

      2.1(b)
     

Guaranteed Obligations

      10.1
     

Increased Amount

 

     

3.6

 

 

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Term        Defined in
        Section         
         

Initial Default

      6.1(b)
     

Initial Lien

      3.6
     

LCT Election

      1.4(c)
     

LCT Test Date

      1.4(c)
     

Legal Defeasance

      8.2
     

Legal Holiday

      13.6
     

Notes Register

      2.3
     

Other Guarantee

      10.2(b)(5)
     

Permanent Regulation S Global Note

      2.1(b)
     

Permitted Payments

      3.3(b)
     

primary obligations

     

        “Contingent        

Obligations”

     

Proceeds Application Period

      3.5(a)(3)
     

protected purchaser

      2.11
     

Redemption Date

      5.7(a)
     

Refunding Capital Stock

      3.3(b)(2)
     

Registrar

      2.3
     

Regulation S Global Note

      2.1(b)
     

Regulation S Notes

      2.1(b)
     

Resale Restriction Termination Date

      2.6(b)
     

Reserved Indebtedness Amount

      3.2(c)(9)
     

Restricted Payment

      3.3(a)
     

Restricted Period

      2.1(b)
     

Reversion Date

      3.16
     

Rule 144A Global Note

      2.1(b)
     

Rule 144A Notes

 

     

2.1(b)

 

 

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Term        Defined in
        Section         
         

Special Interest Payment Date

      2.15(a)
     

Special Record Date

      2.15(a)
     

Successor Issuer

      4.1(a)(1)
     

Suspended Covenants

      3.16
     

Suspension Period

      3.16
     

Temporary Regulation S Global Note

      2.1(b)
     

Treasury Capital Stock

              3.3(b)(2)        
     

USA PATRIOT Act

 

     

13.10

 

SECTION 1.3.       No Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. This Indenture will not be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act or subject to the terms of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 1.4. Rules of Construction.

(a)               Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(3)       “or” is not exclusive;

(4)       “including” means including without limitation;

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

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

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

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

(9)       all amounts expressed in this Indenture or in any of the Notes in terms of money refer to the lawful currency of the United States of America;

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

 

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(11)       except as otherwise stated, (a) references herein to Articles, Sections and Exhibits mean the Articles and Sections of and Exhibits to this Indenture and (b) each reference herein to a particular Article or Section includes the Sections, subsections and paragraphs subsidiary thereto; and

(12)       unless otherwise specifically indicated, the term “consolidated” with respect to any Person refers to such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries, and excludes from such consolidation any Unrestricted Subsidiary as if such Unrestricted Subsidiary were not an Affiliate of such Person.

(b)               Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) is incurred or issued, any Lien is incurred or other transaction is undertaken in reliance on a ratio basket based on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio or Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio, such ratio(s) shall be calculated with respect to such incurrence, issuance or other transaction without giving effect to amounts being utilized under any other basket (other than a ratio basket based on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio or Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio) on the same date. Each item of Indebtedness that is incurred or issued, each Lien incurred and each other transaction undertaken will be deemed to have been incurred, issued or taken first, to the extent available, pursuant to the relevant Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio or Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio test.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) is incurred or issued, any Lien is incurred or other transaction is undertaken in reliance on a ratio basket based on a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio or Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio, such ratio(s) shall be calculated without regard to the incurrence of any Indebtedness under any revolving facility or letter of credit facility immediately prior to or in connection therewith.

Any calculation or measure that is determined with reference to the Issuer’s financial statements (including EBITDA, Consolidated Interest Expense, Consolidated Net Income, Fixed Charges, Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio and Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio) may be determined with reference to internal financial statements of the Issuer.

(c)               When calculating the availability under any basket or ratio under this Indenture or compliance with any provision of this Indenture in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction and any actions or transactions related thereto (including acquisitions, Investments, the incurrence, issuance or assumption of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence or creation of Liens, repayments, Restricted Payments and Asset Dispositions), in each case, at the option of the Issuer (the Issuer’s election to exercise such option, an “LCT Election”), the date of determination for availability under any such basket or ratio and whether any such action or transaction is permitted (or any requirement or condition therefor is complied with or satisfied (including as to the absence of any continuing Default or Event of Default)) under this Indenture shall be deemed to be the date (the “LCT Test Date”) the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is entered into (or, if applicable, the date of delivery of an irrevocable declaration of a Restricted Payment or similar event) and if, after giving pro forma effect to the Limited Condition Transaction and any actions or transactions related thereto (including acquisitions, Investments, the incurrence, issuance or assumption of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence or creation of Liens, repayments, Restricted Payments and Asset Dispositions) and any related pro forma adjustments, the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries would have been permitted to take such actions or consummate such transactions on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with such ratio, test or basket (and any related requirements and conditions), such ratio, test or basket (and any related requirements and conditions) shall be deemed to have been complied with (or satisfied) for all purposes (in the case of Indebtedness, for example, whether such Indebtedness is committed, issued, assumed or incurred at the LCT Test Date or at any time thereafter); provided that (a) if financial statements for one or more subsequent fiscal quarters shall have become available, the Issuer may elect, in its sole discretion, to redetermine all such ratios, tests or baskets on the basis of such financial statements, in which case, such date of redetermination shall thereafter be the applicable LCT Test Date for purposes of such ratios, tests or baskets, (b) except as contemplated in the foregoing clause (a), compliance with such ratios, test or baskets (and any related requirements and conditions) shall not be determined or

 

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tested at any time after the applicable LCT Test Date for such Limited Condition Transaction and any actions or transaction related thereto (including acquisitions, Investments, the incurrence, issuance or assumption of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence or creation of Liens, repayments, Restricted Payments and Asset Dispositions) and (c) Consolidated Interest Expense for purposes of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated using an assumed interest rate as reasonably determined by the Issuer.

For the avoidance of doubt, if the Issuer has made an LCT Election, (1) if any of the ratios, tests or baskets for which compliance was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date would at any time after the LCT Test Date have been exceeded or otherwise failed to have been complied with as a result of fluctuations in any such ratio, test or basket, including due to fluctuations in EBITDA or total assets of the Issuer or the Person subject to such Limited Condition Transaction, such baskets, tests or ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded or failed to have been complied with as a result of such fluctuations; (2) if any related requirements and conditions (including as to the absence of any continuing Default or Event of Default) for which compliance or satisfaction was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date would at any time after the LCT Test Date not have been complied with or satisfied (including due to the occurrence or continuation of an Default or Event of Default), such requirements and conditions will not be deemed to have been failed to be complied with or satisfied (and such Default or Event of Default shall be deemed not to have occurred or be continuing); and (3) in calculating the availability under any ratio, test or basket in connection with any action or transaction unrelated to such Limited Condition Transaction following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or the date that the definitive agreement or date for redemption, purchase or repayment specified in an irrevocable notice for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated, expires or passes (or, if applicable, the irrevocable notice is terminated, expires or passes), as applicable, without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio, test or basket shall be determined or tested giving pro forma effect to such Limited Condition Transaction.

(d)               Any reference herein to a merger, consolidation, amalgamation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, limited partnership or trust, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability company, limited partnership or trust (or the unwinding of such a division or allocation), as if it were a merger, consolidation, amalgamation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, as applicable, to, of or with a separate Person. Any division of a limited liability company, limited partnership or trust shall constitute a separate Person hereunder (and each division of any limited liability company, limited partnership or trust that is a Subsidiary, Restricted Subsidiary, Unrestricted Subsidiary, joint venture or any other like term shall also constitute such a Person or entity).

ARTICLE II

THE NOTES

SECTION 2.1.       Form, Dating and Terms.

(a)               The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Initial Notes issued on the date hereof will be in an aggregate principal amount of $400,000,000. In addition, the Issuer may issue, from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, Additional Notes (as provided herein) without the consent of holders. Furthermore, Notes may be authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer, exchange or in lieu of other Notes pursuant to Sections 2.2, 2.6, 2.11, 2.13, 5.6 or 9.5, in connection with an Asset Disposition Offer pursuant to Section 3.5 or in connection with a Change of Control Offer pursuant to Section 3.9.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Issuer may not issue any Additional Notes, unless such issuance is in compliance with Section 3.2.

With respect to any Additional Notes, the Issuer shall set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, the following information:

 

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(A)       the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture;

(B)       the issue price and the issue date of such Additional Notes, including the date from which interest shall accrue and the first interest payment date; and

(C)       whether such Additional Notes shall be Restricted Notes.

In authenticating and delivering Additional Notes, the Trustee shall receive and shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, in addition to the Opinion of Counsel and Officer’s Certificate required by Section 13.2, an Opinion of Counsel as to the due authorization, execution, delivery, validity and enforceability of such Additional Notes.

The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall be considered collectively as a single class for all purposes of this Indenture; provided that any Additional Notes will not be issued with the same CUSIP, ISIN or other identifying number as the Initial Notes unless such Additional Notes are fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Holders of the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes will vote and consent together on all matters to which such Holders are entitled to vote or consent as one class, and none of the Holders of the Initial Notes or the Additional Notes shall have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter to which such Holders are entitled to vote or consent.

(b)               The Initial Notes are being offered and sold by the Issuer pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes (if issued as Restricted Notes) (the “Additional Restricted Notes”) will be resold initially only to (A) persons the Initial Purchasers reasonably believe to be QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A and (B) Non-U.S. Persons in reliance on Regulation S. Such Initial Notes and Additional Restricted Notes may thereafter be transferred to, among others, persons reasonably believed to be QIBs and purchasers in reliance on Regulation S, in each case, in accordance with the procedure described herein. Additional Notes offered after the date hereof may be offered and sold by the Issuer from time to time pursuant to one or more purchase agreements in accordance with applicable law.

Initial Notes and Additional Restricted Notes offered and sold to persons reasonably believed to be QIBs in the United States of America in reliance on Rule 144A (the “Rule 144A Notes”) shall be issued in the form of a permanent global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A, which is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Indenture, including appropriate legends as set forth in Section 2.1(d) (the “Rule 144A Global Note”), deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for DTC, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The Rule 144A Global Note may be represented by more than one certificate if so required by DTC’s rules regarding the maximum principal amount to be represented by a single certificate. The aggregate principal amount of the Rule 144A Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for DTC or its nominee, as hereinafter provided.

Initial Notes and any Additional Restricted Notes offered and sold outside the United States of America (the “Regulation S Notes”) in reliance on Regulation S shall initially be issued in the form of a temporary global Note (the “Temporary Regulation S Global Note”). Beneficial interests in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note will be exchanged for beneficial interests in a corresponding permanent global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A, including appropriate legends as set forth in Section 2.1(d) (the “Permanent Regulation S Global Note” and, together with the Temporary Regulation S Global Note, each a “Regulation S Global Note”) within a reasonable period after the expiration of the Restricted Period (as defined below) upon delivery of the certification contemplated by Section 2.7. Each Regulation S Global Note will be deposited upon issuance with, or on behalf of, the Trustee as custodian for DTC in the manner described in this Article II. Prior to the 40th day after the later of the commencement of the offering of the Initial Notes and the Issue Date (such period through and including such 40th day, the “Restricted Period”), interests in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note may only be transferred to non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S, unless exchanged for interests in a Global Note in accordance with the transfer and certification requirements described herein. Until so exchanged, the Temporary Notes shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as Permanent Notes.

 

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Investors may hold their interests in the Regulation S Global Note through organizations other than Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (“Euroclear”) or Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“Clearstream”) that are participants in DTC’s system or directly through Euroclear or Clearstream, if they are participants in such systems, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in such systems. If such interests are held through Euroclear or Clearstream, Euroclear and Clearstream will hold such interests in the applicable Regulation S Global Note on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in their respective names on the books of their respective depositaries. Such depositaries, in turn, will hold such interests in the applicable Regulation S Global Note in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC.

The Regulation S Global Note may be represented by more than one certificate if so required by DTC’s rules regarding the maximum principal amount to be represented by a single certificate. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for DTC or its nominee, as hereinafter provided.

The Rule 144A Global Note and the Regulation S Global Note are sometimes collectively herein referred to as the “Global Notes.”

The principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes shall be payable at the office or agency of the Paying Agent designated by the Issuer maintained for such purpose (which shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office maintained for such purpose), or at such other office or agency of the Issuer as may be maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 2.3; provided, however, that, at the option of the Paying Agent, each installment of interest may be paid by (i) check mailed to the respective addresses of the Persons entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear on the Notes Register or (ii) wire transfer to an account located in the United States maintained by the payee, subject to the last sentence of this paragraph. Payments in respect of Notes represented by a Global Note (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by DTC. Payments in respect of Notes represented by Definitive Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) held by a Holder of at least $1,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by Definitive Notes will be made in accordance with the Notes Register, or by wire transfer to a Dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 15 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee or Paying Agent, as applicable, may accept in its discretion).

The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage, in addition to those set forth on Exhibit A and in Section 2.1(d). The Issuer shall approve any notation, endorsement or legend on the Notes. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms of the Notes set forth in Exhibit A are part of the terms of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to be bound by such terms.

(c)               Denominations. The Notes shall be issuable only in fully registered form in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(d)               Restrictive, Global Note and Original Issue Discount Legends.

(1)       Restrictive Legends. Unless and until (i) an Initial Note or an Additional Note issued as a Restricted Note is sold under an effective registration statement or (ii) the Issuer and the Trustee receive an Opinion of Counsel satisfactory to the Issuer to the effect that neither such legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are required in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act, the Rule 144A Global Note and the Regulation S Global Note shall each bear the following legend on the face thereof:

THE NOTES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD,

 

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ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION AS SET FORTH BELOW. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“REGULATION S”), (2) AGREES TO OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH NOTE PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE HOLDING PERIOD THEN IMPOSED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION) ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION PURSUANT TO REGULATION S IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903 OR RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE ISSUER’S OR THE REGISTRAR’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM.

(2)       Global Note Legend. Each Global Note, whether or not an Initial Note, shall bear the following legend on the face thereof:

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

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

In the case of the Regulation S Global Note: BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

(3)       Temporary Regulation S Global Notes. The Temporary Regulation S Global Note shall bear the following additional legend on the face thereof:

THIS SECURITY IS A TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE. PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE RESTRICTED PERIOD APPLICABLE HERETO, BENEFICIAL INTERESTS HEREIN MAY NOT BE

 

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HELD BY ANY PERSON OTHER THAN (1) A NON-U.S. PERSON OR (2) A U.S. PERSON THAT PURCHASED SUCH INTEREST IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. BENEFICIAL INTERESTS HEREIN ARE NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR PHYSICAL NOTES OTHER THAN A PERMANENT GLOBAL NOTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE INDENTURE. TERMS IN THIS LEGEND ARE USED AS USED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

(e)               Book-Entry Provisions. (i) This Section 2.1(e) shall apply only to Global Notes deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for DTC, and for which the applicable procedures of DTC shall govern.

(1)       Each Global Note initially shall (x) be registered in the name of DTC or the nominee of DTC, (y) be delivered to the Notes Custodian for DTC and (z) bear legends as set forth in Section 2.1(d)(2). Transfers of a Global Note (but not a beneficial interest therein) will be limited to transfers thereof in whole, but not in part, to DTC, its successors or its respective nominees, except as set forth in Section 2.1(e)(4) and 2.1(f). If a beneficial interest in a Global Note is transferred or exchanged for a beneficial interest in another Global Note, the Notes Custodian will (x) record a decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note being transferred or exchanged equal to the principal amount of such transfer or exchange and (y) record a like increase in the principal amount of the other Global Note. Any beneficial interest in one Global Note that is transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in another Global Note, or exchanged for an interest in another Global Note, will, upon transfer or exchange, cease to be an interest in such Global Note and become an interest in the other Global Note and, accordingly, will thereafter be subject to all transfer and exchange restrictions, if any, and other procedures applicable to beneficial interests in such other Global Note for as long as it remains such an interest.

(2)       Members of, or participants in, DTC (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by DTC or by the Notes Custodian as the custodian of DTC or under such Global Note, and DTC may be treated by the Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuer, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by DTC or impair, as between DTC and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of DTC governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.

(3)       In connection with any transfer of a portion of the beneficial interest in a Global Note pursuant to Section 2.1(f) to beneficial owners who are required to hold Definitive Notes, the Notes Custodian shall reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of such Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the Global Note to be transferred, and the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, one or more Definitive Notes of like tenor and amount.

(4)       In connection with the transfer of an entire Global Note to beneficial owners pursuant to Section 2.1(f), such Global Note shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, to each beneficial owner identified by DTC in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations.

(5)       The registered Holder of a Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any person, including Agent Members and persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.

(6)       Any Holder of a Global Note shall, by acceptance of such Global Note, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Note may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by (i) the Holder of such Global Note (or its agent) or (ii) any holder of a beneficial interest in

 

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such Global Note, and that ownership of a beneficial interest in such Global Note shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.

(f)               Definitive Notes. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes will not be entitled to receive Definitive Notes. Definitive Notes shall be transferred to all beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial interests in a Global Note if (A) DTC notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Note or DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, at a time when DTC is required to be so registered in order to act as depositary, and in each case a successor depositary is not appointed by the Issuer within 90 days of such notice, (B) the Issuer in its sole discretion execute and deliver to the Trustee and Registrar an Officer’s Certificate stating that such Global Note shall be so exchangeable or (C) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Registrar has received a written request from DTC. In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in the second preceding sentence or in clause (A), (B) or (C) of the preceding sentence, the Issuer shall promptly make available to the Registrar a reasonable supply of Definitive Notes. In addition, any Note transferred to an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the Issuer or evidencing a Note that has been acquired by an affiliate in a transaction or series of transactions not involving any public offering must, until one year after the last date on which either the Issuer or any affiliate of the Issuer was an owner of the Note, be in the form of a Definitive Note and bear the legend regarding transfer restrictions in Section 2.1(d)(1). If required to do so pursuant to any applicable law or regulation, beneficial owners may also obtain Definitive Notes in exchange for their beneficial interests in a Global Note upon written request in accordance with DTC’s and the Registrar’s procedures.

(1)       Any Definitive Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note pursuant to Section 2.1(e) shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.6(d), bear the applicable legend regarding transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Note set forth in Section 2.1(d)(1).

(2)       If a Definitive Note is transferred or exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Note, the Trustee will (x) cancel such Definitive Note, (y) record an increase in the principal amount of such Global Note equal to the principal amount of such transfer or exchange and (z) in the event that such transfer or exchange involves less than the entire principal amount of the canceled Definitive Note, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, to the transferring Holder a new Definitive Note representing the principal amount not so transferred.

(3)       If a Definitive Note is transferred or exchanged for another Definitive Note, (x) the Trustee will cancel the Definitive Note being transferred or exchanged, (y) the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, one or more new Definitive Notes in authorized denominations having an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such transfer or exchange to the transferee (in the case of a transfer) or the Holder of the canceled Definitive Note (in the case of an exchange), registered in the name of such transferee or Holder, as applicable, and (z) if such transfer or exchange involves less than the entire principal amount of the canceled Definitive Note, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the Holder thereof, one or more Definitive Notes in authorized denominations having an aggregate principal amount equal to the untransferred or unexchanged portion of the canceled Definitive Notes, registered in the name of the Holder thereof.

(4)       Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, in no event shall a Definitive Note be delivered upon exchange or transfer of a beneficial interest in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note prior to the end of the Restricted Period and the receipt of any certificates required under the provisions of Regulation S.

SECTION 2.2.       Execution and Authentication. One Officer of the Issuer shall sign the Notes for such Issuer by manual, facsimile or PDF signature. If the Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall be valid nevertheless.

 

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A Note shall not be valid until an authorized officer of the Trustee manually authenticates the Note. The signature of the Trustee on a Note shall be conclusive evidence that such Note has been duly and validly authenticated and issued under this Indenture. A Note shall be dated the date of its authentication.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery: (1) Initial Notes for original issue on the Issue Date in an aggregate principal amount of $400,000,000 and (2) subject to the terms of this Indenture, Additional Notes for original issue in an unlimited principal amount, in each case upon a written order of the Issuer signed by one Officer of the Issuer (the “Company Order”). Such Company Order shall specify whether the Notes will be in the form of Definitive Notes or Global Notes, the amount of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated, the Holder of the Notes and whether the Notes are to be Initial Notes or Additional Notes.

The Trustee may appoint an agent (the “Authenticating Agent”) reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate the Notes. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument signed by a Trust Officer, a copy of which shall be furnished to the Issuer. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, any such Authenticating Agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by the Authenticating Agent. An Authenticating Agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

In case the Issuer or any Guarantor, pursuant to Article IV or Section 10.2, as applicable, shall be consolidated or merged with or into any other Person or shall convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and the successor Person resulting from such consolidation, or surviving such merger, or into which the Issuer or any Guarantor shall have been merged, or the Person which shall have received a conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition as aforesaid, shall have executed an indenture supplemental hereto with the Trustee pursuant to Article IV, any of the Notes authenticated or delivered prior to such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition may (but shall not be required), from time to time, at the request of the successor Person, be exchanged for other Notes executed in the name of the successor Person with such changes in phraseology and form as may be appropriate to reflect such successor Person, but otherwise in substance of like tenor as the Notes surrendered for such exchange and of like principal amount; and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order of the successor Person, shall authenticate and make available for delivery Notes as specified in such order for the purpose of such exchange. If Notes shall at any time be authenticated and delivered in any new name of a successor Person pursuant to this Section 2.2 in exchange or substitution for or upon registration of transfer of any Notes, such successor Person, at the option of the Holders but without expense to them, shall provide for the exchange of all Notes at the time outstanding for Notes authenticated and delivered in such new name.

SECTION 2.3.       Registrar and Paying Agent. The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment. The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange (the “Notes Register”). The Issuer may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent and the term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar.

The Issuer shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of each such agent. If the Issuer fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.7. The Issuer or any Guarantor may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or transfer agent.

The Issuer initially appoints DTC to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes. The Issuer initially appoints the Trustee as the Registrar and Paying Agent for the Notes. The Issuer may change any Registrar or Paying Agent without prior notice to the Holders, but upon written notice to such Registrar or Paying Agent and to the Trustee; provided, however, that no such removal shall become effective until (i) acceptance of any appointment by a successor as evidenced by an appropriate agreement entered into by the Issuer and such successor Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee and the passage of any waiting or notice periods

 

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required by DTC procedures or (ii) written notification to the Trustee that the Trustee shall serve as Registrar or Paying Agent until the appointment of a successor in accordance with clause (i) above. The Registrar or Paying Agent may resign at any time upon written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee.

SECTION 2.4.       Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. By no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date on which any principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note is due and payable, the Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient in immediately available funds to pay such principal, premium or interest when due. The Issuer shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that such Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders and the Trustee all money held by such Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes (whether such assets have been distributed to it by the Issuer or other obligors on the Notes), shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Issuer or any Guarantor in making any such payment and shall during the continuance of any default by the Issuer (or any other obligor upon the Notes) in the making of any payment in respect of the Notes, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith deliver to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Notes together with a full accounting thereof. If any of the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders. The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds or assets disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section 2.4, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer) shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee. Upon any bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to the Issuer, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

SECTION 2.5.       Holder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer, on its own behalf and on behalf of each of the Guarantors, shall furnish or cause the Registrar to furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least five (5) Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders.

SECTION 2.6.       Transfer and Exchange.

(a)               A Holder may transfer a Note (or a beneficial interest therein) to another Person or exchange a Note (or a beneficial interest therein) for another Note or Notes of any authorized denomination by presenting to the Registrar a written request therefor stating the name of the proposed transferee or requesting such an exchange, accompanied by any certification, opinion or other document required by this Section 2.6. The Registrar will promptly register any transfer or exchange that meets the requirements of this Section 2.6 by noting the same in the Notes Register maintained by the Registrar for the purpose, and no transfer or exchange will be effective until it is registered in such Notes Register. The transfer or exchange of any Note (or a beneficial interest therein) may only be made in accordance with this Section 2.6 and Section 2.1(e) and 2.1(f), as applicable, and, in the case of a Global Note (or a beneficial interest therein), the applicable rules and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream. The Registrar shall refuse to register any requested transfer or exchange that does not comply with this paragraph and its requirements.

(b)               Transfers of Rule 144A Notes. The following provisions shall apply with respect to any proposed registration of transfer of a Rule 144A Note prior to the date that is one year after the later of the date of its original issue and the last date on which the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto) (the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”):

(1)       a registration of transfer of a Rule 144A Note or a beneficial interest therein to a QIB shall be made upon the representation of the transferee in the form as set forth on the reverse of the Note that it is purchasing for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Issuer as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A

 

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or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon its foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A; provided that no such written representation or other written certification shall be required in connection with the transfer of a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note to a transferee in the form of a beneficial interest in that Rule 144A Global Note in accordance with this Indenture and the applicable procedures of DTC; and

(2)       a registration of transfer of a Rule 144A Note or a beneficial interest therein to a Non-U.S. Person shall be made upon receipt by the Issuer and the Registrar or its agent of a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C from the proposed transferee and the delivery of an Opinion of Counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to the Issuer.

(c)               Transfers of Regulation S Notes. The following provisions shall apply with respect to any proposed transfer of a Regulation S Note prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period:

(1)       a transfer of a Regulation S Note or a beneficial interest therein to a QIB shall be made upon the representation of the transferee, in the form of assignment on the reverse of the certificate, that it is purchasing the Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Issuer as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon its foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A; and

(2)       a transfer of a Regulation S Note or a beneficial interest therein to a Non-U.S. Person shall be made upon receipt by the Registrar or its agent of a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereof from the proposed transferee and receipt by the Registrar or its agent of an Opinion of Counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to the Issuer.

After the expiration of the Restricted Period, interests in the Regulation S Note may be transferred in accordance with applicable law without requiring the certification on Exhibit C or any additional certification.

(d)               Restricted Notes Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes not bearing a Restricted Notes Legend, the Registrar shall deliver Notes that do not bear a Restricted Notes Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes bearing a Restricted Notes Legend, the Registrar shall deliver only Notes that bear a Restricted Notes Legend unless (1) an Initial Note is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement, or (2) there is delivered to the Registrar an Opinion of Counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer to the effect that neither such legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are required in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act. Any Additional Notes sold in a registered offering shall not be required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

(e)               [Reserved].

(f)               Retention of Written Communications. The Registrar shall retain copies of all letters, notices and other written communications received pursuant to Section 2.1 or this Section 2.6 in accordance with applicable law and the Registrar’s customary procedures. The Issuer shall have the right to inspect and make copies of all such letters, notices or other written communications, at the Issuer’s expense, at any reasonable time upon the giving of reasonable prior written notice to the Registrar.

(g)               Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Notes. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall, subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article II, execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Notes and Global Notes at the Issuer’s written request.

 

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No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer may require the Holder to pay a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax assessments or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charges payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.2, 2.6, 2.11, 2.13, 3.5, 5.6 or 9.5).

The Issuer (and the Registrar) shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Note (A) for a period beginning (1) fifteen (15) calendar days before the mailing (or electronic delivery) of a notice of an offer to repurchase or redeem Notes and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing (or electronic delivery) or (2) fifteen (15) calendar days before an interest payment date and ending on such interest payment date or (B) called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Issuer, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Note is registered as the owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, premium, if any, and (subject to paragraph 2 of the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A) interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, including, without limitation, the transfer or exchange of such Note, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Issuer, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Any Definitive Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note pursuant to Section 2.1(f) shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.6(d), bear the applicable legend regarding transfer restrictions applicable to the Definitive Note set forth in Section 2.1(d)(1).

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

(h)               No Obligation of the Trustee. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in, DTC (or other Depositary) or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of DTC (or other Depositary) or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person of any notice (including any notice of redemption or purchase) or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Notes (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders in respect of the Notes shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be DTC or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through DTC subject to the applicable rules and procedures of DTC. The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by DTC (or other Depositary) with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

Neither the Registrar nor the Trustee shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among DTC participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof. Neither the Trustee nor any of its agents shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by DTC (or other Depositary).

SECTION 2.7.       Form of Certificate to be Delivered upon Termination of Restricted Period.

Korn Ferry

1900 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 2600

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Facsimile: (310) 286-2405

 

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Attention: General Counsel

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee

600 S. Fourth Street, 7th Floor

MAC: N9300-070

Minneapolis, MN 55415

Attention:    Bondholder Communications

Email:    BONDHOLDERCOMMUNICATIONS@Wellsfargo.com

Re: Korn Ferry (the “Issuer”)

4.625% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Notes”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This letter relates to Notes represented by a temporary global Note (the “Temporary Regulation S Global Note”). Pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Indenture dated as of December 16, 2019, relating to the Notes (the “Indenture”), we hereby certify that the persons who are the beneficial owners of $[ ] principal amount of Notes represented by the Temporary Regulation S Global Note are persons outside the United States to whom beneficial interests in such Notes could be transferred in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Accordingly, you are hereby requested to issue a Permanent Regulation S Global Note representing the undersigned’s interest in the principal amount of Notes represented by the Temporary Regulation S Global Note, all in the manner provided by the Indenture. We certify that we [are][are not] an Affiliate of the Issuer.

The Trustee and the Issuer are entitled to conclusively rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this letter have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.

 

Very truly yours,

[Name of Transferor]

By:

 

 

  Authorized Signature

 

Signature Guarantee:

  

                                                                              

                                                                                                             

(Signature must be guaranteed)

  

Signature

The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 17Ad-15.

 

 

 

SECTION 2.8.        [Reserved].

SECTION 2.9.        [Reserved].

SECTION 2.10.      [Reserved].

 

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SECTION 2.11.    Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes.

If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the UCC are met, such that the Holder (a) satisfies the Issuer and the Trustee that such Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken within a reasonable time after such Holder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar has not registered a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Issuer and the Trustee in writing prior to the Note being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the UCC (a “protected purchaser”), (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee and (d) provides an indemnity or surety bond, as more fully described below; provided, however, if after the delivery of such replacement Note, a protected purchaser of the Note for which such replacement Note was issued presents for payment or registration such replaced Note, the Trustee and/or the Issuer shall be entitled to recover such replacement Note from the Person to whom it was issued and delivered or any Person taking therefrom, except a protected purchaser, and shall be entitled to recover upon the security or indemnity provided therefor to the extent of any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred by the Issuer or the Trustee in connection therewith. Such Holder shall furnish an indemnity or surety bond sufficient in the judgment of the (i) Trustee to protect the Trustee and (ii) the Issuer to protect the Issuer, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar, from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced, and, in the absence of notice to the Issuer, any Guarantor or the Trustee that such Note has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Issuer shall execute, and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for any such mutilated Note or in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Note, a new Note of like tenor and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuer in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Note, pay such Note.

Upon the issuance of any new Note under this Section 2.11, the Issuer may require that such Holder pay a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of counsel and of the Trustee) in connection therewith.

Subject to the proviso in the initial paragraph of this Section 2.11, every new Note issued pursuant to this Section 2.11 in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Issuer, any Guarantor (if applicable) and any other obligor upon the Notes, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

The provisions of this Section 2.11 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes.

SECTION 2.12.    Outstanding Notes. Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those paid pursuant to Section 2.11 and those described in this Section 2.12 as not outstanding. A Note does not cease to be outstanding in the event the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer holds the Note; provided, however, that (i) for purposes of determining which are outstanding for consent or voting purposes hereunder, the provisions of Section 13.4 shall apply and (ii) in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making a determination whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Notes are present at a meeting of Holders of Notes for quorum purposes or have consented to or voted in favor of any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, amendment or modification hereunder, or relying upon any such quorum, consent or vote, only Notes which a Trust Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be held by the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer shall not be considered outstanding.

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.11 (other than a mutilated Note surrendered for replacement), it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Issuer receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser. A mutilated Note ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Note and replacement pursuant to Section 2.11.

 

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If the Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, by 11:00 a.m. New York City time on a Redemption Date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, and the Paying Agent is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

SECTION 2.13.    Temporary Notes. In the event that Definitive Notes are to be issued under the terms of this Indenture, until such Definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare and upon receipt of a Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form, and shall carry all rights, of Definitive Notes but may have variations that the Issuer considers appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuer shall prepare and upon receipt of a Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Notes. After the preparation of Definitive Notes, the temporary Notes shall be exchangeable for Definitive Notes upon surrender of the temporary Notes at any office or agency maintained by the Issuer for that purpose and such exchange shall be without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Notes, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order, authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor, one or more Definitive Notes representing an equal principal amount of Notes. Until so exchanged, the Holder of temporary Notes shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as a Holder of Definitive Notes.

SECTION 2.14.    Cancellation. The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and dispose of such Notes in accordance with its internal policies and customary procedures (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act and the Trustee). If the Issuer or any Guarantor acquires any of the Notes, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented by such Notes unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation pursuant to this Section 2.14. The Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for any reason other than in connection with a transfer or exchange.

At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, such Global Note shall be returned by DTC to the Trustee for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred in exchange for an interest in another Global Note, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Trustee (if it is then the Notes Custodian for such Global Note) with respect to such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Notes Custodian, to reflect such reduction.

SECTION 2.15.    Payment of Interest; Defaulted Interest. Interest on any Note which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any interest payment date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date, whether or not a Business Day, for such payment at the office or agency of the Issuer maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 2.3.

Any interest on any Note which is payable, but is not paid when the same becomes due and payable and such nonpayment continues for a period of 30 days, shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the regular record date, and such defaulted interest and (to the extent lawful) interest on such defaulted interest at the rate borne by the Notes (such defaulted interest and interest thereon herein collectively called “Defaulted Interest”) shall be paid by the Issuer, at its election, as provided in clause (a) or (b) below:

(a)      The Issuer may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date (as defined below) for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following

 

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manner. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date (not less than 30 days after such notice) of the proposed payment (the “Special Interest Payment Date”), and at the same time the Issuer shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Section 2.15(a). Thereupon the Issuer shall fix a record date (the “Special Record Date”) for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which date shall be not more than twenty (20) calendar days and not less than fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the Special Interest Payment Date and not less than ten (10) calendar days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Issuer shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of such Special Record Date, and in the name and at the expense of the Issuer, the Trustee shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date and Special Interest Payment Date therefor to be given in the manner provided for in Section 13.1, not less than ten (10) calendar days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date and Special Interest Payment Date therefor having been so given, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid on the Special Interest Payment Date to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the provisions in Section 2.15(b).

(b)      The Issuer may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after written notice given by the Issuer to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Section 2.15(b), such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.15, each Note delivered under this Indenture upon registration of, transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Note shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Note.

SECTION 2.16.    CUSIP and ISIN Numbers.

The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” and “ISIN” numbers and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” and “ISIN” numbers in notices of redemption or purchase as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption or purchase and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption or purchase shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such CUSIP and ISIN numbers. The Issuer shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP and ISIN numbers.

ARTICLE III

COVENANTS

SECTION 3.1.    Payment of Notes. The Issuer shall promptly pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and in this Indenture. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due and the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Notes, and they shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Issuer may, to the extent it is required to do so by law, deduct or withhold income or other similar taxes imposed by the United States of America from principal or interest payments hereunder.

SECTION 3.2.    Limitation on Indebtedness.

(a)      The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness); provided, however, that the Issuer and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), if on the date of such incurrence and after giving pro forma effect thereto (including pro forma application of the proceeds thereof), the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is greater than 2.00 to 1.00; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are Non-Guarantors pursuant to this clause (a), together with the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are Non-Guarantors pursuant to Section 3.2(b)(5) (other than subclause (c) thereof), shall not exceed the greater of (a) $80 million and (b) 25.0% of LTM EBITDA at the time of incurrence.

(b)      Section 3.2(a) will not prohibit the incurrence of the following Indebtedness:

(1)      Indebtedness incurred under any Credit Facility (including letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances issued or created under any Credit Facility), and Guarantees in respect of such Indebtedness, up to an aggregate principal amount at the time of incurrence not exceeding the sum of (a) $900 million and (b) an additional amount (with any amounts incurred under this clause (b) deemed to be Secured Indebtedness for this purpose), if after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such additional amount and the application of the proceeds therefrom, the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio would be no greater than 3.25 to 1.00 outstanding at any one time and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

(2)      Guarantees by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness or other obligations is not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture;

(3)      Indebtedness of the Issuer to any Restricted Subsidiary or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that:

(i)          any subsequent issuance or transfer of Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, and

(ii)          any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary,

shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be;

(4)      Indebtedness represented by (a) the Notes (other than any Additional Notes), including any Guarantee thereof, (b) any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clauses (1), (3) or (4)(a) of this Section 3.2(b)) outstanding on the Issue Date and any Guarantees thereof, (c) Refinancing Indebtedness (including with respect to the Notes and any Guarantee thereof) incurred in respect of any Indebtedness described in this clause (4) or clause (2), (5) or (10) of this Section 3.2(b) or incurred pursuant to Section 3.2(a), and (d) Management Advances;

(5)      Indebtedness of (x) the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred or issued to finance an acquisition or Investment or (y) Persons that are acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into, amalgamated or consolidated with the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with

 

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the terms of this Indenture (including designating an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary); provided that such Indebtedness is in an aggregate amount not to exceed (i) the greater of $80 million and 25.0% of LTM EBITDA at the time of incurrence, plus (ii) unlimited additional Indebtedness if after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation, either:

 

  (a)

the Issuer would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 3.2(a);

 

  (b)

the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would not be lower than it was immediately prior to such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation; or

 

  (c)

such Indebtedness constitutes Acquired Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred in contemplation of the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or was otherwise acquired by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary); provided that, in the case of this clause (c), the only obligors with respect to such Indebtedness shall be those Persons who were obligors of such Indebtedness prior to such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are Non-Guarantors pursuant to this paragraph (other than under clause (c)), together with the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are Non-Guarantors pursuant to Section 3.2(a), shall not exceed the greater of (a) $80 million and (b) 25.0% of LTM EBITDA at the time of incurrence;

(6)      Hedging Obligations (excluding Hedging Obligations entered into for speculative purposes);

(7)      Indebtedness represented by Capitalized Lease Obligations or Purchase Money Obligations in an aggregate outstanding principal amount which, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (7) and then outstanding, does not exceed the greater of (a) $80 million and (b) 25% of LTM EBITDA at the time of incurrence and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

(8)      Indebtedness in respect of (a) workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits, property, casualty or liability insurance, self-insurance obligations, customer guarantees, performance, indemnity, surety, judgment, bid, appeal, advance payment (including progress premiums), customs, value added or other similar tax or other guarantees or other similar bonds, instruments or obligations, completion guarantees and warranties or relating to liabilities, obligations or guarantees incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; (b) the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; (c) customer deposits and advance payments (including progress premiums) received from customers for goods or services purchased in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; (d) letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, discounted bills of exchange, discounting or factoring of receivables or payables for credit management purposes, warehouse receipts, guarantees or other similar instruments or obligations issued or entered into, or relating to liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; and (e) Cash Management Obligations;

(9)      Indebtedness arising from agreements providing for guarantees, indemnification, obligations in respect of earn-outs, deferred purchase price or other adjustments of purchase price or, in each case, similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets, a Person (including any Capital Stock of a Subsidiary) or Investment

 

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(other than Guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring or disposing of such business, assets, Person or Investment for the purpose of financing such acquisition or disposition);

(10)    Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount which, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (10) and then outstanding, will not exceed 100% of the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer from the issuance or sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of its Capital Stock or otherwise contributed to the equity (in each case, other than through the issuance of Disqualified Stock, Designated Preferred Stock or an Excluded Contribution) of the Issuer, in each case, subsequent to the Issue Date, and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided, however, that (i) any such net cash proceeds that are so received or contributed shall not increase the amount available for making Restricted Payments to the extent the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries incur Indebtedness in reliance thereon and (ii) any net cash proceeds that are so received or contributed shall be excluded for purposes of incurring Indebtedness pursuant to this clause to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash have been applied to make Restricted Payments;

(11)    Indebtedness of Non-Guarantors in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (a) $65 million and (b) 20% of LTM EBITDA at the time of incurrence, and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

(12)    (a) Indebtedness issued by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries to any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Capital Stock of the Issuer that is permitted by Section 3.3 and (b) Indebtedness consisting of obligations under deferred compensation or any other similar arrangements incurred in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice or in connection with any Investment or any acquisition (by merger, consolidation, amalgamation or otherwise);

(13)    Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount which, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (13) and then outstanding, will not exceed the greater of (i) $160 million and (ii) 50% of LTM EBITDA and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

(14)    Indebtedness in respect of any Qualified Securitization Financing or any Receivables Facility in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $80 million and (ii) 25% of LTM EBITDA at the time of incurrence, and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

(15)    any obligation, or guaranty of any obligation, of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to reimburse or indemnify a Person extending credit to customers of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice for all or any portion of the amounts payable by such customers to the Person extending such credit;

(16)    Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent that the net proceeds thereof are promptly deposited with the Trustee to satisfy or discharge the Notes or exercise the Issuer’s legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, in each case, in accordance with this Indenture;

(17)    Indebtedness consisting of financing of company owned life insurance premiums in the ordinary course of business; provided that such Indebtedness is supported by the cash value of the underlying policies; and

(18)    Cash Secured Credit Facilities in an aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed $35 million.

 

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(c)      For purposes of determining compliance with, and the outstanding principal amount of any particular Indebtedness incurred pursuant to and in compliance with, this Section 3.2:

(1)      in the event that all or any portion of any item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in Section 3.2(a) and Section 3.2(b), the Issuer, in its sole discretion, shall classify, and may from time to time reclassify, such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) and only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in Section 3.2(a) or one of the clauses of Section 3.2(b);

(2)      additionally, all or any portion of any item of Indebtedness may later be reclassified as having been incurred pursuant to any type of Indebtedness described in Section 3.2(a) or Section 3.2(b) so long as such Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred pursuant to such provision and any related Liens are permitted to be incurred at the time of reclassification (it being understood that any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to one of the clauses of Section 3.2(b) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of such clause but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of the Section 3.2(a) from and after the first date on which the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries could have incurred such Indebtedness under Section 3.2(a) without reliance on such clause);

(3)      all Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date under the Credit Agreement shall be deemed incurred on the Issue Date under Section 3.2(b)(1);

(4)      in the case of any Refinancing Indebtedness, when measuring the outstanding amount of such Indebtedness, such amount shall not include the aggregate amount of accrued and unpaid interest, dividends, premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs, underwriting discounts, fees, costs and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) in connection with such refinancing;

(5)      Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments relating to, or Liens securing, Indebtedness that is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included;

(6)      if obligations in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments are incurred pursuant to any Credit Facility and are being treated as incurred pursuant to Section 3.2(a) or any clause of Section 3.2(b) and the letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments relate to other Indebtedness, then such other Indebtedness shall not be included;

(7)      the principal amount of any Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, will be equal to the greater of the maximum mandatory redemption or repurchase price (not including, in either case, any redemption or repurchase premium) or the liquidation preference thereof;

(8)      Indebtedness permitted by this Section 3.2 need not be permitted solely by reference to one provision permitting such Indebtedness but may be permitted in part by one such provision and in part by one or more other provisions of this Section 3.2 permitting such Indebtedness;

(9)      for all purposes under this Indenture, including for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio or the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio, as applicable, in connection with the incurrence, issuance or assumption of any Indebtedness pursuant to Section 3.2(a) or Section 3.2(b) or the incurrence or creation of any Lien pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Liens,” the Issuer may elect, at its option, to treat all or any portion of the committed amount of any Indebtedness (and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder) which is to be incurred (or any commitment in respect thereof) or secured by such Lien, as the case may be (any such committed amount elected until revoked as described below, the “Reserved Indebtedness Amount”), as being incurred as of such election date, and, if such Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio or other provision of this Indenture, as applicable, is complied with (or satisfied) with respect thereto on such election date, any subsequent borrowing or reborrowing thereunder (and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’

 

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acceptances thereunder) will be deemed to be permitted under this Section 3.2 or the definition of “Permitted Liens,” as applicable, whether or not the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio or other provision of this Indenture, as applicable, at the actual time of any subsequent borrowing or reborrowing (or issuance or creation of letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances thereunder) is complied with (or satisfied) for all purposes (including as to the absence of any continuing Default or Event of Default); provided that for purposes of subsequent calculations of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio or other provision of this Indenture, as applicable, the Reserved Indebtedness Amount shall be deemed to be outstanding, whether or not such amount is actually outstanding, for so long as such commitments are outstanding or until the Issuer revokes an election of a Reserved Indebtedness Amount;

(10)    notwithstanding anything in this Section 3.2 to the contrary, in the case of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness initially incurred in reliance on Section 3.2(b) measured by reference to a percentage of LTM EBITDA at the time of incurrence, if such refinancing would cause the percentage of LTM EBITDA restriction to be exceeded if calculated based on the percentage of LTM EBITDA on the date of such refinancing, such percentage of LTM EBITDA restriction shall not be deemed to be exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced, plus accrued and unpaid interest, dividends, premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs, underwriting discounts, fees, costs and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) in connection with such refinancing; and

(11)    the amount of Indebtedness issued at a price that is less than the principal amount thereof will be equal to the amount of the liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

Accrual of interest, accrual of dividends, the accretion of accreted value, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness, the payment of dividends in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock or the reclassification of commitments or obligations not treated as Indebtedness due to a change in GAAP, will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 3.2.

If at any time an Unrestricted Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary as of such date (and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under this Section 3.2, the Issuer shall be in default of this Section 3.2).

For purposes of determining compliance with any Dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the 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 Dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such Dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed (a) the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced plus (b) the aggregate amount of accrued and unpaid interest, dividends, premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs, underwriting discounts, fees, costs and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) in connection with such refinancing.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 3.2, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary may incur pursuant to this Section 3.2 shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies. 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.

 

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This Indenture will not treat (1) unsecured Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured or (2) senior Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to any other senior Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral or is secured by different collateral or because it is guaranteed by different obligors.

SECTION 3.3.    Limitation on Restricted Payments.

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

(1)      declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on or in respect of the Issuer’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Capital Stock (including any such payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries) except:

(i)      dividends, payments or distributions payable in Capital Stock of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase such Capital Stock of the Issuer; and

(ii)     dividends, payments or distributions payable to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary (and, in the case of any such Restricted Subsidiary making such dividend or distribution, to holders of its Capital Stock other than the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary on no more than a pro rata basis);

(2)      purchase, repurchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Capital Stock of the Issuer held by Persons other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(3)      purchase, repurchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, prior to scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment, any Subordinated Indebtedness (other than (i) any such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case, due within one year of the date of purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement and (ii) any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 3.2(b)(3)); or

(4)      make any Restricted Investment;

(any such dividend, distribution, payment, purchase, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, other acquisition, retirement or Restricted Investment referred to in clauses (1) through (4) above are referred to herein as a “Restricted Payment”), if at the time the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary makes such Restricted Payment:

(i)       an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would immediately thereafter result therefrom); or

(ii)      the Issuer is not able to incur an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 3.2(a) immediately after giving effect, on a pro forma basis, to such Restricted Payment; or

(iii)     the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payment and all other Restricted Payments made subsequent to the Issue Date (and not returned or rescinded) (including Permitted Payments made pursuant to Section 3.3(b)(1) (without duplication), Section 3.3(b)(6), Section 3.3(b)(7), Section 3.3(b)(14)(ii) and Section 3.3(b)(17), but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by Section 3.3(b)) would exceed the sum of (without duplication):

(A)      50% of Consolidated Net Income for the period (treated as one accounting period) from the first day of the first fiscal quarter in which the Issue Date occurs to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of such

 

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Restricted Payment for which consolidated financial statements are available (or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit);

(B)      100% of the aggregate amount of cash, and the fair market value of property or assets or marketable securities, received by the Issuer from the issue or sale of its Capital Stock or as the result of a merger or consolidation with another Person subsequent to the Issue Date or otherwise contributed to the equity (in each case other than through the issuance of Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary (including the aggregate principal amount of any Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary contributed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary for cancellation) or that becomes part of the capital of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary through consolidation or merger subsequent to the Issue Date (other than (x) net cash proceeds or property or assets or marketable securities received from an issuance or sale of such Capital Stock to a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer for the benefit of their employees to the extent funded by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, (y) cash or property or assets or marketable securities to the extent that any Restricted Payment has been made from such proceeds in reliance on Section 3.3(b)(6) and (z) Excluded Contributions);

(C)      100% of the aggregate amount of cash, and the fair market value of property or assets or marketable securities, received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from the issuance or sale (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer for the benefit of their employees to the extent funded by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary) by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary subsequent to the Issue Date of any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock that has been converted into or exchanged for Capital Stock of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) plus, without duplication, the amount of any cash, and the fair market value of property or assets or marketable securities, received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary upon such conversion or exchange;

(D)      100% of the aggregate amount received in cash and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Issuer, of marketable securities or other property received by means of: (i) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of, or other returns on Investment from, Restricted Investments made by the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases and redemptions of, or cash distributions or cash interest received in respect of, such Investments from the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Restricted Investments by the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case after the Issue Date; or (ii) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a dividend, payment or distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than to the extent of the amount of the Investment that constituted a Permitted Investment or was made under Section 3.3(b)(14) and will increase the amount available under the applicable clause of the definition of “Permitted Investment” or Section 3.3(b)(14), as the case may be) or a dividend, payment or distribution from a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the extent of the amount of the Investment that constituted a Permitted Investment or was made under Section 3.3(b)(14) and will increase the amount available under the applicable clause of the definition of “Permitted Investment” or Section 3.3(b)(14), as the case may be) after the Issue Date;

(E)      in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or the merger, amalgamation or consolidation of an Unrestricted

 

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Subsidiary into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, the fair market value of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary (or the assets transferred), as determined in good faith by the Issuer at the time of the redesignation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation or transfer of assets (after taking into consideration any Indebtedness associated with the Unrestricted Subsidiary so designated or merged, amalgamated or consolidated or Indebtedness associated with the assets so transferred), other than to the extent of the amount of the Investment that constituted a Permitted Investment or was made under Section 3.3(b)(14) and will increase the amount available under the applicable clause of the definition of “Permitted Investment” or Section 3.3(b)(14), as the case may be; and

(F)      $160 million.

(b)      Section 3.3(a) will not prohibit any of the following (collectively, “Permitted Payments”):

(1)      the payment of 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 Indenture or the redemption, repurchase or retirement of Indebtedness if, at the date of any redemption notice, such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture as if it were and is deemed at such time to be a Restricted Payment at the time of such notice;

(2)      (a) any prepayment, purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, discharge, retirement or other acquisition of Capital Stock, including any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon (“Treasury Capital Stock”) or Subordinated Indebtedness made by exchange (including any such exchange pursuant to the exercise of a conversion right or privilege in connection with which cash is paid in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares) for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Capital Stock of the Issuer to the extent contributed to the Issuer (in each case, other than Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) (“Refunding Capital Stock”), (b) the declaration and payment of dividends on Treasury Capital Stock out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale or issuance (other than through the issuance of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock) to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries and (c) if immediately prior to the retirement of Treasury Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions thereon was permitted under Section 3.3(b)(11), the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions on the Refunding Capital Stock in an aggregate amount per year no greater than the aggregate amount of distributions or dividends per annum that were declarable and payable on such Treasury Capital Stock immediately prior to such retirement;

(3)      any prepayment, purchase, repurchase, exchange, redemption, defeasance, discharge, retirement or other acquisition of Subordinated Indebtedness made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 3.2;

(4)      any prepayment, purchase, repurchase, exchange, redemption, defeasance, discharge, retirement or other acquisition of Preferred Stock of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Preferred Stock of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that, in each case, is permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 3.2;

(5)      any prepayment, purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, discharge, retirement or other acquisition of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary:

 

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(i)      from net cash proceeds to the extent permitted under Section 3.5, but only if the Issuer shall have first complied with Section 3.5 and purchased all Notes tendered pursuant to any offer to repurchase all the Notes required thereby, prior to prepaying, purchasing, repurchasing, redeeming, defeasing, discharging, retiring or otherwise acquiring such Subordinated Indebtedness; or

(ii)      to the extent required by the agreement governing such Subordinated Indebtedness, following the occurrence of (i) a Change of Control (or other similar event described therein as a “change of control”) or (ii) an Asset Disposition (or other similar event described therein as an “asset disposition” or “asset sale”), but only if the Issuer shall have first complied with Section 3.5 or Section 3.9, as applicable, and purchased all Notes tendered pursuant to the offer to repurchase all the Notes required thereby, prior to purchasing, repurchasing, redeeming, defeasing or otherwise acquiring or retiring such Subordinated Indebtedness; or

(iii)      consisting of Acquired Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred (A) to provide all or any portion of the funds utilized to consummate the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or was otherwise acquired by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or (B) otherwise in connection with or contemplation of such acquisition);

(6)       a Restricted Payment to pay for the prepayment, purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, discharge, retirement or other acquisition of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer held by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any management equity plan, stock option plan, phantom equity plan or any other management, employee benefit or other compensatory plan or agreement (and any successor plans or arrangements thereto), employment, termination or severance agreement, or any stock subscription or equityholder agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any principal and interest payable on any Indebtedness issued by the Issuer in connection with such prepayment, purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, discharge, retirement or other acquisition), including any Capital Stock rolled over, accelerated or paid out by or to any employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer in connection with any transaction; provided, however, that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause do not exceed $20 million in any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to the next two succeeding calendar years; provided, further, that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(i)       the cash proceeds from the sale of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer to any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries that occurred after the Issue Date, to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Capital Stock have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of Section 3.3(a)(4)(iii); plus

(ii)      the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date; less

(iii)     the amount of any Restricted Payments made in previous calendar years pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 3.3(b)(6);

provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer or Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Capital Stock of the Issuer will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 3.3 or any other provision of this Indenture;

 

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(7)      the declaration and payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, issued in accordance with Section 3.2;

(8)      payments made or expected to be made by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of withholding or similar taxes payable in connection with the exercise or vesting of Capital Stock or any other equity award by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and purchases, repurchases, redemptions, defeasances or other acquisitions or retirements of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of stock options, warrants, equity-based awards or other rights in respect thereof if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise price thereof or payments in respect of withholding or similar taxes payable upon exercise or vesting thereof;

(9)      payments by the Issuer to holders of Capital Stock of the Issuer in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares of such Capital Stock; provided, however, that any such payment, loan, advance, dividend or distribution shall not be for the purpose of evading any limitation of this Section 3.3 or otherwise to facilitate any dividend or other return of capital to the holders of such Capital Stock (as determined in good faith by the Issuer);

(10)     Restricted Payments that are made (a) in an amount not to exceed the amount of Excluded Contributions or (b) in an amount equal to the amount of net cash proceeds from an asset sale or disposition in respect of property or assets acquired, if the acquisition of such property or assets was financed with Excluded Contributions; provided that such amount will not increase the amount available pursuant to Section 3.3(a)(iii)(B);

(11)     (i) the distributions or declaration and payment of dividends on Designated Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued after the Issue Date; and (ii) the distributions or declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock; provided that for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which consolidated financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock or declaration of such dividends or distributions on such Refunding Capital Stock, after giving effect to such payment on a pro forma basis the Issuer would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the test set forth in Section 3.2(a);

(12)     distributions, by dividend or otherwise, or other transfer or disposition of shares of Capital Stock of, or equity interests in, an Unrestricted Subsidiary (or a Restricted Subsidiary that owns one or more Unrestricted Subsidiaries and no other material assets), or Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary by an Unrestricted Subsidiary (or a Restricted Subsidiary that owns one or more Unrestricted Subsidiaries and no other material assets), in each case, other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries, substantially all the assets of which are cash and Cash Equivalents or proceeds thereof;

(13)     distributions or payments of Securitization Fees, sales contributions and other transfers of Securitization Assets or Receivables Assets and purchases of Securitization Assets or Receivables Assets pursuant to a Securitization Repurchase Obligation, in each case in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility;

(14)     so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (or would result therefrom) (i) Restricted Payments (including loans or advances) in an aggregate amount outstanding at the time made not to exceed the greater of $160 million and 50% of LTM EBITDA at such time, and (ii) any Restricted Payments, so long as immediately after giving pro forma effect to the payment of any such Restricted Payment and the incurrence of any Indebtedness the net proceeds of which are used to make such Restricted Payment, the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio shall be no greater than 3.50 to 1.00;

 

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(15)     mandatory redemptions of Disqualified Stock issued as a Restricted Payment or as consideration for a Permitted Investment;

(16)     payments or distributions to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law (including in connection with, or as a result of, exercise of dissenters’ or appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or action (whether actual, contingent or potential)), pursuant to or in connection with a merger, amalgamation, consolidation or transfer of assets that complies with Section 4.1 hereof; and

(17)     Restricted Payments by the Issuer in order to effectuate regularly scheduled dividend payments in an aggregate amount per fiscal year of the Issuer not to exceed $25 million.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 3.3, in the event that a Restricted Payment or Investment (or portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Payments described in the clauses above, or is permitted pursuant to Section 3.3(a) and/or one or more of the clauses contained in the definition of “Permitted Investment,” the Issuer will be entitled to divide or classify (or later divide, classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such Restricted Payment or Investment (or portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 3.3, including as an Investment pursuant to one or more of the clauses contained in the definition of “Permitted Investment.”

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the fair market value on the date of such Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be paid, transferred or issued by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to such Restricted Payment. The fair market value of any cash Restricted Payment shall be its face amount, and the fair market value of any non-cash Restricted Payment, property or assets other than cash shall be determined conclusively by the Issuer acting in good faith.

In connection with any commitment, definitive agreement or similar event relating to an Investment, the Issuer or applicable Restricted Subsidiary may designate such Investment as having occurred on the date of the commitment, definitive agreement or similar event relating thereto (such date, the “Election Date”) if, after giving pro forma effect to such Investment and all related transactions in connection therewith and any related pro forma adjustments, the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries would have been permitted to make such Investment on the relevant Election Date in compliance with this Indenture, and any related subsequent actual making of such Investment will be deemed for all purposes under this Indenture to have been made on such Election Date, including for purposes of calculating any ratio, compliance with any test, usage of any baskets hereunder (if applicable) and Consolidated EBITDA and for purposes of determining whether there exists any Default or Event of Default (and all such calculations on and after the Election Date until the termination, expiration, passing, rescission, retraction or rescindment of such commitment, definitive agreement or similar event shall be made on a pro forma basis giving effect thereto and all related transactions in connection therewith).

Unrestricted Subsidiaries may use value transferred from the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Permitted Investment to purchase or otherwise acquire Indebtedness or Capital Stock of the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries, and to transfer value to the holders of the Capital Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and to Affiliates thereof, and such purchase, acquisition, or transfer will not be deemed to be a “direct or indirect” action by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

If the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary makes a Restricted Payment which at the time of the making of such Restricted Payment would in the good faith determination of the Issuer be permitted under the provisions of this Indenture, such Restricted Payment shall be deemed to have been made in compliance with this Indenture notwithstanding any subsequent adjustments made in good faith to the Issuer’s financial statements affecting Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for any period.

 

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SECTION 3.4.    Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries.

(a)              The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Guarantors) to, create or otherwise cause or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Guarantors) to:

 

  (1)

pay dividends or make any other distributions in cash or otherwise on its Capital Stock or pay any Indebtedness or other obligations owed to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor;

 

  (2)

make any loans or advances to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor; or

 

  (3)

sell, lease or transfer any of its property or assets to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor;

provided that (x) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock and (y) the subordination of (including the application of any standstill requirements to) loans or advances made to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed to constitute such an encumbrance or restriction.

(b)              Section 3.4(a) shall not prohibit:

(1)        any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to (i) any Credit Facility, or (ii) any other agreement or instrument, in each case, in effect at or entered into on the Issue Date;

(2)        this Indenture, the Notes, and the Note Guarantees;

(3)        any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement or instrument of a Person or relating to any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of a Person, entered into on or before the date on which such Person was acquired by or merged, consolidated or otherwise combined with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, or was designated as a Restricted Subsidiary or on which such agreement or instrument is assumed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an acquisition of assets (other than Capital Stock or Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, or to provide all or any portion of the funds utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or was acquired by the Issuer or was merged, consolidated or otherwise combined with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or entered into in contemplation of or in connection with such transaction) and outstanding on such date; provided that, for the purposes of this clause (3), if another Person is the Successor Issuer, any Subsidiary thereof or agreement or instrument of such Person or any such Subsidiary shall be deemed acquired or assumed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary when such Person becomes the Successor Issuer;

(4)        any encumbrance or restriction:

(i)        that restricts in a customary manner the subletting, assignment or transfer of any property or asset that is subject to a lease, license or similar contract or agreement, or the assignment or transfer of any lease, license or other contract or agreement;

(ii)      contained in mortgages, pledges, charges or other security agreements permitted under this Indenture or securing Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary permitted under this Indenture to the extent such encumbrances or restrictions restrict the transfer or encumbrance of the property or assets subject to such mortgages, pledges, charges or other security agreements; or

 

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(iii)     pursuant to customary provisions restricting dispositions of real property interests set forth in any reciprocal easement agreements of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(5)        any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to Purchase Money Obligations and Capitalized Lease Obligations permitted under this Indenture that impose encumbrances or restrictions on the property so acquired;

(6)        any encumbrance or restriction imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the direct or indirect sale or disposition to a Person of Capital Stock or assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (or the property or assets that are subject to such restriction) pending the closing of such sale or disposition;

(7)        customary provisions in leases, sub-leases, licenses, sublicenses, shareholder agreements, joint venture agreements and other similar agreements and instruments;

(8)        encumbrances or restrictions arising or existing by reason of applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order, or required by any regulatory authority;

(9)        any encumbrance or restriction on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(10)      any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to Hedging Obligations;

(11)      other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries permitted to be Incurred or issued subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.2 that impose restrictions solely on the Foreign Subsidiaries party thereto or their Subsidiaries;

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

(13)      any encumbrance or restriction arising pursuant to an agreement or instrument (which, if it relates to any Indebtedness, shall only be permitted if such Indebtedness is permitted to be Incurred pursuant to the provisions of the covenant described under Section 3.2) if the encumbrances and restrictions contained in any such agreement or instrument taken as a whole (i) are not, in the Issuer’s good faith judgment, materially less favorable to the Holders than the encumbrances and restrictions contained in the Credit Agreement, together with the security documents associated therewith as in effect on the Issue Date or (ii) either (A) the Issuer determines at the time of entry into such agreement or instrument that such encumbrances or restrictions will not adversely affect, in any material respect, the Issuer’s ability to make principal or interest payments on the Notes or (B) such encumbrance or restriction applies only during the continuance of a default relating to such agreement or instrument;

(14)      any encumbrance or restriction existing by reason of any Lien permitted under Section 3.6 or

(15)      any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement or instrument effecting a refinancing of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to, or that otherwise refinances, an agreement or instrument referred to in clauses (1) to (14) of this Section 3.4(b) or this clause (15) (an “Initial Agreement”) or contained in any amendment, supplement or other modification to an agreement referred to in clauses (1) to (14) of this Section 3.4(b) or this clause (15); provided, however, that the encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in any such agreement or instrument are no less favorable in any material respect to the Holders taken as a whole than the encumbrances and restrictions contained in the Initial Agreement or Initial Agreements to which such refinancing or amendment, supplement or other modification relates (as determined in good faith by the Issuer).

 

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SECTION 3.5.      Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock.

(a)              The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any Asset Disposition unless:

(1)      the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration (including by way of relief from, or by any other Person assuming responsibility for, any liabilities, contingent or otherwise) at least equal to the fair market value (such fair market value to be determined on the date of contractually agreeing to such Asset Disposition), as determined in good faith by the Issuer, of the shares and assets subject to such Asset Disposition (including, for the avoidance of doubt, if such Asset Disposition is a Permitted Asset Swap);

(2)      in any such Asset Disposition, or series of related Asset Dispositions (except to the extent the Asset Disposition is a Permitted Asset Swap), at least 75% of the consideration from such Asset Disposition, together with all other Asset Dispositions since the Issue Date (on a cumulative basis) (including by way of relief from, or by any other Person assuming responsibility for, any liabilities, contingent or otherwise) received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; and

(3)      within 365 days from the later of (A) the date of such Asset Disposition and (B) the receipt of the Net Available Cash from such Asset Disposition (as may be extended by an Acceptable Commitment as set forth below, the “Proceeds Application Period”), an amount equal to 100% of such Net Available Cash is applied, to the extent the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, elects (or is required by the terms of any Indebtedness):

(i)      (a) to reduce, prepay, repay or purchase any Secured Indebtedness, including Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement (or any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof), (b) to reduce, prepay, repay or purchase Pari Passu Indebtedness; provided that the Issuer ratably repays the Notes, (c) to make an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Disposition Offer) to redeem Notes as described under Section 5.7 or purchase Notes through open-market purchases or in privately negotiated transactions, or (d) to reduce, prepay, repay or purchase any Indebtedness of a Non-Guarantor (in each case, other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary); provided, however, that, in connection with any reduction, prepayment, repayment or purchase of Indebtedness pursuant to this clause (i), the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary will retire such Indebtedness and will cause the related commitment (other than obligations in respect of any asset-based credit facility to the extent the assets sold or otherwise disposed of in connection with such Asset Disposition constituted “borrowing base assets”) to be reduced in an amount equal to the principal amount so reduced, prepaid, repaid or purchased;

(ii)      (a) to invest (including capital expenditures) in or commit to invest in Additional Assets (including by means of an investment in Additional Assets by a Restricted Subsidiary); or (b) to invest (including capital expenditures) in any one or more businesses, properties or assets that replace the businesses, properties and/or assets that are the subject of such Asset Disposition, with any such investment made by way of a capital or other lease valued at the present value of the minimum amount of payments under such lease (as reasonably determined by the Issuer); provided, however, that a binding agreement shall be treated as a permitted application of Net Available Cash from the date of such commitment with the good faith expectation that an amount equal to Net Available Cash will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 180 days of such commitment (an “Acceptable Commitment”); or

(iii)      any combination of the foregoing;

provided that (1) pending the final application of the amount of any such Net Available Cash pursuant to this Section 3.5, the Issuer or the applicable Restricted Subsidiaries may apply such Net Available Cash temporarily to reduce Indebtedness (including under any Credit Facilities) or otherwise apply such Net Available Cash in any

 

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manner not prohibited by this Indenture, and (2) the Issuer (or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) may elect to invest in Additional Assets prior to receiving the Net Available Cash attributable to any given Asset Disposition (provided that such investment shall be made no earlier than the earliest of notice to the Trustee of the relevant Asset Disposition, execution of a definitive agreement for the relevant Asset Disposition, and consummation of the relevant Asset Disposition) and deem the amount so invested to be applied pursuant to and in accordance with clause (ii) above with respect to such Asset Disposition.

If, with respect to any Asset Disposition, at the expiration of the Proceeds Application Period with respect to such Asset Disposition, there remains Net Available Cash in excess of $50 million (such amount of Net Available Cash that is in excess of $50 million, “Excess Proceeds”), then subject to the limitations with respect to Foreign Dispositions set forth below, the Issuer shall make an offer (an “Asset Disposition Offer”) no later than ten business days after the expiration of the Proceeds Application Period to all Holders of Notes and, if required by the terms of any Pari Passu Indebtedness, to all holders of such Pari Passu Indebtedness, to purchase the maximum principal amount of such Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness, as appropriate, on a pro rata basis, that may be purchased out of such Excess Proceeds, if any, at an offer price, in the case of the Notes, in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or in the event such other Indebtedness was issued with original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any (or such lesser price with respect to Pari Passu Indebtedness, if any, as may be provided by the terms of such other Indebtedness), to, but not including, 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, as applicable, in minimum denominations of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Notice of an Asset Disposition Offer shall be sent by first class mail or sent electronically, at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the purchase date to each Holder of the Notes at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC. The Issuer may satisfy the foregoing obligation with respect to any Net Available Cash by making an Asset Disposition Offer prior to the expiration of the Proceeds Application Period (the “Advance Offer”) with respect to all or a part of the Net Available Cash (the “Advance Portion”) in advance of being required to do so by this Indenture.

(b)               To the extent that the aggregate amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes and, if applicable, any other Pari Passu Indebtedness validly tendered or otherwise surrendered in connection with an Asset Disposition Offer made with Excess Proceeds (or , in the case of an Advance Offer, the Advance Portion) is less than the amount offered in an Asset Disposition Offer, the Issuer may use any remaining Excess Proceeds (the “Declined Excess Proceeds”), and use such Declined Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of the Notes or, if applicable, Pari Passu Indebtedness validly tendered pursuant to any Asset Disposition Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds (or, in the case of an Advance Offer, the Advance Portion), the Issuer shall allocate the Excess Proceeds among the Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis on the basis of the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of tendered Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness; provided that no Notes or other Pari Passu Indebtedness will be selected and purchased in an unauthorized denomination. Upon completion of any Asset Disposition Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

To the extent that any portion of Net Available Cash payable in respect of the Notes is denominated in a currency other than Dollars, the amount thereof payable in respect of the Notes shall not exceed the net amount of funds in Dollars that is actually received by the Issuer upon converting such portion into Dollars.

(c)               For the purposes of Section 3.5(a)(2) hereof, the following will be deemed to be cash:

(1)      the assumption by the transferee of Indebtedness or other liabilities, contingent or otherwise of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor) or the release of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from all liability on such Indebtedness or other liability in connection with such Asset Disposition;

(2)      securities, notes or other obligations received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from the transferee that are converted by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash

 

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Equivalents, or by their terms are required to be satisfied for cash and Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received), in each case, within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Disposition;

(3)      Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Asset Disposition, to the extent that the Issuer and each other Restricted Subsidiary are released from any Guarantee of payment of such Indebtedness in connection with such Asset Disposition;

(4)      consideration consisting of Indebtedness of the Issuer (other than Subordinated Indebtedness) received after the Issue Date from Persons who are not the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

(5)      any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Dispositions having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this Section 3.5 that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $50 million and 15% of LTM EBITDA (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).

(d)              To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations, including Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuer shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in this Indenture by virtue of compliance therewith.

(e)              The provisions of this Indenture relative to the Issuer’s obligation to make an offer to repurchase the Notes as a result of an Asset Disposition may be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

SECTION 3.6.      Limitation on Liens. The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur or permit to exist any Lien (except Permitted Liens) (each, an “Initial Lien”) that secures obligations under any Indebtedness or any related guarantee, on any asset or property of the Issuer or any Guarantor, unless:

(1)      in the case of Liens securing Subordinated Indebtedness, the Notes and related Guarantees are secured by a Lien on such property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to such Liens; or

(2)      in all other cases, the Notes or the Guarantees are equally and ratably secured,

except that the foregoing shall not apply to Liens securing the Notes and the related Guarantees.

Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders pursuant to the preceding sentence shall provide by its terms that such Lien shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the Initial Lien.

With respect to any Lien securing Indebtedness that was permitted to secure such Indebtedness at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, such Lien shall also be permitted to secure any Increased Amount of such Indebtedness. The “Increased Amount” of any Indebtedness shall mean any increase in the amount of such Indebtedness in connection with any accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, accretion of original issue discount or liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies or increases in the value of property securing Indebtedness.

 

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SECTION 3.7.      Limitation on Guarantees.

(a)               The Issuer shall not permit any of its Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries (and non-Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiaries if such non-Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiaries guarantee other capital markets debt securities of the Issuer or any Guarantor), other than a Guarantor, a Foreign Subsidiary or a Securitization Subsidiary, to Guarantee the payment of (i) any Credit Facility or (ii) capital markets debt securities of the Issuer or any other Guarantor unless:

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

(2)      such Restricted Subsidiary waives and will 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 Issuer 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 3.7 shall not be applicable (i) 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 or (ii) in the event that the Guarantee of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes or this Indenture by such Subsidiary would not be permitted under applicable law.

(b)               The Issuer may elect, in its sole discretion, to cause or allow, as the case may be, any Subsidiary that is not otherwise required to be a Guarantor to become a Guarantor, in which case, such Subsidiary shall not be required to comply with the 60-day period described in Section 3.7(a) and such Guarantee may be released at any time in the Issuer’s sole discretion so long as any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary then outstanding could have been incurred by such Subsidiary (either (x) when so incurred or (y) at the time of the release of such Guarantee) assuming such Subsidiary were not a Guarantor at such time.

(c)      If any Guarantor becomes an Immaterial Subsidiary, the Issuer shall have the right, by delivery of a supplemental indenture executed by the Issuer to the Trustee, to cause such Immaterial Subsidiary to automatically and unconditionally cease to be a Guarantor, subject to the requirement described in Section 3.7(a) above 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 that such Immaterial Subsidiary shall not be permitted to Guarantee the Credit Agreement or other Indebtedness of the Issuer or the other Guarantors, unless it again becomes a Guarantor.

SECTION 3.8.      Limitation on Affiliate Transactions.

(a)               The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to enter into or conduct any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate of the Issuer (an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate value in excess $5 million unless:

(1)      the terms of such Affiliate Transaction taken as a whole are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that could be obtained in a comparable transaction at the time of such transaction or the execution of the agreement providing for such transaction in arm’s length dealings with a Person who is not such an Affiliate; and

 

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(2)      in the event such Affiliate Transaction involves an aggregate value in excess of $50 million, the terms of such transaction have been approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

Any Affiliate Transaction shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements set forth in clause (2) of this Section 3.8(a) if such Affiliate Transaction is approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors of the Issuer, if any.

(b)               The provisions of Section 3.8(a) above shall not apply to:

(1)      any Restricted Payment permitted to be made pursuant to Section 3.3 (including Permitted Payments and any transaction specifically excluded from the definition of the term “Restricted Payments”) or any Permitted Investment;

(2)      any issuance, transfer or sale of (a) Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock), options, other equity-related interests or other securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise to any future, current or former employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries and (b) directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals as required under applicable law;

(3)      any Management Advances and any waiver or transaction with respect thereto;

(4)      any transaction between or among the Issuer and any Restricted Subsidiary (or entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction), or between or among Restricted Subsidiaries;

(5)      the payment of compensation, fees, costs and expenses to, and indemnities (including under insurance policies) and reimbursements, employment and severance arrangements, and employee benefit and pension expenses provided on behalf of, or for the benefit of, future, current or former employees, directors, officers, managers, contractors, consultants, distributors or advisors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether directly or indirectly and including through their Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members);

(6)      the entry into and performance of obligations of the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries under the terms of any transaction arising out of, and any payments pursuant to or for purposes of funding, any agreement or instrument in effect as of or on the Issue Date, as these agreements and instruments may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed or refinanced from time to time in accordance with the other terms of this Section 3.8 or to the extent not disadvantageous in any material respect in the reasonable determination of the Issuer to the Holders when taken as a whole as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the Issue Date;

(7)      any transaction effected as part of a Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility, any disposition or acquisition of Securitization Assets, Receivables Assets or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility;

(8)      transactions with customers, vendors, clients, joint venture partners, suppliers, contractors, distributors or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, which are fair to the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Issuer, or are on terms, taken as a whole, that are not materially less favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

(9)      any transaction between or among the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Person (including a joint venture but excluding an Unrestricted Subsidiary) that is an Affiliate of the Issuer or an

 

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Associate or similar entity solely because the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or any Affiliate of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary owns an equity interest in or otherwise controls such Affiliate, Associate or similar entity;

(10)      any issuance, sale or transfer of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or options, warrants or other rights to acquire such Capital Stock and the granting of registration and other customary rights (and the performance of the related obligations) in connection therewith or any contribution to capital of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(11)      the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of its obligations under the terms of, any equityholders, investor rights or similar agreement (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreements related thereto) to which it is party as of the Issue Date and any similar agreement that it may enter into thereafter; provided that the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of its obligations under any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date will only be permitted under this clause to the extent that the terms of any such amendment or new agreement are not otherwise, when taken as a whole, more disadvantageous to the Holders in any material respect in the reasonable determination of the Issuer than those in effect on the Issue Date;

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

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

(14)      payments, Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock (and cancellation of any thereof) of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries and Preferred Stock (and cancellation of any thereof) of any Restricted Subsidiary to any future, current or former employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any management equity plan, stock option plan, phantom equity plan or any other management, employee benefit or other compensatory plan or agreement (and any successor plans or arrangements thereto), employment, termination or severance agreement, or any stock subscription or equityholder agreement with any such employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) that are, in each case, approved by the Issuer in good faith;

(15)      any management equity plan, stock option plan, phantom equity plan or any other management, employee benefit or other compensatory plan or agreement (and any successor plans or arrangements thereto), employment, termination or severance agreement, or any stock subscription or equityholder agreement between the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries and any distributor, employee, director, officer, manager, contractor, consultant or advisor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) approved by the reasonable determination of the Issuer;

(16)      any transition services arrangement, supply arrangement or similar arrangement entered into in connection with or in contemplation of the disposition of assets or Capital Stock in any Restricted Subsidiary permitted under Section 3.5 or entered into with any Business Successor, in each case, that the

 

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Issuer determines in good faith is either fair to the Issuer or otherwise on customary terms for such type of arrangements in connection with similar transactions;

(17)      transactions entered into by an Unrestricted Subsidiary with an Affiliate prior to the day such Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary as described in Section 3.15 and pledges of Capital Stock of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(18)      (i) any lease entered into between the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, as lessee, and any Affiliate of the Issuer, as lessor, and (ii) any operational services or shared services arrangement entered into between the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Affiliate of the Issuer, in each case, which is approved as being on arm’s-length terms by the reasonable determination of the Issuer;

(19)      intellectual property licenses and research and development agreements in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(20)      payments to or from, and transactions with, any Subsidiary or any joint venture in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice (including any cash management arrangements or activities related thereto);

(21)      the payment of fees, costs and expenses related to registration rights and indemnities provided to equityholders pursuant to equityholders, investor rights, registration rights or similar agreements;

(22)      any Intercompany License Agreements; and

(23)      transactions in which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of Section 3.8(a)(1).

In addition, if the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) purchases or otherwise acquires assets or properties from a Person which is not an Affiliate, the purchase or acquisition by an Affiliate of the Issuer of an interest in all or a portion of the assets or properties acquired shall not be deemed an Affiliate Transaction (or cause such purchase or acquisition by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary to be deemed an Affiliate Transaction) or (ii) sells or otherwise disposes of assets or other properties to a Person who is not an Affiliate, the sale or other disposition by an Affiliate of the Issuer of an interest in all or a portion of the assets or properties sold shall not be deemed an Affiliate Transaction (or cause such sale or other disposition by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary to be deemed an Affiliate Transaction).

SECTION 3.9. Change of Control Triggering Event.

(a)               If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless a third party makes a Change of Control Offer or the Issuer has previously or substantially concurrently therewith delivered a redemption notice with respect to all of the outstanding Notes as set forth under Section 5.7(a) or Section 5.7(d), the Issuer shall make an offer (the “Change of Control Offer”) to purchase all of the Notes at a price in cash (the “Change of Control Payment”) equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding the date of repurchase; provided that if the repurchase date is on or after the record date and on or before the corresponding interest payment date, then Holders in whose names the Notes are registered at the close of business on such record date will receive the interest due on the repurchase date subject to the applicable procedures of DTC. Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Issuer will deliver or cause to be delivered a notice of such Change of Control Offer electronically in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC or by first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes at the address of such Holder appearing in the security register or otherwise in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and setting forth the following information:

 

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(1)      that a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.9, and that all Notes properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer will be accepted for payment by the Issuer;

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

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

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

(5)      that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will 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 applicable 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, or otherwise comply with DTC procedures;

(6)      that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their tendered Notes and their election to require the Issuer to purchase such Notes; provided that the applicable Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day prior to the expiration date of the Change of Control Offer, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder of the Notes, the principal amount of Notes tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its tendered Notes and its election to have such Notes purchased, or otherwise comply with DTC procedures;

(7)      that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes and such new Notes will be equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered. The unpurchased portion of the Notes must be equal to at least $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000;

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

(9)      the other instructions, as determined by the Issuer, consistent with this Section 3.9, that a Holder must follow.

The applicable Paying Agent will promptly deliver to each Holder of the Notes tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

If the Change of Control Payment Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest will be paid on the Change of Control Payment Date to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date.

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

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

 

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(2)      prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time deposit with the applicable Paying Agent an amount equal to the aggregate Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered, and

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

(c)               The Issuer will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control Triggering Event if (x) 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 Issuer and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer or (y) a notice of redemption of all outstanding Notes has been given pursuant to Section 5.7 hereof unless and until there is a default in the payment of the redemption price on the applicable redemption date or the redemption is not consummated due to the failure of a condition precedent contained in the applicable redemption notice to be satisfied.

(d)               Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.9, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control Triggering Event, conditional upon such Change of Control Triggering Event.

(e)               [Reserved].

(f)               While the Notes are in global form and the Issuer makes an offer to purchase all of the Notes pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, a Holder may exercise its option to elect for the purchase of the Notes through the facilities of DTC, subject to its rules and regulations.

(g)               The Issuer will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws, rules and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws, rules or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuer shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in this Indenture by virtue of compliance therewith.

SECTION 3.10.      Reports.

(a)               Notwithstanding that the Issuer may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, from and after the Issue Date, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee, within the time periods specified below:

(1)      within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year (or if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day), all financial information that would be required to be contained in an annual report on Form 10-K, or any successor or comparable form, filed with the SEC, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and a report on the annual financial statements by the Issuer’s independent registered public accounting firm;

(2)      within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year (or if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day), all financial information that would be required to be contained in a quarterly report on Form 10-Q, or any successor or comparable form, filed with the SEC, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP; and

 

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(3)      promptly from time to time after the occurrence of an event required to be therein reported, such other reports on Form 8-K, or any successor or comparable form.

In addition, to the extent not satisfied by the foregoing, the Issuer shall agree that, for so long as any Notes are outstanding, it shall furnish to Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

(b)               If the Issuer has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries and such Unrestricted Subsidiaries or group of Unrestricted Subsidiaries, if taken together as one Subsidiary, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer, then the annual and quarterly financial information required by Section 3.10(a)(1) and (2) will include a presentation of selected financial metrics, in the Issuer’s sole discretion, of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries as a group in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

(c)               Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 3.10, if the Issuer has furnished to the Holders of Notes or filed with the SEC the reports described in this Section 3.10 with respect to the Issuer, the Issuer shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions of this Section 3.10.

(d)               Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s compliance with any of the covenants under this Indenture (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates). The Trustee shall not be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, the Issuer’s compliance with the covenants or with respect to any reports or other documents filed with the SEC or on the Issuer’s website under this Indenture, or participate in any conference calls, contained therein.

SECTION 3.11.      Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Issuer will maintain an office or agency where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment, where, if applicable, the Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be delivered. The Corporate Trust Office shall be such office or agency of the Issuer unless the Issuer shall designate and maintain some other office or agency for one or more of such purposes. The Issuer will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change in the location of any such office or agency. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations and surrenders may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office, and the Issuer hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations and surrenders.

The Issuer may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind any such designation. The Issuer will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and any change in the location of any such other office or agency. No office of the Trustee shall be an office or agency of the Issuer for the purposes of service of legal process on the Issuer or any Guarantor.

SECTION 3.12.      Compliance Certificate. The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Issuer an Officer’s Certificate, the signer of which shall be the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, of the Issuer, stating that in the course of the performance by the signer of his or her duties as an Officer of the Issuer he or she would normally have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default and whether or not the signer knows of any Default or Event of Default that occurred during the previous fiscal year; provided that no such Officer’s Certificate shall be required for any fiscal year ended prior to the Issue Date. If such Officer does have such knowledge, the certificate shall describe the Default or Event of Default, its status and the action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 3.13.      Further Instruments and Acts. Upon request of the Trustee or as necessary to comply with future developments or requirements, the Issuer will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 3.14.      Statement by Officers as to Default. The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event within 30 days after the Issuer becomes aware of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the details of such Default or Event of Default, its status and the actions which the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 3.15.      Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries. The Issuer may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause an Event of Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate fair market value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be deemed to be an Investment made as of the time of the designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 3.3 hereof or under one or more clauses of the definition of “Permitted Investments,” as determined by the Issuer. That designation will only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” The Issuer may redesignate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if that redesignation would not cause an Event of Default.

Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Issuer as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by delivering to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complies with the preceding conditions and was permitted by Section 3.3 hereof. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date by Section 3.2 hereof, the Issuer will be in default of such covenant.

The Issuer may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 3.2 hereof (including pursuant to Section 3.2(b)(5) treating such redesignation as an acquisition for the purpose of such clause), calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable reference period and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation. Any such designation by the Issuer shall be evidenced to the Trustee by delivering to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complies with the preceding conditions.

SECTION 3.16.      Suspension of Certain Covenants on Achievement of Investment Grade Status. Beginning on the first day (a) the Notes have achieved Investment Grade Status and (b) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, and ending on a Reversion Date (such period a “Suspension Period”), the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.7, 3.8 and 4.1(a)(3) (the “Suspended Covenants”).

If at any time the Notes cease to have such Investment Grade Status, then the Suspended Covenants shall thereafter be reinstated as if such covenants had never been suspended (the “Reversion Date”) and be applicable pursuant to the terms of this Indenture (including in connection with performing any calculation or assessment to determine compliance with the terms of this Indenture), unless and until the Notes subsequently attain Investment Grade Status 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 that the Notes maintain an Investment Grade Status); provided, however, that no Default, Event of Default or breach of any kind shall be deemed to exist under this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees with respect to the Suspended Covenants based on, and none of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries shall bear any liability for, any actions taken or events occurring during the Suspension Period, or any actions taken at any time pursuant to any contractual obligation arising prior to the Reversion Date, regardless of whether such actions or events would have been permitted if the applicable Suspended Covenants remained in effect during such period. During the Suspension Period, the Issuer’s Board of Directors may not designate any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries unless such designation would have complied with Section 3.3 as if Section 3.3 would have been in effect during such period.

 

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On the Reversion Date, all Indebtedness incurred during the Suspension Period will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issue Date, so that it is classified as permitted under Section 3.2(b)(4)(b). Calculations made after the Reversion Date of the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 3.3 will be made as though Section 3.3 had been in effect since the Issue Date and 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 3.3(a). On the Reversion Date, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero. Any Affiliate Transaction entered into after the Reversion Date pursuant to an agreement entered into during any Suspension Period will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issue Date, so that it is classified as permitted under Section 3.8(b)(6). Any restriction on distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries entered into during the Suspension Period will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issue Date, so that it is classified as permitted under Section 3.4(b)(1). In addition, any future obligation to grant further Note Guarantees shall be released. All such further obligations to grant Note Guarantees shall be reinstated on the Reversion Date. As described above, however, no Default, Event of Default or breach of any kind shall 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 the Issuer or any of the 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).

On and after each Reversion Date, the Issuer and its Subsidiaries will be permitted to consummate the transactions contemplated by any contract entered into during the Suspension Period, so long as such contract and such consummation would have been permitted during such Suspension Period.

The Trustee shall have no duty or obligation to monitor the ratings of the Notes, shall not be deemed to have any knowledge of the ratings of the Notes, shall have no obligation to independently determine or verify if a covenant suspension event has occurred and shall have no duty to notify Holders if the Notes achieve Investment Grade Status or of the occurrence of a Reversion Date. The Issuer shall provide written notice to the Trustee of the occurrence of any Reversion Date. The Trustee may provide a copy of any such notice to any Holder of Notes upon request.

ARTICLE IV

SUCCESSOR ISSUER; SUCCESSOR PERSON

SECTION 4.1.      Merger and Consolidation.

(a)               The Issuer shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its assets, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to any Person, unless:

(1)      the Issuer is the surviving Person or the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “Successor Issuer”) will be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of the Issuer or the United States of America, any State of the United States or the District of Columbia and the Successor Issuer (if not the Issuer) will expressly assume all the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents and instruments;

(2)      immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness that becomes an obligation of the applicable Successor Issuer or any Subsidiary of the applicable Successor Issuer as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the applicable Successor Issuer or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(3)      immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, either (a) the applicable Successor Issuer or the Issuer would be able to incur at least an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant

 

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to Section 3.2(a) hereof or (b) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would not be lower than it was immediately prior to giving effect to such transaction; and

(4)      the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such supplemental indenture (if any) is a legal and binding agreement enforceable against the Successor Issuer in accordance with its terms; provided that in giving an Opinion of Counsel, counsel may rely on an Officer’s Certificate as to any matters of fact, including as to satisfaction of clauses (2) and (3) above.

(b)               The Successor Issuer will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture, and the Issuer will automatically and unconditionally be released and discharged from its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture.

(c)               Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.1, (i) the Issuer may consolidate or otherwise combine with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to a Guarantor, (ii) the Issuer may consolidate or otherwise combine with or merge into an Affiliate organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of the Issuer or the United States of America, any State of the United States or the District of Columbia incorporated or organized for the purpose of changing the legal domicile of the Issuer, reincorporating the Issuer in another jurisdiction, or changing the legal form of the Issuer, (iii) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate or otherwise combine with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Issuer or a Guarantor and (iv) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate or otherwise combine with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to any other Restricted Subsidiary.

(d)               The foregoing provisions shall not apply to the creation of a new Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary.

(e)               Subject to Section 10.2(b), no Guarantor may consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets, in one or a series of related transactions, to any Person, unless:

(1)(a)      (i) the other Person is an Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor or becomes a Guarantor concurrently with the transaction or (ii) either (x) an Issuer or a Guarantor is the continuing Person or (y) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person expressly assumes all the obligations of the Guarantor under its Note Guarantee and this Indenture pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents and instruments; and

(b)      immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; or

(2)      the transaction constitutes a sale, disposition or transfer of the Guarantor or the conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Guarantor (in each case other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) otherwise permitted by this Indenture; and

(3)      The Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such supplemental indenture (if any) is a legal and binding agreement enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with its terms.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.1, any Guarantor may (a) consolidate or otherwise combine with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to another Guarantor or the Issuer, (b) consolidate or otherwise combine with or merge into an Affiliate incorporated or organized for the purpose of changing the legal domicile of the Guarantor, reincorporating the Guarantor in another jurisdiction, or changing the legal form of the Guarantor, (c) convert into a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability

 

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company or trust organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor and (d) liquidate or dissolve or change its legal form if the Issuer determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of the Issuer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.1, the Issuer may contribute Capital Stock of any or all of its Subsidiaries to any Guarantor.

ARTICLE V

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 5.1.      Notices to Trustee. If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 5.7 hereof, it must furnish to the Trustee, at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth:

(1)      the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur;

(2)      the redemption date;

(3)      the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed; and

(4)      the redemption price.

Any optional redemption referenced in such Officer’s Certificate may be cancelled by the Issuer at any time prior to notice of redemption being sent to any Holder and thereafter shall be null and void.

SECTION 5.2.      Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed pursuant to Section 5.7 or purchased in an Asset Disposition Offer pursuant to Section 3.5, the Trustee will select Notes for redemption or purchase (a) if the Notes are in global form, on a pro rata basis, by lot, or by such other method in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC and (b) if the Notes are in definitive form in their entirety, on a pro rata basis (subject to adjustments to maintain the authorized Notes denomination requirements) or by lot, except if otherwise required by law.

No Notes in an unauthorized denomination or of $2,000 in aggregate principal amount or less shall be redeemed in part. In the event of partial redemption, the particular Notes to be redeemed or purchased will be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption or purchase date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption or purchase; provided that the Issuer shall provide the Trustee with sufficient notice of such partial redemption to enable the Trustee to select the Notes for partial redemption.

The Trustee will promptly notify the Issuer in writing of the Notes selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased. Notes and portions of Notes selected will be in minimum principal amounts of $2,000 and whole multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000; provided 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 minimum principal amount of $2,000 or a multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, shall be redeemed or purchased. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, the 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 5.3.      Notice of Redemption. At least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date in respect of an optional redemption pursuant to Section 5.7, the Issuer will send or cause to be sent, by electronic delivery or by first class mail postage prepaid, a notice of optional redemption to each Holder (with a copy to the Trustee) whose Notes are to be redeemed at the address of such Holder appearing in the security register or otherwise in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC, except that redemption notices may be delivered electronically or mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Articles VIII or XI hereto.

 

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The notice will identify the Notes (including the CUSIP or ISIN number) to be redeemed and will state:

(1)      the redemption date;

(2)      the redemption price;

(3)      if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note 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 will be issued upon cancellation of the original Note;

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

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

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

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

(8)      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.

At the Issuer’s request, the Trustee will give the notice of optional redemption in the Issuer’s name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee, at least three (3) Business Days (or if any of the Notes to be redeemed are in definitive form, five (5) Business Days) prior to the date on which the Issuer instructs the Trustee to give the notice (or such shorter period as the Trustee may agree), 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.

Notice of any optional redemption of the Notes may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be given prior to the completion of a transaction (including but not limited to an Equity Offering, an incurrence of Indebtedness, a Change of Control or other transaction) and any optional redemption notice may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of a related transaction. If such redemption or purchase is so subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent such notice shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Issuer’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time (including more than 60 days after the date the notice of optional redemption was mailed or delivered, including by electronic delivery) 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. In addition, the Issuer may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Issuer’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person. The Issuer shall provide written notice to the Trustee prior to 12:00 p.m. New York City time prior to the Redemption Date if any such redemption has been rescinded or delayed, and upon receipt the Trustee shall provide such notice to each Holder of the Notes in the same manner in which the notice of redemption was given.

SECTION 5.4.      [Reserved] .

SECTION 5.5.      Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price. Prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption or purchase date, the Issuer will deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent will promptly return, on or following the applicable redemption or repurchase date, to the Issuer any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuer in excess of the amounts

 

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necessary to pay the redemption or purchase price of, and accrued interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.

If the Issuer complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest will 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 corresponding interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date or purchase date shall be paid on the redemption date or purchase date to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC. If any Note called for redemption or purchase is not so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Issuer 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 not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 3.1 hereof.

SECTION 5.6.      Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part. Upon surrender of a Note issued in physical form that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Issuer will issue and the Trustee will authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuer a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered; provided that each such new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

In the case of a Note issued as a global note, an appropriate notation will be made on such Note to decrease the principal amount thereof to an amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof; provided that the unredeemed portion thereof will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

SECTION 5.7.      Optional Redemption.

(a)      At any time prior to December 15, 2022, the Issuer may redeem the Notes in whole or in part, at its option, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the Notes Register, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) equal to 100% plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding, the date of redemption (the “Redemption Date”), subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

(b)      At any time and from time to time prior to December 15, 2022, the Issuer may, on one or more occasions, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the Notes Register, redeem up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture on the Issue Date (together with Additional Notes) at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed) equal to 104.625%, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, with the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer of one or more Equity Offerings of the Issuer; provided that not less than 60% of the original aggregate principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes issued under this Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption (including Additional Notes but excluding Notes held by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), unless all such Notes are redeemed substantially concurrently; provided, further, that each such redemption occurs not later than 180 days after the date of closing of the related Equity Offering. The Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased in the manner described under Sections 5.1 through 5.6.

(c)      Except pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 5.7, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Issuer’s option prior to December 15, 2022.

(d)      At any time and from time to time on or after December 15, 2022, the Issuer may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the Notes Register at the redemption prices

 

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(expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth in the table below, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to but excluding the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on December 15 of each of the years indicated in the table below:

 

Year    Percentage            

 

  

 

2022

   102.313%

 

  

 

2023

   101.156%

 

  

 

2024 and thereafter

   100.000%

 

  

 

(e)      Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any Change of Control Offer or Asset Disposition 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 Issuer, or any third party making such tender offer in lieu of the Issuer, purchase all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuer or such third party shall have the right upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the Notes Register, 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 date of such redemption.

(f)      Unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable Redemption Date.

(g)      Any redemption pursuant to this Section 5.7 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 5.1 through 5.6.

SECTION 5.8.      Mandatory Redemption. The Issuer is not required to make mandatory redemption payments or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes; provided, however, that under certain circumstances, the Issuer may be required to offer to purchase Notes under Section 3.5 and Section 3.9. As market conditions warrant, the Issuer may from time to time seek to purchase its outstanding debt securities or loans, including the Notes, in privately negotiated or open market transactions, by tender offer or otherwise.

ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.1.      Events of Default.

(a)      Each of the following is an “Event of Default” under this Indenture:

(1)      default in any payment of interest on any Note when due and payable, continued for 30 days;

(2)      default in the payment of the principal amount of or premium, if any, on any Note issued under this Indenture when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise;

(3)      failure by the Issuer or any Guarantor to comply for 60 days after written notice by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders or by the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes with any agreement or obligation contained in this Indenture; provided that in the case of

 

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a failure to comply with this Indenture provisions described under Section 3.10, such period of continuance of such default or breach shall be 120 days after written notice described in this clause has been given;

(4)      default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) (or the payment of which is Guaranteed by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary)) other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the date hereof, which default:

(A)       is caused by a failure to pay principal of such Indebtedness, at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods provided in such Indebtedness); or

(B)      results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its stated final maturity;

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a payment default of principal at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates to $50 million or more at any one time outstanding;

(5)      failure by the Issuer or a Significant Subsidiary (or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $50 million other than any judgments covered by indemnities provided by, or insurance policies issued by, reputable and creditworthy companies, which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged and unstayed for a period of more than 60 days after such judgment becomes final, and in the event such judgment is covered by insurance, an enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed;

(6)      (x) any Guarantee of the Notes by a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect or (y) a Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Note Guarantee other than, in each case, (A) in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or (B) subject to clauses (7) and (8) below, in connection with the bankruptcy of a Guarantor;

(7)      the Issuer or a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(A)      commences a voluntary case or proceeding;

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

(C)      consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for substantially all of its property;

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

 

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(E)      consents to or acquiesces in the institution of a bankruptcy or an insolvency proceeding against it; or

(F)      takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency;

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

(A)      is for relief against the Issuer or a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) in an involuntary case;

(B)      appoints a Custodian of the Issuer or a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) for substantially all of its property;

(C)      orders the winding up or liquidation of the Issuer or a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary); or

(D)      or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and the order, decree or relief remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days;

provided that a Default under clause (3), (4) or (5) above will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes notify the Issuer of the Default and, with respect to clauses (3) and (5), the Issuer does not cure such Default within the time specified in clause (3) or (5) 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.

(b)      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 (other than any Holder that is a Regulated Bank) (each, a “Directing Holder”) must be accompanied by a written representation from each such Holder delivered to the Issuer 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 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 a continuing representation until the resulting Event of Default is cured or otherwise ceases to exist or the Notes are accelerated. In addition, each Directing Holder is deemed, at the time of providing a Noteholder Direction, to covenant to provide the Issuer with such other information as the Issuer may reasonably request from time to time in order to verify the accuracy of such Holder’s 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 and DTC shall be entitled to conclusively rely on such Position Representation and Verification Covenant in delivering its direction to the Trustee. If, following the delivery of a Noteholder Direction, but prior to acceleration of the Notes, the Issuer 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 Officers’ Certificate stating that the Issuer has initiated litigation in 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

 

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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.

(c)      If, following the delivery of a Noteholder Direction, but prior to acceleration of the Notes, the Issuer provides to the Trustee an Officers’ 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 any 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.

(d)      Notwithstanding anything in Sections 6.1(b) and 6.1(c) to the contrary, any Noteholder Direction delivered to the Trustee during the pendency of an Event of Default as the result of a bankruptcy or similar proceeding shall not require compliance with the foregoing paragraphs. In addition, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing paragraphs shall not apply to any Holder that is a Regulated Bank; provided that if a Regulated Bank is a Directing Holder or a beneficial owner directing DTC it shall provide a written representation to the Issuer that it is a Regulated Bank.

(e)      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 Issuer, any Holder or any other Person in acting in good faith on a Noteholder Direction.

(f)      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 shall also be cured without any further action.

(g)      Any Default or Event of Default for the failure to comply with the time periods prescribed in Section 3.10 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 provision 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 6.2.      Acceleration. If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in clause (7) or (8) of Section 6.1(a)) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by written notice to the Issuer or the Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes by written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal, premium and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be due and payable immediately.

In the event of any acceleration of the Notes because an Event of Default specified in clause (4) of Section 6.1(a) has occurred and is continuing, the declaration of acceleration and all consequences thereof shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if within 30 days after the declaration of acceleration with respect thereto:

 

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(1)      (x)      the Indebtedness that gave rise to such Event of Default shall have been discharged in full; or

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

 (z)      the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured; and

(2)      the annulment of the acceleration of the Notes would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction.

If an Event of Default described in clause (7) or (8) of Section 6.1(a) occurs and is continuing, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, on all the Notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders.

SECTION 6.3.      Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, 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. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.

SECTION 6.4.      Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of all of the Holders, (a) waive, by their consent (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under this Indenture except (i) a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on a Note or (ii) a Default or Event of Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.2 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder affected and (b) rescind any acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences if (1) such rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, (2) all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, that has become due solely because of the acceleration, (3) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest, premium, if any, and overdue principal, which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, has been paid, (4) the Issuer has paid the Trustee its compensation and reimbursed the Trustee for its reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances and (5) in the event of the cure or waiver of an Event of Default of the type described in clause (4) of Section 6.1(a), the Trustee shall have received an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such Event of Default has been cured or waived. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto. When a Default or Event of Default is waived, it is deemed cured, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any consequent right.

SECTION 6.5.      Control by Majority. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the 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. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or the Notes or, subject to Sections 7.1 and 7.2, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any actions are prejudicial to such Holders) or would involve the Trustee in personal liability; provided, however, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. Prior to taking any such action hereunder, the Trustee shall receive indemnification satisfactory to it against all fees, costs, losses, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) caused by taking or not taking such action.

 

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SECTION 6.6.      Limitation on Suits. Subject to Section 6.7, a Holder may not pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

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

(2)      Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes have requested in writing the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(3)      such Holders have offered in writing and provided to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, cost, liability or expense;

(4)      the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the written request and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(5)      Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a written direction that, in the opinion of the Trustee, is 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 (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders).

SECTION 6.7.      Rights of Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture (including, without limitation, Section 6.6), the contractual right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Notes held by such Holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the Notes, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, with respect to such Holder’s Notes shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the amendment, supplement or modification in accordance with the terms of this Indenture of Articles III and IV and Section 6.1(a)(3), (4), (5) and (6) and the related definitions shall be deemed not to impair the contractual right of any Holder to receive payments of principal of and interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Note).

SECTION 6.8.      Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in clauses (1) or (2) of Section 6.1(a) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on any unpaid interest to the extent lawful) and the amounts provided for in Section 7.7.

SECTION 6.9.      Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer, its Subsidiaries or their respective creditors or properties and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may be entitled and empowered to participate as a member of any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7.

No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the

 

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Notes or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

SECTION 6.10.      Priorities.

(a)               If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article VI, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

FIRST: to the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) for amounts due to it under Section 7.7;

SECOND: to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal of, or 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 of, or premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

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

(b)               The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.10. At least 15 days before such record date, the Issuer shall send or cause to be sent to each Holder and the Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

SECTION 6.11.      Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.7 or a suit by Holders of more than 20.0% in outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Notes.

ARTICLE VII

TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.1.      Duties of Trustee.

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

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

(1)      the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(2)      in the absence of bad faith or willful misconduct 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, opinions or orders furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture or the Notes, as the case may be. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture or the Notes, as the case may be (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

 

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

(1)      this paragraph does not limit the effect of Section 7.1(b);

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

(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 6.5; and

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

(d)               Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 7.1.

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

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

(g)               Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 7.1.

SECTION 7.2.      Rights of Trustee. Subject to Section 7.1:

(a)               The Trustee may conclusively rely on and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) reasonably 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. The Trustee shall receive and retain financial reports and statements of the Issuer as provided herein, but shall have no duty to review or analyze such reports or statements to determine compliance with covenants or other obligations of the Issuer.

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

(c)               The Trustee may execute any of the trusts and powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.

(d)               The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

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

 

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(f)               The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default or whether any entity or group of entities constitutes a Significant Subsidiary unless a Trust Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default or Event of Default or of any such Significant Subsidiary is received by a Trust Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office specified in Section 3.11, and such notice references the Notes, the Issuer and this Indenture and, in the case of a Default or Event of Default, states that it is a “notice of default.”

(g)               The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder and under any and all other agreements executed by the Trustee in connection with the Notes and this Indenture, and to each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

(h)               The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture or the Notes at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered, and provided to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the losses, costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby.

(i)               The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any fact or matter unless such fact or matter is actually known to a Trust Officer of the Trustee.

(j)               Whenever in the administration of this Indenture or the Notes the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder or thereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on its part (as finally adjudicated in a non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction), conclusively rely upon an Officer’s Certificate.

(k)               The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, coupon or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine, during business hours and upon reasonable notice, the books, records and premises of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Issuer and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(l)               The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

(m)               The Trustee may request that the Issuer deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture or the Notes.

(n)               In no event shall the Trustee be liable to any Person for special, punitive, indirect, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, lost profits), even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage.

(o)               Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Issuer shall be sufficient if signed by one Officer of the Issuer.

(p)               The Trustee shall have no obligation to pursue any action that is not in accordance with applicable law.

(q)               The permissive right of the Trustee to take any action enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty.

 

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(r)               Under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable in its individual capacity for the obligations evidenced by the Notes.

SECTION 7.3.      Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer, Guarantors or their Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent, Registrar, co-registrar or co-paying agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Section 7.10. In addition, the Trustee shall be permitted to engage in transactions with the Issuer and its Affiliates and Subsidiaries; provided, however, that if the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest, the Trustee must eliminate such conflict within 90 days of acquiring such conflict, or resign.

SECTION 7.4.      Trustees Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes, shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee or any money paid to the Issuer pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and shall not be responsible for any statement of the Issuer in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Notes or in the Notes other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication.

SECTION 7.5.      Notice of Defaults. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if a Trust Officer has actual knowledge thereof, the Trustee shall send electronically or by first class mail to each Holder at the address set forth in the Notes Register notice of the Default or Event of Default within 60 days after it is actually known to a Trust Officer. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Note (including payments pursuant to the optional redemption or required repurchase provisions of such Note), the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as it in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders.

SECTION 7.6.      [Reserved].

SECTION 7.7.      Compensation and Indemnity. The Issuer shall pay to the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) from time to time compensation for its services hereunder and under the Notes as the Issuer and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it, including, but not limited to, costs of collection, costs of preparing reports, certificates and other documents, costs of preparation and mailing of notices to Holders. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the agents, counsel, accountants and experts of the Trustee. The Issuer shall indemnify the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder), its directors, officers, employees and agents against any and all cost, loss, liability, damages, claims, fees or expenses, including taxes (other than taxes based upon the income of the Trustee) (including reasonable attorneys’ and agents’ fees and expenses) incurred by it without willful misconduct or gross negligence, as determined by a final nonappealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction, on its part in connection with the administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder and under the Notes, including the costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses and court costs) of enforcing this Indenture (including this Section 7.7) and the Notes and of defending itself against any claims (whether asserted by any Holder, the Issuer or otherwise). The Trustee shall notify the Issuer promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity of which it has received written notice. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer of its obligations hereunder. The Issuer shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Issuer’s expense in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuer shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel; provided that the Issuer shall not be required to pay the fees and expenses of such separate counsel if they assume the Trustee’s defense, and, in the reasonable judgment of outside counsel to the Trustee, there is no conflict of interest between the Issuer and the Trustee in connection with such defense; provided, further, that, the Issuer shall be required to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel in evaluating such conflict.

To secure the Issuer’s payment obligations in this Section 7.7, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay

 

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principal of and interest on particular Notes. Such lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. The Trustee’s respective right to receive payment of any amounts due under this Section 7.7 shall not be subordinate to any other liability or Indebtedness of the Issuer.

The Issuer’s payment and indemnification obligations pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall survive the discharge of this Indenture and any resignation or removal of the Trustee under Section 7.8. Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs fees, expenses or renders services after the occurrence of a Default specified in clause (7) or clause (8) of Section 6.1(a), the fees and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

SECTION 7.8.      Replacement of Trustee. The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Issuer in writing not less than 30 days prior to the effective date of such resignation. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the removed Trustee in writing not less than 30 days prior to the effective date of such removal and may appoint a successor Trustee with the Issuer’s written consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. The Issuer shall remove the Trustee if:

(1)      the Trustee has or acquires a conflict of interest that is not eliminated;

(2)      the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

(3)      the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

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

(5)      the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed by the Issuer or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee as described in the preceding paragraph, or if a vacancy exists in the office of the Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee shall, at the expense of the Issuer, promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.7.

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of at least 10.0% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes may petition, at the Issuer’s expense, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Holder, who has been a bona fide holder of a Note for at least six months, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.7 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee. The predecessor Trustee shall have no liability for any action or inaction of any successor Trustee.

SECTION 7.9.      Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

 

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In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture, any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; provided that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Notes in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall only apply to its successor or successors by merger, consolidation or conversion.

SECTION 7.10.      Eligibility; Disqualification. This Indenture shall always have a Trustee. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

SECTION 7.11.      [Reserved].

SECTION 7.12.      Trustees Application for Instruction from the Issuer. Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the Issuer may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than three (3) Business Days after the date any Officer of the Issuer actually receives such application, unless any such Officer shall have consented in writing to any earlier date) unless prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.

ARTICLE VIII

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

SECTION 8.1.      Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance; Defeasance. The Issuer may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.2 or Section 8.3 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article VIII.

SECTION 8.2.      Legal Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.2, the Issuer and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes (including the Note Guarantees) on the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuer and the Guarantors will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes (including the Note Guarantees), which will thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.5 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (1) and (2) below, and to have satisfied all of their other obligations under the Note Documents (and the Trustee, on written demand of and at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute such instruments reasonably requested by the Issuer acknowledging the same) and to have cured all then existing Events of Default, except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

(1)      the rights of Holders of Notes issued under this Indenture to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Notes when such payments are due solely out of the trust referred to in Section 8.4 hereof;

(2)      the Issuer’s obligations with respect to the Notes under Article II concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of such Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and Section 3.11 hereof concerning the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;

 

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(3)      the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Issuer’s or Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith; and

(4)      this Article VIII with respect to provisions relating to Legal Defeasance.

Subject to compliance with this Section 8.2, the Issuer may exercise its option under this Section 8.2 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.3.

SECTION 8.3.      Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.3, the Issuer and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, be released from each of their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.12, 3.14, 3.15, 3.16 and Section 4.1 (except Section 4.1(a)(1) and (a)(2)) hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes will thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but will continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes and Note Guarantees, the Issuer and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.1(a) hereof, but, except as specified in this Section 8.3, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes and Note Guarantees will be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.3, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, Sections 6.1(a)(3) (other than with respect to Section 4.1(a)(1) and (a)(2)), 6.1(a)(4), 6.1(a)(5), 6.1(a)(6), 6.1(a)(7) (with respect only to a Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Guarantors that taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), and 6.1(a)(8) (with respect only to a Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Guarantors that taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.

SECTION 8.4.      Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under either Section 8.2 or Section 8.3 hereof:

(1)      the Issuer must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, due on the Notes issued under this Indenture on the stated maturity date or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Issuer must specify whether such Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date and deliver to the Trustee a certificate from a firm of independent certified public accountants, investment bank or valuation firm, in each case nationally recognized in the United States, expressing their opinion that the payments of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal and accrued and unpaid interest when due on all the Notes to maturity or redemption, as the case may be; provided that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, as calculated by the Issuer or on behalf of the Issuer by such Person as the Issuer shall designate, with any deficit as of the date of redemption (any such amount, the “Applicable Premium Deficit”) only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of redemption. Any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee substantially concurrently with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption;

 

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(2)    in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions;

(A)      the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

(B)      since the issuance of such 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 beneficial owners of the Notes, in their capacity as beneficial owners of the Notes, will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

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

(4)      no Default or Event of Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and the granting of Liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

(5)      such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Issuer or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuer or any Guarantor is bound;

(6)      [reserved];

(7)      the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying, defrauding or preferring any creditors of the Issuer or any Guarantor; and

(8)      the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) each to the effect that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.

SECTION 8.5.      Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to Section 8.6 hereof, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.5, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes will 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 Issuer 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, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuer will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 8.4 or Section 11.1 hereof or the

 

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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.

Notwithstanding anything in this Article VIII to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Issuer from time to time upon the request of the Issuer any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 8.4 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 8.4(1) 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 8.6.      Repayment to the Issuer. Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuer on its written request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person or (if then held by the Issuer) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note will thereafter be permitted to look only to the Issuer for payment thereof unless an abandoned property law designates another Person, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuer as trustee thereof, will thereupon cease.

SECTION 8.7.      Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Dollars or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.2 or Section 8.3 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 Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and the Note Guarantees will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.2 or Section 8.3 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.2 or Section 8.3 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Issuer makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

SECTION 9.1.      Without Consent of Holders. Notwithstanding Section 9.2 of this Indenture, the Issuer, any Guarantor (with respect to its Note Guarantee or this Indenture) and the Trustee may amend, supplement or modify any Note Document without the consent of any Holder to:

(1)      cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect, error or inconsistency, conform any provision to any provision under the heading “Description of Notes” in the Offering Memorandum or reduce the minimum denomination of the Notes, as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee;

(2)      provide for the assumption by a successor Person of the obligations of the Issuer or a Guarantor under any Note Document or to comply with Section 4.1;

(3)      provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes or to alter the provisions of this Indenture relating to the form of the Notes (including related definitions);

(4)      add to or modify the covenants or provide for a Note Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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(5)     make any change (including changing the CUSIP or other identifying number on any Notes) that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder;

(6)     at the Issuer’s election, comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, if such qualification is required;

(7)     make such provisions as necessary for the issuance of Additional Notes;

(8)     provide for any Restricted Subsidiary to provide a Note Guarantee in accordance with Section 3.2, to add Guarantees with respect to the Notes, to add security to or for the benefit of the Notes, or to confirm and evidence the release, termination, discharge or retaking of any Guarantee or Lien with respect to or securing the Notes when such release, termination, discharge or retaking is provided for under this Indenture;

(9)     evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee or successor Paying Agent hereunder pursuant to the requirements hereof or to provide for the accession by the Trustee to any Note Document;

(10)    secure the Notes and/or the related Guarantees or to add collateral thereto;

(11)    add an obligor or a Guarantor under this Indenture;

(12)    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 Notes; provided, however, that such amendment does not materially and adversely affect (as determined by the Issuer) the rights of Holders to transfer the Notes;

(13)    comply with the rules and procedures of any applicable securities depositary; and

(14)    make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture, the Note Guarantees and/or the Notes to eliminate the effect of any Accounting Change or in the application thereof as described in the last paragraph of the definition of “GAAP.”

Subject to Section 9.2, upon the request of the Issuer and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Sections 9.6 and 13.2 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Issuer and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture or other amendment unless such amended or supplemental indenture or other amendment affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, liabilities or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture or other amendment.

SECTION 9.2.      With Consent of Holders. Except as provided in this Section 9.2, the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend, supplement or otherwise modify the Note Documents with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of all the outstanding Notes issued under this Indenture (including consents obtained before or after a Change of Control or in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, such Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.4 and 6.7, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of the Note Documents may be waived with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of all the outstanding Notes issued under this Indenture (including consents obtained before or after a Change of Control or in connection with a purchase of or tender offer or exchange offer for such Notes). Section 2.12 hereof and Section 13.4 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for the purposes of this Section 9.2.

 

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Upon the request of the Issuer, and upon delivery to the Trustee of evidence of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Sections 9.6 and 13.2 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Issuer and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture or other amendment to the Note Documents unless such amended or supplemental indenture or other amendment to the Note Documents affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, liabilities or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture or other amendment to the Note Documents.

Without the consent of each Holder of Notes affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not, with respect to any Notes issued thereunder and held by a nonconsenting Holder:

(1)      reduce the principal amount of such Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment;

(2)      reduce the stated rate of or extend the stated time for payment of interest on any such Note (other than provisions relating to Section 3.5 and Section 3.9);

(3)      reduce the principal of or extend the Stated Maturity of any such Note (other than provisions relating to Section 3.5 and Section 3.9);

(4)      reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any such Note or change the time at which any such Note may be redeemed, in each case as set forth in Section 5.7;

(5)      make any such Note payable in currency other than that stated in such Note;

(6)      impair the right of any Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal of and interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor;

(7)      waive a Default or Event of Default with respect to the nonpayment of principal, premium or interest (except pursuant to a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Notes outstanding and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration); or

(8)      make any change in the amendment or waiver provisions which require the Holders’ consent described in this Section 9.2.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. A consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver under this Indenture by any Holder of the Notes given in connection with a tender or exchange of such Holder’s Notes will not be rendered invalid by such tender or exchange.

SECTION 9.3.      [Reserved].

SECTION 9.4.      Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers. Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Holder’s Note or portion of 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.

 

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The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described in this Section 9.4 or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.

SECTION 9.5.       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 Issuer in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note will not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

SECTION 9.6.       Trustee to Sign Amendments. The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall receive and (subject to Sections 7.1 and 7.2 hereof) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 13.2 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and is valid, binding and enforceable against the Issuer or any Guarantor, as the case may be, in accordance with its terms.

ARTICLE X

GUARANTEE

SECTION 10.1.     Guarantee. Subject to the provisions of this Article X, each Guarantor that executes this Indenture or a supplemental indenture hereto will fully, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantee, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, jointly and severally with each other Guarantor, to each Holder and the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) the full and punctual payment when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and all other obligations and liabilities of the Issuer under this Indenture (including, without limitation, interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Issuer or any Guarantor whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding and the obligations under Section 7.7) (all the foregoing being hereinafter collectively called the “Guaranteed Obligations”). Each Guarantor agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations will rank equally in right of payment with other Indebtedness of such Guarantor, except to the extent such other Indebtedness is subordinate to the Guaranteed Obligations, in which case the obligations of the Guarantors under the Note Guarantees will rank senior in right of payment to such other Indebtedness.

To evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in this Section 10.1, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by an Officer of such Guarantor.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in this Section 10.1 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on the Notes.

If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless.

Each Guarantor further agrees (to the extent permitted by law) that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound under this Article X notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.

 

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Each Guarantor waives presentation to, demand of payment from and protest to the Issuer of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and also waives notice of protest for nonpayment. Each Guarantor waives notice of any default under the Notes or the Guaranteed Obligations.

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

Except as set forth in Section 10.2, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than payment of the Guaranteed Obligations in full), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Guaranteed Obligations of each Guarantor herein shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by (a) the failure of any Holder to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Issuer or any other Person under this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement or otherwise; (b) any extension or renewal of any thereof; (c) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement; (d) the release of any security held by any Holder for the Guaranteed Obligations; (e) the failure of any Holder to exercise any right or remedy against any other Guarantor; (f) any change in the ownership of the Issuer; (g) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (h) any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or would otherwise operate as a discharge of such Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.

Each Guarantor agrees that its Note Guarantee herein shall remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all the Guaranteed Obligations or such Guarantor is released from its Note Guarantee in compliance with Section 10.2, Article VIII or Article XI. Each Guarantor further agrees that its Note Guarantee herein shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Holder upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Issuer or otherwise.

In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any Holder has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Issuer to pay any of the Guaranteed Obligations when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, each Guarantor hereby promises to and will, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the Holders or the Trustee on behalf of the Holders an amount equal to the sum of (i) the unpaid amount of such Guaranteed Obligations then due and owing and (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations then due and owing (but only to the extent not prohibited by law) (including interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding relating to the Issuer or any Guarantor whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding).

Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between such Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in this Indenture for the purposes of its Note Guarantee herein, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby and (y) in the event of any such declaration of acceleration of such Guaranteed Obligations, such Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for the purposes of this Note Guarantee.

Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all reasonable out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Trustee or the Holders in enforcing any rights under this Section 10.1.

SECTION 10.2.     Limitation on Liability; Termination, Release and Discharge.

 

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(a)       Any term or provision of this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder will be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under its Note Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal, foreign, state or provincial law and not otherwise being void or voidable under any similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

(b)       Any Note Guarantee of a Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged:

(1)         upon a sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition (including by way of merger, amalgamation, consolidation, dividend distribution or otherwise) of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor or the sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Guarantor to a Person other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary and as otherwise permitted by this Indenture;

(2)         upon the designation in accordance with this Indenture of the Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or the occurrence of any event after which the Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary;

(3)           upon defeasance or discharge of the Notes pursuant to Article VIII or Article XI;

(4)         to the extent that such Guarantor is not an Immaterial Subsidiary solely due to the operation of clause (i) of the definition of “Immaterial Subsidiary,” upon the release of the guarantee referred to in such clause;

(5)         upon 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 Issuer of any Indebtedness of the Issuer under the Credit Agreement or (ii) in the case of a Note Guarantee made by a Guarantor (each, an “Other Guarantee”) as a result of its guarantee of other Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor pursuant to Section 3.7 hereof, the relevant Indebtedness, except in the case of (i) or (ii), a release as a result of the payment under such Guarantee (it being understood that a release subject to a contingent reinstatement is still considered a release, and if any such Guarantee of such Guarantor under the Credit Agreement or any Other Guarantee is so reinstated such Note Guarantee shall also be reinstated);

(6)         upon the merger, amalgamation or consolidation of any Guarantor with and into the Issuer or another Guarantor or upon the liquidation of such Guarantor, in each case, in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

(7)         upon the achievement of Investment Grade Status by the Notes; provided that such Note Guarantee shall be reinstated upon the Reversion Date; and

(8)         as described in Section 9.1 and Section 9.2.

SECTION 10.3.       Right of Contribution. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that to the extent that any Guarantor shall have paid more than its proportionate share of any payment made on the obligations under the Note Guarantees, such Guarantor shall be entitled to seek and receive contribution from and against the Issuer or any other Guarantor who has not paid its proportionate share of such payment. The provisions of this Section 10.3 shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of each Guarantor to the Trustee and the Holders and each Guarantor shall remain liable to the Trustee and the Holders for the full amount guaranteed by such Guarantor hereunder.

SECTION 10.4.     No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment or payments made by each Guarantor hereunder, no Guarantor shall be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Trustee or any Holder against the Issuer or any other Guarantor or any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Trustee or any

 

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Holder for the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations, nor shall any Guarantor seek or be entitled to seek any contribution or reimbursement from the Issuer or any other Guarantor in respect of payments made by such Guarantor hereunder, until all amounts owing to the Trustee and the Holders by the Issuer on account of the Guaranteed Obligations are paid in full. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at any time when all of the Guaranteed Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall be held by such Guarantor in trust for the Trustee and the Holders, segregated from other funds of such Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over to the Trustee in the exact form received by such Guarantor (duly indorsed by such Guarantor to the Trustee, if required), to be applied against the Guaranteed Obligations.

ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 11.1.     Satisfaction and Discharge. This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder, when:

(a)       either:

(1)               all Notes that have been authenticated and delivered, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that 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)               all such Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise or (ii) will become due and payable within one year at their Stated Maturity or (iii) 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 Issuer;

(b)       the Issuer 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 Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, 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 such Notes not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal, premium, if any, and interest to the date of deposit (in the case of Notes that have become due and payable), or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be; provided that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, as calculated by the Issuer or on behalf of the Issuer by such Person as the Issuer shall designate, with any Applicable Premium Deficit only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of redemption, and any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption;

(c)       no Default or Event of Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and the granting of Liens in connection therewith) with respect to this Indenture or the Notes issued hereunder shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Issuer or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuer or any Guarantor is bound;

(d)       the Issuer has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by the Issuer under this Indenture; and

(e)       the Issuer has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money in Dollars toward the payment of such Notes issued hereunder at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.

 

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In addition, the Issuer shall deliver an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been satisfied.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the Issuer’s obligations to the Trustee in Section 7.7 hereof and, if money in Dollars has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (b) of this Section 11.1, the provisions of Sections 11.2 and 8.6 hereof will survive.

SECTION 11.2.     Application of Trust Money. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.6 hereof, all money in Dollars or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.1 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money in Dollars or U.S. Government Obligations has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money in Dollars or U.S. Government Obligations need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 11.1 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, the Issuer’s and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.1 hereof; provided that if the Issuer has made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE XII

[Reserved.]

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 13.1.     Notices. Any notice, request, direction, consent or communication made pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture or the Notes shall be in writing and delivered in person, sent by facsimile, sent by electronic mail in pdf format, delivered by commercial courier service or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

if to the Issuer:

Korn Ferry

1900 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 2600

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Facsimile: (310) 286-2405

Attention: General Counsel; and to

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

with a copy to:

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP

2029 Century Park East Suite 4000

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Facsimile: (310) 552-7063

Attention: Cromwell Montgomery, Esq.

Email: CMontgomery@gibsondunn.com

 

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if to the Trustee, at its Corporate Trust Office, located at:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

333 S. Grand Avenue, 5th Floor, Suite 5A

MAC: E2064-05A

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: Corporate Trust Services - Korn Ferry Administrator

Facsimile: (213) 253-7598

Email: Casey.Boyle@Wellsfargo.com

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

Any notice or communication to the Issuer or the Guarantors shall be deemed to have been given or made as of the date so delivered if personally delivered or if delivered electronically, in pdf format; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and seven (7) calendar days after mailing if sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid (except that a notice of change of address shall not be deemed to have been given until actually received by the addressee). Any notice or communication to the Trustee shall be deemed delivered upon receipt.

Any notice or communication sent to a Holder shall be electronically delivered or mailed to the Holder at the Holder’s address as it appears in the Notes Register and shall be sufficiently given if so sent within the time prescribed.

Failure to mail or deliver electronically 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 sent in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it, except that notices to the Trustee shall be effective only upon receipt.

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 by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to DTC (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from DTC or its designee.

SECTION 13.2.     Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

Upon any request or application by the Issuer or any of the Guarantors to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee:

(1)          an Officer’s Certificate (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.3 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 complied with; and

(2)          an Opinion of Counsel (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.3 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants, if any, have been complied with.

SECTION 13.3.     Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition (other than a certificate provided pursuant to Section 3.12) provided for in this Indenture shall include:

(1)          a statement that the individual making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

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(2)       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;

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

(4)       a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with.

In giving such Opinion of Counsel, counsel may rely as to factual matters on an Officer’s Certificate or on certificates of public officials.

SECTION 13.4.     When Notes Disregarded. In determining whether the Holders of the required aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer, any Guarantor or any Affiliate of them shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes which a Trust Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Also, subject to the foregoing, only Notes outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.

SECTION 13.5.     Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by, or at meetings of, Holders. The Registrar and the Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

SECTION 13.6.     Legal Holidays. A “Legal Holiday” is a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which commercial banking institutions are authorized or required to be closed in New York, New York or the jurisdiction of the place of payment. If a payment date or a Redemption Date is a Legal Holiday, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If a regular record date is a Legal Holiday, the record date shall not be affected.

SECTION 13.7.     Governing Law. THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 13.8.     Jurisdiction. The Issuer and the Guarantors agree that any suit, action or proceeding against the Issuer or any Guarantor brought by any Holder or the Trustee arising out of or based upon this Indenture, the Note Guarantee or the Notes may be instituted in any state or Federal court in the Borough of Manhattan, New York, New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, and each of them irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any suit, action or proceeding. The Issuer and the Guarantors irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection to any suit, action, or proceeding that may be brought in connection with this Indenture, the Note Guarantee or the Notes, including such actions, suits or proceedings relating to securities laws of the United States of America or any state thereof, in such courts whether on the grounds of venue, residence or domicile or on the ground that any such suit, action or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The Issuer and the Guarantors agree that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Issuer or the Guarantors, as the case may be, and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which the Issuer or the Guarantors, as the case may be, are subject by a suit upon such judgment.

SECTION 13.9.     Waivers of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE ISSUER, THE GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE NOTE GUARANTEES AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

 

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SECTION 13.10.     USA PATRIOT Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “USA PATRIOT Act”), the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act.

SECTION 13.11.     No Recourse Against Others. No past, present, or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, as such (other than the Issuer and the Guarantors), shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or the Guarantors under the Note Documents or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

SECTION 13.12.     Successors. All agreements of the Issuer and each Guarantor in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

SECTION 13.13.     Multiple Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. 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 13.14.     Table of Contents; Headings. The table of contents, cross-reference table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

SECTION 13.15.     Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee 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, it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable best efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

SECTION 13.16.     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.

[Signature on following pages]

 

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

 

Issuer:
KORN FERRY
By:  

      /s/ Robert P. Rozek

  Name: Robert P. Rozek
  Title: Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief
  Corporate Officer

 

 

[Signature Page to the Indenture]


Guarantors:
ACHIEVEFORUM, INC., a Delaware corporation
By:  

    /s/ Andrew M. Katz

  Name: Andrew M. Katz
  Title: Treasurer
KORN FERRY (US)., a Delaware corporation
By:  

    /s/ Andrew M. Katz

  Name: Andrew M. Katz
  Title: Treasurer
MILLER HEIMAN GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation
By:  

    /s/ Andrew M. Katz

  Name: Andrew M. Katz
  Title: Treasurer
TWENTYEIGHTY STRATEGY EXECUTION, a Virginia corporation
By:  

    /s/ Andrew M. Katz

  Name: Andrew M. Katz
  Title: Treasurer
SENSA SOLUTIONS, INC., a Virginia corporation
By:  

    /s/ Wendy Monsen

  Name: Wendy Monsen
  Title: President

 

 

[Signature Page to the Indenture]


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By:  

    /s/ Maddy Hughes

  Name: Maddy Hughes
  Title: Vice President

 

[Signature Page to the Indenture]


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF GLOBAL RESTRICTED NOTE]

[Applicable Restricted Notes Legend]

[Depository Legend, if applicable]

[OID Legend, if applicable]

 

No. [        ]    Principal Amount $[ ] [as revised by the Schedule of Increases and Decreases in Global Note attached hereto]1

CUSIP NO.

KORN FERRY

4.625% Senior Notes due 2027

Korn Ferry, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Issuer”) promises to pay to [Cede & Co.],2 or its registered assigns, the principal sum of $[ ] U. S. dollars, [as revised by the Schedule of Increases and Decreases in Global Note attached hereto],3 on December 15, 2027.

Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15, commencing on June 15, 2020.

Record Dates: June 1 and December 1

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

 

 

 

1 

Insert in Global Notes only.

 

2 

Insert in Global Notes only.

 

3 

Insert in Global Notes only.

 

A-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

KORN FERRY
By:    

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

A-2


TRUSTEE CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This Note is one of the 4.625% Senior Notes due 2027 referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL BANK,
as Trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory
      Dated:                                                                                

 

A-3


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]

KORN FERRY

4.625% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2027

Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture (as defined below).

 

1.

Interest

Korn Ferry, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Issuer”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 4.625% per annum from December 16, 2019, until maturity. The Issuer will pay interest semi-annually in arrears every June 15 and December 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; provided that the first Interest Payment Date shall be June 15, 2020. The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified herein, and they shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

[Until this Temporary Regulation S Global Note is exchanged for one or more Permanent Regulation S Global Notes, the Holder hereof shall not be entitled to receive payments of interest hereon; until so exchanged in full, this Temporary Regulation S Global Note shall in all other respects be entitled to the same benefits as other Notes under the Indenture.]

 

2.

Method of Payment

By no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date on which any principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note is due and payable, the Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient in immediately available funds to pay such principal, premium, and interest when due. Interest on any Note which is payable, and is timely paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the preceding June 1 and December 1 at the office or agency of the Issuer maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 2.3 of the Indenture. The principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes shall be payable at the office or agency of Paying Agent or Registrar designated by the Issuer maintained for such purpose (which shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office maintained for such purpose), or at such other office or agency of the Issuer as may be maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 2.3 of the Indenture; provided, however, that, at the option of the Paying Agent, each installment of interest may be paid by (i) check mailed to addresses of the Persons entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear on the Notes Register or (ii) wire transfer to an account located in the United States maintained by the payee, subject to the third to the last sentence of this paragraph. Payments in respect of Notes represented by a Global Note (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository Trust Company or any successor depository. Payments in respect of Notes represented by Definitive Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) held by a Holder of at least $1,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by Definitive Notes will be made in accordance with the Notes Register, or by wire transfer to a Dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 15 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion). If an Interest Payment Date or a Redemption Date is a Legal Holiday, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If a regular record date is a Legal Holiday, the record date shall not be affected.

 

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3.

Paying Agent and Registrar

The Issuer initially appoints Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Trustee”) as Registrar and Paying Agent for the Notes. The Issuer may change any Registrar or Paying Agent without prior notice to the Holders. The Issuer or any Guarantor may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or transfer agent.

 

4.

Indenture

The Issuer issued the Notes under the Indenture dated as of December 16, 2019, by and among the Issuer, the Guarantors named therein, and the Trustee (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, the “Indenture”). The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all terms and provisions of the Indenture, and Holders are referred to the Indenture for a statement of those terms. In the event of a conflict between the terms of the Notes and the terms of the Indenture, the terms of the Indenture shall control.

The Notes are senior obligations of the Issuer. The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture is unlimited. This Note is one of the 4.625% Senior Notes due 2027 referred to in the Indenture. The Notes include (i) $400,000,000 principal amount of the Issuer’s 4.625% Senior Notes due 2027 issued under the Indenture on December 16, 2019 (the “Initial Notes”), and (ii) if and when issued, additional Notes that may be issued from time to time under the Indenture subsequent to December 16, 2019 (the “Additional Notes”), as provided in Section 2.1(a) of the Indenture. The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall be considered collectively as a single class for all purposes of the Indenture; provided that the Additional Notes will not be issued with the same CUSIP as the existing Notes unless such Additional Notes are fungible with the existing Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the incurrence of indebtedness, the making of restricted payments, the sale of assets, the incurrence of certain liens, the making of payments for consents and the consummation of mergers and consolidations. The Indenture also imposes requirements with respect to the provision of financial information and the provision of guarantees of the Notes by certain subsidiaries.

 

5.

Guarantees

The Issuer’s obligations under the Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors.

 

6.

Optional Redemption

(a)       At any time prior to December 15, 2022, the Issuer may redeem the Notes in whole or in part, at its option, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the Notes Register, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) equal to 100.000% plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding, the date of redemption (the “Redemption Date”), subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

(b)       At any time and from time to time prior to December 15, 2022, the Issuer may on one or more occasions, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the Notes Register, redeem up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture on the Issue Date (together with Additional Notes) at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed) equal to 104.625%, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, with the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer of one or more Equity Offerings of the Issuer; provided that not less than 60% of the original aggregate principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes issued under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption (including Additional Notes but excluding Notes held by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), unless all such Notes are

 

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redeemed substantially concurrently; provided, further, that each such redemption occurs not later than 180 days after the date of closing of the related Equity Offering. The Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased in the manner described under Sections 5.1 through 5.6 of the Indenture.

(c)       Except pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) of this paragraph 6, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Issuer’s option prior to December 15, 2022.

(d)       At any time and from time to time on or after December 15, 2022, the Issuer may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the Notes Register at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth in the table below, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to but excluding the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on December 15 of each of the years indicated in the table below:

 

Year

   Percentage            

2022

   102.313%

2023

   101.156%

2024 and thereafter

   100.000%

(e)       Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any Change of Control Offer or Asset Disposition 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 Issuer, or any third party making such tender offer in lieu of the Issuer, purchase all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuer or such third party shall have the right upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the Notes Register, 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 date of such redemption.

(f)       Unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable Redemption Date.

(g)       Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph 6 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.1 through 5.6 of the Indenture.

 

7.

Mandatory Redemption

The Issuer is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

8.

[Reserved]

 

9.

Repurchase Provisions

If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless a third party makes a Change of Control Offer or the Issuer has previously or substantially concurrently therewith delivered a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes pursuant to Section 5.7 of the Indenture, each Holder will have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase from each Holder all or any part (equal to a minimum denomination of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of such Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, to but excluding the date of purchase; provided that if the repurchase date is on or after the record date and on or before the corresponding interest payment date, then Holders

 

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in whose name the Notes are registered at the close of business on such record date will receive the interest due on the repurchase date, as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

Upon certain Asset Dispositions, the Issuer may be required to use the Excess Proceeds from such Asset Dispositions to offer to purchase Notes and, at the Issuer’s option, Pari Passu Indebtedness out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.5 and in Article V of the Indenture.

 

10.

Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Notes shall be issuable only in fully registered form in minimum denominations of principal amount of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay a sum sufficient to cover any tax and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange of any Note (A) for a period beginning (1) fifteen (15) calendar days before the mailing of a notice of an offer to repurchase or redeem Notes and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing or (2) fifteen (15) calendar days before an Interest Payment Date and ending on such Interest Payment Date or (B) called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

 

11.

Persons Deemed Owners

The registered Holder of this Note may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

 

12.

Unclaimed Money

If money for the payment of principal, premium, if any, interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Issuer at its written request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person to receive such money. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to the Issuer and not to the Trustee for payment as general creditors unless an abandoned property law designates another person for payment.

 

13.

Discharge and Defeasance

Subject to certain exceptions and conditions set forth in the Indenture, the Issuer at any time may terminate some or all of its obligations under the Notes and the Indenture if the Issuer deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.

 

14.

Amendment, Supplement, Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions contained in the Indenture, the Note Documents may be amended, or a Default thereunder may be waived, with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes. Without notice to or the consent of any Holder, the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Note Documents as provided in the Indenture.

 

15.

Defaults and Remedies

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer or certain Guarantors) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by written notice to the Issuer, or the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes by notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, and any other monetary obligations on all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Upon the effectiveness of such

 

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declaration, such principal, premium, interest, and other monetary obligations will be due and payable immediately. If a bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer or a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) occurs and is continuing, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest and any other monetary obligations on all the Notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders. Under certain circumstances, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences.

 

16.

Trustee Dealings with the Issuer

Subject to certain limitations set forth in the Indenture, the Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer, Guarantors or their Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. In addition, the Trustee shall be permitted to engage in transactions with the Issuer and its Affiliates and Subsidiaries; provided, however, that if the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest, the Trustee must eliminate such conflict within 90 days of acquiring such conflicting interest, or resign.

 

17.

No Recourse Against Others

No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, as such (other than the Issuer and the Guarantors), shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or the Guarantors under the Note Documents or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

 

18.

Authentication

This Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent acting on its behalf) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.

 

19.

Abbreviations

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entirety), JT TEN (= joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= custodian) and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gift to Minors Act).

 

20.

CUSIP and ISIN Numbers

The Issuer has caused CUSIP and ISIN numbers, if applicable, to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP and ISIN numbers, if applicable, in notices of redemption or purchase 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 or purchase and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

21.

Governing Law

This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

The Issuer will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge to the Holder a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:

Korn Ferry

1900 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 2600

 

A-8


Los Angeles, CA 90067

Attention: General Counsel

 

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ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to:

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

(Insert assignee’s social security or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint                      agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:    Your Signature:   

 

 

Signature Guarantee:   

 

(Signature must be guaranteed)

 

 

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 17Ad-15.

The undersigned hereby certifies that it ☐ is / ☐ is not an Affiliate of the Issuer and that, to its knowledge, the proposed transferee ☐ is / ☐ is not an Affiliate of the Issuer.

In connection with any transfer or exchange of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the date that is one year after the later of the date of original issuance of such Notes and the last date, if any, on which such Notes were owned by the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW:

 

         (1)       acquired for the undersigned’s own account, without transfer; or
  (2)       transferred to the Issuer; or
  (3)       transferred pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); or
  (4)       transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or
  (5)       transferred pursuant to and in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act; or
  (6)       transferred pursuant to another available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered Holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (5) or (6) is checked, the Issuer may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, in its sole discretion, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Issuer may reasonably request to confirm that such transfer is

 

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being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, such as the exemption provided by Rule 144 under such Act.

 

  

 

Signature

Signature Guarantee:   

 

(Signature must be guaranteed)

  

 

Signature

The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 17Ad-15.

TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF BOX (1) OR (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Issuer as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

  

                                                     

Dated:

 

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[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTES]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTES

The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

  

Amount of decrease

in Principal Amount

of this Global Note

  

Amount of increase

in Principal Amount

of this Global Note

  

Principal Amount of this
Global Note following
such decrease or increase

  

Signature of

authorized signatory

of Trustee or Notes
Custodian

 

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OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 3.5 or 3.9 of the Indenture, check either box:

SECTION 3.5 ☐ SECTION 3.9 ☐

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 3.5 or 3.9 of the Indenture, state the amount in principal amount (must be in minimum denominations of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof): $                                                              and specify the denomination or denominations (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) of the Notes to be issued to the Holder for the portion of the within Note not being repurchased (in the absence of any such specification, one such Note will be issued for the portion not being repurchased):                                 .

Date:                      Your Signature                                                                                                                         

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of the Note)

Signature Guarantee:                                                                                                                                                

(Signature must be guaranteed)

The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 17Ad-15.

 

A-13


EXHIBIT B

Form of Supplemental Indenture to Add Guarantors

[                ] SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of [                ], 20[ ] (this “Supplemental Indenture”), by and among the parties that are signatories hereto as Guarantors (the “Guaranteeing Entities” and each a “Guaranteeing Entity”), Korn Ferry as the Issuer, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association, as Trustee under the Indenture referred to below.

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, each of Korn Ferry, a Delaware limited liability company, the Guarantors named therein and the Trustee have heretofore executed and delivered an indenture dated as of December 16, 2019 (as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance of an aggregate principal amount of $400,000,000 of 4.625% Senior Notes due 2027 of the Issuer (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances each Guaranteeing Entity shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Guaranteeing Entity shall unconditionally guarantee, on a joint and several basis with the other Guarantors, all of the Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture (the “Guarantee”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.1 of the Indenture, the Issuer, each Guarantor and the Trustee are authorized to execute and deliver a supplemental indenture to add additional Guarantors, without the consent of any Holder;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guaranteeing Entity, the Issuer, the other Guarantors and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1. Defined Terms. As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recitals hereto are used herein as therein defined. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to the Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Section hereof.

ARTICLE II

AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND; GUARANTEE

Section 2.1. Agreement to be Bound. Each Guaranteeing Entity hereby becomes a party to the Indenture as a Guarantor and as such will have all of the rights and be subject to all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.

Section 2.2. Guarantee. Each Guaranteeing Entity agrees, on a joint and several basis with all the existing Guarantors [and the other Guaranteeing Entities], to fully, unconditionally and irrevocably Guarantee to each Holder of the Notes and the Trustee the Guaranteed Obligations pursuant to Article X of the Indenture on a senior basis.

 

B-1


ARTICLE III

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 3.1. Notices. All notices and other communications to the Guaranteeing Entities shall be given as provided in the Indenture to such Guaranteeing Entities, at their addresses set forth below, with a copy to the Issuer as provided in the Indenture for notices to the Issuer.

[INSERT ADDRESS]

Section 3.2. Merger and Consolidation. No Guaranteeing Entity shall sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into another Person (other than the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor or becomes a Guarantor concurrently with the transaction) except in accordance with Section 4.1(f) of the Indenture.

Section 3.3. Release of Guarantee. This Guarantee shall be released in accordance with Section 10.2 of the Indenture.

Section 3.4. Parties. Nothing expressed or mentioned herein is intended or shall be construed to give any Person, firm or corporation, other than the Holders and the Trustee, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture or any provision herein or therein contained.

Section 3.5. Governing Law. This Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

Section 3.6. Severability. In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability.

Section 3.7. Benefits Acknowledged. Each Guaranteeing Entity’s Guarantee is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture. Each Guaranteeing Entity 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.

Section 3.8. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

Section 3.9. The Trustee. The Trustee makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or with respect to the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the other parties hereto.

Section 3.10. Counterparts. The parties hereto may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture 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 3.11. Execution and Delivery. Each Guaranteeing Entity agrees that its Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of any such Guarantee.

 

B-2


Section 3.12. Headings. The headings of the Articles and the Sections in this Supplemental Indenture are for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to alter or affect the meaning or interpretation of any provisions hereof.

[Signature pages follow]

 

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

 

[GUARANTEEING ENTITY],
as a Guarantor
By:    

 

  Name:
  Title:
KORN FERRY
By:    

 

  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to Supplemental Indenture]


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to Issue Date Supplemental Indenture]

 


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

Korn Ferry

1900 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 2600

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Facsimile: (310) 286-2405

333 S. Grand Avenue, 5th Floor, Suite 5A

MAC: E2064-05A

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: Korn Ferry Administrator

Re: 7.625% Senior Notes due 2026

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of December 16, 2019 (the “Indenture”), by and among Korn Ferry, a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), the Guarantors (as defined below) party hereto from time to time and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States, as trustee. For purposes of this Exhibit C, (i) capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture and (ii) “Restricted Definitive Note” shall mean a Definitive Note bearing the Restricted Notes Legend, “Unrestricted Definitive Note” shall mean a Definitive Note that does not bear and is not required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend, “Restricted Global Note” shall mean a Global Note bearing the Restricted Notes Legend and “Unrestricted Global Note” shall mean a Global Note that does not bear and is not required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

___________________, (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 Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Rule 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. 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 Restricted Notes Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

2. ¨  Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a Person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no

 

C-1


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 Restricted Notes Legend printed on the Regulation S Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

3. ¨  Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in a Restricted 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 Company 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 Restricted Notes 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 Restricted Notes Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(b) ¨  Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Restricted Notes 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 Restricted Notes 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 Restricted Notes Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

C-2


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 Restricted Notes 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 Company.

 

 

  [Insert Name of Transferor]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated: _______________________

Signature Guarantee: ______________________________

(Signature must be guaranteed)

The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 17Ad-15.

 

C-3


ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

  1.

The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]

¨ 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.

Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

Published CUSIP Number: 50066UAA7

Revolver CUSIP Number: 50066UAB5

$650,000,000

CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of December 16, 2019,

by and among

KORN FERRY,

as the Borrower,

the Lenders referred to herein,

as Lenders,

and

BANK OF AMERICA N.A.,

as Administrative Agent,

Swingline Lender and an Issuing Lender,

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Syndication Agent

and

BMO HARRIS BANK, N.A.

and

BANK OF THE WEST,

as Documentation Agents

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

and

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     1  

SECTION 1.1

  Definitions      1  

SECTION 1.2

  Other Definitions and Provisions      39  

SECTION 1.3

  Accounting Terms      40  

SECTION 1.4

  UCC Terms      40  

SECTION 1.5

  Rounding      40  

SECTION 1.6

  References to Agreement and Laws      41  

SECTION 1.7

  Times of Day      41  

SECTION 1.8

  Letter of Credit Amounts      41  

SECTION 1.9

  Guarantees/Earn-Outs      41  

SECTION 1.10

  Covenant Compliance Generally      41  

SECTION 1.11

  Currency Equivalents      41  

SECTION 1.12

  Divisions      42  

SECTION 1.13

  Limited Conditionality Acquisitions      42  

SECTION 1.14

  Rates      43  

ARTICLE II REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY

     43  

SECTION 2.1

  Revolving Credit Loans      43  

SECTION 2.2

  Swingline Loans      44  

SECTION 2.3

  Procedure for Advances of Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans      46  

SECTION 2.4

  Repayment and Prepayment of Revolving Credit and Swingline Loans      47  

SECTION 2.5

  Permanent Reduction of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment      48  

SECTION 2.6

  Termination of Revolving Credit Facility      49  

ARTICLE III LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY

     49  

SECTION 3.1

  L/C Facility      49  

SECTION 3.2

  Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit      50  

SECTION 3.3

  Commissions and Other Charges      50  

SECTION 3.4

  L/C Participations      51  

SECTION 3.5

  Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower      52  

SECTION 3.6

  Obligations Absolute      53  

SECTION 3.7

  Effect of Letter of Credit Application      53  

SECTION 3.8

  Resignation of Issuing Lenders      53  

SECTION 3.9

  Reporting of Letter of Credit Information and L/C Commitment      54  

SECTION 3.10

  Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries      54  

SECTION 3.11

  Evergreen Letters of Credit      54  

ARTICLE IV GENERAL LOAN PROVISIONS

     55  

SECTION 4.1

  Interest      55  

SECTION 4.2

  Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of Loans      56  

SECTION 4.3

  Fees      56  

SECTION 4.4

  Manner of Payment      57  

SECTION 4.5

  Evidence of Indebtedness      57  

SECTION 4.6

  Sharing of Payments by Lenders      58  

SECTION 4.7

  Administrative Agent’s Clawback      58  

 

i


SECTION 4.8

  Changed Circumstances      59  

SECTION 4.9

  Indemnity      62  

SECTION 4.10

  Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Rate Loans      63  

SECTION 4.11

  Taxes      64  

SECTION 4.12

  Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders      68  

SECTION 4.13

  Incremental Loans      69  

SECTION 4.14

  Cash Collateral      72  

SECTION 4.15

  Defaulting Lenders      73  

ARTICLE V CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING

     75  

SECTION 5.1

  Conditions to Closing and Initial Extensions of Credit      75  

SECTION 5.2

  Conditions to All Extensions of Credit      79  

ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE CREDIT PARTIES

     80  

SECTION 6.1

  Organization and Legal Status      80  

SECTION 6.2

  Capital Structure      80  

SECTION 6.3

  Organizational Power or Authority; Enforceability      80  

SECTION 6.4

  No Conflict with Laws or Material Agreements; Compliance with Laws      80  

SECTION 6.5

  Payment of Taxes      81  

SECTION 6.6

  Governmental Approvals; Intellectual Property      81  

SECTION 6.7

  Environmental Regulations and Liabilities      81  

SECTION 6.8

  ERISA      82  

SECTION 6.9

  Margin Stock      82  

SECTION 6.10

  Investment Company Act      82  

SECTION 6.11

  Material Contracts      82  

SECTION 6.12

  Labor Matters      83  

SECTION 6.13

  Burdensome Provisions      83  

SECTION 6.14

  Financial Statements      83  

SECTION 6.15

  Solvency      83  

SECTION 6.16

  Ownership of Properties      83  

SECTION 6.17

  Litigation      83  

SECTION 6.18

  Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions      83  

SECTION 6.19

  No Default      84  

SECTION 6.20

  Senior Indebtedness Status      84  

SECTION 6.21

  Disclosure      84  

SECTION 6.22

  Insurance      85  

SECTION 6.23

  Collateral      85  

SECTION 6.24

  Beneficial Ownership Certificate      85  

SECTION 6.25

  Covered Entities      85  

ARTICLE VII AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     85  

SECTION 7.1

  Financial Statements and Budgets      85  

SECTION 7.2

  Certificates; Other Reports      86  

SECTION 7.3

  Notice of Litigation and Other Matters      87  

SECTION 7.4

  Preservation of Corporate Existence, Rights and Privileges; Compliance with Laws and Regulations      88  

SECTION 7.5

  Maintenance of Property      88  

SECTION 7.6

  Insurance      88  

SECTION 7.7

  Accounting Methods and Financial Records      88  

SECTION 7.8

  Payment of Taxes and Other Obligations      89  

SECTION 7.9

  Environmental Laws      89  

 

ii


SECTION 7.10

  Compliance with ERISA      89  

SECTION 7.11

  Maintenance of Material Contracts      89  

SECTION 7.12

  Additional Material Non-TP Subsidiaries      89  

SECTION 7.13

  Use of Proceeds      90  

SECTION 7.14

  Compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions and Beneficial Ownership      90  

SECTION 7.15

  Collateral; Further Assurances      91  

SECTION 7.16

  Post-Closing Obligations      91  

ARTICLE VIII NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     91  

SECTION 8.1

  Indebtedness      91  

SECTION 8.2

  Liens      93  

SECTION 8.3

  Investments      93  

SECTION 8.4

  Merger, Consolidation, Change of Business; Dispositions      93  

SECTION 8.5

  Restricted Payments      94  

SECTION 8.6

  Transactions with Affiliates      95  

SECTION 8.7

  Accounting Changes; Organizational Documents      95  

SECTION 8.8

  Payments and Modifications of Subordinated Indebtedness      95  

SECTION 8.9

  No Further Negative Pledges      96  

SECTION 8.10

  Sale Leasebacks      97  

SECTION 8.11

  Financial Covenants      98  

SECTION 8.12

  Tax Preferred Subsidiary      98  

SECTION 8.13

  Prepayments and Modifications of the Senior Unsecured Notes      98  

ARTICLE IX DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

     99  

SECTION 9.1

  Events of Default      99  

SECTION 9.2

  Remedies      101  

SECTION 9.3

  Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; etc.      102  

SECTION 9.4

  Crediting of Payments and Proceeds      102  

SECTION 9.5

  Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim      103  

SECTION 9.6

  Credit Bidding      104  

ARTICLE X THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

     104  

SECTION 10.1

  Appointment and Authority      104  

SECTION 10.2

  Rights as a Lender      105  

SECTION 10.3

  Exculpatory Provisions      105  

SECTION 10.4

  Reliance by the Administrative Agent      106  

SECTION 10.5

  Delegation of Duties      107  

SECTION 10.6

  Resignation of Administrative Agent      107  

SECTION 10.7

  Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders      108  

SECTION 10.8

  No Other Duties, Etc.      109  

SECTION 10.9

  Collateral and Guaranty Matters      109  

SECTION 10.10

  Secured Hedge Agreements, Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer Documents      110  

ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS

     110  

SECTION 11.1

  Notices      110  

SECTION 11.2

  Amendments, Waivers and Consents      113  

SECTION 11.3

  Expenses; Indemnity      115  

SECTION 11.4

  Right of Setoff      117  

SECTION 11.5

  Governing Law; Jurisdiction, Etc.      118  

SECTION 11.6

  Waiver of Jury Trial      119  

 

iii


SECTION 11.7

  Reversal of Payments      119  

SECTION 11.8

  Injunctive Relief      119  

SECTION 11.9

  Successors and Assigns; Participations      119  

SECTION 11.10

  Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality      123  

SECTION 11.11

  Performance of Duties      124  

SECTION 11.12

  All Powers Coupled with Interest      124  

SECTION 11.13

  Survival      124  

SECTION 11.14

  Titles and Captions      125  

SECTION 11.15

  Severability of Provisions      125  

SECTION 11.16

  Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution      125  

SECTION 11.17

  Term of Agreement      126  

SECTION 11.18

  USA PATRIOT Act; Anti-Money Laundering Laws      126  

SECTION 11.19

  Independent Effect of Covenants      126  

SECTION 11.20

  No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      126  

SECTION 11.21

  Inconsistencies with Other Documents      127  

SECTION 11.22

  Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions      127  

SECTION 11.23

  Judgment Currency      128  

SECTION 11.24

  Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs      128  

SECTION 11.25

  Certain ERISA Matters      129  

 

iv


EXHIBITS

    

Exhibit A-1

  -      Form of Revolving Credit Note

Exhibit A-2

  -      Form of Swingline Note

Exhibit B

  -      Form of Notice of Borrowing

Exhibit C

  -      Form of Notice of Account Designation

Exhibit D

  -      Form of Notice of Prepayment

Exhibit E

  -      Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation

Exhibit F

  -      Form of Officer’s Compliance Certificate

Exhibit G

  -      Form of Assignment and Assumption

Exhibit H-1

  -      Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Non-Partnership Foreign Lenders)

Exhibit H-2

  -      Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Non-Partnership Foreign Participants)

Exhibit H-3

  -      Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Participant Partnerships)

Exhibit H-4

  -      Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Lender Partnerships)
SCHEDULES         

Schedule 1.1

  -      Existing Letters of Credit

Schedule 2.1

  -      Commitments and Commitment Percentages

Schedule 2.1C

  -      L/C Commitments

Schedule 6.2

  -      Subsidiaries and Capitalization

Schedule 6.5

  -      Tax Matters

Schedule 6.7

  -      Environmental Matters

Schedule 6.16

  -      Real Property

Schedule 6.17

  -      Litigation

Schedule 8.1

  -      Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 8.2

  -      Existing Liens

Schedule 8.6

  -      Transactions with Affiliates

Schedule 8.12

  -      Tax Preferred Subsidiaries

 

v


CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of December 16, 2019, by and among KORN FERRY, a Delaware corporation, as the Borrower, the LENDERS from time to time party hereto, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender and an Issuing Lender and the other Issuing Lenders party hereto.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The Borrower has requested, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders have agreed to extend, certain credit facilities to the Borrower.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, such parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.1 Definitions. The following terms when used in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them below:

Acquisition” means any transaction, or any series of related transactions, consummated on or after the date of this Agreement, by which the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries (or any Subsidiary that after giving effect to such transaction would be a Material Subsidiary) (a) acquires all or substantially all of the assets of any Person, or a division or business unit thereof or location where such Person does business, whether through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise or (b) directly or indirectly acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of transactions) at least a majority (in number of votes) of the securities of a corporation which have ordinary voting power for the election of directors or the equivalent governing body (other than securities having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) or a majority (by percentage or voting power) of the outstanding ownership interests of a partnership or limited liability company.

Adjustment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.8(d).

Administrative Agent” means Bank of America, in its capacity as Administrative Agent hereunder, and any successor thereto appointed pursuant to Section 10.6.

Administrative Agent’s Office” means the office of the Administrative Agent specified in or determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.1(c).

Administrative Questionnaire” means an administrative questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

Affiliate” means, 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 Parties” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.1(e).

Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment” means the aggregate commitment of all Revolving Credit Lenders to make Revolving Credit Loans to, and to purchase participations in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans for the account of, the Borrower, as such amount may be modified at any time or from


time to time pursuant to the terms hereof (including, without limitation, Section 4.13). The Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment on the Closing Date shall be $650,000,000.

Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

Alternative Currency” means (a) the euro, (b) Pounds Sterling and (c) with the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, such consents not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, any other lawful currency (other than Dollars); provided, that, in each case of clauses (a) through (c) above, such currency is freely transferable and convertible into Dollars in the United States currency market and freely available to Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, in the London (or other applicable) interbank deposit market.

Alternative Currency Letter of Credit” means any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency and “Alternative Currency Letters of Credit” means the collective reference to all Letters of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency.

Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption, including, without limitation, the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means any and all laws, statutes, regulations or obligatory government orders, decrees, ordinances or rules applicable to a Credit Party, or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, related to terrorism financing or money laundering, including any applicable provision of the PATRIOT Act and The Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act (also known as the “Bank Secrecy Act,” 31 U.S.C. §§ 5311-5330 and 12U.S.C. §§ 1818(s), 1820(b) and 1951-1959).

Applicable Law” means all applicable provisions of constitutions, laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, treaties, regulations, permits, licenses, approvals, interpretations and orders of Governmental Authorities and all orders and decrees of all courts and arbitrators.

Applicable Margin” means the corresponding percentages per annum as set forth below based on the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio:

 

Pricing   
Level   
   Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio    Commitment  
Fee  
  

 

LIBOR  
Rate  
Loans  

 

 

Base 
Rate 
Loans 

I  

   Less than 0.50 to 1.00    0.175%    1.125%     0.125% 

II  

   Greater than or equal to 0.50 to 1.00 but less than 1.50 to 1.00    0.200%    1.250%     0.250% 

III  

   Greater than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00 but less than 2.25 to 1.00    0.250%    1.500%     0.500% 

IV  

   Greater than or equal to 2.25 to 1.00 but less than 3.00 to 1.00    0.300%    1.750%     0.750% 

V  

   Greater than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00    0.350%    2.000%     1.000% 

The Applicable Margin shall be determined and adjusted quarterly on the date five (5) Business Days after the day on which the Borrower provides an Officer’s Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.2(a) for the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower (each such date, a “Calculation Date”); provided, that: (a) the Applicable Margin shall be based on Pricing Level II until the Calculation Date applicable to

 

2


the first fiscal quarter ended after the Closing Date and, thereafter the Pricing Level shall be determined by reference to the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower preceding the applicable Calculation Date, and (b) if the Borrower fails to provide an Officer’s Compliance Certificate when due as required by Section 7.2(a) for the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower preceding the applicable Calculation Date, the Applicable Margin from the date on which such Officer’s Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered shall be based on Pricing Level V until such time as such Officer’s Compliance Certificate is delivered, at which time the Pricing Level shall be determined by reference to the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower preceding such Calculation Date. The applicable Pricing Level shall be effective from one Calculation Date until the next Calculation Date. Any adjustment in the Pricing Level shall be applicable to all Extensions of Credit then existing or subsequently made or issued.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any financial statement or Officer’s Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 7.1 or Section 7.2(a) is shown to be inaccurate (regardless of whether (i) this Agreement is in effect, (ii) any Revolving Credit Commitments are in effect, or (iii) any Extension of Credit is outstanding when such inaccuracy is discovered or such financial statement or Officer’s Compliance Certificate was delivered), and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Margin for any period (an “Applicable Period”) than the Applicable Margin applied for such Applicable Period, then (A) the Borrower shall immediately deliver to the Administrative Agent a corrected Officer’s Compliance Certificate for such Applicable Period, (B) the Applicable Margin for such Applicable Period shall be determined as if the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio in the corrected Officer’s Compliance Certificate were applicable for such Applicable Period, and (C) the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent the accrued additional interest and fees owing as a result of such increased Applicable Margin for such Applicable Period, which payment shall be promptly applied by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 4.4. Nothing in this paragraph shall limit the rights of the Administrative Agent and Lenders with respect to Sections 5.1(b) and 9.2 nor any of their other rights under this Agreement or any other Loan Document. The Borrower’s obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

Arranger” means each of BofA Securities and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, each in its capacity as a joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner.

Aspen Acquisition” means collectively, (a) the Acquisition by the Borrower of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of certain entities, including (i) Miller Heiman Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (ii) AchieveForum, Inc., a Delaware corporation and (iii) TwentyEighty Strategy Execution, Inc., a Virginia corporation, and (b) the Acquisition by Korn Ferry Global Holdings (UK) Ltd. of 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Boca U.K. Intermediate Holdings Limited, consummated pursuant to that certain Stock Purchase Agreement by and among the Borrower and TwentyEighty, Inc., dated as of September 30, 2019.

Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 11.9), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit G or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

3


Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

Bail-In Legislation” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

Bank Guarantee” means a bank guarantee issued by a Revolving Credit Lender or one of its Affiliates or branches or a correspondent bank on its behalf, for the account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, to support obligations of such Person incurred in the ordinary course of such Person’s business.

Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.

Bankruptcy Code” means 11 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq.

Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% (b) the Prime Rate, and (c) the LIBOR Rate plus 1.00%. If the Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 4.8, then the Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Base Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

Base Rate Loan” means any Loan bearing interest at a rate based upon the Base Rate as provided in Section 4.1(a).

Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 CFR § 1010.230.

Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for the purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

BofA Securities” means BofA Securities, Inc.

Borrower” means Korn Ferry, a Delaware corporation.

Borrower Materials” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 7.2.

Business Day” means (a) for all purposes other than as set forth in clause (b) below, any day (other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday) on which banks in Charlotte, North Carolina, Los Angeles, California or New York, New York, are open for the conduct of their commercial banking business, (b) with respect to all notices and determinations in connection with, and payments of principal and interest on, any LIBOR Rate Loan, or any Base Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is determined by reference to the LIBOR Rate, any day that is a Business Day described in clause (a) and that is also a London Banking

 

4


Day and (c) if such day relates to any determination of the spot exchange rate for Alternative Currency, any day that is a Business Day described in clause (a) and that is also a day on which banks are open for foreign exchange business in the principal financial center of the country of the relevant Alternative Currency for which such spot exchange rate is being determined.

Calculation Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of Applicable Margin.

Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means, subject to Section 1.3(c), 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 finance 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, but excluding any obligations with respect to Operating Leases.

Cash Collateralize” means, to deposit in a Controlled Account or to pledge and deposit with, or deliver to the Administrative Agent, or directly to the applicable Issuing Lender (with notice thereof to the Administrative Agent), for the benefit of one or more of the Issuing Lenders, the Swingline Lender or the Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations or obligations of the Lenders to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations or Swingline Loans, cash or deposit account balances or, if the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender shall agree, in their sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender, as applicable. “Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing, in no event shall “Cash Collateral” include Excluded Assets.

Cash Equivalents” means, when used in connection with any Person, that Person’s:

(a)        Investments in Government Securities due within one year after the date of the making of the investment;

(b)        Investments in readily marketable direct obligations of any State of the United States or any political subdivision of any such State or any public agency or instrumentality thereof given, on the date of such investment, a credit rating of at least Aa by Moody’s or AA by S&P, in each case due within one year after the date of the making of the investment;

(c)        Investments in certificates of deposit issued by, bank deposits in, eurodollar deposits through, bankers’ acceptances of, and repurchase agreements covering Government Securities executed by, the Administrative Agent or any bank incorporated under the Applicable Laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and having, on the date of such investment, combined capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least $250,000,000, or total assets of at least $5,000,000,000, in each case due within one year after the date of the making of the investment;

(d)        Investments in certificates of deposit issued by, bank deposits in, eurodollar deposits through, bankers’ acceptances of, and repurchase agreements covering Government Securities executed by, any branch or office located in the United States of a bank incorporated under the Applicable Laws of any jurisdiction outside the United States having on the date of such investment combined capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least $500,000,000, or total assets of at least $15,000,000,000, in each case due within one year after the date of the making of the investment;

 

5


(e)        Investments in readily marketable commercial paper or other debt securities issued by corporations doing business in and incorporated under the Applicable Laws of the United States or any State thereof or of any corporation that is the holding company for a bank described in clause (c) or (d) above given on the date of such investment a credit rating of at least P 1 by Moody’s or A 1 by S&P, in each case due within one year after the date of the making of the investment;

(f)        Investments in a readily redeemable “money market mutual fund” sponsored by a bank described in clause (c) or (d) hereof that has and maintains an investment policy limiting its investments primarily to instruments of the types described in clauses (a) through (e) hereof and given on the date of such investment a credit rating of at least Aa by Moody’s and AA by S&P; and

(g)        solely with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, Investments equivalent to those referred to in clauses (a) through (f) of this definition, denominated in the foreign currency that is the local currency where such Foreign Subsidiary is organized or has its principal place of business which are comparable in tenor and credit quality to those referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above and customarily used in the ordinary course of business by similar companies for cash management purposes in the relevant jurisdiction to the extent reasonably required in connection with any business conducted by such Foreign Subsidiary in such jurisdiction.

Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement to provide cash management services, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card (including non-card electronic payables and purchasing cards), electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements.

Cash Management Bank” means any Person that, (a) at the time it enters into a Cash Management Agreement with a Credit Party, is a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, or (b) at the time it (or its Affiliate) becomes a Lender or the Administrative Agent (including on the Closing Date), is a party to a Cash Management Agreement with a Credit Party, in each case in its capacity as a party to such Cash Management Agreement.

Cash Secured Credit Facility” means any credit facility incurred by one or more Foreign Subsidiaries, the principal repayment of which is fully supported by fully cash-collateralized letters of credit or Bank Guarantees issued by a Person other than the Borrower or its Subsidiaries for the account of (a) one or more other Foreign Subsidiaries or (b) the Borrower.

CFC Debt” has the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of “Tax Preferred Subsidiary”.

Change in Control” means an event or series of events by which (a) any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of 30%, or more, of the Equity Interests of the Borrower having the right to vote for the election of members of the board of directors of the Borrower, (b) a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Borrower do not constitute Continuing Directors, (c) except to the extent otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 8.4), the Borrower shall cease to own and control, directly or indirectly, (i) with respect to any Material Subsidiary in existence on the Closing Date, all of the Equity Interests in such Material Subsidiary owned and controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Borrower on the Closing Date, or (ii) with respect to any Material Subsidiary acquired or formed after the Closing Date, all of the Equity Interests in such Material Subsidiary owned and controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Borrower on the date of such acquisition or formation or (d) there shall have occurred under any indenture or other instrument evidencing any other Indebtedness or Equity Interests in excess of $50,000,000, any “change in control” or similar provision (as set forth in such indenture, agreement or other evidence of such

 

6


Indebtedness or Equity Interest) obligating the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or repay all or any part of the Indebtedness or Equity Interests prior to the scheduled maturity provided for therein.

Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided, that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, implemented or issued; provided further, that, the increased costs associated with a Change in Law based on the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) may only be imposed to the extent the applicable Lender or other Recipient generally imposes the same charges on other similarly situated borrowers that are similarly affected by the circumstances giving rise to such increased costs under credit facilities comparable to the Credit Facility pursuant to provisions similar to Section 4.10 and only to the extent that the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Recipient reasonably deems that it is afforded the legal right under such other credit facilities to impose such increased costs (it being acknowledged and agreed that nothing in this proviso shall require the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other Recipient to disclose any information related to similarly situated customers, comparable provisions of similar agreements or otherwise that the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Recipient (as applicable), in its sole discretion, deems proprietary, privileged or confidential, and the Administrative Agent’s, the applicable Lender’s or the applicable Recipient’s (as the case may be) failure to provide such information shall not preclude it from asserting that such other customer is, or is not, similarly situated under a similar agreement to the Borrower).

Closing Date” means December 16, 2019.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Collateral” means the collateral security for the Secured Obligations pledged or granted pursuant to the Security Documents. For the avoidance of doubt, Collateral shall in no event include any Excluded Assets.

Commitment Fee” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.3(a).

Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.).

Connection Income Taxes” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

Consolidated” means, when used with reference to financial statements or financial statement items of any Person, such statements or items on a consolidated basis in accordance with applicable principles of consolidation under GAAP.

Consolidated Adjusted EBIT” means, with respect to any fiscal period of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (determined on a Consolidated basis and without duplication), Consolidated Adjusted

 

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EBITDA for such period minus, to the extent included as an add-back in the computation of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such fiscal period, depreciation expense and amortization expense.

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA” means, with respect to any fiscal period of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the total of (determined on a Consolidated basis and without duplication) the following:

(a)        (i) net profit (before tax and equity in earnings of non-Consolidated Subsidiaries) for such period and (ii) the amount of dividends or other distributions paid in cash to the Borrower or one of its Consolidated Subsidiaries during such period by a non-Consolidated Subsidiary of the Borrower,

minus

(b)        to the extent included in the computation of net profit under clause (a)(i) for such period, the amount of any non-recurring gains (excluding, however, cash non-recurring gains relating to previously expensed items that do not exceed in the aggregate the greater of (i) $15,000,000 and (ii) 5.0% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, determined net of any non-recurring gains of the type described in this parenthetical, for the trailing twelve-month period ending on the last day of such period),

plus

(c)        the sum of the following, to the extent deducted in the computation of net profit under clause (a)(i) above for such period: (i) Consolidated Interest Expense, plus (ii) depreciation expense and amortization expense, plus (iii) non-cash capital stock-based compensation to officers and employees (including in connection with the vesting of stock options in the Borrower), plus (iv) non-cash charges, but only to the extent not reserved for a future cash charge, plus (v) non-cash charges related to fair value adjustments or minus non-cash gains related to fair value adjustments, plus (vi) any non-recurring expenses (including, without limitation, any restructuring charges) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in an aggregate amount in any four consecutive fiscal quarter period that, when taken together with amounts included in Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA pursuant to clause (d) below during such four quarter period, shall not exceed the greater of (A) $70,000,000 and (B) 22.5% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA determined for the applicable period prior to giving effect to amounts added back pursuant to this clause (c)(vi) and amounts included pursuant to clause (d) below, plus (vii) costs related to the Aspen Acquisition including, without limitation, restructuring charges, acquisition and integration costs, and retention bonuses; so long as such costs (A) are set forth in reasonable detail on a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower delivered to, and reasonably acceptable to, the Administrative Agent and (B) do not exceed $30,000,000 during the term of this Agreement, plus (viii) non-cash charges related to previously capitalized debt acquisition costs plus (ix) cash charges relating to the unwinding of existing Hedge Agreements in connection with the Transactions,

plus

(d)        the amount of “run rate” net cost savings, synergies and operating expense reductions projected by the Borrower in good faith to be realized as a result of specified actions taken prior to the end of such fiscal period, or with respect to any net cost savings, synergies and/or operating expense reductions arising solely as a result of a Permitted Acquisition which are expected to be taken within 6 months of the closing such Acquisition (in each case calculated on a pro forma basis as though such net cost savings, synergies and/or operating expense reductions had been realized on the first day of such fiscal period as if such net cost savings, synergies and

 

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operating expense reductions were realized during the entirety of such fiscal period), in each case net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such fiscal period from such actions; provided, that: (i) such net cost savings, synergies and operating expense reductions (x) are reasonably identifiable, factually supportable and expected to have a continuing impact on the operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (y) have been determined by the Borrower in good faith to be reasonably anticipated to be realized within 12 months following the taking of the applicable actions giving rise thereto and (z) are set forth in reasonable detail on a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent and (ii) the aggregate amount of net cost savings, synergies and operating expense reductions included in Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA pursuant to this clause (d) in any four consecutive fiscal quarter period, when taken together with any expenses added back pursuant to clause (c)(vi) above during such period, shall not exceed the greater of (A) $70,000,000 and (B) 22.5% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA determined for the applicable period prior to giving effect to amounts included pursuant to this clause (d) and amounts added back pursuant to clause (c)(vi) above.

For purposes of this Agreement, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA shall be adjusted on a Pro Forma Basis.

Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, the sum of (a) all obligations for borrowed money, plus (b) all obligations with respect to the principal component of Capital Lease Obligations, plus (c) all obligations with respect to Disqualified Equity Interests plus (d) all Guarantee obligations in respect of items described in the preceding clauses (a) through (c), plus (e) all unreimbursed drawings under outstanding letters of credit.

Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Adjusted EBIT for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending on or immediately prior to such date to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense (net of non-cash interest expense) for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending on or immediately prior to such date. For purposes of calculating the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio as of any date of determination ending prior to the expiration of four (4) full fiscal quarters immediately following the Closing Date, Consolidated Interest Expense shall be deemed to be Consolidated Interest Expense for the period from the Closing Date to and including the applicable date of determination, multiplied by a fraction equal to (i) 365 divided by (ii) the number of days actually elapsed from the Closing Date to such applicable date of determination.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, interest expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as determined on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, in accordance with GAAP, for such period.

Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness (excluding Cash Secured Credit Facilities permitted pursuant to Section 8.1(b)) on such date minus up to $100,000,000 of Unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries then on hand (excluding the proceeds of Indebtedness incurred substantially concurrently with the determination of such amount) to (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending on or immediately prior to such date.

Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness (excluding Cash Secured Credit Facilities permitted pursuant to Section 8.1(b)) on such date that is secured by any Lien on any Property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, minus up to $100,000,0000 of Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries then on hand (excluding the proceeds of Indebtedness incurred substantially concurrently with

 

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the determination of such amount), to (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending on or immediately prior to such date.

Continuing Director” means (a) any member of the board of directors of the Borrower who was a director of the Borrower on the Closing Date, and (b) any individual who becomes a member of the board of directors of the Borrower after the Closing Date if such individual was approved, appointed or nominated for election to the board of directors by a majority of the Continuing Directors.

Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

Controlled Account” means each deposit account and securities account that is subject to an account control agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the applicable Issuing Lenders that is entitled to Cash Collateral hereunder at the time such control agreement is executed.

Covered Entity” means any of the following: (a) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (b) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (c) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

Covered Party” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.24.

Credit Facility” means, collectively, the Revolving Credit Facility, the Swingline Facility and the L/C Facility and, if applicable, any Incremental Term Loans.

Credit Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.

Default” means any of the events specified in Section 9.1 which with the passage of time, the giving of notice or any other condition, would constitute an Event of Default.

Default Right” has 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” means, subject to Section 4.15(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of the Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower 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 Lender, the 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 Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or the 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

 

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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 Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower 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 Borrower), (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had 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 FDIC or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) has 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. 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 4.15(b)) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrower, each Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender and each Lender.

Disposition” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 8.4(d).

Disqualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interests that, by their terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interest into which they are convertible or for which they are exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event or condition, (a) mature or are mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments), (b) are redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests) (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments), in whole or in part, (c) provide for the scheduled payment of dividends in cash or (d) are or become convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case, prior to the date that is 91 days after the Maturity Date; provided, that, if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such officers or employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of any such officer’s or employee’s termination, death or disability.

Dollar Amount” means, at any time, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, such amount, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in any Alternative Currency, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars determined by using the rate of exchange for the purchase of Dollars with the Alternative Currency last provided (either by publication or otherwise provided to the Administrative Agent or Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, as applicable) by the applicable Bloomberg source (or such other publicly available source for displaying exchange rates) on the most recent Revaluation Date (or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide such rate of exchange, the equivalent of such

 

11


amount in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent or Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, as applicable, using any method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion), and (c) if such amount is denominated in any other currency, the equivalent of such amount in dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent or Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, as applicable, using any method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion. Any determination by the Administrative Agent or Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, pursuant to clauses (b) or (c) above shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

Dollars” or “$” means, unless otherwise qualified, dollars in lawful currency of the United States.

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

EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country.

Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 11.9(b)(iii), (v) and (vi) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 11.9(b)(iii)).

Environmental Claims” means any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, accusations, allegations, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations (other than internal reports prepared by any Person in the ordinary course of business and not in response to any third party action or request of any kind) or proceedings relating in any way to any actual or alleged violation of or liability under any Environmental Law or relating to any permit issued, or any approval given, under any such Environmental Law, including, without limitation, any and all claims by Governmental Authorities for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting from any toxic or hazardous waste or substance or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to public health or the environment.

Environmental Laws” means any and all federal, foreign, state, provincial and local laws, statutes, ordinances, codes, rules, standards and regulations, permits, licenses, approvals, interpretations and orders of courts or Governmental Authorities, relating to the protection of public health or the environment, including, but not limited to, requirements pertaining to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transportation, handling, reporting, licensing, permitting, investigation or remediation of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance.

Equity Interests” means (a) in the case of a corporation, capital stock, (b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, (c) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests (whether general

 

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or limited), (d) in the case of a limited liability company, membership interests, (e) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person and (f) any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

ERISA Affiliate” means any Person who together with any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries is treated as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001(b) of ERISA.

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor thereto), as in effect from time to time.

euro” and “” mean the single currency of the Participating Member States.

Event of Default” means any of the events specified in Section 9.1; provided, that, any requirement for passage of time, giving of notice, or any other condition, has been satisfied.

Evergreen Letter of Credit” means a Letter of Credit that is subject to automatic renewal for one year periods pursuant to the terms of the applicable Letter of Credit Application and Section 3.11.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Excluded Asset” has the meaning assigned thereto in the Security Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, “Excluded Assets” shall include, in addition to such assets as are expressly excluded from the collateral pursuant to the Security Agreement, any CFC Debt.

Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Credit Party, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the liability of such Credit Party for or the guarantee of such Credit Party of, or the grant by such Credit Party of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any liability or guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Credit Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the liability for or the guarantee of such Credit Party or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation (such determination being made after giving effect to any applicable keepwell, support or other agreement for the benefit of the applicable Credit Party, including under the keepwell provisions in the Guaranty Agreement). If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal for the reasons identified in the immediately preceding sentence of this definition.

Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, United States federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect

 

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to an applicable interest in a Loan or Revolving Credit Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Revolving Credit Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 4.12(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 4.11, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its Lending Office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 4.11(g), (d) any United States federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA and (e) penalties and interest in respect of the foregoing.

Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of December 19, 2018 (as amended prior to the date hereof) by and among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the administrative agent for the lenders thereunder.

Existing Letters of Credit” means those letters of credit existing on the Closing Date and identified on Schedule 1.1.

Extensions of Credit” means, as to any Lender at any time, (a) an amount equal to the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans made by such Lender then outstanding, (ii) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the L/C Obligations then outstanding, (iii) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the Swingline Loans then outstanding and (iv) if applicable, the aggregate principal amount of the Incremental Term Loans made by such Lender then outstanding, or (b) the making of any Loan or participation in any Letter of Credit or any Swingline Loan by such Lender, as the context requires.

FATCA” means 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), 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 agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any such intergovernmental agreement.

FDIC” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depository institutions (as determined in such manner as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the federal funds effective rate; provided, that, if the Federal Funds Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

Fee Letter” means the fee letter agreement, dated November 11, 2019, among the Borrower, Bank of America and BofA Securities.

Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries ending on April 30.

Foreign Lender” means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the Borrower is not a U.S. Person, a Lender that is resident or organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is organized under the laws of a country (or political subdivision thereof) other than the United States.

 

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Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to any Issuing Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender, other than such L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof and (b) with respect to the Swingline Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of outstanding Swingline Loans other than Swingline Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.

Fund” means any Person (other than a natural Person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

Government Securities” means readily marketable (a) direct full faith and credit obligations of the United States or obligations guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the United States and (b) obligations of an agency or instrumentality of, or corporation owned, controlled or sponsored by, the United States that are generally considered in the securities industry to be implicit obligations of the United States.

Governmental Approvals” means all authorizations, consents, approvals, permits, licenses and exemptions of, and all registrations and filings with or issued by, any Governmental Authorities.

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (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, (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation or (e) for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (whether in whole or in part); provided, however, that, the term “Guarantee” shall not include any liability by endorsement of instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business or any customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Closing Date or otherwise entered into in the ordinary course of business, including in connection with any Acquisition or Disposition or the incurrence of Indebtedness or the issuance of Equity Interests, in any case to the extent the subject transaction is otherwise permitted hereby.

 

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Guaranty Agreement” means the unconditional guaranty agreement dated as of the Closing Date executed by the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit and the Secured Parties.

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

Hedge Bank” means any Person that, (a) at the time it enters into a Hedge Agreement with a Credit Party permitted under Article VIII, is a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or (b) at the time it (or its Affiliate) becomes a Lender or the Administrative Agent (including on the Closing Date), is a party to a Hedge Agreement with a Credit Party, in each case in its capacity as a party to such Hedge Agreement.

Hedge Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Hedge Agreements, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Hedge Agreements, (a) for any date on or after the date such Hedge Agreements have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Hedge Agreements, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Hedge Agreements (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

Immaterial Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Material Subsidiary.

Increased Amount Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.13(a).

Incremental Facilities Limit” means the sum of, as of any date of determination, (a) the total of (i) $250,000,000 minus (ii) the aggregate initial principal amount (without duplication) of all Incremental Loan Commitments and Incremental Loans, incurred on or after the Closing Date, in reliance on clause (a)(i) of this definition prior to such date of determination plus (b) an unlimited amount, so long as after giving effect to the incurrence of such Incremental Loan Commitments and/or Incremental Loans (without duplication, but assuming for such purpose that the full amount of any such Incremental Loan Commitments are fully drawn), the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, recomputed as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which the Borrower was required to deliver financial statements pursuant to Section 7.1(a) or Section 7.1(b), is equal to or less than 3.25 to 1.00 on a Pro Forma Basis.

Incremental Lender” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.13(a).

Incremental Loan Commitments” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.13(a)(ii).

Incremental Loans” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.13(a)(ii).

 

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Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.13(a)(ii).

Incremental Revolving Credit Loan” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.13(a)(ii).

Incremental Term Loan” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.13(a)(i).

Incremental Term Loan Commitment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.13(a)(i).

Indebtedness”, as applied to any Person, means without duplication (a) all indebtedness for borrowed money; (b) obligations under leases which in accordance with GAAP constitute Capital Lease Obligations or are Synthetic Leases; (c) notes payable and drafts accepted representing extensions of credit whether or not representing obligations for borrowed money; (d) obligations under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person and obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than current accounts payable and accrued liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of such Person’s business); (e) all indebtedness secured by any Lien on any property or asset owned or held by that Person regardless of whether the indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed by that Person or is non-recourse to the credit of that Person; (f) obligations in respect of letters of credit or bankers acceptances; (g) any advances under any factoring arrangement; (h) any net obligations of such Person under Hedge Agreements; (i) all obligations of any partnership or joint venture of which such Person is a member, if such Person is legally liable for such obligations; (j) all obligations of any such Person in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests; and (k) all Guarantees of any such Person with respect to any of the foregoing. For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation of any Person to pay an “earn-out” or similar contingent consideration obligation in respect of an acquisition (whether of Equity Interests or assets) shall not constitute “Indebtedness” until the date that is sixty (60) days after such obligation has been deemed (and treated as) a non-contingent liability in accordance with GAAP (including, without limitation, in the event such earn-out or similar obligation becomes the subject of an interest-bearing note or similar instrument). In respect of Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on the assets of the specified Person, the amount of such Indebtedness as of any date of determination will be the lesser of (x) the fair market value of such assets as of such date and (y) the amount of such Indebtedness as of such date. The amount of any net obligation under any Hedge Agreement on any date shall be deemed to be the Hedge Termination Value thereof as of such date.

Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.

Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.3(b).

Information” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.10.

Interest Period” means, as to each LIBOR Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such LIBOR Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a LIBOR Rate Loan and ending on the date one (1), two (2), three (3), or six (6) months thereafter, in each case as selected by the Borrower in its Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation and subject to availability; provided, that:

(a)        the Interest Period shall commence on the date of advance of or conversion to any LIBOR Rate Loan and, in the case of immediately successive Interest Periods, each successive Interest Period shall commence on the date on which the immediately preceding Interest Period expires;

 

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(b)        if any Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on the next succeeding Business Day; provided, that, if any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Rate Loan would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day but is a day of the month after which no further Business Day occurs in such month, such Interest Period shall expire on the immediately preceding Business Day;

(c)        any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Rate Loan that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the relevant calendar month at the end of such Interest Period;

(d)        no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date; and

(e)        there shall be no more than five (5) Interest Periods in effect at any time.

Interstate Commerce Act” means the body of law commonly known as the Interstate Commerce Act (49 U.S.C. App. § 1 et. seq.).

Investment” means, when used in connection with any Person, any investment by or of that Person, whether by means of purchase or other acquisition of any Equity Interests of any Person, any other Acquisition or by means of a loan, advance creating a debt, capital contribution, guaranty or other debt or equity participation interest in any other Person, including any partnership and joint venture interests of such Person.

Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. § 80(a)(1), et seq.).

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

ISP98” means the International Standby Practices (1998 Revision, effective January 1, 1999), International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590.

Issuing Lender” means (a)(i) Bank of America (through itself or through one of its designated Affiliates or branch offices) in its capacity as issuer of any Letters of Credit hereunder, (ii) Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, (through itself or through one of its designated Affiliates or branch offices) in its capacity as issuer of any Letters of Credit hereunder, and (iii) any other Revolving Credit Lender to the extent it has agreed in its sole discretion to act as an “Issuing Lender” hereunder and that has been approved in writing by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (such approval by the Administrative Agent not to be unreasonably delayed or withheld) as an “Issuing Lender” hereunder, in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder; provided, that, the total number of Issuing Lenders under this clause (a) shall not exceed four (4) and (b) solely with respect to the Existing Letters of Credit, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in its capacity as issuer thereof.

L/C Commitment” means, as to any Issuing Lender, the obligation of such Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower or one or more of its Subsidiaries from time to time in an aggregate amount equal to the amount set forth opposite the name of each such Issuing Lender on Schedule 2.1C (as such schedule may be updated from time to time after the Closing Date in connection with any Revolving Credit Lender becoming an Issuing Lender to reflect the L/C Commitment of such new Issuing Lender). Any such amount may be changed after the Closing Date in a written agreement between the Borrower and such Issuing Lender (which such agreement shall be promptly delivered to the Administrative Agent upon execution) and, in connection therewith, Schedule 2.1C may be updated to reflect such updated

 

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amount; provided, that, the L/C Commitment with respect to any Person that ceases to be an Issuing Lender for any reason pursuant to the terms hereof shall be $0 (subject to the Letters of Credit of such Person remaining outstanding in accordance with the provisions hereof).

L/C Facility” means the letter of credit facility established pursuant to Article III.

L/C Obligations” means at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn and unexpired amount of the then outstanding Letters of Credit and (b) the aggregate amount of drawings under Letters of Credit which have not then been reimbursed pursuant to Section 3.5.

L/C Participants” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the collective reference to all the Revolving Credit Lenders other than the applicable Issuing Lender.

L/C Sublimit” means the lesser of (a) $50,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment.

LCA Election” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 1.13.

LCA Test Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 1.13(c).

Lender” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.1 and any other Person that shall have become a party to this Agreement as a Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, pursuant to Section 4.13 or pursuant to other documentation executed in accordance with this Agreement, other than any Person that ceases to be a party hereto as a Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Swingline Lender.

Lender Joinder Agreement” means a joinder agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent delivered in connection with Section 4.13.

Lending Office” means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender maintaining such Lender’s Extensions of Credit.

Letter of Credit Application” means an application, in the form specified by the applicable Issuing Lender from time to time, requesting such Issuing Lender to issue a Letter of Credit.

Letters of Credit” means the collective reference to letters of credit issued pursuant to Section 3.1 and the Existing Letters of Credit. Letters of Credit issued by Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender may be issued in Dollars or any Alternative Currency. Letters of Credit issued by any Issuing Lender other than Bank of America shall be issued only in Dollars.

Leverage Ratio Increase” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 8.11(c).

LIBOR” has the meaning specified in the definition of LIBOR Rate.

LIBOR Rate” means, subject to the implementation of a Replacement Rate in accordance with Section 4.8(d),

(a)        for any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Rate Loan, the rate per annum equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate for Dollars for a period equal in length to such Interest Period) (“LIBOR”) as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page

 

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(or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period;

(b)        for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to LIBOR, at or about 11:00 a.m., London time determined two (2) London Banking Days prior to such date for Dollar deposits with a term of one month commencing that day; and

(c)        if the LIBOR Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.

LIBOR Rate Loan” means any Loan bearing interest at a rate based upon clause (a) of the definition of LIBOR Rate.

LIBOR Screen Rate” means the LIBOR quote on the applicable screen page the Administrative Agent designates to determine LIBOR (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time).

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, leasehold mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest, hypothecation or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, Capital Lease Obligation or other title retention agreement relating to such asset.

Limited Conditionality Acquisition” means any Acquisition that (a) is not prohibited hereunder, (b) is financed in whole or in part with a substantially concurrent incurrence of Permitted Indebtedness, and (c) is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third-party financing.

Liquidity” means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the total of (a) the aggregate amount of Unrestricted and unencumbered (other than Liens securing the Secured Obligations) (i) cash and Cash Equivalents, and (ii) Marketable Securities (excluding any Marketable Securities that are then held in trust for settlement of the Borrower’s obligations under certain of its deferred compensation plans), in each case then held by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, plus (b) the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment as of that date, minus (c) the aggregate outstanding Revolving Extensions of Credit as of that date.

Loan Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, each Note, the Letter of Credit Applications, the Security Documents, the Guaranty Agreement, the Fee Letter, and each other document, instrument, certificate and agreement executed and delivered by the Credit Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries in favor of or provided to the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party in connection with this Agreement or otherwise referred to herein or contemplated hereby (excluding any Secured Hedge Agreement, any Secured Cash Management Agreement and any Secured Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer Document).

Loans” means the collective reference to the Revolving Credit Loans, the Swingline Loans and, if applicable, any Incremental Term Loans and “Loan” means any of such Loans.

London Banking Day” means any day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market.

 

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Marketable Securities” means, when used in connection with any Person, that Person’s Investments, excluding Investments in real estate, that are (a) traded on (i) a U.S. national securities exchange, (ii) on the comparable securities exchanges located in London, England, Paris, France, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China, Tokyo, Japan and Frankfurt, Germany and (iii) any other comparable non-U.S. exchange approved by the Administrative Agent (in consultation with the Lenders), (b) reported through the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation National Market System or comparable non-U.S. established over-the-counter trading system approved by the Administrative Agent (in consultation with the Lenders), (c) traded on a U.S. commodities exchange or on a comparable non-U.S. commodities exchange approved by the Administrative Agent (in consultation with the Lenders), or (d) regularly traded on an over-the-counter basis and susceptible of obtaining bid offers and prices by contacting the trading desks of at least three nationally recognized securities or commodities trading companies, and in each case which are not (or after exercise of immediately exercisable registration rights of such Person would not be) subject to restrictions on transfer as a result of applicable contract provisions, the provisions of the Securities Act, (or regulations thereunder), or other Applicable Law.

Material Acquisition” means any Permitted Acquisition having aggregate cash consideration (including cash, Cash Equivalents and other deferred payment obligations) in excess of $50,000,000.

Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect on, the financial condition, operations, assets, business or properties of the Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Credit Parties to punctually pay or perform their obligations under any Loan Document, or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Credit Party of any Loan Document to which it is a party.

Material Contract” means any contract or agreement, written or oral, of any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries, the breach, non-performance, cancellation or failure to renew of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Material Non-TP Subsidiary” means a Material Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Tax Preferred Subsidiary.

Material Subsidiary” means (a) each Subsidiary identified as a “Material Subsidiary” on Schedule 6.2, (b) each Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower (excluding Korn Ferry GP Ventures LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Korn Ferry GP Ventures 2 LLC, a Delaware limited liability company) and (c) any other Subsidiary of the Borrower that holds total assets (excluding intercompany Indebtedness owing from the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) with a book value of more than $50,000,000; provided, that: (i) any Subsidiary that, directly or indirectly, owns a majority of the Equity Interests of a Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary under clauses (a), (b) or (c) above shall be a Material Subsidiary for so long as it continues to own such Equity Interests, (ii) the Borrower may designate (in a writing delivered to the Administrative Agent) a Subsidiary as a Material Subsidiary notwithstanding that such Subsidiary would not otherwise constitute a Material Subsidiary, and (iii) other than with respect to a Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary solely as a result of a designation by the Borrower pursuant to clause (ii) of this proviso, once a Subsidiary becomes a Material Subsidiary (including on the Closing Date) it may not be reclassified or re-designated as an Immaterial Subsidiary.

Maturity Date” means the earliest to occur of (a) December 16, 2024, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.5, and (c) the date of termination of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment pursuant to Section 9.2(a).

Maximum Permitted Net Leverage Ratio” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 8.11(a).

 

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Maximum Permitted Secured Net Leverage Ratio” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 8.11(b).

Minimum Collateral Amount” means, at any time, (a) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances, an amount equal to 103% of the sum of (i) the Fronting Exposure of the Issuing Lenders with respect to Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at such time and (ii) the Fronting Exposure of the Swingline Lender with respect to all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time and (b) otherwise, an amount determined by the Administrative Agent and each of the applicable Issuing Lenders that is entitled to Cash Collateral hereunder at such time in their sole discretion.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Multiemployer Plan” means a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate is making, or is accruing an obligation to make, or has accrued an obligation to make contributions within the preceding seven (7) years.

Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver, amendment, modification or termination that (a) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 11.2 and (b) has been approved by the Required Lenders.

Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.

Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor.

Note” means a Revolving Credit Note or a Swingline Note, as the context may require.

Notice of Account Designation” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.3(b).

Notice of Borrowing” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.3(a).

Notice of Conversion/Continuation” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.2.

Notice of Prepayment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.4(c).

Obligations” means, in each case, whether now in existence or hereafter arising: (a) the principal of and interest on (including interest accruing after the filing of any bankruptcy or similar petition) the Loans, (b) the L/C Obligations and (c) all other fees and commissions (including attorneys’ fees), charges, indebtedness, loans, liabilities, financial accommodations, obligations, covenants and duties owing by the Credit Parties to the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders or the Administrative Agent, in each case under any Loan Document, with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit of every kind, nature and description, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, contractual or tortious, liquidated or unliquidated, and whether or not evidenced by any note and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Credit Party of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws, naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.

OFAC” means the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

 

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Officer’s Compliance Certificate” means a certificate of the chief financial officer or the treasurer of the Borrower substantially in the form attached as Exhibit F.

Operating Lease” means, as to any Person as determined in accordance with GAAP (subject to Section 1.3(c)), any lease of Property (whether real, personal or mixed) by such Person as lessee which is classified as and accounted for as an operating lease under GAAP.

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” means all present or future stamp, court, documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 4.12).

Participant” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.9(d).

Participant Register” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.9(d).

Participating Member State” means any member state of the European Union that has the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to Economic and Monetary Union.

PATRIOT Act” means the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor agency.

Pension Plan” means any Plan, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code and which (a) is maintained, funded or administered for the employees of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate or (b) has at any time within the preceding seven (7) years been maintained, funded or administered for the employees of any Credit Party or any current or former ERISA Affiliates.

Permitted Acquisition” means any Acquisition of a Person (each, an “Acquired Person”) or any Acquisition of assets, a division or business unit or a location (each such Acquisition being an Acquisition of “Acquired Assets”); provided, that, each of the following conditions is satisfied with respect to such Acquisition, which in the case of a Limited Conditionality Acquisition shall be subject to Section 1.13:

(a)        such Acquired Person is engaged primarily in (or the Acquired Assets are useful in) the same or reasonably related line(s) of business as the Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(b)        within the periods provided therein, the provisions of Section 7.12 and/or Section 7.15, as applicable, are satisfied with respect to such Acquired Person and/or such Acquired Assets, to the extent applicable;

 

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(c)        such Acquisition is not opposed by the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Acquired Person;

(d)        if the aggregate consideration paid or to be paid with respect to such Acquisition equals or exceeds $50,000,000, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent prior written notice of such Acquisition, which notice shall provide the Administrative Agent with a reasonably detailed description of the proposed Acquisition;

(e)        at the time of such Acquisition, no Default or Event of Default shall exist and no Default or Event of Default would occur as a result thereof on a Pro Forma Basis immediately after giving effect to such Acquisition;

(f)        the Acquisition shall have been consummated in compliance in all material respects with all Applicable Laws;

(g)        after giving effect to the Acquisition and the purchase price to be paid in connection therewith, Liquidity shall not be less than $50,000,000;

(h)        no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the proposed closing date of such Acquisition (or such shorter period as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an Officer’s Compliance Certificate for the most recent fiscal quarter end preceding such Acquisition for which financial statements are available demonstrating, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that the Borrower is in compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with each covenant contained in Section 8.11;

(i)        the aggregate amount of consideration paid with respect to all Acquisitions made by Material Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties or of Acquired Persons that do not become Credit Parties and Acquired Assets that are not owned by Credit Parties shall not exceed $100,000,000 in any Fiscal Year and $300,000,000 in the aggregate over the term of this Agreement; provided, that, with respect to any Acquisition involving both Acquired Persons that become Credit Parties and Acquired Persons that do not become Credit Parties (or Acquired Assets that are owned by Credit Parties and Acquired Assets that are not owned by Credit Parties), the purchase price of such Acquisition shall be allocated amongst such Acquired Persons (or Acquired Assets) in accordance with a third party valuation, if any, or otherwise as determined by the Borrower in good faith and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, with delivery to the Administrative Agent of reasonable supporting calculations; and

(j)        if the aggregate consideration paid or to be paid with respect to such Acquisition equals or exceeds $50,000,000, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying that all of the requirements set forth above have been satisfied or will be satisfied on or prior to the consummation of such purchase or other Acquisition.

Permitted Currency” means Dollars or any Alternative Currency, or each such currency, as the context requires.

Permitted Encumbrances” means:

(a)        any Liens in existence on the Closing Date and described on Schedule 8.2, and any renewal or extension thereof (including Liens incurred, assumed or suffered to exist in connection with any refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 8.1(d)); provided, that, the scope of any such Lien shall not be increased, or otherwise

 

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expanded, to cover any additional property or type of asset, as applicable, beyond that in existence on the Closing Date, except for products and proceeds of the foregoing;

(b)        Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents (including, without limitation, Liens in favor of the Swingline Lender and/or the Issuing Lenders, as applicable, on Cash Collateral granted pursuant to the Loan Documents);

(c)        Liens for taxes, fees, assessments or other governmental charges or levies either not delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower maintains adequate reserves;

(d)        purchase money Liens, whether now existing or hereafter arising (including those arising out of a Capital Lease Obligation or a Synthetic Lease) (i) on equipment and software acquired or held by the Borrower incurred for financing the acquisition of the equipment and software, or (ii) existing on equipment when acquired, if the Lien is confined to the property and improvements and the proceeds of the equipment and software;

(e)        leases or subleases and licenses or sublicenses granted in the ordinary course of business;

(f)        Liens arising from judgments, decrees or attachments in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default under Section 9.1(j);

(g)        Liens in favor of financial institutions arising in connection with the Borrower’s deposit accounts held at such institutions to secure standard fees for deposit services charged by, but not financing made available by, such institutions;

(h)        Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other similar Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums not overdue more than sixty (60) days;

(i)        Liens (other than any Lien created by Section 4068 of ERISA and securing an obligation of any employer or employers which is delinquent) incurred or deposits or pledges made in the ordinary course of business in connection with worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the performance of bids, leases, customs, tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, payment and performance bonds, return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credits to finance the purchase price of property);

(j)        easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, covenants, conditions and other Liens incurred, licenses and sublicenses and other similar rights granted to others in the ordinary course of business and not, individually or in the aggregate, materially interfering with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

(k)        Liens which are incidental to the conduct of the Borrower’s business or the ownership of its property and assets (including, without limitation, leases entered into in the ordinary course of business) and which were not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit, and which do not in the aggregate materially impair the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

 

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(l)        Liens securing Indebtedness incurred and used to finance insurance premiums; provided, that, the property encumbered thereby shall be limited to the proceeds of any such insurance policies;

(m)        any (i) interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any lease not prohibited by this Agreement, (ii) Lien or restriction that the interest or title of such lessor or sublessor may be subject to, or (iii) subordination of the interest of the lessee or sublessee under such lease to any Lien or restriction referred to in the preceding clause (ii), so long as the holder of such Lien or restriction agrees to recognize the rights of such lessee or sublessee under such lease;

(n)        any zoning or similar law or right reserved to or vested in any Governmental Authority to control or regulate the use of any real property;

(o)        Liens arising from UCC financing statement filings regarding Operating Leases and consignments;

(p)        Liens consisting of rights of set-off or bankers’ liens or amounts on deposit, including, without limitation, in respect of Cash Management Agreements and similar arrangements in the ordinary course of business, and Guarantees thereof;

(q)        Liens on cash deposits (and the accounts containing solely such cash deposits) held by and in favor of other financial institutions arising from or in connection with letters of credit or guarantees issued by such other financial institutions on behalf of the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries and permitted by (i) clause (j) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness or (ii) Section 8.1(b) and Liens arising under Applicable Law in favor of the issuers of such letters of credit on the documentation presented under any such letters of credit;

(r)        Liens on any Indebtedness of a Material Subsidiary permitted pursuant to clause (c) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness, so long as such Liens (i) are in existence at time of the applicable Permitted Acquisition and not created in contemplation thereof and (ii) do not extend to assets not subject to such Liens at the time of Permitted Acquisition (other than improvements thereon, after acquired property and the proceeds thereof), including, without limitation, the assets of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary;

(s)        other Liens securing obligations or liabilities in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000,000 at any time outstanding; and

(t)        Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under clause (o) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness; provided, that, such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the Subject Receivables sold (or intended to be sold) pursuant to a Disposition permitted by Section 8.4(d)(xiv).

Permitted Indebtedness” means, without duplication:

(a)        the Obligations;

(b)        Indebtedness not to exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate in any Fiscal Year of the Borrower secured by a Lien permitted pursuant to clause (d) of the definition of Permitted Encumbrances; provided, that, such Indebtedness does not exceed the cost of the equipment and related software financed with such Indebtedness;

 

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(c)        Indebtedness of a Material Subsidiary acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition (or Indebtedness assumed by the Borrower or a Material Subsidiary pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition), so long as such Indebtedness (i) was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Permitted Acquisition, (ii) to the extent it is secured by a Lien, does not, when aggregated with all other secured Indebtedness acquired or assumed under this clause (c), exceed $40,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding and (iii) neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof (other than such Acquired Person) is an obligor with respect to such Indebtedness;

(d)        Indebtedness owing under Cash Management Agreements incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(e)        Indebtedness arising from the endorsement of instruments in the ordinary course of business;

(f)        Indebtedness owing under Hedge Agreements entered into (i) in order to manage existing or anticipated interest rate, exchange rate or commodity price risks and not for speculative purposes and (ii) in connection with an accelerated share repurchase that is not otherwise prohibited hereunder;

(g)        Indebtedness constituting Investments in the form of intercompany loans and advances to the extent permitted by Section 8.3 and the definition of Permitted Investments; provided, that: (i) with respect to any such Indebtedness owing from a Credit Party to a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary such Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Obligations in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (ii) with respect to any such Indebtedness owing from a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary to a Credit Party, such Indebtedness shall, if evidenced by a note, be pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent to the extent required by the Security Documents;

(h)        Indebtedness of the Borrower owed to current and former directors, officers and employees pursuant to deferred compensation, severance and retirement plans and similar obligations, so long as such Indebtedness arises in the ordinary course of business;

(i)        unsecured Indebtedness (including unsecured Subordinated Indebtedness) of the Borrower or any other Credit Party; provided, that: (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would be caused by the incurrence of such Indebtedness; (ii) after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the receipt and application of the proceeds thereof, the Borrower shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis, with the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.11 (determined based on the financial information received for the fiscal quarter most recently ended prior to the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.1, Section 7.1(a) or Section 7.1(b), as applicable, and assuming the funding in full of such Indebtedness and, if applicable, giving effect to Section 1.13); (iii) such Indebtedness does not mature, require any scheduled payment of principal, require any mandatory payment, redemption or repurchase prior to the date that is 91 days after the latest of the maturity dates of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment and Loans in effect at the time of issuance or incurrence of such Indebtedness (other than a customary mandatory prepayment or mandatory offer to repurchase in connection with a change of control or asset sale that permits a required prepayment of the Loans (or any of them) or required reduction of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment); provided, that, any Indebtedness that automatically converts to, or is exchangeable into, notes or other Indebtedness that satisfy the requirements of this clause (iii) shall be deemed to satisfy this condition so long as

 

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the Borrower or applicable Credit Party irrevocably agrees at the time of the issuance thereof to take all actions necessary to convert or exchange such Indebtedness; (iv) the covenants with respect to such Indebtedness, when taken as a whole, are not materially more restrictive to the Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries than those herein (taken as a whole); and (v) such Indebtedness does not include any financial performance “maintenance” covenants (whether stated as a covenant, default or otherwise, although “incurrence-based” financial tests may be included) or cross-defaults (but may include cross-payment defaults and cross-defaults at the final stated maturity thereof and cross-acceleration) and is not guaranteed by or otherwise recourse to any Person or the assets of any Person that is not a Credit Party;

(j)        (i) Indebtedness consisting of a Bank Guarantee to the extent a Letter of Credit has been issued and is outstanding hereunder to support the Borrower or its Subsidiary’s obligations (including any reimbursement obligations) in respect of such Bank Guarantee and (ii) Indebtedness consisting of, arising from or in connection with, letters of credit or guarantees issued by other financial institutions on behalf of the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries (including any issued pursuant to any Secured Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer Document) in an aggregate amount not at any time exceeding $35,000,000;

(k)        Indebtedness consisting of financing of company owned life insurance premiums in the ordinary course of business; provided, that, such Indebtedness is supported by the cash value of the underlying policies;

(l)        Indebtedness arising from customary agreements providing for contingent indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, or guarantees of letters of credit, surety bonds or performance bonds securing any obligations of any of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries pursuant to such agreements, in any case incurred in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or Equity Interests of any of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries (other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred, assumed or acquired by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Equity Interests of any of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition) otherwise permitted hereunder;

(m)        other Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(n)        Guarantees with respect to any of the foregoing (other than (i) Indebtedness permitted pursuant to clause (c) of this definition and (ii) Indebtedness permitted pursuant to clause (m) of this definition to the extent such Indebtedness is Indebtedness of a Person that is not a Credit Party); provided, that, if the Indebtedness being Guaranteed is Subordinated Indebtedness then the Guarantee shall be subordinated on the same basis; and

(o)        any transaction permitted under Section 8.4(d)(xiv), but only so long as (i) such transaction at any time constitutes Indebtedness, (ii) such transaction was permitted under Section 8.4(d)(xiv) at the time of the proposed Disposition in connection with such transaction and (iii) the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness in any Fiscal Year shall not exceed ten percent (10.0%) of the book value of all accounts receivable of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the immediately prior Fiscal Year end.

Permitted Investments” means, collectively, the following:

(a)        Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;

 

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(b)        Investments in Marketable Securities (including Marketable Securities held in trust for settlement of the Borrower’s obligations under certain of its deferred compensation plans) made in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in a manner substantially consistent with prior practices;

(c)        Investments in Credit Parties;

(d)        Investments by Material Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties in other Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties;

(e)        so long as no Default or Event of Default exists at the time of the making thereof, other Investments in Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties so long as the aggregate amount of any such Investments does not exceed $50,000,000 during any Fiscal Year of the Borrower or $100,000,000 in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement;

(f)        Investments in an aggregate amount equal to the amount of compensation deferred by directors, officers and employees of the Borrower pursuant to any arrangement permitted under clause (h) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness;

(g)        Investments by the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries that constitute Permitted Acquisitions;

(h)        Investments of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the Closing Date; provided, that: (i) such Investments exist at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, (ii) neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary (other than such new Subsidiary) shall be obligated in respect of such Investments, and (iii) such Investments were not made in anticipation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary;

(i)        Investments consisting of the non-cash consideration received by the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary in connection with any Disposition not prohibited by this Agreement;

(j)        Investments under Hedge Agreements permitted to be entered into in accordance with this Agreement;

(k)        Investments representing retention loans made in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries; provided, that, the aggregate principal amount of all such Investments constituting retention loans shall not exceed the aggregate principal amount of retention loans approved by the compensation committee of the Borrower;

(l)        to the extent not otherwise permitted by the foregoing, Investments consisting of the conversion of Indebtedness in the form of intercompany loans and advances into Qualified Equity Interests, including the transfer of an intercompany loan by a Credit Party to a non-Credit Party, in each case, to the extent the underlying intercompany loans or advances arose (i) in the ordinary course of business between the Borrower and any Subsidiary or between a Subsidiary of the Borrower and another Subsidiary or (ii) in connection with a Permitted Acquisition;

(m)        Investments (other than Acquisitions); provided, that, after giving effect to any such Investment and any Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith on a Pro Forma Basis (i) no Default or Event of Default then exists or would result therefrom, (ii) the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio shall be no greater than 4.00 to 1.00 and (iii) Liquidity shall not be less than $50,000,000;

 

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(n)        to the extent constituting Investments, purchases of assets in the ordinary course of business; Restricted Payments permitted pursuant to Section 8.5; and Guarantees permitted pursuant to clause (n) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness;

(o)        Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss;

(p)        to the extent constituting Investments, prepaid expenses or leases, workers’ compensation, utility, performance and other similar deposits provided to third parties in the ordinary course of business; and

(q)        Permitted Restructurings.

For purposes of determining the amount of any Investment outstanding for purposes of this definition and Section 8.3, such amount shall be deemed to be the amount of such Investment when made, purchased or acquired (without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment) less any amount realized in respect of such Investment upon the sale, collection or return of capital (not to exceed the original amount invested).

Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer” means any Person that, (a) at the time it enters into a Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer Document with a Credit Party, is a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, or (b) at the time it (or its Affiliate) becomes a Lender or the Administrative Agent (including on the Closing Date), is a party to a Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer Document with a Credit Party, in each case in its capacity as a party to such Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer Document.

Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer Document” means, with respect to any Indebtedness incurred by a Credit Party that is permitted pursuant to clause (j)(ii) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness set forth in Section 1.1, any document, agreement or instrument entered into in connection with such Indebtedness, including any letter of credit application or letter of credit in connection therewith.

Permitted Restructurings” means a transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which direct and indirect Subsidiaries of the Borrower are converted, restructured or reorganized, whether by (a) transfer, (b) acquisition, (c) contribution, (d) merger, (e) consolidation, (f) voluntary dissolution, (g) liquidation, (h) recapitalization, (i) change in identity, form, or place of organization, or (j) otherwise, in each case the result of which may cause a direct or indirect sale, assignment or transfer of Equity Interests and/or other assets between and among the Borrower and/or various Subsidiaries of the Borrower; provided, that: (i) immediately prior to or after giving effect to any such transaction or series of transactions, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (ii) immediately after giving effect to any such transaction or series of transactions, there shall be no material reduction in Liquidity; (iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions, Liquidity shall not be less than $50,000,000; (iv) in any Fiscal Year, after giving effect to all such transactions or series of transactions in such Fiscal Year, the aggregate book value of the total assets of the Credit Parties, taken as a whole (other than assets of a Credit Party consisting of the book value of Equity Interests issued by a Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party and Excluded Assets), shall not be reduced by more than 10% of the book value of the total assets of the Credit Parties, taken as whole (other than assets of a Credit Party consisting of the book value of Equity Interests issued by a Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party and Excluded Assets), as of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year end; (v) the following shall be true and correct of each such transaction or series of transactions: (A) in the good faith determination of the Borrower, such transaction or series of transactions

 

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is not materially disadvantageous to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders; and (B) such transaction, or series of transactions, will result in a non-de minimis, factually supportable and reasonably identifiable tax, operational or other business benefit to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during the term of the Credit Facility; (vi) not less than ten (10) Business Days prior to any such transaction or series of transactions (or such later date as may be approved by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) (other than any transaction or series of transactions that involves the transfer solely of assets that are assets of a Credit Party consisting of Equity Interests issued by a Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party and/or Excluded Assets), the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent written notice, which such notice shall include the Borrower’s good faith estimate the aggregate book value of the total assets of the Credit Parties, taken as a whole (other than assets of a Credit Party consisting of the book value of Equity Interests issued by a Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party and Excluded Assets) that are to be transferred in such transaction or series of transactions; and (vii) unless waived by the Administrative Agent, in the case of any such transaction or series of transactions that involves the transfer of assets (other than assets of a Credit Party consisting of Equity Interests issued by a Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party and Excluded Assets) owned by a Credit Party with a book value in excess of $2,000,000, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent not less than ten (10) Business Days prior to any such transaction or series of transactions (or such later date as may be approved by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), the following, in each case in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent: (A) a written description of the restructuring steps (including the pre and post restructuring organization chart) to such transaction or series of transactions; and (B) a certification of a Responsible Officer certifying that all of the requirements set forth in clause (v) above have been satisfied as of the date of consummation of such transaction or series of transactions. For the avoidance of doubt, the calculation of any reduction in total assets in any Fiscal Year that is described in clause (iv) above shall be determined after giving effect to the receipt by the Credit Parties of any assets (other than assets of a Credit Party consisting of the book value of Equity Interests issued by a Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party and Excluded Assets) in any such transactions or series of transactions during the applicable Fiscal Year.

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Plan” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 6.8.

Platform” means Debt Domain, Intralinks, SyndTrak or a substantially similar electronic transmission system.

Pounds Sterling” and “£” mean the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.

Prime Rate” means the rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

Pro Forma Basis” means, for any period during which one or more Specified Transactions occurs, that such Specified Transaction (and all other Specified Transactions that have been consummated during the applicable period) shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement and:

(a)        for purposes of calculating Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, all income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the Property or Person disposed of in a Specified Disposition shall be excluded and all income statement items (whether positive or negative)

 

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attributable to the Property or Person acquired in a Permitted Acquisition shall be included (provided, that, such income statement items to be included are reflected in financial statements or other financial data reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and based upon reasonable assumptions and calculations which are expected to have a continuous impact); and

(b)        in the event that any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof incurs (including by assumption or guarantees) or repays (including by redemption, repayment, retirement, discharge, defeasance or extinguishment) any Indebtedness included in the calculations of any financial ratio or test (in each case, other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility in the ordinary course of business for working capital purposes), (i) during the applicable measurement period or (ii) subsequent to the end of the applicable measurement period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of any such ratio is made, then such financial ratio or test shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, to the extent required, as if the same had occurred on the last day of the applicable measurement period and any such Indebtedness that is incurred (including by assumption or guarantee) that has a floating or formula rate of interest shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as of the relevant date of determination.

Property” means any right or interest in or to property of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, including, without limitation, Equity Interests.

PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

Public Lender” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 7.2.

QFC” has 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” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.24.

Qualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.

Recipient” means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) any Issuing Lender, as applicable.

Register” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.9(c).

Reimbursement Obligation” means the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse any Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.5 for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender.

Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors and representatives of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the purpose of recommending a benchmark rate to replace LIBOR in loan agreements similar to this Agreement.

 

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Removal Effective Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 10.6(b).

Replacement Rate” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.8(d).

Replacement Rate Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any proposed Replacement Rate, any conforming changes to the definition of Base Rate, Interest Period, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other technical, administrative or operational matters as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Replacement 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 Replacement Rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent determines is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement).

Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Total Credit Exposures representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the Total Credit Exposures of all Lenders. The Total Credit Exposure of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time.

Required Revolving Credit Lenders” means, at any date, any combination of Revolving Credit Lenders holding more than fifty percent (50%) of the sum of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment of all of the Revolving Credit Lenders or, if the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment has been terminated, any combination of Revolving Credit Lenders holding more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate Extensions of Credit under the Revolving Credit Facility; provided, that, the Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Extensions of Credit under the Revolving Credit Facility, as applicable, held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Revolving Credit Lenders.

Resignation Effective Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 10.6(a).

Responsible Officer” means, as to any Person, the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, controller, treasurer or assistant treasurer of such Person or any other officer of such Person designated in writing by the Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; provided, that, to the extent requested thereby, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of such Person certifying as to the incumbency and genuineness of the signature of each such officer. Any document delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Person shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Person and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Person.

Restricted Payment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 8.5.

Revaluation Date” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, each of the following: (a) the date that is two (2) Business Days prior to each date of issuance or extension of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (b) the date that is two (2) Business Days prior to each date of an amendment of any such Letter of Credit having the effect of increasing the amount thereof (solely with respect to the increased amount), (c) each date of any payment by Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, and (d) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent or Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, shall determine or the Required Revolving Credit Lenders shall require.

 

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Revolving Credit Commitment” means, as the context may require, as to any Revolving Credit Lender, the obligation of such Revolving Credit Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans to, and to purchase participations in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans for the account of, the Borrower hereunder in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Revolving Credit Lender’s name on the Register, as such amount may be modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof (including, without limitation, Section 4.13). The initial Revolving Credit Commitment of each Revolving Credit Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.1.

Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage” means, with respect to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the percentage of the total Revolving Credit Commitments of all the Revolving Credit Lenders represented by such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. If the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment has terminated or expired, the Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages shall be determined based upon the Revolving Credit Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments. The Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of each Revolving Credit Lender on the Closing Date is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.1.

Revolving Credit Exposure” means, as to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the aggregate principal amount at such time of its outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and the Dollar Amount of such Revolving Credit Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans at such time.

Revolving Credit Facility” means the revolving credit facility established pursuant to Article II (including any increase in such revolving credit facility established pursuant to Section 4.13).

Revolving Credit Lenders” means, collectively, all of the Lenders with a Revolving Credit Commitment.

Revolving Credit Loan” means any revolving loan made to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1, and all such revolving loans collectively as the context requires.

Revolving Credit Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Revolving Credit Lender evidencing the Revolving Credit Loans made by such Revolving Credit Lender, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A-1, and any substitutes therefor, and any replacements, restatements, renewals or extension thereof, in whole or in part.

Revolving Credit Outstandings” means the sum of (a) with respect to Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; plus (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the aggregate outstanding Dollar Amount thereof on such date after giving effect to any Extensions of Credit occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements of outstanding unpaid drawings under any Letters of Credit or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.

Revolving Extensions of Credit” means (a) any Revolving Credit Loan then outstanding, (b) the Dollar Amount of any Letter of Credit then outstanding or (c) any Swingline Loan then outstanding.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of S&P Global Inc., and any successor thereto.

 

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Sanctioned Country” means at any time, a country or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions.

Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC (including OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals and OFAC’s Consolidated Non-SDN List), the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (including Her Majesty’s Treasury’s Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets), or any other relevant sanctions authority, (b) any Person located, operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in clauses (a) and (b).

Sanctions” means any and all economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the U.S. government (including those administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority.

Scheduled Unavailability Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.8(d).

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

Secured Cash Management Agreement” means any Cash Management Agreement between or among any Credit Party and any Cash Management Bank.

Secured Hedge Agreement” means any Hedge Agreement between or among any Credit Party and any Hedge Bank.

Secured Obligations” means, collectively, (a) the Obligations and (b) all existing or future payment and other obligations owing by any Credit Party under (i) any Secured Hedge Agreement (ii) any Secured Cash Management Agreement and (iii) any Secured Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer Document; provided, that, the “Secured Obligations” of a Credit Party shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Credit Party.

Secured Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer Document” means any Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer Document between or among any Credit Party and any Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer.

Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders, the Hedge Banks, the Cash Management Banks, the Permitted Letter of Credit Issuers, each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 10.5, any other holder from time to time of any of any Secured Obligations and, in each case, their respective successors and permitted assigns.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. § 77 et seq.).

Security Agreement” means the security agreement dated as of the Closing Date and executed by the Credit Parties in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties.

Security Documents” means the collective reference to the Security Agreement and each other agreement or writing pursuant to which any Credit Party pledges or grants a security interest in any Property or assets securing the Secured Obligations.

 

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Senior Unsecured Note Documents” means that certain indenture, dated as of the Closing Date, by and between the Borrower and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee, and all other certificates, agreements, documents and instruments executed and delivered in connection therewith.

Senior Unsecured Notes” means those certain senior unsecured notes due 2027 issued by the Borrower pursuant to the Senior Unsecured Note Documents.

SOFR with respect to any day means the secured overnight financing rate published for such day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as the administrator of the benchmark (or a successor administrator) on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website (or any successor source) and, in each case, that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.

SOFR-Based Rate” means SOFR or Term SOFR.

Solvent” and “Solvency” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature, (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital, and (e) such Person is able to pay its debts and liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the ordinary course of business. The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

Specified Disposition” means any Disposition having gross sales proceeds in excess of $15,000,000.

Specified Transactions” means (a) any Specified Disposition, (b) any Permitted Acquisition, (c) the Transactions, (d) any incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, and (e) any other event that by the terms of the Loan Documents requires calculation on a Pro Forma Basis.

Subject Receivable” means an account receivable owing to the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries with respect to goods sold or services rendered by the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, as the case may be, including (a) all security interests or Liens and property subject to such security interests or Liens securing or purporting to secure payment of such account receivable and all Supporting Obligations relating solely to such accounts receivable, (b) tax refunds and proceeds of insurance, other agreements or arrangements of whatever character supporting or securing the payment of such accounts receivable, (c) all rights and causes of action of the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary against the applicable Account Debtors of such accounts receivable and (d) all books, records and other information related to such accounts receivable or the applicable Account Debtor.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means the collective reference to any Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is subordinated in right and time of payment to the Obligations on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Subsidiary” means as to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Equity Interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) or other managers

 

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of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity is at the time owned by (directly or indirectly) or the management is otherwise controlled by (directly or indirectly) such Person (irrespective of whether, at the time, Equity Interests of any other class or classes of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency). Unless otherwise qualified, references to “Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” herein shall refer to those of the Borrower.

Subsidiary Guarantors” means, collectively, all direct and indirect Material Non-TP Subsidiaries of the Borrower in existence on the Closing Date or which become a party to the Guaranty Agreement pursuant to Section 7.12.

Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.24.

Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Credit Party, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Swingline Commitment” means the lesser of (a) $30,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment.

Swingline Facility” means the swingline facility established pursuant to Section 2.2.

Swingline Lender” means Bank of America in its capacity as swingline lender hereunder or any successor thereto.

Swingline Loan” means any swingline loan made by the Swingline Lender to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.2, and all such swingline loans collectively as the context requires.

Swingline Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of the Swingline Lender evidencing the Swingline Loans made by the Swingline Lender, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A-2, and any substitutes therefor, and any replacements, restatements, renewals or extension thereof, in whole or in part.

Swingline Participation Amount” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.2(b)(iii).

Synthetic Lease” means any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing product where such transaction is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an Operating Lease in accordance with GAAP.

Tax Preferred Subsidiary” means (a) a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a controlled foreign corporation (within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Code), (b) any Subsidiary that is owned directly or indirectly by an entity described in clause (a) of this definition, (c) any Subsidiary of the Borrower substantially all of the assets of which consist, directly or indirectly, of (i) Equity Interests or other securities of one or more entities described in clause (a) of this definition (or are treated as consisting of such assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and/or (ii) any Indebtedness or accounts receivable owed by any entity described in clause (a) of this definition or treated as owed by any such entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (any such Indebtedness or accounts receivable, “CFC Debt”) and (d) a Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower which is treated as a disregarded entity or partnership for United States tax purposes pursuant to the entity classification rules under Section 7701 of the Code.

 

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Taxes” means 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, fines, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Term SOFR means the forward-looking term rate for any period that is approximately (as determined by the Administrative Agent) as long as any of the Interest Period options set forth in the definition of “Interest Period” and that is based on SOFR and that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body, in each case as published on an information service as selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion.

Termination Event” means the occurrence of any of the following which, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower in an aggregate amount in excess of $50,000,000: (a) a “Reportable Event” described in Section 4043 of ERISA for which the thirty (30) day notice requirement has not been waived by the PBGC, or (b) the withdrawal of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan during a plan year in which it was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA, or (c) the termination of a Pension Plan, the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan or the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination, under Section 4041 of ERISA, if the plan assets are not sufficient to pay all plan liabilities, or (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate, or the appointment of a trustee with respect to, any Pension Plan by the PBGC, or (e) any other event or condition which would constitute grounds under Section 4042(a) of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan, or (f) the imposition of a Lien pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA, or (g) the determination that any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan is considered an at-risk plan or plan in endangered or critical status with the meaning of Sections 430, 431 or 432 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 or 305 of ERISA or (h) the partial or complete withdrawal of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan if withdrawal liability is asserted by such plan, or (i) any event or condition which results in the termination of a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4041A of ERISA or the institution by PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4042 of ERISA, or (j) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate.

Total Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the unused Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Exposure and, if applicable, Incremental Term Loans of such Lender at such time.

Trade Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.9(b)(i)(B).

Transactions” means, collectively, (a) the refinancing of Indebtedness outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement, which refinancing shall include termination of all commitments under the Existing Credit Agreement and the termination or release of any security interests or guaranties granted in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement, (b) the Extensions of Credit to be made on the Closing Date, (c) the issuance of the Senior Unsecured Notes and the incurrence of Indebtedness on the Closing Date in connection therewith and (d) the payment on the Closing Date of the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the foregoing, including the issuance of the Senior Unsecured Notes and the entering into of the Credit Facility.

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York.

United Kingdom” means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

 

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United States” means the United States of America.

Unrestricted” means, when referring to cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, that such cash and Cash Equivalents (a) do not appear or would not be required to appear as “restricted” on the financial statements of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary (unless related to the Loan Documents or the Liens created thereunder), (b) are not subject to a Lien in favor of any Person other than the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents and Liens constituting Permitted Encumbrances in favor of any depository bank in connection with statutory, common law and contractual rights of set-off and recoupment with respect to any deposit account, (c) are assets of the Borrower or a Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary and are held in bank accounts or securities accounts located in the United States and (d) are not otherwise unavailable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary.

U.S. Person” means any Person that is a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

U.S. Special Resolutions Regimes” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.24.

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.11(g).

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, in each case of clauses (a) and (b), without giving effect to the application of any prior prepayment to such installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payment of principal.

Withholding Agent” means any Credit Party and the Administrative Agent.

Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

SECTION 1.2    Other Definitions and Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document: (a) the definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined, (b) whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms, (c) the words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”, (d) the word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”, (e) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (f) 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, (g) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (h) 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, (i) the term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form and (j) in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;”

 

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the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including”.

SECTION 1.3    Accounting Terms.

(a)        All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with GAAP, applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time and in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the audited financial statements required by Section 7.1(a), except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470-20 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.

(b)        If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided, that, unless and until so amended by an amendment, if any, requested pursuant to this Section 1.3(b), (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.

(c)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in the event of an accounting change occurring after June 15, 2016 requiring all leases to be capitalized, only those leases that would have constituted capital leases on June 15, 2016 (assuming for purposes hereof that they were in existence on June 15, 2016) shall be considered capital leases, and all calculations and deliverables under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be made in accordance therewith (provided, that, all financial statements delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement after the date of such accounting change shall contain a schedule showing the adjustments necessary to reconcile such financial statements with GAAP as in effect immediately prior to such accounting change).

(d)        Any provision of this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, clause (h) in the proviso to the definition of “Permitted Acquisition” in Section 1.1) that requires compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with (i) the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio set forth in Section 8.11(a) and/or (ii) the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio set forth in Section 8.11(b) shall, in each case, be deemed to include any Leverage Ratio Increase then in effect pursuant to Section 8.11(c).

SECTION 1.4    UCC Terms. Terms defined in the UCC in effect on the Closing Date and not otherwise defined herein shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, have the meanings provided by those definitions. Subject to the foregoing, the term “UCC” refers, as of any date of determination, to the UCC then in effect.

SECTION 1.5    Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the

 

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result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio or percentage is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

SECTION 1.6    References to Agreement and Laws. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) any definition or reference to formation documents, governing documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual documents or instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are not prohibited by any Loan Document; and (b) any definition or reference to any Applicable Law, including, without limitation, Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, the Bankruptcy Code, the Code, the Commodity Exchange Act, ERISA, the Exchange Act, the PATRIOT Act, the Securities Act, the UCC, the Investment Company Act, the Interstate Commerce Act or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department, shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Applicable Law.

SECTION 1.7    Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

SECTION 1.8    Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to mean the Dollar Amount that is equal to the maximum face amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all increases thereof contemplated by such Letter of Credit or the Letter of Credit Application therefor (at the time specified therefor in such applicable Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit Application and as such amount may be reduced by (a) any permanent reduction of such Letter of Credit or (b) any amount which is drawn, reimbursed and no longer available under such Letter of Credit).

SECTION 1.9    Guarantees/Earn-Outs. Unless otherwise specified, (a) the amount of any Guarantee shall be the lesser of the amount of the obligations guaranteed and still outstanding and the maximum amount for which the guaranteeing Person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee and (b) the amount of any earn-out or similar obligation shall be the amount of such obligation as reflected on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP.

SECTION 1.10  Covenant Compliance Generally. For purposes of determining compliance under Sections 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4(d) and 8.5, any amount in a currency other than Dollars will be converted to Dollars in a manner consistent with that used in calculating Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in the most recent annual financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to Section 7.1(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with Sections 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3, with respect to any amount of Indebtedness or Investment in a currency other than Dollars, no breach of any basket contained in such sections shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in rates of exchange occurring after the time such Indebtedness or Investment is incurred; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.10 shall otherwise apply to such Sections, including with respect to determining whether any Indebtedness or Investment may be incurred at any time under such Sections.

SECTION 1.11  Currency Equivalents.

(a)        For purposes hereof, the applicable outstanding amount of Letters of Credit and L/C Obligations (including, without limitation, all Alternative Currency Letters of Credit) shall be deemed to refer to the Dollar Amount thereof.

 

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(b)        All Loans made under this Agreement, including, without limitation, Loans made to refund drawings made under Alternative Currency Letters of Credit, shall be made only in Dollars.

(c)        Except for purposes of financial statements delivered by the Borrower hereunder or calculating financial covenants hereunder or except as otherwise provided herein, the applicable amount of any currency (other than Dollars) for purposes of the Loan Documents shall be such Dollar Amount as so determined by the Administrative Agent or Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, as applicable.

SECTION 1.12    Divisions. Any reference herein to a merger, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability company (or the unwinding of such a division or allocation), as if it were a merger, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, as applicable, to, of or with a separate Person. Any division of a limited liability company shall constitute a separate Person hereunder (and each division of any limited liability company that is a Subsidiary, joint venture or any other like term shall also constitute such a Person).

SECTION 1.13    Limited Conditionality Acquisitions. In the event that the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that any proposed Acquisition is a Limited Conditionality Acquisition and that the Borrower wishes to test the conditions to such Acquisition and the Indebtedness that is to be used to finance such Acquisition in accordance with this Section (with such election to be made on or prior to the date on which the definitive agreements for such Limited Conditionality Acquisition are executed by the Borrower or its applicable Subsidiary (any such election, an “LCA Election”)), then, so long as agreed to by the lenders providing such Indebtedness, the following provisions shall apply:

(a)        any condition to such Acquisition or such Indebtedness that requires that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such Acquisition or the incurrence of such Indebtedness, shall be satisfied if (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of the execution of the definitive purchase agreement, merger agreement or other acquisition agreement governing such Acquisition and (ii) no Event of Default under any of Sections 9.1(a) or 9.1(g) shall have occurred and be continuing both before and after giving effect to such Acquisition and any Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith (including such additional Indebtedness);

(b)        any condition to such Acquisition or such Indebtedness that the representations and warranties in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct at the time of such Acquisition or the incurrence of such Indebtedness shall be subject to customary “SunGard” or other customary applicable “certain funds” conditionality provisions (including, without limitation, a condition that the representations and warranties under the relevant agreements relating to such Limited Conditionality Acquisition as are material to the lenders providing such Indebtedness shall be true and correct, but only to the extent that the Borrower or its applicable Subsidiary has the right to terminate its obligations under such agreement as a result of a breach of such representations and warranties or the failure of those representations and warranties to be true and correct), so long as all such representations and warranties in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true and correct at the time of execution of the definitive purchase agreement, merger agreement or other acquisition agreement governing such Acquisition;

 

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(c)        any financial ratio test or condition, shall be tested as of the date of execution of the definitive agreement with respect to such Limited Conditionality Acquisition (the “LCA Test Date”), after giving effect to the relevant Limited Conditionality Acquisition and related incurrence of Indebtedness, on a Pro Forma Basis and, for the avoidance of doubt, if any of such ratios are exceeded or conditions are not met following the LCA Test Date, but prior to the closing of such Limited Conditionality Acquisition, as a result of fluctuations in such ratio or amount including due to fluctuations in Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Borrower or the Person subject to such Limited Conditionality Acquisition, at or prior to the consummation of the relevant transaction or action, such ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded and such conditions will not be deemed unmet as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether the relevant transaction or action is permitted to be consummated or taken; and

(d)        except as provided in the next sentence, if the Borrower has made an LCA Election with respect to any Limited Conditionality Acquisition, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or basket on or following the relevant date of execution of the definitive agreement with respect to such Limited Conditionality Acquisition and prior to the earlier of (i) the date on which such Limited Conditionality Acquisition is consummated or (ii) the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Conditionality Acquisition is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Conditionality Acquisition, any such ratio or basket shall be required to be satisfied (x) on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Conditionality Acquisition and other transactions in connection therewith (including the incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness) have been consummated and (y) assuming such Limited Conditionality Acquisition and other transactions in connection therewith (including the incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness) have not been consummated. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any calculation of a ratio in connection with determining the Applicable Margin and determining whether or not the Borrower is in compliance with the requirements of Section 8.11 shall, in each case be calculated assuming such Limited Conditionality Acquisition and other transactions in connection therewith (including the incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness) have not been consummated.

The foregoing provisions shall apply with similar effect during the pendency of multiple Limited Conditionality Acquisitions such that each of the possible scenarios is separately tested.

SECTION 1.14    Rates. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission or any other matter related to the rates in the definition of “LIBOR Rate” or with respect to any rate that is an alternative or replacement for or successor to any of such rate (including, without limitation, any Replacement Rate) or the effect of any of the foregoing, or of any Replacement Rate Conforming Changes.

ARTICLE II

REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY

SECTION 2.1    Revolving Credit Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans in Dollars to the Borrower from time to time from the Closing Date to, but not including, the Maturity Date as requested by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 2.3; provided, that: (a) the Revolving Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment and (b) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Revolving Credit Lender shall not at any time exceed such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Each Revolving Credit Loan by a Revolving Credit Lender shall be in a principal amount equal to such Revolving Credit Lender’s

 

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Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans requested on such occasion. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow Revolving Credit Loans hereunder until the Maturity Date.

SECTION 2.2    Swingline Loans.

(a)        Availability. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including, without limitation, Section 5.2(d), and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the Swingline Lender may, in its sole discretion, make Swingline Loans in Dollars to the Borrower from time to time from the Closing Date to, but not including, the Maturity Date; provided, that: (i) after giving effect to any amount requested, the Revolving Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment, (ii) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Revolving Credit Lender shall not at any time exceed such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and (iii) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Swingline Loans (after giving effect to any amount requested) shall not exceed the Swingline Commitment.

(b)        Refunding.

(i)        The Swingline Lender, at any time and from time to time in its sole and absolute discretion may, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably directs the Swingline Lender to act on its behalf), by written notice given no later than 11:00 a.m. on any Business Day request each Revolving Credit Lender to make, and each Revolving Credit Lender hereby agrees to make, a Revolving Credit Loan as a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the aggregate amount of the Swingline Loans outstanding on the date of such notice, to repay the Swingline Lender. Each Revolving Credit Lender shall make the amount of such Revolving Credit Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such notice. The proceeds of such Revolving Credit Loans shall be immediately made available by the Administrative Agent to the Swingline Lender for application by the Swingline Lender to the repayment of the Swingline Loans. No Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to fund its respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of a Swingline Loan shall be affected by any other Revolving Credit Lender’s failure to fund its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of a Swingline Loan, nor shall any Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage be increased as a result of any such failure of any other Revolving Credit Lender to fund its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of a Swingline Loan.

(ii)        The Borrower shall pay to the Swingline Lender on demand, and in any event on the Maturity Date, in immediately available funds the amount of such Swingline Loans to the extent amounts received from the Revolving Credit Lenders are not sufficient to repay in full the outstanding Swingline Loans requested or required to be refunded. In addition, the Borrower irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to charge any account maintained by the Borrower with the Swingline Lender (up to the amount available therein) in order to immediately pay the Swingline Lender the amount of such Swingline Loans to the extent amounts received from the Revolving Credit Lenders are not sufficient to repay in full the outstanding Swingline Loans requested or required to be refunded. If any portion of any such amount paid to the Swingline Lender shall be recovered by or on behalf of the Borrower from the Swingline Lender in bankruptcy or otherwise, the loss of

 

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the amount so recovered shall be ratably shared among all the Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages.

(iii)        If for any reason any Swingline Loan cannot be refinanced with a Revolving Credit Loan pursuant to Section 2.2(b)(i), each Revolving Credit Lender shall, on the date such Revolving Credit Loan was to have been made pursuant to the notice referred to in Section 2.2(b)(i), purchase for cash an undivided participating interest in the then outstanding Swingline Loans by paying to the Swingline Lender an amount (the “Swingline Participation Amount”) equal to such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Swingline Loans then outstanding. Each Revolving Credit Lender will immediately transfer to the Swingline Lender, in immediately available funds, the amount of its Swingline Participation Amount. Whenever, at any time after the Swingline Lender has received from any Revolving Credit Lender such Revolving Credit Lender’s Swingline Participation Amount, the Swingline Lender receives any payment on account of the Swingline Loans, the Swingline Lender will distribute to such Revolving Credit Lender its Swingline Participation Amount (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s participating interest was outstanding and funded and, in the case of principal and interest payments, to reflect such Revolving Credit Lender’s pro rata portion of such payment if such payment is not sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on all Swingline Loans then due); provided, that, in the event that such payment received by the Swingline Lender is required to be returned, such Revolving Credit Lender will return to the Swingline Lender any portion thereof previously distributed to it by the Swingline Lender.

(iv)        Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make the Revolving Credit Loans referred to in Section 2.2(b)(i) and to purchase participating interests pursuant to Section 2.2(b)(iii) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such Revolving Credit Lender or the Borrower may have against the Swingline Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or an Event of Default or the failure to satisfy any of the other conditions specified in Article V, (C) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower, (D) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by the Borrower, any other Credit Party or any other Revolving Credit Lender or (E) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.

(v)        If any Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, any amount required to be paid by such Revolving Credit Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.2(b) by the time specified in Section 2.2(b)(i) or 2.2(b)(iii), as applicable, the Swingline Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Revolving Credit Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swingline Lender at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Federal Funds Rate, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swingline Lender in connection with the foregoing. If such Revolving Credit Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Loan or Swingline Participation Amount, as the case may be. A certificate of the Swingline Lender submitted to any Revolving Credit

 

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Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (v) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(c)        Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, this Section 2.2 shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 4.14 and Section 4.15.

SECTION 2.3    Procedure for Advances of Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans.

(a)        Requests for Borrowing. The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable prior written notice substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B (or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), a “Notice of Borrowing”) not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) on the requested date of any borrowing of Base Rate Loans and Swingline Loans and (ii) at least three (3) Business Days (or in the case of a borrowing on the Closing Date, two (2) Business Days) prior to the requested date of any borrowing of LIBOR Rate Loans, of its intention to borrow, specifying (A) the date of such borrowing, which shall be a Business Day, (B) the amount of such borrowing, which shall be, (x) with respect to Base Rate Loans (other than Swingline Loans), in an aggregate principal amount of $3,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (y) with respect to LIBOR Rate Loans, in an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (z) with respect to Swingline Loans, in an aggregate principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof, (C) whether such Loan is to be a Revolving Credit Loan or Swingline Loan, (D) in the case of a Revolving Credit Loan whether the Loans are to be LIBOR Rate Loans or Base Rate Loans, and (E) in the case of a LIBOR Rate Loan, the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a type of Revolving Credit Loan in a Notice of Borrowing, then the applicable Revolving Credit Loans shall be made as Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a borrowing of LIBOR Rate Loans in any such Notice of Borrowing, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. A Notice of Borrowing received after 11:00 a.m. shall be deemed received on the next Business Day. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Revolving Credit Lenders of each Notice of Borrowing.

(b)        Disbursement of Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans. Not later than 1:00 p.m. on the proposed borrowing date, (i) each Revolving Credit Lender will make available to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Borrower, at the office of the Administrative Agent in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent, such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the Revolving Credit Loans to be made on such borrowing date and (ii) the Swingline Lender will make available to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Borrower, at the office of the Administrative Agent in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Loans to be made on such borrowing date. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of each borrowing requested pursuant to this Section in immediately available funds by crediting or wiring such proceeds to the deposit account of the Borrower identified in the most recent notice substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C (a “Notice of Account Designation”) delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or as may be otherwise agreed upon by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent from time to time. Subject to Section 4.7, the Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to disburse the portion of the proceeds of any Revolving Credit Loan requested pursuant to this Section to the extent that any Revolving Credit Lender has not made available to the Administrative Agent its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of such Loan.

 

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Revolving Credit Loans to be made for the purpose of refunding Swingline Loans shall be made by the Revolving Credit Lenders as provided in Section 2.2(b).

SECTION 2.4    Repayment and Prepayment of Revolving Credit and Swingline Loans.

(a)        Repayment on Termination Date. The Borrower hereby agrees to repay the outstanding principal amount of (i) all Revolving Credit Loans in full on the Maturity Date, and (ii) all Swingline Loans in accordance with Section 2.2(b) (but, in any event, no later than the Maturity Date), together, in each case, with all accrued but unpaid interest thereon.

(b)        Mandatory Prepayments.

(i)        If at any time the Revolving Credit Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment, the Borrower agrees to repay immediately upon notice from the Administrative Agent, by payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders, Extensions of Credit in an amount equal to such excess with each such repayment applied first, to the principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans, second to the principal amount of outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and third, with respect to any Letters of Credit then outstanding, to payment of Cash Collateral into a Cash Collateral account opened by the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders, in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount of such excess (such Cash Collateral to be applied in accordance with Section 9.2(b)).

(ii)        If at any time (as determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.4(b)(ii)) and for any reason, based upon the Dollar Amount of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and L/C Obligations, (a) the outstanding amount of all L/C Obligations exceeds the lesser of (i) the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment less the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans and (ii) the L/C Sublimit, then the Borrower shall either (A) repay Revolving Credit Loans in an amount equal to such excess (to the extent such repayment will eliminate such excess) or (B) make a payment of Cash Collateral into a Cash Collateral account opened by the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the applicable Issuing Lender and the Revolving Credit Lenders in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount of such excess (such Cash Collateral to be applied in accordance with Section 9.2(b)). The Borrower’s compliance with this Section 2.4(b)(ii) shall be tested from time to time by the Administrative Agent at its sole discretion, but in any event shall be tested on each Revaluation Date. Each such repayment pursuant to this Section 2.4(b)(ii) shall be accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Sections 4.8(c) and 4.9.

(c)        Optional Prepayments. The Borrower may at any time and from time to time prepay Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, with irrevocable prior written notice to the Administrative Agent substantially in the form attached as Exhibit D (or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), a “Notice of Prepayment”) given not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) on the same Business Day as any prepayment of Base Rate Loans or Swingline Loans and (ii) at least three (3) Business Days prior to any prepayment of LIBOR Rate Loans, specifying the date and amount of prepayment and whether the prepayment is of LIBOR Rate Loans, Base Rate Loans, Swingline Loans or a combination thereof, and, if of a combination thereof, the amount allocable to each. Upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender. If any such notice is given, the amount specified in such notice shall be

 

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due and payable on the date set forth in such notice. Partial prepayments shall be in an aggregate amount of (A) $3,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof with respect to Base Rate Loans (other than Swingline Loans), (B) $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof with respect to LIBOR Rate Loans and (C) $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof with respect to Swingline Loans. A Notice of Prepayment received after 11:00 a.m. shall be deemed received on the next Business Day. Each such repayment shall be accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 4.9 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Notice of Prepayment delivered in connection with any repayment of all of the Credit Facility with the proceeds of any incurrence of Indebtedness or the occurrence of some other identifiable event or condition, may be, if expressly so stated to be, contingent upon the consummation of such incurrence or occurrence of such other identifiable event or condition and may be revoked by the Borrower in the event such contingency is not met (provided, that, the failure of such contingency shall not relieve the Borrower from its obligations in respect thereof under Section 4.9).

(d)        Limitation on Prepayment of LIBOR Rate Loans. The Borrower may not prepay any LIBOR Rate Loan on any day other than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto unless such prepayment is accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 4.9.

(e)        Hedge Agreements. No repayment or prepayment of the Loans pursuant to this Section shall affect any of the Borrower’s obligations under any Hedge Agreement entered into with respect to the Loans.

SECTION 2.5    Permanent Reduction of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment.

(a)        Voluntary Reduction. The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time, upon at least five (5) Business Days prior irrevocable (subject to the last sentence of this Section 2.5(a)) written notice to the Administrative Agent, to permanently reduce, without premium or penalty, (i) the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment at any time or (ii) portions of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment, from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not less than $3,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Any reduction of any portion of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment shall be applied to the Revolving Credit Commitment of each Revolving Credit Lender according to its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage. All Commitment Fees accrued until the effective date of any termination pursuant to this Section 2.5(a) shall be paid on the effective date of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any notice of termination pursuant to this Section 2.5(a) delivered in connection with any repayment of all of the Credit Facility with the proceeds of any incurrence of Indebtedness or the occurrence of some other identifiable event or condition, may be, if expressly so stated to be, contingent upon the consummation of such incurrence or occurrence of such identifiable event or condition and may be revoked by the Borrower in the event such contingency is not met (provided, that, the failure of such contingency shall not relieve the Borrower from its obligations in respect thereof under Section 4.9).

(b)        Corresponding Payment. Each permanent reduction permitted pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a payment of principal sufficient to reduce the aggregate outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations, as applicable, after such reduction to the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment as so reduced, and if the aggregate amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit exceeds the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment as so reduced, the Borrower shall be required to deposit Cash Collateral in a Cash Collateral account opened by the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount of such excess. Such Cash Collateral shall be applied in accordance with Section 9.2(b). Any reduction of the Aggregate

 

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Revolving Credit Commitment to zero shall be accompanied by payment of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans (and furnishing of Cash Collateral satisfactory to the Administrative Agent for all L/C Obligations) and shall result in the termination of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment and the Swingline Commitment and the Revolving Credit Facility. If the reduction of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment requires the repayment of any LIBOR Rate Loan, such repayment shall be accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 4.9.

SECTION 2.6    Termination of Revolving Credit Facility. The Revolving Credit Facility and the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment shall terminate on the Maturity Date.

ARTICLE III

LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY

SECTION 3.1    L/C Facility.

(a)        Availability. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Issuing Lender, in reliance on the agreements of the Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in Section 3.4(a), agrees to issue standby Letters of Credit in an aggregate Dollar Amount not to exceed its L/C Commitment for the account of the Borrower or, subject to Section 3.10, any Subsidiary thereof. Letters of Credit may be issued on any Business Day from the Closing Date to, but not including the thirtieth (30th) Business Day prior to the Maturity Date in such form as may be approved from time to time by the applicable Issuing Lender; provided, that, no Issuing Lender shall issue any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance, (a) the aggregate amount of the outstanding Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender would exceed its L/C Commitment, (b) the L/C Obligations would exceed the L/C Sublimit, (c) the Revolving Credit Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment or (d) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender would exceed its Revolving Credit Commitment. Each Letter of Credit shall (i) (A) in the case of any Letter of Credit issued by Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, be denominated in Permitted Currency in a minimum Dollar Amount of $50,000 (or such lesser Dollar Amount as agreed to by Bank of America and the Administrative Agent) and (B) in the case of any Letter of Credit issued by any Issuing Lender other than Bank of America, in Dollars in a minimum Dollar Amount of $50,000 (or such lesser Dollar Amount as agreed to by the applicable Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent), (ii) except in the case of an Evergreen Letter of Credit, expire on a date no more than twelve (12) months after the date of issuance or last renewal of such Letter of Credit (or such later date as may be acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Lender in their sole discretion), which date shall be no later than the fifth (5th) Business Day prior to the Maturity Date and (iii) be subject to the ISP98 as set forth in the Letter of Credit Application or as determined by the applicable Issuing Lender and, to the extent not inconsistent therewith, the laws of the State of New York. No Issuing Lender shall at any time be obligated to issue any Letter of Credit hereunder if (A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such Issuing Lender from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Applicable Law applicable to such Issuing Lender or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such Issuing Lender shall prohibit, or request that such Issuing Lender refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such Issuing Lender with respect to letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular any restriction or reserve or capital requirement (for which such Issuing Lender is not otherwise compensated) not in effect on the Closing Date, or any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense that was not applicable, in effect or known to such Issuing Lender as of the Closing Date and that such Issuing Lender in good

 

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faith deems material to it, or (B) the conditions set forth in Section 5.2 are not satisfied, or (C) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit is a Sanctioned Person or (D) in the case of Bank of America in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, (1) the Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than a Permitted Currency or (2) Bank of America does not, as of the issuance or extension date of such requested Letter of Credit, issue Letters of Credit in the requested Permitted Currency. References herein to “issue” and derivations thereof with respect to Letters of Credit shall also include extensions or modifications of any outstanding Letters of Credit, unless the context otherwise requires. As of the Closing Date, each of the Existing Letters of Credit shall constitute, for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, a Letter of Credit issued and outstanding hereunder.

(b)        Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Article III shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 4.14 and Section 4.15.

SECTION 3.2    Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit. The Borrower may from time to time request that any Issuing Lender issue a Letter of Credit by delivering to such Issuing Lender at its applicable office (with a copy to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office) a Letter of Credit Application therefor, completed to the satisfaction of such Issuing Lender, and such other certificates, documents and other papers and information as such Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent may request (which information shall, in the case of a Letter of Credit Application delivered to Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, include the Permitted Currency in which such Letter of Credit shall be denominated). Upon receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the applicable Issuing Lender shall, process such Letter of Credit Application and the certificates, documents and other papers and information delivered to it in connection therewith in accordance with its customary procedures and shall, subject to Section 3.1 and Article V, promptly issue the Letter of Credit requested thereby (but in no event shall such Issuing Lender be required to issue any Letter of Credit earlier than (a) three (3) Business Days after its receipt of the Letter of Credit Application therefor with respect to a Letter of Credit to be denominated in Dollars and (b) four (4) Business Days after its receipt of the Letter of Credit Application therefor with respect to an Alternative Currency Letter of Credit and in each case together with all such other certificates, documents and other papers and information relating thereto) by issuing the original of such Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof or as otherwise may be agreed by such Issuing Lender and the Borrower. The applicable Issuing Lender shall promptly furnish to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a copy of such Letter of Credit and the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender of the issuance, and, upon request by any Revolving Credit Lender, furnish to such Revolving Credit Lender a copy, of such Letter of Credit and the amount of such Revolving Credit Lender’s participation therein.

SECTION 3.3    Commissions and Other Charges.

(a)        Letter of Credit Commissions. Subject to Section 4.15(a)(iii)(B), the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Issuing Lender and the L/C Participants, a letter of credit commission with respect to each Letter of Credit in the amount equal to the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit (reflected as the Dollar Amount thereof) times the Applicable Margin with respect to Revolving Credit Loans that are LIBOR Rate Loans (determined, in each case, on a per annum basis). Such commission shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter, on the Maturity Date and thereafter on demand of the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, distribute to the applicable Issuing Lender and the L/C Participants all commissions received pursuant to this Section 3.3 in accordance with their respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages.

 

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(b)        Issuance Fee. In addition to the foregoing commission, the Borrower shall pay directly to (i) Bank of America, in its capacity as any Issuing Lender and for its own account, an issuance fee with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by Bank of America (reflected as the Dollar Amount thereof) as set forth in the Fee Letter, and (ii) any other Issuing Lender, for its own account, an issuance fee with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender (reflected as the Dollar Amount thereof) as separately agreed between the Borrower and such Issuing Lender. Except as otherwise agreed between the Borrower and the applicable Issuing Lender, such issuance fee shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Maturity Date and thereafter on demand of the applicable Issuing Lender. For the avoidance of doubt, such issuance fee shall be applicable to and paid upon each of the Existing Letters of Credit.

(c)        Other Fees, Costs, Charges and Expenses. In addition to the foregoing fees and commissions, the Borrower shall pay or reimburse each Issuing Lender for such normal and customary fees, costs, charges and expenses as are incurred or charged by such Issuing Lender in issuing, effecting payment under, amending or otherwise administering any Letter of Credit issued by it.

(d)        Payments in Dollars. The commissions, fees, charges, costs and expenses payable pursuant to this Section 3.3 shall be payable in Dollars.

SECTION 3.4    L/C Participations.

(a)        Each Issuing Lender irrevocably agrees to grant and hereby grants to each L/C Participant, and, to induce each Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit hereunder, each L/C Participant irrevocably agrees to accept and purchase and hereby accepts and purchases from each Issuing Lender, on the terms and conditions hereinafter stated, for such L/C Participant’s own account and risk an undivided interest equal to such L/C Participant’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage in each Issuing Lender’s obligations and rights under and in respect of each Letter of Credit issued by it hereunder and the amount of each draft paid by such Issuing Lender thereunder. Each L/C Participant unconditionally and irrevocably agrees with each Issuing Lender that, if a draft is paid under any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender for which such Issuing Lender is not reimbursed in full by the Borrower through a Revolving Credit Loan or otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such L/C Participant shall pay to such Issuing Lender upon demand at such Issuing Lender’s address for notices specified herein an amount equal to such L/C Participant’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the Dollar Amount of such draft, or any part thereof, which is not so reimbursed.

(b)        Upon becoming aware of any amount required to be paid by any L/C Participant to any Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.4(a) in respect of any unreimbursed portion of any payment made by such Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit, issued by it, such Issuing Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent of such unreimbursed amount (including such Issuing Lender’s calculation of the Dollar Amount thereof) and the Administrative Agent shall notify each L/C Participant (with a copy to the applicable Issuing Lender) of the amount and due date of such required payment and such L/C Participant shall pay to the Administrative Agent (which, in turn shall pay such Issuing Lender) the amount specified on the applicable due date. If any such amount is paid to such Issuing Lender after the date such payment is due, such L/C Participant shall pay to such Issuing Lender on demand, in addition to such amount, the product of (i) such amount, times (ii) the daily average Federal Funds Rate as determined by the Administrative Agent during the period from and including the date such payment is due to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such Issuing Lender, times (iii) a fraction the numerator of which is the

 

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number of days that elapse during such period and the denominator of which is 360. A certificate of such Issuing Lender with respect to any amounts owing under this Section shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. With respect to payment to such Issuing Lender of the unreimbursed amounts described in this Section, if the L/C Participants receive notice that any such payment is due (A) prior to 1:00 p.m. on any Business Day, such payment shall be due that Business Day, and (B) after 1:00 p.m. on any Business Day, such payment shall be due on the following Business Day.

(c)        Whenever, at any time after any Issuing Lender has made payment under any Letter of Credit issued by it and has received from any L/C Participant its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of such payment in accordance with this Section, such Issuing Lender receives any payment related to such Letter of Credit (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise), or any payment of interest on account thereof, such Issuing Lender will distribute to such L/C Participant its pro rata share thereof; provided, that, in the event that any such payment received by such Issuing Lender shall be required to be returned by such Issuing Lender, such L/C Participant shall return to such Issuing Lender the portion thereof previously distributed by such Issuing Lender to it.

(d)        Each L/C Participant’s obligation to make the Revolving Credit Loans referred to in Section 3.4(b) and to purchase participating interests pursuant to Section 3.4(a) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (i) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such Revolving Credit Lender or the Borrower may have against the applicable Issuing Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or an Event of Default or the failure to satisfy any of the other conditions specified in Article V, (iii) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower, (iv) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by the Borrower, any other Credit Party or any other Revolving Credit Lender or (v) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.

(e)        All payments made by any L/C Participant under this Section 3.4 shall be made in Dollars (based upon the Dollar Amount of the applicable payment); provided, that, the Borrower shall be liable for any currency exchange loss pursuant to the terms of Section 4.8(c).

SECTION 3.5    Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower. In the event of any drawing under any Letter of Credit, the Borrower agrees to reimburse (either with the proceeds of a Revolving Credit Loan as provided for in this Section or with funds from other sources), in same day funds, in Dollars, the applicable Issuing Lender on each date on which such Issuing Lender notifies the Borrower of the date and the Dollar Amount of a draft paid by it under any Letter of Credit for the Dollar Amount of (a) such draft so paid and (b) any amounts referred to in Section 3.3(c) incurred by such Issuing Lender in connection with such payment (including, without limitation, any and all costs, fees and other expenses incurred by Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, in effecting the payment of any Alternative Currency Letter of Credit). Unless the Borrower shall immediately notify such Issuing Lender that the Borrower intends to reimburse such Issuing Lender for such drawing from other sources or funds, the Borrower shall be deemed to have timely given a Notice of Borrowing to the Administrative Agent requesting that the Revolving Credit Lenders make a Revolving Credit Loan as a Base Rate Loan on the applicable repayment date in the Dollar Amount of (i) such draft so paid and (ii) any amounts referred to in Section 3.3(c) incurred by such Issuing Lender in connection with such payment (including, without limitation, any and all costs, fees and other expenses incurred by Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, in effecting the payment of any Alternative Currency Letter of Credit), and the Revolving Credit Lenders shall make a Revolving Credit Loan as a Base Rate Loan in such Dollar Amount, the proceeds of which shall be applied

 

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to reimburse such Issuing Lender for the Dollar Amount of the related drawing and such fees and expenses. Each Revolving Credit Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to fund a Revolving Credit Loan in accordance with this Section to reimburse such Issuing Lender for any draft paid under a Letter of Credit issued by it is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including, without limitation, non-satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.3(a) or Article V. If the Borrower has elected to pay the amount of such drawing with funds from other sources and shall fail to reimburse such Issuing Lender as provided above, or if the Dollar Amount of such drawing is not fully refunded through a Base Rate Loan as provided above, the unreimbursed amount of such drawing shall bear interest at the rate which would be payable on any outstanding Base Rate Loans which were then overdue from the date such Dollar Amounts become payable (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) until payment in full.

SECTION 3.6    Obligations Absolute. The Borrower’s obligations under this Article III (including, without limitation, the Reimbursement Obligation) shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances and irrespective of (a) any setoff, counterclaim or defense to payment which the Borrower may have or have had against the applicable Issuing Lender or any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit or any other Person and (b) any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of the relevant Alternative Currency to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or in the relevant currency markets generally. The Borrower also agrees that the applicable Issuing Lender and the L/C Participants shall not be responsible for, and the Borrower’s Reimbursement Obligation under Section 3.5 shall not be affected by, among other things, the validity or genuineness of documents or of any endorsements thereon, even though such documents shall in fact prove to be invalid, fraudulent or forged, or any dispute between or among the Borrower and any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any other party to which such Letter of Credit may be transferred or any claims whatsoever of the Borrower against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit or any such transferee. No Issuing Lender shall be liable for any error, omission, interruption or delay in transmission, dispatch or delivery of any message or advice, however transmitted, in connection with any Letter of Credit issued by it, except for errors or omissions caused by such Issuing Lender’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final nonappealable judgment. The Borrower agrees that any action taken or omitted by any Issuing Lender under or in connection with any Letter of Credit issued by it or the related drafts or documents, if done in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct shall be binding on the Borrower and shall not result in any liability of such Issuing Lender or any L/C Participant to the Borrower. The responsibility of any Issuing Lender to the Borrower in connection with any draft presented for payment under any Letter of Credit issued to it shall, in addition to any payment obligation expressly provided for in such Letter of Credit, be limited to determining that the documents (including each draft) delivered under such Letter of Credit in connection with such presentment substantially conforms to the requirements under such Letter of Credit.

SECTION 3.7    Effect of Letter of Credit Application. To the extent that any provision of any Letter of Credit Application related to any Letter of Credit is inconsistent with the provisions of this Article III, the provisions of this Article III shall apply.

SECTION 3.8    Resignation of Issuing Lenders.

(a)        Any Lender may at any time resign from its role as an Issuing Lender hereunder upon not less than thirty (30) days prior notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period of time as may be acceptable to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

(b)        Any resigning Issuing Lender shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of an Issuing Lender hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit issued by it that are outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as an Issuing Lender and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including, without limitation, the right to require the Revolving Credit Lenders

 

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to take such actions as are required under Section 3.4). Without limiting the foregoing, upon the resignation of a Lender as an Issuing Lender hereunder, the Borrower may, or at the request of such resigned Issuing Lender the Borrower shall, use commercially reasonable efforts to, arrange for one or more of the other Issuing Lenders to issue Letters of Credit hereunder in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, issued by such resigned Issuing Lender and outstanding at the time of such resignation, or make other arrangements satisfactory to the resigned Issuing Lender to effectively cause another Issuing Lender to assume the obligations of the resigned Issuing Lender with respect to any such Letters of Credit.

SECTION 3.9    Reporting of Letter of Credit Information and L/C Commitment. At any time that there is an Issuing Lender that is not also the financial institution acting as Administrative Agent, then (a) on the last Business Day of each calendar month, (b) on each date that a Letter of Credit is amended, terminated or otherwise expires, (c) on each date that a Letter of Credit is issued or the expiry date of a Letter of Credit is extended, and (d) upon the request of the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Lender (or, in the case of clauses (b), (c) or (d) of this Section, the applicable Issuing Lender) shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a report setting forth in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent information (including any reimbursement, Cash Collateral, or termination in respect of Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender) with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender that is outstanding hereunder. In addition, each Issuing Lender shall provide notice to the Administrative Agent of its L/C Commitment, or any change thereto, promptly upon it becoming an Issuing Lender or making any change to its L/C Commitment. No failure on the part of any Issuing Lender to provide such information pursuant to this Section 3.9 shall limit the obligations of the Borrower or any Revolving Credit Lender hereunder with respect to its reimbursement and participation obligations hereunder.

SECTION 3.10  Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse, or to cause the applicable Subsidiary to reimburse, the applicable Issuing Lender hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of any of its Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

SECTION 3.11  Evergreen Letters of Credit. If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, any Issuing Lender may, in its discretion, agree to issue an Evergreen Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions; provided, that, any such Evergreen Letter of Credit must (a) permit the applicable Issuing Lender to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof and (b) after giving effect to any extension not expire later the fifth (5th) Business Day prior to the Maturity Date. The Revolving Credit Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable Issuing Lender to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the fifth (5th) Business Day prior to the Maturity Date; provided, however, that, the applicable Issuing Lender shall not permit any such extension if (A) it has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of this Article III or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is five Business Days before the date upon which it is permitted to decline such extension (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Revolving Credit Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Revolving Credit Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 5.2 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the applicable Issuing Lender not to permit such extension.

 

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ARTICLE IV

GENERAL LOAN PROVISIONS

SECTION 4.1    Interest.

(a)        Interest Rate Options. Subject to the provisions of this Section, at the election of the Borrower, (i) Revolving Credit Loans shall bear interest at (A) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin or (B) the LIBOR Rate plus the Applicable Margin (provided, that, the LIBOR Rate shall not be available until three (3) Business Days after the Closing Date unless the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a letter in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent indemnifying the Lenders in the manner set forth in Section 4.9) and (ii) any Swingline Loan shall bear interest at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin. The Borrower shall select the rate of interest and Interest Period, if any, applicable to any Loan at the time a Notice of Borrowing is given or at the time a Notice of Conversion/Continuation is given pursuant to Section 4.2.

(b)        Default Rate. Subject to Section 9.3, (i) automatically upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default under Section 9.1(a) or (g), or (ii) at the election of the Required Lenders (or the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders), upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any other Event of Default, (A) the Borrower shall no longer have the option to request LIBOR Rate Loans, Swingline Loans or Letters of Credit, (B) all outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans shall bear interest at a rate per annum of two percent (2%) in excess of the rate (including the Applicable Margin) then applicable to LIBOR Rate Loans until the end of the applicable Interest Period and thereafter at a rate equal to two percent (2%) in excess of the rate (including the Applicable Margin) then applicable to Base Rate Loans, (C) all outstanding Base Rate Loans and other Obligations arising hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%) in excess of the rate (including the Applicable Margin) then applicable to Base Rate Loans or such other Obligations arising hereunder or under any other Loan Document and (D) all accrued and unpaid interest shall be due and payable on demand of the Administrative Agent. Interest shall continue to accrue on the Obligations after the filing by or against the Borrower of any petition seeking any relief in bankruptcy or under any Debtor Relief Law.

(c)        Interest Payment and Computation. Interest on each Base Rate Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter; and interest on each LIBOR Rate Loan shall be due and payable on the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto, and if such Interest Period extends over three (3) months at the end of each three (3) month interval during such Interest Period. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to the LIBOR Rate) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest provided hereunder shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365/366-day year).

(d)        Maximum Rate. In no contingency or event whatsoever shall the aggregate of all amounts deemed interest under this Agreement charged or collected pursuant to the terms of this Agreement exceed the highest rate permissible under any Applicable Law which a court of competent jurisdiction shall, in a final determination, deem applicable hereto. In the event that such a court determines that the Lenders have charged or received interest hereunder in excess of the highest applicable rate, the rate in effect hereunder shall automatically be reduced to the maximum

 

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rate permitted by Applicable Law and the Lenders shall at the Administrative Agent’s option (i) promptly refund to the Borrower any interest received by the Lenders in excess of the maximum lawful rate or (ii) apply such excess to the principal balance of the Obligations. It is the intent hereof that the Borrower not pay or contract to pay, and that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender receive or contract to receive, directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever, interest in excess of that which may be paid by the Borrower under Applicable Law.

SECTION 4.2    Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of Loans. As long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, the Borrower shall have the option to (a) convert at any time following the third Business Day after the Closing Date all or any portion of any outstanding Base Rate Loans (other than Swingline Loans) in a principal amount equal to $5,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof into one or more LIBOR Rate Loans and (b) upon the expiration of any Interest Period, (i) convert all or any part of its outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans in a principal amount equal to $3,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof into Base Rate Loans (other than Swingline Loans) or (ii) continue such LIBOR Rate Loans as LIBOR Rate Loans. Whenever the Borrower desires to convert or continue Loans as provided above, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable prior written notice in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), a “Notice of Conversion/Continuation”) not later than 11:00 a.m. three (3) Business Days before the day on which a proposed conversion or continuation of such Loan is to be effective specifying (A) the Loans to be converted or continued, and, in the case of any LIBOR Rate Loan to be converted or continued, the last day of the Interest Period therefor, (B) the effective date of such conversion or continuation (which shall be a Business Day), (C) the principal amount of such Loans to be converted or continued, and (D) the Interest Period to be applicable to such converted or continued LIBOR Rate Loan. If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Notice of Conversion/Continuation prior to the end of the Interest Period for any LIBOR Rate Loan, then the applicable LIBOR Rate Loan shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan (other than Swingline Loans). Any such automatic conversion to a Base Rate Loan shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable LIBOR Rate Loan. If the Borrower requests a conversion to, or continuation of, LIBOR Rate Loans, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Swingline Loan may not be converted to a LIBOR Rate Loan. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the affected Lenders of such Notice of Conversion/Continuation.

SECTION 4.3    Fees.

(a)        Commitment Fee. Commencing on the Closing Date, subject to Section 4.15(a)(iii)(A), the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders, a non-refundable commitment fee (the “Commitment Fee”) at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin on the average daily unused portion of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment (other than the Defaulting Lenders, if any); provided, that, the amount of outstanding Swingline Loans shall not be considered usage of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment for the purpose of calculating the Commitment Fee. The Commitment Fee shall be payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter during the term of this Agreement and ending on the date upon which all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations not then due) arising under the Revolving Credit Facility shall have been indefeasibly and irrevocably paid and satisfied in full, all Letters of Credit have been terminated or expired (or been Cash Collateralized) and the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment has been terminated. The Commitment Fee shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Credit Lenders (other than any Defaulting Lender) pro rata in accordance with such Revolving Credit Lenders’ respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages.

 

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(b)        Other Fees. The Borrower shall pay to each Arranger and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon in writing (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in the Fee Letter) in the amounts and at the times so specified.

SECTION 4.4    Manner of Payment. Except with respect to an Alternative Currency Letter of Credit, each payment by the Borrower on account of the principal of or interest on the Loans or of any fee, commission or other amounts (including the Reimbursement Obligation) payable to the Lenders under this Agreement shall be made not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date specified for payment under this Agreement to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office for the account of the Lenders entitled to such payment in Dollars, in immediately available funds and shall be made free and clear of and without condition or deduction for any setoff, counterclaim, defense or recoupment whatsoever. Any payment received after such time but before 2:00 p.m. on such day shall be deemed a payment on such date for the purposes of Section 9.1, but for all other purposes shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day. Any payment received after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day for all purposes. Upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of each such payment, the Administrative Agent shall distribute to each such Lender at its address for notices set forth herein its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment and shall wire advice of the amount of such credit to each Lender. Each payment to the Administrative Agent on account of the principal of or interest on the Swingline Loans or of any fee, commission or other amounts payable to the Swingline Lender shall be made in like manner, but for the account of the Swingline Lender. Each payment to the Administrative Agent of any Issuing Lender’s fees or L/C Participants’ commissions shall be made in like manner, but for the account of such Issuing Lender or the L/C Participants, as the case may be. Each payment to the Administrative Agent of Administrative Agent’s fees or expenses shall be made for the account of the Administrative Agent and any amount payable to any Lender under Sections 4.9, 4.10, 4.11 or 11.3 shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lender. Each payment by the Borrower on account of any Alternative Currency Letter of Credit (including the Reimbursement Obligation with respect to any Alternative Currency Letter of Credit) shall be made in Dollars not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date specified for payment under this Agreement to the Administrative Agent for the account of Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, in immediately available funds, and shall be made without any set-off, counterclaim or deduction whatsoever. Any payment received after such time but before 2:00 p.m. on such day shall be deemed a payment on such date for the purposes of Section 9.1, but for all other purposes shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day. Any payment received after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day for all purposes. Subject to the definition of Interest Period, if any payment under this Agreement shall be specified to be made upon a day which is not a Business Day, it shall be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day and such extension of time shall in such case be included in computing any interest if payable along with such payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if there exists a Defaulting Lender each payment by the Borrower to such Defaulting Lender hereunder shall be applied in accordance with Section 4.15(a)(ii).

SECTION 4.5    Evidence of Indebtedness.

(a)        Extensions of Credit. The Extensions of Credit made by each Lender and each Issuing Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender or such Issuing Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender or the applicable Issuing Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Extensions of Credit made by the Lenders or such Issuing Lender to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to

 

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the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender or any Issuing Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Revolving Credit Note and/or Swingline Note, as applicable, which shall evidence such Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans and/or Swingline Loans, as applicable, in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Notes and endorse thereon the date, amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

(b)        Participations. In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a), each Revolving Credit Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Revolving Credit Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Revolving Credit Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

SECTION 4.6    Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or other obligations hereunder resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon or other such obligations (other than pursuant to Sections 4.9, 4.10, 4.11 or 11.3) greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and such other obligations of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them; provided, that:

(i)        if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and

(ii)        the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), (B) the application of Cash Collateral provided for in Section 4.14 or (C) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of, or sale of, a participation in any of its Loans or participations in Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit to any assignee or participant other than to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply).

Each Credit Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under Applicable Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against each Credit Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of each Credit Party in the amount of such participation.

SECTION 4.7    Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

(a)        Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender (i) in the case of Base Rate Loans,

 

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not later than 12:00 noon on the date of any proposed borrowing and (ii) otherwise, prior to the proposed date of any borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.3(b) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the daily average Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

(b)        Payments by the Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, any Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders, the applicable Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders, the applicable Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender, as the case maybe, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, Issuing Lender or the Swingline 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 Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

(c)        Nature of Obligations of Lenders. The obligations of the Lenders under this Agreement to make the Loans, to issue or participate in Letters of Credit and to make payments under this Section, Section 4.11(e), Section 11.3(c) or Section 11.7, as applicable, are several and are not joint or joint and several. The failure of any Lender to make available its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of any Loan requested by the Borrower shall not relieve it or any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of such Loan available on the borrowing date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of such Loan available on the borrowing date.

SECTION 4.8    Changed Circumstances.

(a)        Circumstances Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability. Unless and until a Replacement Rate is implemented in accordance with clause (d) below (unless otherwise provided in clause (d) below), in connection with any request for a LIBOR Rate Loan or a conversion to or

 

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continuation thereof, if for any reason (i) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Loan, (ii) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that reasonable and adequate means do not exist for the ascertaining the LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Rate Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan or (iii) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the LIBOR Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining such Loans during such Interest Period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a determination by the Required Lenders described in clause (iii) of this Section 4.8(a), until the Administrative Agent upon instruction of the Required Lenders) notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer exist, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make LIBOR Rate Loans and the right of the Borrower to convert any Loan to or continue any Loan as a LIBOR Rate Loan shall be suspended and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the LIBOR Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the LIBOR Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, and the Borrower shall either (A) repay in full (or cause to be repaid in full) the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Rate Loan together with accrued interest thereon (subject to Section 4.1(d)), on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Rate Loan; or (B) convert the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Rate Loan to a Base Rate Loan (other than a Swingline Loan) as of the last day of such Interest Period.

(b)        Laws Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability. If, after the date hereof, the introduction of, or any change in, any Applicable Law or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Lending Offices) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency, shall make it unlawful or impossible for any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Lending Offices) to honor its obligations hereunder to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to the LIBOR Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the LIBOR Rate, such Lender shall promptly give notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice to the Borrower and the other Lenders. Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer exist, (i) the obligations of the Lenders to make LIBOR Rate Loans, and the right of the Borrower to convert any Loan to a LIBOR Rate Loan or continue any Loan as a LIBOR Rate Loan shall be suspended and thereafter the Borrower may select only Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the LIBOR Rate component of the Base Rate), (ii) if any of the Lenders may not lawfully continue to maintain a LIBOR Rate Loan to the end of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto, the applicable Loan shall immediately be converted to a Base Rate Loan (other than a Swingline Loan) (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the LIBOR Rate component of the Base Rate) for the remainder of such Interest Period and (iii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon LIBOR, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the LIBOR Rate

 

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component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the LIBOR Rate.

(c)        Exchange Indemnification and Increased Costs. The Borrower shall, upon demand from Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, or any L/C Participant, pay to Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, or such L/C Participant, the amount of (i) any loss or cost or increased cost incurred by Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, or such L/C Participant, (ii) any reduction in any amount payable to or in the effective return on the capital to Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, or such L/C Participant, (iii) any interest or any other return foregone by Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, or such L/C Participant as a result of the introduction of, change over to or operation of the euro and (iv) any currency exchange loss, in each case that Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, or such L/C Participant sustains as a result of the Borrower’s or any L/C Participant’s repayment in Dollars of any Alternative Currency Letter of Credit. A certificate of Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, or such L/C Participant setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for determining such additional amount or amounts necessary to compensate Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, or such L/C Participant shall be conclusively presumed to be correct save for manifest error.

(d)        Alternative Rate of Interest. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Borrower or Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Lenders, a copy to the Borrower) that the Borrower or Required Lenders (as applicable) have determined, that:

(i)        adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR 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

(ii)        the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which LIBOR or the LIBOR Screen Rate shall no longer be made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans; provided, that, at the time of such statement, there is no successor administrator that is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that will continue to provide LIBOR after such specific date (such specific date, the “Scheduled Unavailability Date”); or

(iii)        syndicated loans currently being executed, or that include language similar to that contained in this Section 4.8, are being executed or amended (as applicable) to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace LIBOR,

then, reasonably promptly after such determination by the Administrative Agent or receipt by the Administrative Agent of such notice, as applicable, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement solely for the purpose of replacing LIBOR in accordance with this Section 4.8 with (x) one or more SOFR-Based Rates or (y) another alternate benchmark rate giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar U.S. dollar denominated syndicated credit facilities for such alternative benchmarks and, in each case, including any mathematical or other adjustments to such benchmark giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar Dollar denominated syndicated credit facilities for such benchmarks, which adjustment or method for calculating such adjustment shall be

 

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published on an information service as selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion and may be periodically updated (the “Adjustment;” and any such proposed rate, a “Replacement Rate”), and any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrower unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders (A) in the case of an amendment to replace LIBOR with a rate described in clause (x), object to the Adjustment; or (B) in the case of an amendment to replace LIBOR with a rate described in clause (y), object to such amendment; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, in the case of clause (A), the Required Lenders shall not be entitled to object to any SOFR-Based Rate contained in any such amendment. Such Replacement Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided, that, to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such Replacement Rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.

If no Replacement Rate has been determined and the circumstances under clause (i) above exist or the Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred (as applicable), the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain LIBOR Rate Loans shall be suspended, (to the extent of the affected LIBOR Rate Loans or Interest Periods), and (y) the LIBOR Rate component shall no longer be utilized in determining the Base Rate. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Rate Loans (to the extent of the affected LIBOR Rate Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a borrowing of Base Rate Loans that are Revolving Credit Loans (subject to the foregoing clause (y)) in the amount specified therein.

Notwithstanding anything else herein, any definition of Replacement Rate shall provide that in no event shall such Replacement Rate be less than zero for purposes of this Agreement.

In connection with the implementation of a Replacement Rate, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Replacement Rate Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Replacement Rate Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement; provided, that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such Replacement Rate Conforming Changes to the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.

SECTION 4.9    Indemnity. The Borrower hereby indemnifies each of the Lenders against any loss or expense (including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain a LIBOR Rate Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained, but excluding loss of anticipated profits) which may arise or be attributable to each Lender’s obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits or other funds acquired to effect, fund or maintain any Loan (a) as a consequence of any failure by the Borrower to make any payment when due of any amount due hereunder in connection with a LIBOR Rate Loan, (b) due to any failure of the Borrower to borrow or continue a LIBOR Rate Loan or convert to a LIBOR Rate Loan on a date specified therefor in a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation or (c) due to any payment, prepayment or conversion of any LIBOR Rate Loan on a date other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor. The amount of such loss or expense shall be determined, in the applicable Lender’s sole discretion, based upon the assumption that such Lender funded its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the LIBOR Rate Loans in the London interbank market and using any reasonable attribution or averaging methods which such Lender

 

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deems appropriate and practical. A certificate of such Lender setting forth the basis for determining such amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender shall be forwarded to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent and shall be conclusively presumed to be correct save for manifest error.

SECTION 4.10  Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Rate Loans.

(a)        Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:

(i)        impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or advances, loans or other credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement described in clause (e) of this Section 4.10) or any Issuing Lender;

(ii)        subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income 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)        impose on any Lender or any Issuing Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or LIBOR Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender, the applicable Issuing Lender or such other Recipient of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender, such Issuing Lender or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, such Issuing Lender or such other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon written request of such Lender, such Issuing Lender or other Recipient, the Borrower shall promptly pay to any such Lender, such Issuing Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, such Issuing Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b)        Capital Requirements. If any Lender or any Issuing Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or such Issuing Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Issuing Lender or such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time upon written request of such Lender or such Issuing Lender the Borrower shall promptly pay to such Lender or such Issuing Lender, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Lender or such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

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(c)        Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender, or an Issuing Lender or such other Recipient setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such Issuing Lender, such other Recipient or any of their respective holding companies, as the case may be, as specified in Section 4.10(a) or 4.10(b) and delivered to the Borrower, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or such Issuing Lender or such other Recipient, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

(d)        Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Issuing Lender or such other Recipient to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s or such other Recipient’s right to demand such compensation; provided, that, the Borrower shall not be required to compensate any Lender or an Issuing Lender or any other Recipient pursuant to this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine (9) months prior to the date that such Lender or such Issuing Lender or such other Recipient, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions, and of such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s or such other Recipient’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

(e)        Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans. The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as “Eurocurrency liabilities”), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each LIBOR Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided, that, the Borrower shall have received at least ten (10) days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice ten (10) days prior to the relevant date on which any such additional interest is due, such additional interest shall be due and payable ten (10) days from receipt of such notice.

SECTION 4.11  Taxes.

(a)        Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section 4.11, the term “Lender” includes any Issuing Lender and the term “Applicable Law” includes FATCA.

(b)        Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by Applicable Law. If any Applicable Law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Credit Party shall be increased as necessary so that, after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section), the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

 

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(c)        Payment of Other Taxes by the Credit Parties. The Credit Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

(d)        Indemnification by the Credit Parties. The Credit Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Recipient (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Recipient, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(e)        Indemnification by the Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Credit Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Credit Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 11.9(d) 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 setoff 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 clause (e). The agreements in clause (e) shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent.

(f)        Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Credit Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 4.11, such Credit Party 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.

(g)        Status of Lenders.

(i)        Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the

 

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contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 4.11(g)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) 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.

(ii)        Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

(A)        any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from United States federal backup withholding tax;

(B)        any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

(1)        in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, United States federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, United States federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

(2)        executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;

(3)        in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable; or

(4)        to the extent a 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 (as applicable), a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 or Exhibit H-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from

 

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each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided, that, if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

(C)        any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by Applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by Applicable Law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

(D)        if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to United States federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by Applicable Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA 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 (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

(h)        Treatment of Certain Refunds and Credits. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund or credit of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 4.11 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 4.11), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund or credit (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund or credit), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund or credit). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this clause (h) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund or credit to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this clause (h), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this clause (h) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less

 

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favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund or credit 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 clause (h) shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person. For purposes of this clause (h), “credit” is intended to include only credits against future Taxes that are in lieu of cash refunds. “Credit” is not intended to include foreign tax credits or similar income tax credits.

(i)        Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 4.11 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 Revolving Credit Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.

SECTION 4.12  Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

(a)        Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 4.10, or requires any Credit Party to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 4.11, then such Lender shall, at the request of the Borrower, use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.11, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b)        Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 4.10, or if any Credit Party is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 4.11, and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different Lending Office in accordance with Section 4.12(a), or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.9), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.11) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided, that:

(i)        the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 11.9;

(ii)        such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and funded participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 4.9) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

 

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(iii)        in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 4.10 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 4.11, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

(iv)        such assignment does not conflict with Applicable Law; and

(v)        in the case of any assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent.

A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

(c)        Selection of Lending Office. Subject to Section 4.12(a), each Lender may make any Loan to the Borrower through any Lending Office; provided, that, the exercise of this option shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower to repay the Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or otherwise alter the rights of the parties hereto.

SECTION 4.13  Incremental Loans.

(a)        At any time following the Closing Date, the Borrower may by written notice to the Administrative Agent elect to request the establishment of:

(i)        one or more incremental term loan commitments (any such incremental term loan commitment, an “Incremental Term Loan Commitment”) to make one or more additional term loans, including a borrowing of an additional term loan the principal amount of which will be added to the outstanding principal amount of any then-existing tranche of term loans, if any (any such additional term loan, an “Incremental Term Loan”); or

(ii)        one or more increases in the Revolving Credit Commitments (any such increase, an “Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment” and, together with the Incremental Term Loan Commitments, the “Incremental Loan Commitments”) to make revolving credit loans under the Revolving Credit Facility (any such loan, an “Incremental Revolving Credit Loan” and, together with the Incremental Term Loans, the “Incremental Loans”); provided, that: (1) the total aggregate initial principal amount (as of the date of incurrence thereof) of such requested Incremental Loan Commitments shall not exceed the Incremental Facilities Limit and (2) the total aggregate amount for each Incremental Loan Commitment (and the Incremental Loans made thereunder) shall not be less than a minimum principal amount of $25,000,000 or, if less, the remaining amount permitted pursuant to the foregoing clause (1). Each such notice shall specify the date (each, an “Increased Amount Date”) on which the Borrower proposes that any Incremental Loan Commitment shall be effective, which shall be a date not less than ten (10) Business Days after the date on which such notice is delivered to the Administrative Agent (or such earlier date as may be approved by the Administrative Agent). The Borrower may invite any Lender, any Affiliate of any Lender and/or any Approved Fund, and/or any other Person reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, to provide an Incremental Loan Commitment (any such Person, an “Incremental Lender”). Any proposed Incremental Lender offered or approached to provide all or a portion of any Incremental Loan Commitment may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide such Incremental Loan

 

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Commitment or any portion thereof. Any Incremental Loan Commitment shall become effective as of such Increased Amount Date; provided, that, subject to Section 1.13, each of the following conditions has been satisfied or waived as of such Increased Amount Date:

(A)        no Default or Event of Default shall exist on such Increased Amount Date immediately prior to or after giving effect to (1) any Incremental Loan Commitment, (2) the making of any Incremental Loans pursuant thereto and (3) any Permitted Acquisition consummated in connection therewith;

(B)        the Administrative Agent shall have received from the Borrower an Officer’s Compliance Certificate demonstrating, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that the Borrower is in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.11 based on the financial statements most recently delivered pursuant to Section 7.1(a) or 7.1(b), as applicable, both before and after giving effect (on a Pro Forma Basis) to (x) any Incremental Loan Commitment, (y) the making of any Incremental Loans pursuant thereto (with any Incremental Loan Commitment and the Revolving Credit Commitment being deemed to be fully funded) and (z) any Permitted Acquisition, refinancing of Indebtedness or other event giving rise to a pro forma adjustment consummated in connection therewith;

(C)        the proceeds of any Incremental Loans shall be used for general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, Permitted Acquisitions and permitted dividends, distributions, redemptions and repurchases of Equity Interests);

(D)        each Incremental Loan Commitment (and the Incremental Loans made thereunder) shall constitute Obligations of the Borrower and shall be secured and guaranteed with the other Extensions of Credit on a pari passu basis;

(E)        (1)         in the case of each Incremental Term Loan (the terms of which shall be set forth in the relevant Lender Joinder Agreement):

(x)        such Incremental Term Loan will mature and amortize in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, the Incremental Lenders making such Incremental Term Loan and the Borrower, but will not in any event have a maturity date earlier than the Maturity Date;

(y)        the Applicable Margin and pricing grid, if applicable, for such Incremental Term Loan shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, the applicable Incremental Lenders and the Borrower on the applicable Increased Amount Date; and

(z)        except as provided above, all other terms and conditions applicable to any Incremental Term Loan shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower;

(2)        in the case of each Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment and the related Incremental Revolving Credit Loans (the

 

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terms of which shall be set forth in the relevant Lender Joinder Agreement):

(w)        such Incremental Revolving Credit Loans shall mature on the Maturity Date, shall bear interest and be entitled to fees, in each case at the rate applicable to the Revolving Credit Loans, and shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as the Revolving Credit Loans;

(x)        the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages of Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations will be reallocated by the Administrative Agent on the applicable Increased Amount Date among the Revolving Credit Lenders (including the Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments) in accordance with their revised Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages (and the Revolving Credit Lenders (including the Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments) agree to make all payments and adjustments necessary to effect such reallocation and the Borrower shall pay any and all costs required pursuant to Section 4.9 in connection with such reallocation as if such reallocation were a repayment);

(y)        except as provided above, all of the other terms and conditions applicable to such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments shall, except to the extent otherwise provided in this Section 4.13, be identical to the terms and conditions applicable to the Revolving Credit Facility; and

(z)        any Incremental Lender with an Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment shall be entitled to the same voting rights as the existing Revolving Credit Lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility and any Extensions of Credit made in connection with each Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment shall receive proceeds of prepayments on the same basis as the other Revolving Credit Loans made hereunder;

(F)        such Incremental Loan Commitments shall be effected pursuant to one or more Lender Joinder Agreements executed and delivered by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the applicable Incremental Lenders (which Lender Joinder Agreement may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 4.13 and make any related adjustments required (in the good faith judgment of the Administrative Agent)); and

(G)        the Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered any customary legal opinions or other documents (including, without limitation, a resolution duly adopted by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of each Credit Party authorizing such Incremental Loan and/or Incremental Loan Commitment),

 

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as may be reasonably requested by Administrative Agent in connection with any such transaction.

(b)        The Incremental Lenders shall be included in any determination of the Required Lenders or Required Revolving Credit Lenders, as applicable, and, unless otherwise agreed, the Incremental Lenders will not constitute a separate voting class for any purposes under this Agreement.

(c)        (i)        On any Increased Amount Date on which any Incremental Term Loan Commitment becomes effective, subject to the foregoing terms and conditions, each Incremental Lender with an Incremental Term Loan Commitment shall make, or be obligated to make, an Incremental Term Loan to the Borrower in an amount equal to its Incremental Term Loan Commitment and shall become a Lender hereunder with respect to such Incremental Term Loan Commitment and the Incremental Term Loan made pursuant thereto.

(ii)        On any Increased Amount Date on which any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment becomes effective, subject to the foregoing terms and conditions, each Incremental Lender with an Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment shall become a Lender hereunder with respect to such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment.

SECTION 4.14  Cash Collateral. At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, within one Business Day following the written request of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) or the Swingline Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the Fronting Exposure of such Issuing Lender and/or the Swingline Lender, as applicable, with respect to such Defaulting Lender (determined after giving effect to Section 4.15(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by such Defaulting Lender) in an amount in Dollars not less than the Minimum Collateral Amount.

(a)        Grant of Security Interest. The Borrower, and to the extent provided by any Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender, hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of each Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender, and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such Cash Collateral as security for the Defaulting Lender’s obligation to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans, to be applied pursuant to subsection (b) below. 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, each Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender as herein provided (other than Liens permitted under clause (b) of the definition of Permitted Encumbrances), or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the Minimum Collateral Amount, the Borrower 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).

(b)        Application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, Cash Collateral provided under this Section 4.14 or Section 4.15 in respect of Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans shall be applied to the satisfaction of the Defaulting Lender’s obligation to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans (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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(c)        Termination of Requirement. Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce the Fronting Exposure of any Issuing Lender and/or the Swingline Lender, as applicable, shall no longer be required to be held as Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 4.14 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, the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided, that, subject to Section 4.15, the Person providing Cash Collateral, the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender may agree that Cash Collateral shall be held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations; provided, further, that, to the extent that such Cash Collateral was provided by the Borrower, such Cash Collateral shall remain subject to the security interest granted pursuant to the Loan Documents.

SECTION 4.15  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 and Section 11.2.

(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 IX or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 11.4 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 the Issuing Lenders or the Swingline Lender hereunder; third, to Cash Collateralize the Fronting Exposure of the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 4.14; fourth, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan or funded participation 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 Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (A) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans and funded participations under this Agreement and (B) Cash Collateralize the Issuing Lenders’ future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 4.14; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders or the Swingline Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, any Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender 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 or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against 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, that, if (1) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or funded participations in Letters of Credit

 

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or Swingline Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (2) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 5.2 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and funded participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or funded participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans 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 Revolving Credit Commitments without giving effect to Section 4.15(a)(iv). 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 4.15(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 Commitment Fee for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).

(B)        Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive letter of credit commissions pursuant to Section 3.3 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 4.14.

(C)        With respect to any Commitment Fee or letter of credit commission not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (A) or (B) above, the Borrower shall (1) 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, (2) pay to each applicable Issuing Lender and Swingline Lender, as applicable, the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such Issuing Lender’s or Swingline Lender’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (3) 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 Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit 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 Credit Commitment. Subject to Section 11.22, 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.

 

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(v)        Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swingline Loans. If the reallocation described in clause (iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under law, (x) first, repay Swingline Loans in an amount equal to the Swingline Lender’s Fronting Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize the Issuing Lenders’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 4.14.

(b)        Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender 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), such 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 Revolving Credit Commitments (without giving effect to Section 4.15(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 Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that, except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Non-Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

ARTICLE V

CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING

SECTION 5.1    Conditions to Closing and Initial Extensions of Credit. The obligation of the Lenders to close this Agreement and to make the initial Loans or of the Issuing Lenders to issue, or of the Lenders to participate in, the initial Letters of Credit, if any, is subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

(a)        Executed Loan Documents. This Agreement, a Revolving Credit Note in favor of each Revolving Credit Lender requesting a Revolving Credit Note, a Swingline Note in favor of the Swingline Lender (if requested thereby), the Guaranty Agreement, the Security Agreement, together with any other applicable Loan Documents, shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent by the parties thereto, shall be in full force and effect and no Default or Event of Default shall exist hereunder or thereunder.

(b)        Closing Certificates; Etc. The Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(i)        Officer’s Certificate. A certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to the effect that (A) each of the conditions set forth in Sections 5.1(d) and 5.2(a) and (b) have been satisfied as of the Closing Date and (B) since April 30, 2019, no event has occurred or condition arisen, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ii)        Certificate of Secretary of each Credit Party. A certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Credit Party certifying as to the incumbency and genuineness of the signature of each officer of such Credit Party executing Loan Documents to which it is a

 

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party and certifying that attached thereto is a true, correct and complete copy of (A) the articles or certificate of incorporation or formation (or equivalent), as applicable, of such Credit Party and all amendments thereto, certified as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority in its jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation (or equivalent), as applicable, (B) the bylaws or other governing document of such Credit Party as in effect on the Closing Date, (C) resolutions duly adopted by the board of directors (or other governing body) of such Credit Party authorizing and approving the transactions contemplated hereunder and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (D) each certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(b)(iii).

(iii)        Certificates of Good Standing. Certificates as of a recent date of the good standing of each Credit Party under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation (or equivalent), as applicable, and, to the extent available, a certificate of the relevant taxing authorities of such jurisdiction certifying that such Credit Party has filed all required tax returns and owes no delinquent taxes.

(iv)        Opinions of Counsel. Customary opinions of counsel to the Credit Parties (including, without limitation, opinions of special counsel and local counsel as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent) addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the Credit Parties, the Loan Documents and such other matters as the Administrative Agent shall request (which such opinions shall (A) include a non-contravention opinion with respect to the Senior Unsecured Note Documents and (B) expressly permit reliance by permitted successors and assigns of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders).

(c)        Personal Property Collateral.

(i)        Filings and Recordings. Subject to the express limitations set forth in the Security Documents, the Administrative Agent shall have received all filings and recordations that are necessary to perfect the security interests of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, in the Collateral and the Administrative Agent shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that upon such filings and recordations such security interests constitute valid and perfected first priority Liens thereon (subject to Permitted Encumbrances).

(ii)        Pledged Collateral. Subject to Section 7.16 and the express limitations set forth in the Security Documents, the Administrative Agent shall have received (A) original stock certificates or other certificates evidencing the certificated Equity Interests pledged pursuant to the Security Documents, together with an undated stock power for each such certificate duly executed in blank by the registered owner thereof and (B) each original promissory note pledged pursuant to the Security Documents together with an undated allonge for each such promissory note duly executed in blank by the holder thereof.

(iii)        Lien Search. The Administrative Agent shall have received the results of a Lien search (including a search as to filings or recordations under the Uniform Commercial Code, federal and local judgments, federal and local tax liens and intellectual property matters), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory thereto, made against the Credit Parties under the Uniform Commercial Code (or applicable judicial docket) as in effect in each jurisdiction in which filings or recordations under the Uniform Commercial Code should be made to evidence or perfect security interests in all assets of such Credit

 

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Party, indicating among other things that the assets of each such Credit Party are free and clear of any Lien (except for Permitted Encumbrances).

(iv)        Property and Liability Insurance. The Administrative Agent shall have received, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, evidence of property, business interruption and liability insurance covering each Credit Party, evidence of payment of all insurance premiums for the current policy year of each policy, and if requested by the Administrative Agent, copies of such insurance policies.

(v)         Intellectual Property. The Administrative Agent shall have received security agreements duly executed by the applicable Credit Parties for all federally registered copyrights, copyright applications, patents, patent applications, trademarks and trademark applications included in the Collateral, in each case in proper form for filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or U.S. Copyright Office, as applicable.

(vi)        Other Collateral Documentation. The Administrative Agent shall have received any documents required by the terms of the Security Documents to evidence its security interest in the Collateral (including, without limitation, any deposit account and securities account control agreements).

(d)         Consents; Defaults.

(i)         Governmental and Third Party Approvals. The Credit Parties shall have received all material governmental, shareholder and third party consents and approvals necessary (or any other material consents as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and all applicable waiting periods shall have expired without any action being taken by any Person that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on any of the Credit Parties or restrain, prevent or impose any material adverse conditions on the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or that could seek or threaten any of the foregoing.

(ii)        No Injunction, Etc. No action, proceeding or investigation shall have been instituted, threatened or proposed before any Governmental Authority to enjoin, restrain, or prohibit, or to obtain substantial damages in respect of, or which is related to or arises out of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or which, in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion, would make it inadvisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(e)         Financial Matters.

(i)         Financial Projections. The Administrative Agent shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, projections, prepared by management of the Borrower, including projections of balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

(ii)        Financial Condition/Solvency Certificate. The Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the chief financial officer of the

 

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Borrower, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, certifying that (A) after giving effect to the Transactions, the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries, on a Consolidated basis, are Solvent, and (B) attached thereto are calculations evidencing compliance on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to the Transactions with each covenant contained in Section 8.11.

(iii)        Payment at Closing. The Borrower shall have paid or made arrangements to pay contemporaneously with closing (A) to the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders the fees set forth or referenced in Section 4.3 and any other accrued and unpaid fees or commissions due hereunder, (B) all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent accrued and unpaid prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided, that, such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent) and (C) to any other Person such amount as may be due thereto in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, all Other Taxes, fees and other charges in connection with the execution, delivery, recording, filing and registration of any of the Loan Documents.

(f)        Notice of Account Designation. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Account Designation specifying the account or accounts to which the proceeds of any Loans made on or after the Closing Date are to be disbursed.

(g)        Existing Indebtedness. All existing Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including Indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement, but other than Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.1) shall have been repaid in full on the Closing Date, or shall be refinanced in full, substantially simultaneously with the consummation of the Transactions on the Closing Date, and any and all commitments with regard thereto and liens and guarantees provided in connection therewith have been or will be substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of this Agreement terminated and released.

(h)        Senior Unsecured Notes. The Senior Unsecured Notes shall have been, or substantially concurrently with the consummation of the other Transactions on the Closing Date, shall be, issued.

(i)        PATRIOT Act, etc.

(i)         The Borrower and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors shall have provided to the Administrative Agent and each Lender the documentation and other information requested by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in order to comply with requirements of any Anti-Money Laundering Laws, including, without limitation, the PATRIOT Act and any applicable “know your customer” rules and regulations.

(ii)        If the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, it shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and directly to any Lender requesting the same, a Beneficial Ownership Certification as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

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(j)        Other Documents. All opinions, certificates and other instruments and all proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall have received copies of all other documents, certificates and instruments reasonably requested thereby, as are customary for transactions of the type contemplated by this Agreement.

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 10.3(c), for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 5.1, the Administrative Agent and each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

SECTION 5.2   Conditions to All Extensions of Credit. The obligations of the Lenders to make or participate in any Extensions of Credit (including the initial Extension of Credit), and/or any Issuing Lender to issue or extend any Letter of Credit are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent on the relevant borrowing, issuance or extension date:

(a)        Continuation of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects, except for any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, which such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects, on and as of such borrowing, issuance or extension date with the same effect as if made on and as of such date (except for any such representation and warranty that by its terms is made only as of an earlier date, which representation and warranty shall remain true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, except for any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, which such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects as of such earlier date), and except that for purposes of this Section 5.2(a), the representations and warranties contained in the first sentence of Section 6.14 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.1(a) or 7.1(b), as applicable.

(b)        No Existing Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (i) on the borrowing date with respect to such Loan or after giving effect to the Loans to be made on such date or (ii) on the issuance or extension date with respect to such Letter of Credit or after giving effect to the issuance or extension of such Letter of Credit on such date.

(c)        Notices. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing or Letter of Credit Application, as applicable, from the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.3(a) or Section 3.2, as applicable.

(d)        New Swingline Loans/Letters of Credit. So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, (i) the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loans unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect to such Swingline Loan and (ii) no Issuing Lender 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.

(e)        Alternative Currency Letters of Credit. In the case of an Alternative Currency Letter of Credit, there shall not have occurred any change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls which in the reasonable opinion of Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, or the Administrative

 

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Agent would make it impracticable for such Alternative Currency Letter of Credit to be denominated in the relevant Alternative Currency.

ARTICLE VI

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE CREDIT PARTIES

To induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make Extensions of Credit and to induce the Issuing Lenders to issue or extend Letters of Credit, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

SECTION 6.1  Organization and Legal Status. The Borrower is a corporation, duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware, and is qualified or licensed to do business (and is in good standing as a foreign corporation, if applicable) in all jurisdictions in which such qualification or licensing is required or in which the failure to so qualify or to be so licensed could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Each Material Subsidiary is a corporation, limited liability company or other business organization, duly organized and existing, or duly formed and existing (as applicable), and (to the extent applicable in the corresponding jurisdiction of organization) in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization or formation, and is qualified or licensed to do business (and is in good standing as a foreign organization, if applicable) in all jurisdictions in which such qualification or licensing is required or in which the failure to so qualify or to be so licensed could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No Credit Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is an EEA Financial Institution.

SECTION 6.2  Capital Structure. As of the Closing Date, each Credit Party and each Subsidiary of each Credit Party and the jurisdictions in which each Credit Party and each direct Subsidiary of a Credit Party are organized are listed on Schedule 6.2. As of the Closing Date, the capitalization of each Credit Party (other than the Borrower) and each direct Subsidiary of a Credit Party consists of the number of shares, authorized, issued and outstanding, of such classes and series, described on Schedule 6.2. All outstanding shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and (to the extent applicable) nonassessable and not subject to any preemptive or similar rights, except as described in Schedule 6.2. Schedule 6.2 identifies each Material Subsidiary as of the Closing Date.

SECTION 6.3  Organizational Power or Authority; Enforceability. Each Credit Party has the right and power to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party in accordance with their respective terms. This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents have been duly authorized, and upon their execution and delivery in accordance with the provisions hereof will constitute legal, valid and binding agreements and obligations of the Borrower or the Credit Party that executes the same, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws and equitable principles generally affecting creditors’ rights.

SECTION 6.4  No Conflict with Laws or Material Agreements; Compliance with Laws. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower or any Material Non-TP Subsidiary of the Loan Documents to which each such Person is a party, in accordance with their respective terms, the Extensions of Credit hereunder and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby do not and will not, by the passage of time, the giving of notice or otherwise, (a) require any Governmental Approval or violate any Applicable Law relating to the Borrower or any Material Non-TP Subsidiary where the failure to obtain such Governmental Approval or such violation could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (b) contravene any provision of the articles of incorporation or by-laws (or equivalent) of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, (c) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a default under any Material Contract,

 

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obligation, indenture or other instrument to which the Borrower or any such Subsidiary is a party or by which the Borrower or such Subsidiary may be bound other than such violations, breaches or defaults which are not reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Borrower nor any such Subsidiary is in violation of, or default under, any contract, obligation, indenture or other instrument described in this clause (c) in any respect that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (d) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Person other than Permitted Encumbrances or (e) require any consent or authorization of, filing with, or other act in respect of, an arbitrator or Governmental Authority and no consent of any other Person is required in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement other than (i) consents, authorizations, filings or other acts or consents for which the failure to obtain or make could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) filings to perfect the Liens created by the Security Documents. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with each Governmental Approval applicable to it and in compliance with all other Applicable Laws relating to it or any of its respective properties, except where the failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 6.5  Payment of Taxes. Each Credit Party and each Material Subsidiary has duly filed or caused to be filed all federal income and other material tax returns required by Applicable Law to be filed by it, and has paid, or made adequate provision for the payment of, all material federal, state and other taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it and its property, income, profits and assets which are due and payable by it (other than any amount the validity of which is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided for on the books of the relevant Credit Party). As of the Closing Date, except as set forth on Schedule 6.5, the Borrower has no knowledge of any material pending assessments or adjustments of its or any of its Subsidiaries’ income tax payable with respect to any year. No Governmental Authority has asserted any Lien or other claim against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary with respect to a material amount of unpaid taxes which has not been discharged or resolved (other than (a) any amount the validity of which is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided for on the books of the relevant Credit Party and (b) Permitted Encumbrances).

SECTION 6.6  Governmental Approvals; Intellectual Property. The Borrower and each Material Subsidiary possess, and will hereafter possess, all Governmental Approvals required and rights to all trademarks, trade names, patents, and fictitious names, if any, necessary to enable them to conduct the business in which they are now engaged in compliance with Applicable Law, except where the failure to possess any such Governmental Approvals or rights could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No event has occurred which permits, or after notice or lapse of time or both would permit, the revocation or termination of any such Governmental Approvals or rights, and no Credit Party nor any Subsidiary is liable to any Person for infringement under Applicable Law with respect to the rights referred to in the preceding sentence as a result of its business operations.

SECTION 6.7  Environmental Regulations and Liabilities. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.7 hereto, the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws. To the best knowledge of the Borrower, none of the operations of the Borrower or the Material Subsidiaries is the subject of any federal or state investigation evaluating whether any remedial action involving a material expenditure is needed to respond to a release of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment. To the best knowledge of the Borrower, none of the Borrower nor any of the Material Subsidiaries has any material contingent liability in connection with any release of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment.

 

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SECTION 6.8    ERISA.

(a)        Each Plan, Credit Party and ERISA Affiliate is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)        To the best knowledge of the Borrower, none of the Credit Parties nor any of the ERISA Affiliates has violated any provision of any defined employee pension benefit plan (as defined in ERISA) maintained or contributed to by the Borrower or any of the ERISA Affiliates (each, a “Plan”) where such violation could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c)        No Termination Event has occurred and is continuing with respect to any Plan.

(d)        The Credit Parties and the ERISA Affiliates have met their minimum funding requirements under ERISA with respect to each Plan, except where the failure to meet such minimum funding requirements could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(e)        Each Plan will be able to fulfill its benefit obligations as they come due in accordance with the Plan documents and under GAAP, except where the failure to fulfill such benefit obligations could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(f)        As of the Closing Date, the Borrower is not and will not be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to the Borrower’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Revolving Credit Commitments or this Agreement.

SECTION 6.9  Margin Stock. No Credit Party nor any Subsidiary is engaged principally or as one of its activities in the business of extending credit for the purpose of “purchasing” or “carrying” any “margin stock” (as each such term is defined or used, directly or indirectly, in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System). No part of the proceeds of any of the Loans or Letters of Credit will be used for purchasing or carrying margin stock or for any purpose which violates, or which would be inconsistent with, the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of such Board of Governors. Following the application of the proceeds of each Extension of Credit or drawing under each Letter of Credit, not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the value of the assets (either of the Borrower only or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis) subject to the provisions of Section 8.2 or Section 8.4(d) or subject to any restriction contained in any agreement or instrument between the Borrower and any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender relating to Indebtedness in excess of the amount set forth in Section 9.1(e) will be “margin stock”.

SECTION 6.10  Investment Company Act. No Credit Party nor any Subsidiary is an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” (as each such term is defined or used in the Investment Company Act) and no Credit Party nor any Subsidiary is, or after giving effect to any Extension of Credit or drawing under any Letter of Credit will be, subject to regulation under the Interstate Commerce Act, or any other Applicable Law which limits its ability to incur or consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

SECTION 6.11   Material Contracts. As of the Closing Date, each Material Contract is, and after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions will be, in full force and effect in accordance with

 

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the terms thereof. As of the Closing Date, no Credit Party nor any Subsidiary (nor, to its knowledge, any other party thereto) is in breach of or in default under any Material Contract in any material respect.

SECTION 6.12  Labor Matters. As of the Closing Date, no Credit Party nor any Subsidiary is party to any collective bargaining agreement, nor has any labor union been recognized as the representative of its employees. The Borrower knows of no pending, threatened or contemplated strikes, work stoppage or other collective labor disputes involving its employees or those of its Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 6.13 Burdensome Provisions. The Credit Parties and their respective Subsidiaries do not presently anticipate that future expenditures needed to meet the provisions of any statutes, orders, rules or regulations of a Governmental Authority will be so burdensome as to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 6.14 Financial Statements. The annual Consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries dated April 30, 2019 and all interim financial statements delivered to the Administrative Agent since said date, true copies of which have been delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date, (a) are complete and correct and present fairly in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods to which they relate, (b) disclose all liabilities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that are required to be reflected or reserved against under GAAP, whether liquidated or unliquidated, fixed or contingent as of the dates and for the periods to which they relate, and (c) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied subject (other than with respect to audited annual financial statements) to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes. Since April 30, 2019 no event has occurred or condition arisen, either individually or in the aggregate, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 6.15 Solvency. The Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries, on a Consolidated basis, are Solvent.

SECTION 6.16 Ownership of Properties. As of the Closing Date, the real property listed on Schedule 6.16 constitutes all of the real property that is owned, leased, subleased or used by any Credit Party in the United States. Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof has such title to the real property owned or leased by it, in each case as is necessary or desirable to the conduct of its business, and valid and legal title to all of its personal property and assets, except those which have been disposed of by the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries subsequent to the Closing Date which dispositions have been in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise expressly permitted hereunder.

SECTION 6.17 Litigation. Except for matters set forth on Schedule 6.17, there are no pending, or to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened, actions, claims, investigations, suits or proceedings by or before any Governmental Authority, arbitrator, court or administrative agency which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 6.18 Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions.

(a)         None of (i) the Borrower, any Subsidiary, any of their respective directors, officers, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, any of their respective employees or Affiliates, or (ii) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any agent or representative of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the Credit Facility, (A) is a Sanctioned Person or currently the subject or target of any Sanctions, (B) is controlled by or is acting on behalf of a Sanctioned Person, (C) has its assets located in a Sanctioned Country, (D) is under investigation for an alleged violation of, or received notice from or made a voluntary

 

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disclosure to any governmental entity regarding a possible violation of, Sanctions by a governmental authority that enforces Sanctions or any Anti-Corruption Laws or Anti-Money Laundering Laws, (E) directly or indirectly derives revenues from investments in, or transactions with, Sanctioned Persons, (F) within the last five (5) years, has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such Persons of any Anti-Corruption Laws, or (G) within the last five (5) years, has violated any Anti-Money Laundering Law. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and Affiliates with all Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Law and Sanctions. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and each of their respective directors, officers, and to the knowledge of Borrower, employees, agents and Affiliates, is in compliance with all Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and applicable Sanctions.

(b)        No proceeds of any Extension of Credit or Letter of Credit have been used, directly or indirectly, by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents (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 Anti-Corruption 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, including any payments (directly or indirectly) to a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Anti-Money Laundering Laws, Anti-Corruption Laws or any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

SECTION 6.19 No Default. None of the Borrower nor any of the Material Subsidiaries is in default (subject to any applicable notice and/or cure periods) on any obligation for borrowed money in excess of $2,500,000, any material purchase money obligation or any other material lease, commitment, contract, instrument or obligation and no event has occurred or is continuing which constitutes a Default or an Event of Default.

SECTION 6.20 Senior Indebtedness Status. The Obligations of each Credit Party and each Subsidiary under this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents rank and shall continue to rank at least senior in priority of payment to all Subordinated Indebtedness and (to the extent of the value of the Collateral) all senior unsecured Indebtedness of each such Person and is designated as “Senior Indebtedness” under all instruments and documents, now or in the future, relating to all Subordinated Indebtedness of such Person.

SECTION 6.21 Disclosure. The Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries have disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which any Credit Party and/or any Subsidiary are subject, and all other matters known to them, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No financial statement or other material written information (other than the Projections (as defined below) other forward-looking information and information of a general economic or industry specific nature) furnished by or on behalf of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), taken together as a whole, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that, with respect to projected financial information, pro forma financial information, estimated financial information and other projected or estimated information, (the “Projections”), the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the

 

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time (it being recognized by the Lenders that projections are not to be viewed as facts and that the actual results during the period or periods covered by such projections may vary from such projections).

SECTION 6.22  Insurance. The Borrower maintains property, business interruption and liability insurance covering the Credit Parties and has paid of the all insurance premiums for the current policy year of each policy.

SECTION 6.23  Collateral. All of the Collateral is owned by the grantor of the Lien or security interest therein in favor of the Administrative Agent free of any material title defects or any Liens, except for Permitted Encumbrances. The Liens and security interests granted to the Administrative Agent are, or in the case of after acquired property, will be, when properly perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement, valid first priority Liens and security interests in the Collateral (subject only to Permitted Encumbrances) to the extent that the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements is sufficient to perfect such Lien or security interest.

SECTION 6.24  Beneficial Ownership Certificate. As of the Closing Date, the information included in any Beneficial Ownership Certification, if applicable, is true and correct in all respects.

SECTION 6.25  Covered Entities. No Credit Party is a Covered Entity.

ARTICLE VII

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

The Borrower covenants that until all of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations not then due) have been paid and satisfied in full in cash, all Letters of Credit have been terminated or expired (or been Cash Collateralized) and the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment has terminated, the Borrower will:

SECTION 7.1  Financial Statements and Budgets. Deliver to the Administrative Agent, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly make such information available to the Lenders in accordance with its customary practice):

(a)        Annual Financial Statements. Not later than 90 days (or, if earlier, the date of any required public filing thereof), after the end of each Fiscal Year, audited annual Consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as of the end of such Fiscal Year, audited by a nationally recognized public accounting firm without qualification or exception, to include balance sheet and statements of income, cash flows and shareholders’ equity (including all footnotes to the foregoing, all in reasonable detail and setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures as of the end of, and for, the preceding Fiscal Year). Such financial statements shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied.

(b)        Quarterly Financial Statements. Not later than 45 days (or, if earlier, the date of any required public filing thereof), after the end of each fiscal quarter of a Fiscal Year (other than the fourth fiscal quarter of each Fiscal Year), Consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal quarter, prepared by the Borrower, to include balance sheet and statements of income and cash flows (all in reasonable detail and setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures as of the end of, and for the corresponding period in, the preceding Fiscal Year). Such financial statements shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

 

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SECTION 7.2  Certificates; Other Reports. Deliver to the Administrative Agent, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly make such information available to the Lenders in accordance with its customary practice):

(a)         Officer’s Compliance Certificate. Contemporaneously with each delivery of annual and quarterly financial statements of the Borrower required hereby, an Officer’s Compliance Certificate of the Borrower that said financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied (subject in the case of unaudited financial statements to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes), that there exists no Default or Event of Default and containing computations as to compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.11, a schedule identifying any changes in the list of Material Subsidiaries from that set forth in Schedule 6.2 or, if applicable, the most recent list delivered pursuant to this Section 7.2(a) and a report containing management discussion and analysis.

(b)         Management Letters. Promptly after written request by the Administrative Agent, copies of any other (i.e., to the extent not included in Section 7.1 or clause (a) above, but only to the extent otherwise prepared) detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the Borrower by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Borrower or any audit of the Borrower.

(c)         SEC Filings. Promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or with any national securities exchange, and in any case, not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto.

(d)         Reports to Government Authorities. Promptly after written request by the Administrative Agent, copies of any report or other document that was filed by the Borrower with any Governmental Authority.

(e)         Budget. As soon as available and in any event not later than 90 days after the commencement of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, the budget and projected financial statements of the Borrower for such Fiscal Year and each of the two (2) Fiscal Years following such Fiscal Year (detailed on a quarterly basis), including, in each case, projected Consolidated balance sheets, statements of income and statements of cash flow of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries all in reasonable detail and with reasonable assumptions.

(f)         KYC Information. Promptly following any request therefor, information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the PATRIOT Act, and any change in its status as exempt from the reporting requirements of the Beneficial Ownership Regulation and, if applicable, deliver to the Administrative Agent or directly to the applicable Lender any additional information (including a Beneficial Ownership Certification) necessary in order to comply with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

(g)         Material Reports and Information to Senior Unsecured Notes. Concurrently with the delivery to the holders of the Indebtedness evidenced by the Senior Unsecured Notes, a copy of each material notice, material report or other material information provided to such holders of such Indebtedness (or any trustee on their behalf).

 

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(h)        Other Information. From time to time such other information as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in writing.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.1(a) or (b) or Section 7.2(c) or (d) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the following website address www.kornferry.com, or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which the Administrative Agent has access; provided, that, in any such instance (whether pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above), the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (by facsimile or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide copies of the Officer’s Compliance Certificates required by Section 7.2(a) directly to the Administrative Agent.

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arrangers will make available to the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on the Platform and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each, a “Public Lender”). The Borrower hereby agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of the Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (w) all such Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, means that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Issuing Lenders and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, that, to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.10); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor.”

SECTION 7.3  Notice of Litigation and Other Matters. Promptly (but, as to clauses (b) through (e), in no event later than five (5) days after the occurrence of each such event or matter) notify the Administrative Agent in reasonable detail in writing of (which shall promptly make such information available to the Lenders in accordance with its customary practice):

(a)        any litigation pending or threatened in writing against the Borrower or any Subsidiary that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(b)        the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

(c)        any change in the name or the organizational structure of the Borrower or any other Credit Party;

(d)        the occurrence and nature of any Reportable Event or Prohibited Transaction, each as defined in ERISA, or any funding deficiency with respect to any Plan; and

 

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(e)        any termination or cancellation of any insurance policy which the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary is required to maintain pursuant to this Agreement or any Loan Document, or any uninsured or partially uninsured loss through liability or property damage, or through fire, theft or any other cause affecting the Borrower’s property in excess of an aggregate of $4,000,000.

Each notice pursuant to this Section 7.3 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 7.3(b) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

SECTION 7.4    Preservation of Corporate Existence, Rights and Privileges; Compliance with Laws and Regulations. Except as permitted by Section 8.4(a) and any Permitted Restructuring, preserve and maintain, and cause each Material Subsidiary to preserve and maintain, its separate organizational existence and all material licenses, permits, Governmental Approvals, rights, privileges and franchises necessary for the conduct of its business; and comply in all material respects with the provisions of all documents pursuant to which the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary is organized and/or which govern the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s continued existence and materially comply with the requirements of all Applicable Laws applicable to the Borrower, its Material Subsidiaries and/or their respective businesses.

SECTION 7.5    Maintenance of Property. Keep, and cause each Material Subsidiary to keep, all properties useful or necessary to the Borrower’s and its Material Subsidiaries’ businesses in good repair and condition in all material respects (subject to normal wear and tear), and from time to time make necessary repairs, renewals and replacements thereto so that such properties shall be fully and efficiently preserved and maintained.

SECTION 7.6    Insurance. Maintain and keep in force, and cause each Material Subsidiary to maintain and keep in force, for each business in which the Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries are engaged, insurance of the types and in amounts customarily carried in similar lines of business, including but not limited to hazard, business interruption, fire, extended coverage, public liability, flood, property damage and workers’ compensation, with all such insurance carried with companies and in amounts reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and deliver to the Administrative Agent from time to time at the Administrative Agent’s written request schedules setting forth all insurance then in effect, together with a lender’s loss payee or additional insured endorsement for all such insurance naming the Administrative Agent as a lender loss payee or additional insured (in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent). All policies of insurance shall provide for at least thirty (30) days prior written cancellation notice to the Administrative Agent (except as a result of non-payment of premium in which case only ten (10) days’ prior written notice shall be required).

SECTION 7.7    Accounting Methods and Financial Records. Maintain, and cause each Material Subsidiary to maintain, adequate books and records in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, and permit any representative of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, at any reasonable time, to inspect, audit and examine such books and records, to make copies of the same, and to inspect the properties of the Borrower or any such Material Subsidiary; provided, that, unless a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (a) such inspections, audits and examinations shall be during the Borrower’s or any such Material Subsidiary’s normal business hours, (b) the Administrative Agent shall have provided the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary with at least three (3) Business Days’ notice prior to any such inspection, audit or examination and (c) the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than two times during any calendar year at the Borrower’s expense.

 

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SECTION 7.8    Payment of Taxes and Other Obligations. Pay and discharge, and cause each Material Subsidiary to pay and discharge, prior to delinquency (a) any and all material Indebtedness or obligations or (b) assessments and taxes, both real or personal, including without limitation, federal and state income taxes and state and local property taxes and assessments, except (i) in each case, such as the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary may in good faith contest or as to which a bona fide dispute may arise, and for which the Borrower or the applicable Material Subsidiary has made provision, to the Administrative Agent’s reasonable satisfaction, for eventual payment thereof in the event the Borrower or any such Subsidiary is obligated to make such payment and (ii) in the case of clause (b), if the aggregate amount of such assessments and taxes to be paid is not material.

SECTION 7.9    Environmental Laws. In addition to and without limiting the generality of Section 7.4, (a) comply with, and ensure such compliance by all Material Subsidiaries, tenants and subtenants with all applicable Environmental Laws and obtain and comply with and maintain, and ensure that all Material Subsidiaries, tenants and subtenants, if any, obtain and comply with and maintain, any and all licenses, approvals, notifications, registrations or permits required by applicable Environmental Laws and (b) conduct and complete, and cause all Material Subsidiaries to conduct and complete, all investigations, studies, sampling and testing, and all remedial, removal and other actions required under Environmental Laws, and promptly comply, and cause all Material Subsidiaries to promptly comply, with all lawful orders and directives of any Governmental Authority regarding Environmental Laws, except, in each case of clauses (a) and (b), as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 7.10  Compliance with ERISA. In addition to and without limiting the generality of Section 7.4, (a) except where the failure to so comply could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) comply, and cause each Material Subsidiary to comply, with applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to all Plans, (ii) not take any action or fail to take action, or cause any Material Subsidiary to take any action or fail to take action, the result of which could reasonably be expected to result in a liability to the PBGC or to a Multiemployer Plan, (iii) not participate, or cause any Material Subsidiary to participate, in any prohibited transaction that could result in any civil penalty under ERISA or tax under the Code and (iv) operate, and cause any Material Subsidiary to operate, each Plan in such a manner that will not incur any tax liability under Section 4980B of the Code or any liability to any qualified beneficiary as defined in Section 4980B of the Code, (b) notify the Administrative Agent upon the occurrence of a Termination Event and (c) furnish, and cause each Material Subsidiary to furnish, to the Administrative Agent upon the Administrative Agent’s request such additional information about any Plan as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 7.11  Maintenance of Material Contracts. Maintain, and cause each Material Subsidiary to maintain, in full force and effect, each Material Contract, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 7.12  Additional Material Non-TP Subsidiaries.

(a)        Cause each entity that becomes a Material Non-TP Subsidiary after the Closing Date (whether by a Permitted Acquisition, statutory division, a written designation by the Borrower as described in the definition of “Material Subsidiary,” the failure to qualify as an Immaterial Subsidiary or otherwise) to (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent, within 30 days of becoming a Material Non-TP Subsidiary (or such later date as may be approved by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), (A) an appropriate joinder to each of the Guaranty Agreement and the Security Agreement and (B) such other agreements, documents and legal opinions as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, (ii) promptly take such actions to create and perfect Liens

 

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on such Material Non-TP Subsidiary’s assets to secure the Secured Obligations as the Administrative Agent shall request, except as set forth in the Security Agreement and subject in any case to Permitted Encumbrances and (iii) cause such Material Non-TP Subsidiary to deliver simultaneously therewith documentation with respect to such Material Non-TP Subsidiary similar to the documentation required under Section 5.1 with respect to the Borrower as requested by the Administrative Agent (including, if requested, opinions of counsel).

(b)        Upon the guarantee by any Subsidiary of the Senior Unsecured Notes, concurrently with the provision of such guarantee, (or such later date as may be approved by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), to the extent such Subsidiary is not a Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder, cause such Subsidiary to (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent, (A) an appropriate joinder to each of the Guaranty Agreement and the Security Agreement and (B) such other agreements, documents and legal opinions as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, (ii) promptly take such actions to create and perfect Liens on such Subsidiary’s assets to secure the Secured Obligations as the Administrative Agent shall request, except as set forth in the Security Agreement and subject in any case to Permitted Encumbrances and (iii) cause such Subsidiary to deliver simultaneously therewith documentation with respect to such Subsidiary similar to the documentation required under Section 5.1 with respect to the Borrower as requested by the Administrative Agent (including, if requested, opinions of counsel).

SECTION 7.13  Use of Proceeds.

(a)        Use the proceeds of the Revolving Extensions of Credit for working capital and general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, Permitted Acquisitions and permitted dividends, distributions, redemptions and repurchases of Equity Interests).

(b)        Use the proceeds of any Incremental Term Loan and any Incremental Revolving Credit Loans as permitted pursuant to Section 4.13, as applicable.

(c)        Not request any Extension of Credit or Letter of Credit, and not use, and ensure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents do not use, the proceeds of any Extension of Credit or Letter of Credit, directly or indirectly, (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 Anti-Corruption 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, or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

SECTION 7.14  Compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions and Beneficial Ownership. (a) Maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with all Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and applicable Sanctions, (b) conduct and cause each of its Subsidiaries to conduct, its respective businesses in compliance in all material respects with all Anti-Corruption Laws, with all Anti-Money Laundering Laws and with all applicable Sanctions, and (c) notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of any change in its status as exempt from the reporting requirements of the Beneficial Ownership Regulation and, if applicable, deliver to the Administrative Agent or directly to the applicable Lender any additional information (including a Beneficial Ownership Certification necessary in order to comply with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation).

 

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SECTION 7.15    Collateral; Further Assurances. As security for the Secured Obligations, from time to time take, and cause each Material Non-TP Subsidiary to take, such actions and execute and deliver, and cause each Material Non-TP Subsidiary to execute and deliver, such documents and instruments as the Administrative Agent shall require (other than Excluded Perfection Actions (as defined in the Security Agreement)) to ensure that the Administrative Agent shall have received currently effective Loan Documents (including Security Documents) pledging and granting security interests or other Liens reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent on substantially all of such Person’s tangible and intangible personal property and assets now owned or hereafter acquired, including all accounts, chattel paper, commercial tort claims, deposit accounts, licenses, contracts, documents, equipment, intellectual property and other general intangibles, instruments, inventory and other goods, securities accounts and other investment property and cash, and all products, profits and proceeds of the foregoing (each as defined in Article 9 of the UCC, where applicable), and including 100% of the Equity Interests of all present and future direct Subsidiaries (other than Tax Preferred Subsidiaries of the type described in clauses (a) and (c) of the definition of Tax Preferred Subsidiary) of any Credit Party and (ii) 65% of the voting Equity Interests and 100% of the non-voting Equity Interests of all present and future direct Subsidiaries that are Tax Preferred Subsidiaries of the type described in clauses (a) and (c) of the definition of Tax Preferred Subsidiary, but excluding all Excluded Assets, in each case subject to no prior Lien or other encumbrance or restriction on transfer except as expressly permitted hereunder or under such Security Documents. All of the foregoing shall be evidenced by and subject to the terms of such Security Documents, financing statements, and other documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably require, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent

SECTION 7.16    Post-Closing Obligations. The Borrower shall deliver (or cause to be delivered), (a) within thirty (30) days after the Closing Date (or such later date as agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), original stock certificates or other certificates evidencing the certificated Equity Interests pledged pursuant to the Security Documents of each of AchieveForum, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Miller Heiman Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation and TwentyEighty Strategy Execution, Inc., a Virginia corporation, and their Subsidiaries, in each case, together with an undated stock power for each such certificate duly executed in blank by the registered owner thereof, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and (b) within thirty (30) days after the Closing Date (or such later date as agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), the Administrative Agent shall have received, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, insurance endorsements naming the Administrative Agent as additional insured under all liability insurance policies and lenders loss payee under all property insurance policies and providing for at least thirty (30) days prior written cancellation notice to the Administrative Agent (except as a result of non-payment of premium in which case only ten (10) days’ prior written notice shall be required).

ARTICLE VIII

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

The Borrower further covenants that until all of the Obligations (other than contingent, indemnification obligations not then due) have been paid and satisfied in full in cash, all Letters of Credit have been terminated or expired (or been Cash Collateralized) and the Revolving Credit Commitments terminated, the Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to:

SECTION 8.1    Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness or liabilities resulting from borrowings, loans or advances, whether secured or unsecured, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, joint or several, other than:

 

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(a)        Permitted Indebtedness;

(b)        Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Cash Secured Credit Facilities in an aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed $35,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(c)        Indebtedness of the Borrower arising under the Senior Unsecured Notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $400,000,000 and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions of such Indebtedness; provided, that: (i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing, (ii) the direct or contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, as a result of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension, (iii) the final maturity date and Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension shall not be prior to or shorter than that applicable to such Indebtedness prior to such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension, and (iv) any such refinancing, renewal or extension shall be on terms that are no more restrictive to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries than those contained in the Senior Unsecured Notes Documents as of the Closing Date; provided, further, that, any Indebtedness incurred under this Section 8.1(c) (A) does not mature, require any scheduled payment of principal, require any mandatory payment, redemption or repurchase prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the latest of (1) the applicable maturity date of any Incremental Term Loan that is outstanding at the time of the incurrence, refinancing, renewal or extension of such Indebtedness and (2) the Maturity Date (other than a customary mandatory prepayment or mandatory offer to repurchase in connection with a change of control or asset sale that permits a required prepayment of the Loans (or any of them) or required reduction of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment); provided, that, any Indebtedness that automatically converts to, or is exchangeable into, notes or other Indebtedness that satisfies the requirements of this clause (A) shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this clause (A) so long as the Borrower or applicable Credit Party irrevocably agrees at the time of the issuance thereof to take all actions necessary to convert or exchange such Indebtedness; and (B) does not include any financial performance “maintenance” covenants (whether stated as a covenant, default or otherwise, although “incurrence-based” financial tests may be included) or cross-defaults (but may include cross-payment defaults and cross-defaults at the final stated maturity thereof and cross-acceleration); and

(d)        any other Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries existing on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 8.1 and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided, that: (i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder, (ii) the direct or contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, as a result of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension, (iii) the final maturity date and Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension shall not be prior to or shorter than that applicable to such Indebtedness prior to such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension and (iv) any refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of any Subordinated Indebtedness shall be (A) on subordination terms at least as favorable to the Lenders, (B) no more restrictive on the Borrower and its Subsidiaries than the Subordinated Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended and (C) in an amount not less than the amount outstanding at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension.

 

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SECTION 8.2    Liens. Mortgage, pledge, grant or permit to exist a security interest in, or Lien upon, all or any portion of its assets now owned or hereafter acquired, other than Permitted Encumbrances.

SECTION 8.3    Investments. Make any Investment in any Person other than Permitted Investments.

SECTION 8.4    Merger, Consolidation, Change of Business; Dispositions.

(a)        Merge into or consolidate with any other entity, other than (i) mergers or consolidations of Subsidiaries into and with (x) the Borrower (with the Borrower as the surviving entity) or (y) another Subsidiary, including in either case in connection with Permitted Acquisitions and (ii) Permitted Acquisitions (provided, that, if any such Permitted Acquisition involves a merger with the Borrower, the Borrower shall be the surviving entity); provided, that, in each case any Subsidiary that is merging or consolidating is a Credit Party, the surviving entity shall be a Credit Party;

(b)        Make any substantial change in the nature of the Borrower’s or the Material Subsidiaries’ businesses as conducted as of the Closing Date not reasonably related to such businesses as of the Closing Date;

(c)        Consummate any Acquisition, other than a Permitted Acquisition; or

(d)        Sell, lease, transfer, divide or otherwise dispose (each, a “Disposition”) of the Borrower’s or any Material Subsidiary’s assets, except:

(i)        (x) Dispositions of obsolete, worn-out or surplus property in the ordinary course of business, (y) Dispositions constituting Restricted Payments permitted by Section 8.5 or (z) Dispositions constituting Investments permitted by Section 8.3.

(ii)        non-exclusive licenses for the use of the intellectual property of such licensor and exclusive licenses of intellectual property rights so long as substantially all of the economic value of the intellectual property rights is retained by the licensor;

(iii)        Dispositions by (A) a Material Subsidiary (other than a Credit Party) to any other Subsidiary; provided, that, in the case of a Disposition made to a Credit Party the consideration paid with respect to such Disposition shall not exceed the fair market value of the assets received (as determined by the board of directors of the Borrower) and (B) the Borrower or any other Credit Party to the Borrower or any other Credit Party;

(iv)        Dispositions of Equity Interests in any Subsidiary in order to qualify members of the board of directors (or the equivalent governing body) of such Subsidiary if required by Applicable Law;

(v)        involuntary Dispositions as a result of any loss of, damage to, or destruction of, or any condemnation or other taking for public use of, any property of such Person;

(vi)        Dispositions of assets for at least fair market value (as determined by the board of directors of the Borrower or a duly constituted committee thereof having authority to act for the board of directors under the Borrower’s organizational documents and Applicable Law) so long as (i) the consideration received for any such Disposition shall be

 

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no less than seventy-five percent (75%) in cash and (ii) the net book value of all assets sold or otherwise disposed of after the Closing Date and during the term of this Agreement does not exceed $75,000,000 in the aggregate;

(vii)        that any Subsidiary may be wound up or dissolved, or all or any part of its business, property or assets may be conveyed, sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, to the Borrower or a Credit Party, or, if such Subsidiary is not a Credit Party, to any other Subsidiary;

(viii)        the Disposition of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

(ix)          the write-off, discount, sale or other Disposition of defaulted or past-due receivables and similar obligations in the ordinary course of business and not undertaken as part of an accounts receivable financing transaction;

(x)           the Disposition of any Hedge Agreement;

(xi)          Dispositions of Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;

(xii)         to the extent constituting Dispositions, Permitted Encumbrances;

(xiii)        Permitted Restructurings; and

(xiv)        Dispositions of Subject Receivables prior to their stated due dates in connection with customary supply chain financing or other similar arrangements that provide for payment to the Borrower or one of its Material Subsidiaries prior to the date that such Subject Receivables would otherwise be due; provided, that, the aggregate book value of the Subject Receivables sold pursuant to this clause (xiv) in any Fiscal Year shall not exceed ten percent (10.0%) of the book value of all accounts receivable of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the immediately prior Fiscal Year end.

SECTION 8.5    Restricted Payments. Declare or pay any dividend or distribution either in cash, stock or any other property on any Equity Interest of the Borrower or any Subsidiary now or hereafter outstanding, nor redeem, retire, repurchase or otherwise acquire any part of any class of the Borrower’s or any Subsidiary’s Equity Interests now or hereafter outstanding (all of the foregoing, “Restricted Payments”), other than, without duplication:

(a)        dividends and distributions paid by Subsidiaries to the Borrower or another Subsidiary, including dividends payable in Qualified Equity Interests or rights to purchase Qualified Equity Interests of such Subsidiaries, provided, that, no such dividend or distribution shall be paid by any Credit Party to any Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party;

(b)        so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (i) dividends payable solely in Qualified Equity Interests or rights to purchase Qualified Equity Interests, in each case, of the Borrower, (ii) cashless repurchases of Qualified Equity Interests of the Borrower deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options if any such Qualified Equity Interest represents a portion of the exercise price of such options and (iii) cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Qualified Equity Interests of the Borrower;

 

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(c)        other Restricted Payments; provided, that, after giving effect to any such Restricted Payment and any Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith on a Pro Forma Basis (i) no Default or Event of Default then exists or would result therefrom, (ii) the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio shall be no greater than 4.00 to 1.00 and (iii) Liquidity shall not be less than $50,000,000; and

(d)        Permitted Restructurings.

SECTION 8.6    Transactions with Affiliates. Directly or indirectly enter into any transaction, including, without limitation, any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of Property, the rendering of any service or the payment of any management, advisory or similar fees, with (a) any officer, director, holder of any Equity Interests in, or other Affiliate of, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (b) any Affiliate of any such officer, director or holder, other than:

(i)        transactions permitted by Sections 8.1, 8.3, 8.4 and 8.5;

(ii)        transactions existing on the Closing Date and described on Schedule 8.6;

(iii)        transactions solely among Credit Parties not prohibited hereunder;

(iv)        other transactions in the ordinary course of business on terms as favorable as could reasonably be obtained by it on a comparable arm’s-length transaction with an independent, unrelated third party as determined in good faith by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of the Borrower or a duly constituted committee thereof having authority to act for the board of directors (or such equivalent governing body) under the Borrower’s organizational documents and Applicable Law;

(v)        employment and severance arrangements (including equity incentive plans and employee benefit plans and arrangements) with their respective directors, officers and employees in the ordinary course of business;

(vi)        payment of customary fees and reasonable out of pocket costs to, and indemnities for the benefit of, directors, officers and employees of the Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; and

(vii)        Permitted Restructurings.

SECTION 8.7    Accounting Changes; Organizational Documents.

(a)        Change its Fiscal Year end, or make (without the consent of the Administrative Agent) any material change in its accounting treatment and reporting practices except as required by GAAP.

(b)        Amend, modify or change its articles of incorporation (or corporate charter or other similar organizational documents) or amend, modify or change its bylaws (or other similar documents) in any manner materially adverse to the rights or interests of the Lenders.

SECTION 8.8    Payments and Modifications of Subordinated Indebtedness.

(a)        Amend, modify, waive or supplement (or permit the modification, amendment, waiver or supplement of) any of the terms or provisions of any Subordinated Indebtedness in any

 

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respect which would materially and adversely affect the rights or interests of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder or would violate the subordination terms thereof.

(b)        Cancel, forgive, make any payment or prepayment on, or redeem or acquire for value (including, without limitation, (x) by way of depositing with any trustee with respect thereto money or securities before due for the purpose of paying when due and (y) at the maturity thereof) any Subordinated Indebtedness, except:

(i)        refinancings, refundings, renewals, extensions or exchange of any Subordinated Indebtedness permitted hereunder and by any subordination provisions applicable thereto;

(ii)        payments and prepayments of any Subordinated Indebtedness made solely with the proceeds of Qualified Equity Interests; and

(iii)        the payment of principal interest, expenses and indemnities in respect of Subordinated Indebtedness to the extent such payments are not prohibited by any subordination provisions applicable thereto.

SECTION 8.9    No Further Negative Pledges.

(a)        Enter into, assume or be subject to any agreement prohibiting or otherwise restricting the creation or assumption of any Lien upon its properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or requiring the grant of any security for such obligation if security is given for some other obligation, except (i) pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) pursuant to any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (b) or (c) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness (provided, that, any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets financed thereby), (iii) customary restrictions contained in the organizational documents of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary as of the Closing Date, (iv) customary restrictions in connection with any Permitted Encumbrance or any document or instrument governing any Permitted Encumbrance (provided, that, any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Permitted Encumbrance and with respect to any Permitted Encumbrance of the type specified in clause (a) or (s) of the definition thereof, such Permitted Encumbrance (or the documentation or instrument governing such Permitted Encumbrance) does not restrict the Liens created by the Security Documents), (v) obligations that are binding on a Material Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date that are in effect at the time such Material Subsidiary first becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such obligations are not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary and are limited only to the property and assets of such Material Subsidiary and (vi) the Senior Unsecured Note Documents (and any documentation governing any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions of the Indebtedness arising under the Senior Unsecured Notes that is permitted pursuant to Section 8.1(c)), if the Borrower, in its reasonable and good faith judgment determines that (x) such prohibitions and restrictions will not affect the ability of the Borrower to make principal, interest or fee payments on the Obligations or any other Indebtedness of the Borrower, (y) such prohibitions and restrictions are not less favorable in any material respect to the Lenders than is customary in comparable financings or agreements, and (z) such prohibitions and restrictions do not restrict the Liens created by the Security Documents.

(b)        Create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on its ability to (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary on its Equity Interests or with respect to any other interest or

 

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participation in, or measured by, its profits, (ii) pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed to any Credit Party or (iii) make loans or advances to any Credit Party, except in each case for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (A) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (B) Applicable Law, (C) obligations that are binding on a Material Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date that are in effect at the time such Material Subsidiary first becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such obligations are not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary and are limited only to the property and assets of such Material Subsidiary, (D) customary restrictions contained in an agreement related to the sale of Property (to the extent such sale is permitted pursuant to Section 8.4(d)) that limit the transfer of such Property pending the consummation of such sale and (E) the Senior Unsecured Note Documents (and any documentation governing any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions of the Indebtedness arising under the Senior Unsecured Notes that is permitted pursuant to Section 8.1(c)), if the Borrower, in its reasonable and good faith judgment determines that (x) such encumbrances or restrictions will not affect the ability of the Borrower to make principal, interest or fee payments on the Obligations or any other Indebtedness of the Borrower and (y) such encumbrances or restrictions are not less favorable in any material respect to the Lenders than is customary in comparable financings or agreements.

(c)        Create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on its ability to (i) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to any Credit Party or (ii) act as a Credit Party pursuant to the Loan Documents or any renewals, refinancings, exchanges, refundings or extension thereof, except in each case for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (A) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (B) Applicable Law, (C) any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (b) or (c) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness (provided, that, any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets acquired in connection therewith), (D) any Permitted Encumbrance or any document or instrument governing any Permitted Encumbrance (provided, that, any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Permitted Encumbrance and with respect to any Permitted Encumbrance of the type specified in clause (a) or (s) of the definition thereof, such Permitted Encumbrance (or the documentation or instrument governing such Permitted Encumbrance) does not restrict the Liens created by the Security Documents), (E) obligations that are binding on a Material Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date that are in effect at the time such Material Subsidiary first becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such obligations are not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary and are limited only to the property and assets of such Material Subsidiary, (F) customary restrictions contained in an agreement related to the sale of Property (to the extent such sale is permitted pursuant to Section 8.4(d)) that limit the transfer of such Property pending the consummation of such sale, (G) customary restrictions in leases, subleases, licenses and sublicenses or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted by this Agreement so long as such restrictions relate only to the assets subject thereto and (H) solely with respect to clause (c)(i) above, the Senior Unsecured Note Documents (and any documentation governing any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions of the Indebtedness arising under the Senior Unsecured Notes that is permitted pursuant to Section 8.1(c)), if the Borrower, in its reasonable and good faith judgment determines that (x) such encumbrances or restrictions will not affect the ability of the Borrower to make principal, interest or fee payments on the Obligations or any other Indebtedness of the Borrower and (y) such encumbrances or restrictions are not less favorable in any material respect to the Lenders than is customary in comparable financings or agreements and (I) customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business.

SECTION 8.10    Sale Leasebacks. Directly or indirectly become or remain liable as lessee or as guarantor or other surety with respect to any lease, whether an Operating Lease or a Capital Lease

 

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Obligation, of any Property (whether real, personal or mixed), whether now owned or hereafter acquired, (a) which any Credit Party or any Material Subsidiary has sold or transferred or is to sell or transfer to a Person which is not another Credit Party or Material Subsidiary or (b) which any Credit Party or any Material Subsidiary intends to use for substantially the same purpose as any other Property that has been sold or is to be sold or transferred by such Credit Party or such Material Subsidiary to another Person which is not another Credit Party or Material Subsidiary in connection with such lease.

SECTION 8.11    Financial Covenants.

(a)        Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter to be greater than 4.00 to 1.00 (the “Maximum Permitted Net Leverage Ratio”), subject to Section 8.11(c).

(b)        Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter to be greater than 3.25 to 1.00 (the “Maximum Permitted Secured Net Leverage Ratio”), subject to Section 8.11(c).

(c)        Leverage Ratio Increase. Upon the consummation of any Material Acquisition and upon written request of the Borrower, (i) the Maximum Permitted Net Leverage Ratio shall be increased to 4.25 to 1.00 and (ii) the Maximum Permitted Secured Net Leverage Ratio shall be increased to 3.50 to 1.00, which such increases shall be applicable (A) with respect to a Permitted Acquisition that is not a Limited Conditionality Acquisition, for the fiscal quarter in which such Permitted Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) consecutive quarterly test periods thereafter or (B) with respect to a Permitted Acquisition that is a Limited Conditionality Acquisition, for purposes of determining compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with Sections 8.11(a) and 8.11(b) on the LCA Test Date, for the fiscal quarter in which such Permitted Acquisition is consummated and for the three (3) consecutive quarterly test periods after which such Permitted Acquisition is consummated (the increases described in clauses (i) and (ii) above, together, a “Leverage Ratio Increase”); provided, that: (1) there shall be no more than four Leverage Ratio Increases during the term of this Agreement and (2) there shall be at least two full fiscal quarters following the cessation of each such Leverage Ratio Increase during which no Leverage Ratio Increase shall then be in effect.

(d)        Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter to be less than 3.00 to 1.00.

SECTION 8.12    Tax Preferred Subsidiary. Except in connection with a Permitted Restructuring, (a) cause an existing Subsidiary that is or was not a Tax Preferred Subsidiary to become a Tax Preferred Subsidiary, (b) engage in a transaction or series of transactions involving the transfer of one or more Tax Preferred Subsidiaries (or material assets of any such Tax Preferred Subsidiary), owned by the Borrower or by a Subsidiary Guarantor, that is not considered an entity described in clause (c) of the definition of Tax Preferred Subsidiary to a Domestic Subsidiary that qualifies as such, or (c) enter into one or more transactions having a substantially similar effect to the transactions described in this Section 8.12. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the foregoing covenant shall not apply to the Tax Preferred Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 8.12 attached hereto.

SECTION 8.13    Prepayments and Modifications of the Senior Unsecured Notes.

(a)        Amend, modify, waive or supplement (or permit the modification, amendment, waiver or supplement of) any of the terms or provisions of any of the Senior Unsecured Note

 

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Documents in any respect which would materially and adversely affect the rights or interests of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder.

(b)        Cancel, forgive, make any prepayment on, or redeem or acquire for value (including, without limitation, (x) by way of depositing with any trustee with respect thereto money or securities before due for the purpose of paying when due and (y) at the maturity thereof) any Indebtedness arising in connection with the Senior Unsecured Notes, except:

(i)        refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions permitted pursuant to Section 8.1(c); and

(ii)        prepayments made solely with the proceeds of Qualified Equity Interests.

ARTICLE IX

DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

SECTION 9.1    Events of Default. Each of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

(a)        Default in Payment of Loans and Reimbursement Obligations. The Borrower shall fail to pay (i) any principal of any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation when due (whether at maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise), or (ii) any interest, fees or other amounts payable under any of the Loan Documents within three (3) Business Days of when due.

(b)        Misrepresentation. Any financial statement or certificate furnished to the Administrative Agent in connection with, or any representation or warranty made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, shall prove to be incorrect, false or misleading in any material respect when furnished or made.

(c)        Default in Performance of Certain Covenants. Any Credit Party or any Subsidiary shall default in the performance or observance of any covenant or agreement contained in Sections 7.1, 7.2(a), 7.3(b), 7.4, 7.13, 7.14 or 7.15 or Article VIII.

(d)        Default in Performance of Other Covenants and Conditions. Any default in the performance of or compliance with:

(i)        any obligation, agreement or other provision contained in Section 7.12 and such default shall continue for a period of ten (10) days from the earlier of (A) the date the Borrower first knew of such default or (B) written notice thereof from the Administrative Agent; or

(ii)        any obligation, agreement or other provision contained herein or in any other Loan Document (other than those referred to in subsections (a), (b), (c) and (d)(i) above), and such default shall continue for a period of thirty (30) days from the earlier of (A) the date the Borrower first knew of such default or (B) written notice thereof from the Administrative Agent.

(e)        Indebtedness Cross-Default. Any default in the payment or performance of any obligation (in each case, after giving effect to any applicable notice and/or cure periods), or any defined event of default (in each case, after giving effect to any applicable notice and/or cure periods), under the terms of any contract, instrument or document (other than any of the Loan

 

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Documents) pursuant to which the Borrower or any other Credit Party has incurred any debt or other liability to any Person relating to Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness hereunder) the principal amount outstanding (including undrawn committed or available amounts), or with respect to any Hedge Agreement, the Hedge Termination Value, of which is at least $50,000,000.

(f)        Change in Control. The occurrence of a Change in Control.

(g)        Insolvency; Bankruptcy Proceedings. The Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall become insolvent; the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall suffer or consent to or apply for the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or liquidator of itself or any of its property, or shall generally fail to pay its debts as they become due or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall file a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, or seeking reorganization, in order to effect a plan or other arrangement with creditors or any other relief under any Debtor Relief Laws, or under any state or federal law granting relief to debtors, whether now or hereafter in effect; or consent to, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner any involuntary petition filed against it in bankruptcy or under any Debtor Relief Laws; or any involuntary petition or proceeding pursuant to any Debtor Relief Laws is filed or commenced against the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and such filing has not been stayed or dismissed within sixty (60) days after the filing thereof, or the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall file an answer admitting the jurisdiction of the court and the material allegations of any involuntary petition; or the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall be adjudicated a bankrupt, or an order for relief shall be entered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary by any court of competent jurisdiction under any Debtor Relief Laws.

(h)        Failure of Agreements. Any provision of this Agreement or any provision of any other Loan Document shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on any Credit Party or any Subsidiary party thereto or any such Person shall so state in writing, or any Loan Document shall for any reason cease to create a valid and perfected first priority Lien (subject to Permitted Encumbrances) on, or security interest in, any of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby having, in the aggregate, a value in excess of $2,000,000, in each case other than in accordance with the express terms hereof or thereof.

(i)        ERISA Events. The occurrence of any of the following events: (i) any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate fails to make full payment when due of all amounts which, under the provisions of any Pension Plan or Sections 412 or 430 of the Code, any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate is required to pay as contributions thereto and such unpaid amounts are in excess of $50,000,000, (ii) a Termination Event or (iii) any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate as employers under one or more Multiemployer Plans makes a complete or partial withdrawal from any such Multiemployer Plan and the plan sponsor of such Multiemployer Plans notifies such withdrawing employer that such employer has incurred a withdrawal liability requiring payments in an amount exceeding $50,000,000.

(j)        Judgment. The filing of a notice of judgment Lien against the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and such judgment Lien has not been released, as of record, within thirty (30) days after the filing thereof; or the recording of any abstract of judgment against the Borrower or any Subsidiary in any jurisdiction in which the Borrower or such Subsidiary has an interest in real property and such abstract of judgment has not been released, as of record, within thirty (30) days after the recording thereof; or the service of a notice of levy and/or of a writ of attachment or execution, or other like process, against the assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary which has not been released by the date that is thirty (30) days prior to the date such levy or attachment is to be made or enforced; or the entry of a judgment against the Borrower or any Subsidiary for the

 

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payment of money in excess of $50,000,000 (inclusive of amounts covered by insurance with respect to which the insurer has not disputed coverage therefor) which has not been released, discharged, bonded against, or stayed pending appeal within thirty (30) days after entry thereof; or the entry of a judgment against the Borrower or any Subsidiary which materially restricts the business operations of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, was not stayed pending an appeal immediately upon the entry thereof and which has not been reversed within thirty (30) days after the date of entry thereof.

(k)        Subordination Terms. (i) Any of the Secured Obligations for any reason shall cease to be “senior debt,” “senior indebtedness,” “designated senior debt” or “senior secured financing” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in, the documentation governing any Subordinated Indebtedness that is subordinated (in terms of payment or lien priority) to the Secured Obligations, (ii) the subordination provisions set forth in the documentation for any Subordinated Indebtedness that is subordinated (in terms of payment or lien priority) to the Secured Obligations shall, in whole or in part, cease to be effective or cease to be legally valid, binding and enforceable against the holders of any Subordinated Indebtedness, if applicable, or (iii) any Credit Party or any Subsidiary, shall assert any of the foregoing in writing.

SECTION 9.2    Remedies. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, with the consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower:

(a)        Acceleration; Termination of Credit Facility. Terminate the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment and declare the principal of and interest on the Loans and the Reimbursement Obligations at the time outstanding, and all other amounts owed to the Lenders and to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents and all other Obligations, to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by each Credit Party, anything in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, and terminate the Credit Facility and any right of the Borrower to request borrowings or Letters of Credit thereunder; provided, that, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 9.1(g), the Credit Facility shall be automatically terminated and all Obligations shall automatically become due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by each Credit Party, anything in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding.

(b)        Letters of Credit. With respect to all Letters of Credit with respect to which presentment for honor shall not have occurred at the time of an acceleration pursuant to the preceding paragraph, demand that the Borrower deposit in a Cash Collateral account opened by the Administrative Agent an amount equal to 105% of the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such Letters of Credit. Amounts held in such Cash Collateral account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to the payment of drafts drawn under such Letters of Credit, and the unused portion thereof after all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, if any, shall be applied to repay the other Secured Obligations in accordance with Section 9.3. After all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, the Reimbursement Obligation shall have been satisfied and all other Secured Obligations shall have been paid in full, the balance, if any, in such Cash Collateral account shall be returned to the Borrower.

(c)        General Remedies. Exercise on behalf of the Secured Parties all of its other rights and remedies under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and Applicable Law, in order to satisfy all of the Secured Obligations.

 

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SECTION 9.3    Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; etc.

(a)        The enumeration of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders set forth in this Agreement is not intended to be exhaustive and the exercise by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of any right or remedy shall not preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies, all of which shall be cumulative, and shall be in addition to any other right or remedy given hereunder or under the other Loan Documents or that may now or hereafter exist at law or in equity or by suit or otherwise. No delay or failure to take action on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power or privilege shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege or shall be construed to be a waiver of any Event of Default. No course of dealing between the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders or their respective agents or employees shall be effective to change, modify or discharge any provision of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or to constitute a waiver of any Event of Default.

(b)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Credit Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 9.2 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders; provided, that, the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as an Issuing Lender or Swingline Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.4 (subject to the terms of Section 4.6), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Credit Party under any Debtor Relief Law; provided, further, that, if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.2 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 4.6, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

SECTION 9.4    Crediting of Payments and Proceeds. In the event that the Obligations have been accelerated pursuant to Section 9.2 or the Administrative Agent or any Lender has exercised any remedy set forth in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, all payments received on account of the Secured Obligations and all net proceeds from the enforcement of the Secured Obligations, subject to the provisions of Section 4.14 and 4.15, shall be applied by the Administrative Agent as follows:

First, to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts, including attorney fees, payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

Second, to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting fees (other than Commitment Fees and Letter of Credit fees payable to the Revolving Credit Lenders), indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender under the Loan Documents, including attorney fees, ratably among the

 

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Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

Third, to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Commitment Fees, Letter of Credit fees payable to the Revolving Credit Lenders and interest on the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations, ratably among the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and obligations then owing under Secured Hedge Agreements, Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer Documents, ratably among the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders, the Hedge Banks, the Permitted Letter of Credit Issuers and the Cash Management Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth payable to them;

Fifth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lenders, to Cash Collateralize any L/C Obligations then outstanding; and

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Secured Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Applicable Law.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Secured Obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements, Secured Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer Documents and Secured Hedge Agreements shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank, Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer or Hedge Bank, as the case may be following such acceleration or exercise of remedies and at least three (3) Business Days prior to the application of the proceeds thereof. Each Cash Management Bank, Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer or Hedge Bank not a party to this Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article X for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

SECTION 9.5    Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Credit Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a)        to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Secured 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 Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 3.3, 4.3 and 11.3) 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;

 

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and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each Issuing Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the Issuing 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 under Sections 3.3, 4.3 and 11.3.

SECTION 9.6    Credit Bidding.

(a)        The Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties, shall have the right, exercisable at the discretion of the Required Lenders, to credit bid and purchase for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties all or any portion of Collateral at any sale thereof conducted by the Administrative Agent under the provisions of the UCC, including pursuant to Sections 9-610 or 9-620 of the UCC, at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code, including Section 363 thereof, or a sale under a plan of reorganization, or at any other sale or foreclosure conducted by the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with Applicable Law. Such credit bid or purchase may be completed through one or more acquisition vehicles formed by the Administrative Agent to make such credit bid or purchase and, in connection therewith, the Administrative Agent is authorized, on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties, to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles, and assign the applicable Secured Obligations to any such acquisition vehicle in exchange for Equity Interests and/or debt issued by the applicable acquisition vehicle (which shall be deemed to be held for the ratable account of the applicable Secured Parties on the basis of the Secured Obligations so assigned by each Secured Party); provided, that, any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or Equity Interests thereof, shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by the vote of the Required Lenders, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in Section 11.2.

(b)        Each Lender hereby agrees, on behalf of itself and each of its Affiliates that is a Secured Party, that, except as otherwise provided in any Loan Document or with the written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, it will not take any enforcement action, accelerate obligations under any of the Loan Documents, or exercise any right that it might otherwise have under Applicable Law to credit bid at foreclosure sales, UCC sales or other similar dispositions of Collateral.

ARTICLE X

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

SECTION 10.1    Appointment and Authority.

(a)        Each of the Lenders and each Issuing Lender hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America 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. Except as provided in Sections 10.6 and 10.9 the provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders, and neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof

 

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shall have rights as a third-party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative 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 as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

(b)        The Administrative Agent shall also act as the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders (including in its capacity as a potential Hedge Bank, Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer or Cash Management Bank) and the Issuing Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to act as the agent of such Lender and such Issuing Lender for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Credit Parties to secure any of the Secured Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto (including, without limitation, to enter into additional Loan Documents or supplements to existing Loan Documents on behalf of the Secured Parties). In this connection, the Administrative Agent, as “collateral agent” and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Article X for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Security Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Administrative Agent, shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of Articles X and XI (including Section 11.3, as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.

SECTION 10.2    Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

SECTION 10.3    Exculpatory Provisions.

(a)        Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger, as applicable, shall have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger, as applicable, and its Related Parties:

(i)        shall be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

(ii)        shall have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided, that, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or

 

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that is contrary to any Loan Document or Applicable Law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

(iii)         shall have any duty to disclose, or shall be liable for the failure to disclose, to any Lender or any Issuing Lender any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Credit Parties or any of their Affiliates that is communicated to, or in the possession of, the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any of their Related Parties in any capacity, except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent herein.

(b)        The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Section 11.2 and Section 9.2) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final nonappealable judgment. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until notice describing such Default or Event of Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an Issuing Lender.

(c)        The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith (including, without limitation, any report provided to it by an Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.9), (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 or Event of Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article V or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or (vi) the utilization of any Issuing Lender’s L/C Commitment (it being understood and agreed that each Issuing Lender shall monitor compliance with its own L/C Commitment without any further action by the Administrative Agent).

SECTION 10.4    Reliance by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and 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, extension, renewal or increase of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or such Issuing Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or such Issuing Lender prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall

 

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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 10.5    Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the Credit Facility as well as activities as Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

SECTION 10.6    Resignation of Administrative Agent.

(a)        The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Resignation Effective Date”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to), on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided, that, in no event shall any such successor Administrative Agent be a Defaulting Lender. Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

(b)        If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person, remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

(c)        With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable), (i) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the Issuing Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (ii) except for any indemnity payments owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and each Issuing Lender directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent

 

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hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring or removed Administrative Agent (other than any rights to indemnity payments owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 11.3 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

(d)        Any resignation by, or removal of, Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as an Issuing Lender and Swingline Lender. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (i) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Issuing Lender, if in its sole discretion it elects to, and Swingline Lender, (ii) the retiring Issuing Lender and Swingline Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (iii) the successor Issuing Lender, if in its sole discretion it elects to, shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring Issuing Lender to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring Issuing Lender with respect to such Letters of Credit.

SECTION 10.7    Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and each Issuing Lender expressly acknowledges that none of the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the Administrative Agent or any Arranger hereafter taken, including any consent to, and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of any Credit Party or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent or any Arranger to any Lender or each Issuing Lender as to any matter, including whether the Administrative Agent or any Arranger has disclosed material information in their (or their Related Parties’) possession. Each Lender and each Issuing Lender represents to the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis of, appraisal of, and investigation into, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower hereunder. Each Lender and each Issuing Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Credit Parties. Each Lender and each Issuing Lender represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility and (ii) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course and is entering into this Agreement as a Lender or Issuing Lender for the purpose of making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender or Issuing Lender, and not for the purpose of purchasing,

 

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acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument, and each Lender and each Issuing Lender agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing. Each Lender and each Issuing Lender represents and warrants that it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender or such Issuing Lender, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities.

SECTION 10.8    No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the syndication agents, documentation agents, co-agents, arrangers or bookrunners 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, a Lender or an Issuing Lender hereunder.

SECTION 10.9    Collateral and Guaranty Matters.

(a)        Each of the Lenders (including in its or any of its Affiliate’s capacities as a potential Hedge Bank, Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer or Cash Management Bank) irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion:

(i)        to release any Lien on any Collateral granted to or held by the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, under any Loan Document (A) upon the termination of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment and payment in full of all Secured Obligations (other than (1) contingent indemnification obligations and (2) obligations and liabilities under Secured Cash Management Agreements, Secured Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer Documents or Secured Hedge Agreements as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Cash Management Bank, Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer or Hedge Bank have been made) and the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit as to which other arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Lender shall have been made), (B) that is sold or otherwise disposed of or to be sold or otherwise disposed of as part of or in connection with any sale or other disposition to a Person other than a Credit Party permitted under the Loan Documents, or (C) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing in accordance with Section 11.2;

(ii)        to subordinate any Lien on any Collateral granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien permitted pursuant to clause (d) of the definition of Permitted Encumbrances; and

(iii)        to release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under any Loan Documents if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted under the Loan Documents.

Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.9. In each case as specified in this Section 10.9, the Administrative Agent will, at the Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Credit Party such documents as such Credit Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Security Documents or to subordinate its interest in such item, or to release such Subsidiary Guarantor from its

 

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obligations under the Guaranty Agreement, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 10.9. In the case of any such sale, transfer or disposal of any property constituting Collateral in a transaction constituting a Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 8.4(d) to a Person other than a Credit Party, the Liens created by any of the Security Documents on such property shall be automatically released without need for further action by any person.

(b)        The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Administrative Agent’s Lien thereon, or any certificate prepared by any Credit Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.

SECTION 10.10    Secured Hedge Agreements, Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer Documents. No Cash Management Bank, Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer or Hedge Bank that obtains the benefits of Section 9.4 or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or of 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 X to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Secured Cash Management Agreements, Secured Hedge Agreements and Secured Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer Documents, unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Secured Cash Management Agreements, Secured Hedge Agreements and Secured Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer Documents, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank, Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer or Hedge Bank, as the case may be; provided, that, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Secured Cash Management Agreements, Secured Hedge Agreements and Secured Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer Documents in connection with a release of Liens described in Section 10.9(a)(i)(A).

ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 11.1    Notices.

(a)        Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in Section 11.1(b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile as follows:

If to the Borrower:

KORN FERRY

1900 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 2600

Los Angeles, California 90067

Attention of: Robert Rozek, EVP and CFO

Telephone No.: (310) 226-6366

 

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Facsimile No.: (310) 553-8640

E-mail: robert.rozek@kornferry.com

With copies to:

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

333 South Grand Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention of: Cromwell Montgomery

Fax: (213) 229-7520

If to the Administrative Agent:

Administrative Agent’s Office (for payments and Notices of Borrowing):

Bank of America, N.A.

Street Address: 2380 PERFORMANCE DR Bldg C

Mail Code: TX2-984-03-23

City, State ZIP Code Richardson, TX 75082

Attention: Traci Kuketz

Telephone: 469-201-0888

Electronic Mail: traci.r.kuketz@bofa.com

Other Notices as Administrative Agent:

Bank of America, N.A.

Agency Management

Street Address: 2380 PERFORMANCE DR Bldg C

Mail Code: TX2-984-03-23

City, State ZIP Code Richardson, Tx 75082

Attention: Taelitha Bonds-Harris

Telephone: 214-209-3408

Electronic Mail: Taelitha.m.harris@bofa.com

Swingline Lender:

Bank of America, N.A.

Street Address: 2380 PERFORMANCE DR Bldg C

Mail Code: TX2-984-03-23

City, State ZIP Code Richardson, TX 75082

Attention: Traci Kuketz

Telephone: 469-201-0888

Electronic Mail: traci.r.kuketz@bofa.com

Bank of America, N.A., as Issuing Lender:

Bank of America, N.A.

Trade Operations

Facsimile: (800) 755-8743

Electronic Mail: scranton_standby_lc@bankofamerica.com

If to any Lender:

To the address of such Lender set forth on the Register with respect to deliveries of notices and other documentation that may contain material non-public information.

 

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Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in Section 11.1(b) below, shall be effective as provided in Section 11.1(b).

(b)        Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided, that, the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or any Issuing Lender pursuant to Article II or III if such Lender or such Issuing Lender, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided, that, approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided, that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or other communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient.

(c)        Administrative Agent’s Office. The Administrative Agent hereby designates its office located at the address set forth above, or any subsequent office which shall have been specified for such purpose by written notice to the Borrower and Lenders, as the Administrative Agent’s Office referred to herein, to which payments due are to be made and at which Loans will be disbursed and Letters of Credit requested.

(d)        Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Any Lender may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender.

(e)        Platform.

(i)        Each Credit Party agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make the Borrower Materials available to the Issuing Lenders and the other Lenders by posting the Borrower Materials on the Platform.

(ii)        The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available.” The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the Borrower Materials or the adequacy of the Platform, and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Borrower Materials. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including, without limitation, any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-

 

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infringement of third-party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent Party in connection with the Borrower Materials or the Platform. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to any Credit Party, any Lender or any other Person or entity for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Credit Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of communications through the Internet (including, without limitation, the Platform), except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, that, in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to any Credit Party, any Lender, any Issuing Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages, losses or expenses (as opposed to actual damages, losses or expenses).

(f)        Private Side Designation. Each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and Applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Applicable Laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities Applicable Laws.

SECTION 11.2  Amendments, Waivers and Consents. Except as set forth below or as specifically provided in any Loan Document, any term, covenant, agreement or condition of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents may be amended or waived by the Lenders, and any consent given by the Lenders, if, but only if, such amendment, waiver or consent is in writing signed by the Required Lenders (or by the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) and delivered to the Administrative Agent and, in the case of an amendment, signed by the Borrower; provided, that, no amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(a)        without the prior written consent of the Required Revolving Credit Lenders, amend, modify or waive (i) Section 5.2 or any other provision of this Agreement if the effect of such amendment, modification or waiver is to require the Revolving Credit Lenders (pursuant to, in the case of any such amendment to a provision hereof other than Section 5.2, any substantially concurrent request by the Borrower for a borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans or issuance of Letters of Credit) to make Revolving Credit Loans when such Revolving Credit Lenders would not otherwise be required to do so, (ii) the amount of the Swingline Commitment or (iii) the amount of the L/C Sublimit;

(b)        increase or extend the Revolving Credit Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Revolving Credit Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 9.2) or increase the amount of Loans of any Lender, in any case, without the written consent of such Lender;

(c)        waive, extend or postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

 

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(d)        reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation, or (subject to clauses (iv) and (ix) of the proviso set forth in the paragraph below) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby; provided, that, only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to (i) waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the rate set forth in Section 4.1(b) during the continuance of an Event of Default or (ii) amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or L/C Obligation or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;

(e)        change Section 4.6 or Section 9.4 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments or order of application required thereby without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

(f)        except as otherwise permitted by this Section 11.2, change any provision of this Section or reduce the percentages specified in the definitions of “Required Lenders” or “Required Revolving Credit Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

(g)        release (i) all of the Subsidiary Guarantors or (ii) Subsidiary Guarantors comprising substantially all of the credit support for the Secured Obligations, in any case, from any Guaranty Agreement (other than as authorized in Section 10.9), without the written consent of each Lender; or

(h)        release all or substantially all of the value of the Collateral or release any Security Document (other than as authorized in Section 10.9 or as otherwise specifically permitted or contemplated in this Agreement or the applicable Security Document) without the written consent of each Lender;

provided further, that: (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by each affected Issuing Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of such Issuing Lender under this Agreement or any Letter of Credit Application relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swingline Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swingline Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or modify Section 11.25 hereof; (iv) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto; (v) each Letter of Credit Application may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto; provided, that, a copy of such amended Letter of Credit Application shall be promptly delivered to the Administrative Agent upon such amendment or waiver; (vi) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall be permitted to amend any provision of the Loan Documents (and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document) if the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall have jointly identified an obvious error or any error, ambiguity, defect or inconsistency or omission of a technical or immaterial nature in any such provision; (vii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent and Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, amend Section 1.11 or the definition of “Alternative Currency”; (viii) the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender, may, without the consent of any other Lender or

 

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Issuing Lender make such changes as may be necessary to incorporate provisions with respect to the issuance of Letters of Credit in any Alternative Currency approved by Bank of America, in its capacity as an Issuing Lender; (ix) Schedule 2.1C may be amended to reflect any updates to the L/C Commitments, as permitted pursuant to this Agreement; and (x) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may, without the consent of any Lender, enter into amendments or modifications to this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or to enter into additional Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent reasonably deems appropriate in order to implement any Replacement Rate or otherwise effectuate the terms of Section 4.8(d) in accordance with the terms of Section 4.8(d). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that (A) the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender, and (B) any amendment, waiver, or consent hereunder which requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms disproportionately and adversely affects any such Defaulting Lender relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each Lender hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent on its behalf, and without further consent of such Lender, to (x) amend and restate this Agreement if, upon giving effect to such amendment and restatement, such Lender shall no longer be a party to this Agreement (as so amended and restated), the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender shall have terminated, such Lender shall have no other commitment or other obligation hereunder and shall have been paid in full all principal, interest and other amounts owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (y) enter into amendments or modifications to this Agreement (including, without limitation, amendments to this Section 11.2) or any of the other Loan Documents or to enter into additional Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent reasonably deems appropriate in order to effectuate the terms of Section 4.13 (including, without limitation, as applicable, (1) to permit the Incremental Term Loans and the Incremental Revolving Credit Loans to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and (2) to include the Incremental Term Loan Commitments and the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, or outstanding Incremental Term Loans and outstanding Incremental Revolving Credit Loans, as applicable, in any determination of (i) Required Lenders or Required Revolving Credit Lenders, as applicable or (ii) similar required lender terms applicable thereto); provided, that, no amendment or modification shall result in any increase in the amount of any Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment or any increase in any Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage, in each case, without the written consent of such affected Lender.

SECTION 11.3    Expenses; Indemnity.

(a)        Costs and Expenses. The Borrower and any other Credit Party, jointly and severally, shall pay (i) all reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of one primary counsel for the Administrative Agent and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel for the Administrative Agent in each relevant jurisdiction and one specialty counsel for the Administrative Agent in each relevant specialty (and, solely in the case of an actual or potential conflict of interest of any of the foregoing counsel, one additional primary, local or specialty counsel, as the case may be, to the affected Persons similarly situated and taken as a whole)), in connection with the syndication of the Credit Facility, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses incurred by any Issuing Lender in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for

 

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payment thereunder, (iii) all reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Lender (including, without limitation, reasonable and documented fees and expenses of one primary counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders (taken as a whole) and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders (taken as a whole) in each relevant jurisdiction and one specialty counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders (taken as a whole) in each relevant specialty (and, solely in the case of an actual or potential conflict of interest, one additional primary, local or specialty counsel, as the case may be, to the affected Persons similarly situated and taken as a whole)) in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out of pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit. This Section 11.3(a) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

(b)        Indemnification by the Borrower. The Credit Parties shall, jointly and severally, indemnify each Arranger, the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and each Issuing Lender and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from and against, and shall pay or reimburse any such Indemnitee for, any and all losses, claims (including, without limitation, any Environmental Claims), penalties, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, disbursements, settlement costs and other charges of any counsel for any Indemnitee (but limited, in the case of legal fees and expenses, to the reasonable and documented out of pocket fees, disbursements and other charges of one primary counsel to all Indemnitees (taken as a whole) and, if reasonably necessary, a single local counsel for all Indemnitees (taken as a whole) in each relevant jurisdiction and a single specialty counsel for all Indemnitees (taken as a whole) with respect to each relevant specialty, and in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, one additional primary, local or specialty counsel, as the case may be, to the affected Indemnitees similarly situated and taken as a whole)), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any Person (including the Borrower or any other Credit Party), arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including, without limitation, the Transactions), (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any Issuing Lender to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance on or from any property owned or operated by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof, or any Environmental Claim related in any way to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary, (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, or (v) any claim (including, without limitation, any Environmental Claims), investigation, litigation or other proceeding (whether or not the Administrative Agent or any Lender is a party thereto) and the prosecution and defense thereof, arising out of or in any way connected with the Loans, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including without limitation, reasonable and documented attorneys and consultant’s fees; provided, that, such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the

 

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extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. This Section 11.3(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

(c)        Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to pay any amount required under clause (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), any Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s share of the Total Credit Exposure at such time, or if the Total Credit Exposure has been reduced to zero, then based on such Lender’s share of the Total Credit Exposure immediately prior to such reduction) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender); provided, that, with respect to such unpaid amounts owed to any Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender solely in its capacity as such, only the Revolving Credit Lenders shall be required to pay such unpaid amounts, such payment to be made severally among them based on such Revolving Credit Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought or, if the Revolving Credit Commitment has been reduced to zero as of such time, determined immediately prior to such reduction); provided, further, that, the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 4.7.

(d)        Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Borrower and each other Credit Party shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in clause (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

(e)        Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.

(f)        Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section shall survive the termination of the Loan Documents and payment of the obligations hereunder.

SECTION 11.4    Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, each Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, after obtaining the prior written consent of the Administrative

 

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Agent, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, to setoff and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, such Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Credit Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Credit Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender, such Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender or any of their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, such Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or any such Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Credit Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender, such Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or such Affiliate different from the branch, office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that, in the event that any Defaulting Lender or any Affiliate thereof shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so setoff shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.15 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender or Affiliate of a Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender or its Affiliate shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Secured Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender or any of its Affiliates as to which such right of setoff was exercised. The rights of each Lender, each Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender, such Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender agree to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided, that, the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

SECTION 11.5    Governing Law; Jurisdiction, Etc.

(a)        Governing Law. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any claim, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document (except, as to any other Loan Document, as expressly set forth therein) and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

(b)        Submission to Jurisdiction. The Borrower and each other Credit Party irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that it will not commence any action, litigation or proceeding of any kind or description, whether in law or equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, against the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender, or any Related Party of the foregoing in any way relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions relating hereto or thereto, in any forum other than the courts 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, and each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and agrees that all claims in respect of any such action, litigation or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action, litigation 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 in any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against the Borrower or any other Credit Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

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(c)        Waiver of Venue. The Borrower and each other Credit Party irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in Section 11.5(b). Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(d)        Service of Process. Each party hereto irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 11.1. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by Applicable Law.

SECTION 11.6    Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

SECTION 11.7    Reversal of Payments. To the extent any Credit Party makes a payment or payments to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of any of the Secured Parties or to any Secured Party directly or the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party receives any payment or proceeds of the Collateral or any Secured Party exercises its right of setoff, which payments or proceeds (including any proceeds of such setoff) or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/or required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any Debtor Relief Law, other Applicable Law or equitable cause, then, to the extent of such payment or proceeds repaid, the Secured Obligations or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by the Administrative Agent, and each Lender and each Issuing Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its (or its Affiliates’) applicable ratable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent plus interest thereon at a per annum rate equal to the Federal Funds Rate from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made to the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 11.8    Injunctive Relief. The Borrower recognizes that, in the event the Borrower fails to perform, observe or discharge any of its obligations or liabilities under this Agreement, any remedy of law may prove to be inadequate relief to the Lenders. Therefore, the Borrower agrees that the Lenders, at the Lenders’ option, shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages.

SECTION 11.9    Successors and Assigns; Participations.

(a)        Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Credit Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of

 

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the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.9(b), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.9(d) or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 11.9(e) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in Section 11.9(d) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b)        Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Credit Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided, that, any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

(i)        Minimum Amounts.

(A)        in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and/or the Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds (determined after giving effect to such assignments) that equal at least the amount specified in Section 11.9(b)(i)(B) in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and (B) in any case not described in Section 11.9(b)(i)(A), the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Revolving Credit Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, that, the Borrower shall be deemed to have given its consent ten (10) Business Days after the date written notice thereof has been delivered by the assigning Lender (through the Administrative Agent) unless such consent is expressly refused by the Borrower prior to such tenth (10th) Business Day;

(ii)        Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loan or the Revolving Credit Commitment assigned.

(iii)        Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by Section 11.9(b)(i)(B) and, in addition:

(A)        the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (x) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (y) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided, that, the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object

 

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thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof;

(B)        the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; and

(C)        the consents of the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender shall be required for any assignment in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility.

(iv)        Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 for each assignment; provided, that: (A) only one such fee will be payable in connection with simultaneous assignments to two or more related Approved Funds by a Lender and (B) the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

(v)        No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made to (A) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or (B) any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B).

(vi)        No Assignment to Natural Persons. No such assignment shall be made to a natural Person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person).

(vii)        Certain Additional Payments. In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested, but not funded by, the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (A) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lenders, the Swingline Lender and each other Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon), and (B) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans in accordance with its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under Applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 11.9(c), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the

 

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assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 4.11 and 11.3 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided, that, except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 11.9(d) (other than a purported assignment to a natural Person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries or Affiliates, which shall be null and void.)

(c)        Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in Charlotte, North Carolina, a copy of each Assignment and Assumption and each Lender Joinder Agreement delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Revolving Credit Commitment of, and principal amounts of (and stated interest on) 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 Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender (but only to the extent of entries in the Register that are applicable to such Lender), at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(d)        Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries or Affiliates) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Credit Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided, that: (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 11.3(c) with respect to any payments made by such Lender to its Participant(s).

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided, that, such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in Section 11.2(b), (c), (d) or (e) that directly and adversely affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 4.9, 4.10 and 4.11 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 4.11(g) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 4.11(g) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to

 

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the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 11.9(b); provided, that, such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 4.12 as if it were an assignee under Section 11.9(b); and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 4.10 or 4.11, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, 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. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 4.12(b) with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.4 as though it were a Lender; provided, that, such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 4.6 and Section 11.4 as though it were a Lender.

Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts of (and stated interest on) 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 United States Treasury Regulations or as otherwise required by applicable Tax law. 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.

(e)        Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided, that, no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

SECTION 11.10  Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and each Issuing Lender agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective Related Parties in connection with the Credit Facility, this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or in connection with marketing of services by such Affiliate or Related Party to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (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 required or requested by, or required to be disclosed to, any regulatory or similar authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners) or in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s, each Issuing Lender’s or any Lender’s regulatory compliance policy if the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Lender or such Lender, as applicable, deems such disclosure to be necessary for the mitigation of claims by those authorities against the Administrative Agent, each Issuing lender or such Lender, as applicable, or any of its Related Parties (in which case, the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Lender or such Lender, as applicable, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to, except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by bank accountants or any governmental bank regulatory authority exercising examination or regulatory authority, promptly

 

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notify the Borrower, in advance, to the extent practicable and otherwise permitted by Applicable Law), (c) as to the extent required by Applicable Laws or regulations or in any legal, judicial, administrative proceeding or other compulsory process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under this Agreement, under any other Loan Document or under any Secured Hedge Agreement, Secured Cash Management Agreement or Secured Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer Document, or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any Secured Hedge Agreement, Secured Cash Management Agreement or Secured Permitted Letter of Credit Issuer Document, or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (iii) an investor or prospective investor in an Approved Fund that also agrees that Information shall be used solely for the purpose of evaluating an investment in such Approved Fund, (iv) a trustee, collateral manager, servicer, backup servicer, noteholder or secured party in an Approved Fund in connection with the administration, servicing and reporting on the assets serving as collateral for an Approved Fund, or (v) a nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information regarding the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the Loans and the Loan Documents in connection with ratings issued with respect to an Approved Fund, (g) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the Credit Facility or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the Credit Facility, (h) with the consent of the Borrower, (i) deal terms and other information customarily reported to Thomson Reuters, other bank market data collectors and similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration of the Loan Documents, (j) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Lender or any of their respective Affiliates from a third party that is not, to such Person’s knowledge, subject to confidentiality obligations to the Borrower, (k) to the extent that such information is independently developed by such Person, or (l) for purposes of establishing a “due diligence” defense. For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof relating to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof; provided, that, in the case of information received from a Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

SECTION 11.11  Performance of Duties. Each of the Credit Party’s obligations under this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents shall be performed by such Credit Party at its sole cost and expense.

SECTION 11.12  All Powers Coupled with Interest. All powers of attorney and other authorizations granted to the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and any Persons designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to any provisions of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents shall be deemed coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable so long as any of the Obligations remain unpaid or unsatisfied, any of the Revolving Credit Commitments remain in effect or the Credit Facility has not been terminated.

SECTION 11.13  Survival.

 

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(a)        All representations and warranties set forth in Article VI and all representations and warranties contained in any certificate, or any of the Loan Documents (including, but not limited to, any such representation or warranty made in or in connection with any amendment thereto) shall constitute representations and warranties made under this Agreement. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or Event of Default at the time of any Extension of Credit or drawing under a Letter of Credit, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

(b)        Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the indemnities to which the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are entitled under the provisions of this Article XI and any other provision of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall continue in full force and effect and shall protect the Administrative Agent and the Lenders against events arising after such termination as well as before.

SECTION 11.14  Titles and Captions. Titles and captions of Articles, Sections and subsections in, and the table of contents of, this Agreement are for convenience only, and neither limit nor amplify the provisions of this Agreement.

SECTION 11.15  Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions hereof or thereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. In the event that any provision is held to be so prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such provision to preserve the original intent thereof in such jurisdiction (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders).

SECTION 11.16  Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution.

(a)        Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender and/or the Arrangers, constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 5.1, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) format shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

(b)        Electronic Execution of Assignments. The words “delivery,” “execute,” “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Loan Document or any other document executed in connection herewith shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved

 

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by the Administrative Agent, or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any Applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent is under no obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Administrative Agent pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, any electronic signature shall be promptly followed by such manually executed counterpart.

SECTION 11.17    Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall remain in effect from the Closing Date through and including the date upon which all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations not then due) arising hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall have been indefeasibly and irrevocably paid and satisfied in full, all Letters of Credit have been terminated or expired (or been Cash Collateralized) or otherwise satisfied in a manner acceptable to the applicable Issuing Lender and the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment has been terminated. No termination of this Agreement shall affect the rights and obligations of the parties hereto arising prior to such termination or in respect of any provision of this Agreement which survives such termination.

SECTION 11.18    USA PATRIOT Act; Anti-Money Laundering Laws. Each Lender that is subject to the PATRIOT Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower and the other Credit Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Credit Party, which information includes the name and address of each Credit Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify each Credit Party in accordance with the PATRIOT Act. The Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all such other documentation and information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act.

SECTION 11.19    Independent Effect of Covenants. The Borrower expressly acknowledges and agrees that each covenant contained in Articles VII or VIII hereof shall be given independent effect. Accordingly, the Borrower shall not engage in any transaction or other act otherwise permitted under any covenant contained in Articles VII or VIII, before or after giving effect to such transaction or act, the Borrower shall or would be in breach of any other covenant contained in Articles VII or VIII.

SECTION 11.20    No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.

(a)        In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, each Credit Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that (i) the facilities provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, and the Borrower is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or thereof), (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, each of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial

 

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advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other Person, (iii) none of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or the Lenders has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether any Arranger or Lender has advised or is currently advising the Borrower or any of its Affiliates on other matters) and none of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or the Lenders has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the financing transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, (iv) the Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from, and may conflict with, those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and none of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or the Lenders has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship and (v) the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders have not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and the Credit Parties have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they have deemed appropriate.

(b)        Each Credit Party acknowledges and agrees that each Lender, each Arranger and any Affiliate thereof may lend money to, invest in, and generally engage in any kind of business with, any of the Borrower, any Affiliate thereof or any other person or entity that may do business with or own securities of any of the foregoing, all as if such Lender, Arranger or Affiliate thereof were not a Lender or Arranger or an Affiliate thereof (or an agent or any other person with any similar role under the Credit Facilities) and without any duty to account therefor to any other Lender, the Arrangers, the Borrower or any Affiliate of the foregoing. Each Lender, the Arrangers and any Affiliate thereof may accept fees and other consideration from the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof for services in connection with this Agreement, the Credit Facilities or otherwise without having to account for the same to any other Lender, the Arrangers, the Borrower or any Affiliate of the foregoing.

SECTION 11.21  Inconsistencies with Other Documents. In the event there is a conflict or inconsistency between this Agreement and any other Loan Document, the terms of this Agreement shall control; provided, that, any provision of the Security Documents which imposes additional burdens on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or further restricts the rights of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or gives the Administrative Agent or Lenders additional rights shall not be deemed to be in conflict or inconsistent with this Agreement and shall be given full force and effect.

SECTION 11.22  Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(a)        the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

(b)        the effects of any Bail-in Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

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(i)        a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

(ii)        a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

(iii)        the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

SECTION 11.23  Judgment Currency. If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or any other Loan Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of the Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, may in accordance with normal banking procedures 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 Administrative Agent or any Lender from the Borrower in the Agreement Currency, the Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in such currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, agrees to return the amount of any excess to the Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under Applicable Law).

SECTION 11.24  Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Hedge 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

 

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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 11.25  Certain ERISA Matters.

(a)        Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit 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 Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Revolving Credit 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 Revolving Credit 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 Revolving Credit Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Revolving Credit 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 Revolving Credit 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.

(b)        In addition, unless either (1) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, and not, for the

 

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avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that the Administrative Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Revolving Credit Commitments and this Agreement (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 hereto or thereto).

[Signature pages to follow]

 

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed under seal by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first written above.

 

BORROWER:     KORN FERRY,
    a Delaware corporation
    By:           /s/ Robert P. Rozek                        
    Name:  Robert P. Rozek
    Title:  Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Corporate Officer

KORN FERRY

CREDIT AGREEMENT


ADMINSTRATIVE AGENT:

   

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

   

as Administrative Agent

   

By:

 

        /s/Henry Pennell                

   

Name:  Henry Pennell

   

Title:  Vice President

KORN FERRY

CREDIT AGREEMENT


LENDERS:

   

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

   

as a Lender, the Swingline Lender and an Issuing Lender

   

By:

 

        /s/ Sophia T. Chen            

   

Name:  Sophia T. Chen

   

Title:  Senior Vice President

KORN FERRY

CREDIT AGREEMENT


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as a Lender and an Issuing Lender
By:           /s/ Anna Chasovskaya            
Name:  Anna Chasovskaya
Title:  Senior Vice President

KORN FERRY

CREDIT AGREEMENT


BMO HARRIS BANK, N.A.

as a Lender

By:

 

      /s/ Victoria D. Ehle                    

Name: Victoria D. Ehle

Title: Director

KORN FERRY

CREDIT AGREEMENT


BANK OF THE WEST

as a Lender

By:

 

      /s/ Shikha Rehman                    

Name: Shikha Rehman

Title: Director

KORN FERRY

CREDIT AGREEMENT


MUFG BANK, LTD.

as a Lender

By:

 

      /s/ Jeffrey Flagg                    

Name: Jeffrey Flagg

Title: Authorized Signatory

KORN FERRY

CREDIT AGREEMENT


HSBC BANK USA, N.A.

as a Lender

By:

 

      /s/ John S. Leiter                         

Name: John S. Leiter

Title: SVP, Global Relationship Manager

KORN FERRY

CREDIT AGREEMENT


CAPITAL ONE, N.A.
as a Lender
By:           /s/ Neha Shah                    
Name: Neha Shah
Title: Duly Authorized Signatory

KORN FERRY

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Exhibit 99.1

         Korn Ferry Announces Pricing of $400 Million Senior Notes Offering

December 12, 2019

LOS ANGELES—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Dec. 12, 2019—Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY) (the “Company”) today announced the pricing of its previously announced offer of $400 million in aggregate principal amount of its 4.625% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Notes”) in a private offering. The offering is expected to close on December 16, 2019, subject to customary closing conditions. The Company intends to use the proceeds from this offering to repay all amounts outstanding under its existing five-year senior secured revolving credit facility and to pay expenses and fees in connection therewith and for general corporate purposes. In addition, the Company expects, subject to customary closing conditions, to close a new $650 million five-year senior secured revolving credit facility in connection with the closing of the offering on December 16, 2019.

The Notes were offered and will be sold to persons reasonably believed to be “qualified institutional buyers” pursuant to Rule 144A and to non-U.S. persons outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Notes will be senior unsecured obligations of the Company and will rank equally in right of payment with any of the Company’s existing and future senior indebtedness and senior in right of payment to any of its future subordinated indebtedness. Certain of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries (each, a “Subsidiary Guarantor”) will guarantee obligations under the Notes with guarantees that will rank equally in right of payment with any of the existing and future senior indebtedness of each such Subsidiary Guarantor and senior in right of payment to any future subordinated indebtedness of such Subsidiary Guarantor.

The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state laws.

This press release will not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase the Notes or any other securities, and will not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This press release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act.

About Korn Ferry

Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm. We work with clients to design their organizational structures, roles, and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward, develop, and motivate their workforce. And, we help professionals navigate and advance their careers.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “will,” “may,” “expect,”


“anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “plan,” “outlook,” and “project” and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Such statements are based on Korn Ferry’s current expectations and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of the control of Korn Ferry. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements.

A number of factors could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: competition in our industries; the failure to attract and retain consultants; local and global economic conditions; the possibility that Korn Ferry or their respective subsidiaries and affiliates may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; risks associated with our indebtedness; and other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in filings with the SEC by Korn Ferry.

Korn Ferry disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    MEDIA CONTACT

    Dan Gugler

    310 552 1834

    dan.gugler@kornferry.com

    INVESTOR CONTACT

    Gregg Kvochak

    310 552 1834

    gregg.kvochak@kornferry.com