Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 15, 2021.

Registration No. 333-                 

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Bumble Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   7370   85-3604367

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1105 West 41st Street

Austin, Texas 78756

Telephone: (512) 696-1409

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Whitney Wolfe Herd

Chief Executive Officer

Bumble Inc.

1105 West 41st Street

Austin, Texas 78756

Telephone: (512) 696-1409

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Joshua Ford Bonnie

Edgar J. Lewandowski

William R. Golden III

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

900 G Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20001

Telephone: (202) 636-5500

 

Laura Franco

Chief Legal and Compliance

Officer

Bumble Inc.

1105 West 41st Street

Austin, Texas 78756

Telephone: (512) 696-1409

 

Byron B. Rooney

Roshni Banker Cariello

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

450 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Telephone: (212) 450-4000

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of the proposed sale of the securities to the public: As soon as practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective.

 

 

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.  ☐

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
     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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of
Securities to be Registered
 

Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate

Offering Price (1)(2)

  Amount of
Registration Fee

Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

  $100,000,000   $10,910

 

 

 

(1)

Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the amount of the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(2)

Includes                shares of Class A common stock that are subject to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 15, 2021

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

             Shares

 

 

LOGO

Bumble Inc.

Class A Common Stock

$             per share

 

 

This is the initial public offering of shares of Class A common stock of Bumble Inc. We are selling                 shares of our Class A common stock. We currently expect the initial public offering price to be between $                and $                per share of Class A common stock. We have applied to list our shares of Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) under the trading symbol “BMBL.”

In general, holders of shares of our Class A common stock are entitled to one vote for each share of Class A common stock held of record on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally. Each holder of Class B common stock shall generally be entitled, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such holder, to one vote for each Common Unit (as defined herein) held by such holder on all matters on which stockholders of Bumble Inc. are entitled to vote generally. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless they elect otherwise, each of our Principal Stockholders (as defined herein) will be entitled to outsized voting rights as follows. Until the High Vote Termination Date (as defined herein), each share of Class A common stock held by a Principal Stockholder will entitle such Principal Stockholder to ten votes and each Principal Stockholder that holds Class B common stock will be entitled, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such Principal Stockholder, to a number of votes equal to 10 times the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units (as defined herein)) of Buzz Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Bumble Holdings”) held by such Principal Stockholder. See “Description of Capital Stock.”

After the completion of this offering, Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder of Bumble (our “Founder”), affiliates of The Blackstone Group Inc. and our Co-Investor (as defined herein) will beneficially own approximately         % of the combined voting power of our Class A and Class B common stock (or         % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). As a result, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq corporate governance standards. See “Management—Controlled Company Exception” and “Principal Stockholders.”

Our organizational structure following this offering is commonly referred to as an umbrella partnership-C-corporation (or UP-C) structure. Prior to this offering, Bumble Holdings is the parent company of our business. In connection with this offering, Bumble Inc. will become the general partner of Bumble Holdings. As sole general partner, Bumble Inc. will hold 100% of the voting power in Bumble Holdings. The interests in Bumble Holdings held by the limited partners of Bumble Holdings, which we refer to as the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders, will be generally non-voting. Bumble Inc. will directly and indirectly hold         % of the outstanding Common Units in Bumble Holdings (or         % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders will hold         % of the outstanding Common Units in Bumble Holdings (or         % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). The Pre-IPO Common Unitholders will also hold shares of Class B common stock in Bumble Inc. See “Organizational Structure.”

We and the holders of our Common Units will also enter into an exchange agreement under which they (or certain permitted transferees) will have the right (subject to the terms of the exchange agreement) to exchange their Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) for shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to customary conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Exchange Agreement.”

Bumble Inc. intends to use $                million of the net proceeds from this offering to acquire newly issued Common Units from Bumble Holdings, as described under “Organizational Structure—Offering Transactions.” Bumble Inc. intends to cause Bumble Holdings to use these proceeds to repay outstanding indebtedness under our Term Loan Facility (as defined herein) totalling approximately $                 million in aggregate principal amount and approximately $             million for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.” Bumble Inc. intends to use the remaining net proceeds from this offering (including from any exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) to purchase or redeem outstanding equity interests from our pre-IPO owners, as described under “Organizational Structure—Offering Transactions.”

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined under the federal securities laws and, as such, may elect to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for future filings. See “Summary—Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company.”

 

 

Investing in shares of our Class A common stock involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 28.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

     Per
Share
     Total  

Initial public offering price

   $                    $                

Underwriting discounts and commissions

   $        $    

Proceeds, before expenses, to Bumble Inc.

   $        $    

Please see the section entitled “Underwriting” for a description of compensation payable to the underwriters.

To the extent that the underwriters sell more than                 shares of our Class A common stock, the underwriters have the option to purchase up to an additional                shares of our Class A common stock from us at the initial public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions, within 30 days from the date of this prospectus.

The underwriters expect to deliver the shares of our Class A common stock against payment in New York, New York on or about                 ,            .

 

 

 

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC   Citigroup
                      Morgan Stanley   J.P. Morgan                      

 

 

The date of this prospectus is                , 2021.


Table of Contents

LOGO

MAKE THE FIRST MOVE


Table of Contents

LOGO

Relationships Are the Backbone of Our Lives Where We Are Today ~42M    $ 417M Q3 ’20 MAUs YTD Sep ’20 Revenue 1 +15% YOY 2.4M$(117)M YTD Sep ’20 Paying UsersYTD Sep ’20 Net (Loss) Earnings 2 (28)% Margin 3 650+$108M Q3 ’20 Full Time EmployeesYTD Sep ’20 Adjusted EBITDA 4 26% Margin 5 1 Includes $40.0 million for the predecessor period from January 1,4 Includes $9.4 million for the predecessor period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 and $376.6 million for the successor2020 to January 28, 2020 and $98.9 million for the successor period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020.period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020. 2 Includes $(32.6) million for the predecessor period from January 1, 5 Adjusted EBITDA Margin was 23.4% and 26.3% for the 2020 to January 28, 2020 and $(84.1) million for the successorpredecessor period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 and period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020.for the successor period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, respectively. 3 Net (Loss) Earnings Margin was (81.4)% and (22.3)% for the predecessor period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 and for the successor period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, respectively.

 


Table of Contents

LOGO

In Love In Life In Work


Table of Contents

LOGO

Date Honestly

 


Table of Contents

Table of Contents

 

     Page  

A Letter from Whitney Wolfe Herd, Founder and CEO

     v  

Summary

     1  

Risk Factors

     28  

Forward-Looking Statements

     73  

Market and Industry Data

     73  

Trademarks, Service Marks and Copyrights

     74  

Organizational Structure

     75  

Use of Proceeds

     82  

Dividend Policy

     83  

Capitalization

     84  

Dilution

     86  

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information

     88  

Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data

     98  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     100  
     Page  

Business

     137  

Management

     167  

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

     198  

Principal Stockholders

     207  

Description of Certain Indebtedness

     212  

Description of Capital Stock

     215  

Material U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders

     225  

Shares Eligible for Future Sale

     228  

Underwriting

     231  

Legal Matters

     236  

Change in Auditor

     236  

Experts

     237  

Where You Can Find More Information

     238  

Index to Financial Statements

     F-1  
 

 

 

Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus, any amendment or supplement to this prospectus or any free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf. Neither we nor the underwriters take any responsibility for, or can provide any assurance as to the reliability of, any information other than the information in this prospectus, any amendment or supplement to this prospectus or any free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf. We and the underwriters are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, shares of our Class A common stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of shares of our Class A common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

Through and including                ,                (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to a dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to an unsold allotment or subscription.

About This Prospectus

Financial Statement Presentation

Following this offering, Bumble Holdings will be the predecessor of Bumble Inc. for financial reporting purposes. Immediately following this offering, Bumble Inc. will be a holding company, and its sole material asset will be a controlling equity interest in Bumble Holdings. As the general partner of Bumble Holdings, Bumble Inc. will operate and control all of the business and affairs of Bumble Holdings, have the obligation to absorb losses and receive benefits from Bumble Holdings and, through Bumble Holdings and its subsidiaries, conduct our business. The Reorganization Transactions (as defined below) will be accounted for as a reorganization of entities under common control. As a result, the consolidated financial statements of Bumble Inc. will recognize the assets and liabilities received in the Reorganization Transactions at their historical carrying amounts, as reflected in the historical financial statements of Bumble Holdings. Bumble Inc. will consolidate Bumble Holdings on its consolidated financial statements and record a non-controlling interest related to the Common Units (as defined below) and the Incentive Units (as defined below) held by our pre-IPO owners on its consolidated balance sheet and statement of operations. See “Organizational Structure.”

 

i


Table of Contents

Bumble Holdings was formed primarily as a vehicle to finance the Sponsor Acquisition (as defined below). As Bumble Holdings did not have any previous operations, Worldwide Vision Limited, a Bermuda exempted limited company, is viewed as the predecessor to Bumble Holdings and its consolidated subsidiaries. Accordingly, this prospectus includes certain historical consolidated financial and other data for Worldwide Vision Limited for periods prior to the completion of the Sponsor Acquisition. On January 29, 2020, Worldwide Vision Limited was merged via a solvent transfer of trade and assets into Buzz Merger Sub Limited, a subsidiary of Buzz Holdings L.P., which carries forward and continues to operate the Worldwide Vision Limited trade as of that date. As a result, on January 29, 2020, Worldwide Vision Limited ceased to exist and Buzz Merger Sub Limited was subsequently renamed Worldwide Vision Limited. Accordingly, the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of Bumble Holdings will include a black line as of January 28, 2020, and present consolidated financial statements of the predecessor for periods prior to January 28, 2020 and consolidated information of the successor for periods following January 28, 2020. On September 9, 2020, Worldwide Vision Limited merged with and into Buzz Finco L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect subsidiary of Buzz Holdings L.P., with Buzz Finco L.L.C. surviving such merger.

Certain Definitions

As used in this prospectus, unless otherwise noted or the context requires otherwise:

 

   

“Badoo App and Other Average Revenue per Paying User” or “Badoo App and Other ARPPU” is a metric calculated based on Badoo App and Other Revenue in any measurement period, excluding any revenue generated from advertising and partnerships or affiliates, divided by Badoo App and Other Paying Users in such period divided by the number of months in the period.

 

   

a “Badoo App and Other Paying User” is a user that has purchased or renewed a subscription plan and/or made an in-app purchase on the Badoo app in a given month (or made a purchase on one of our other apps that we owned and operated in a given month, or purchase on other third-party apps that used our technology in the relevant period). We calculate Badoo App and Other Paying Users as a monthly average, by counting the number of Badoo App and Other Paying Users in each month and then dividing by the number of months in the relevant measurement period.

 

   

“Badoo App and Other Revenue” is revenue derived from purchases or renewals of a Badoo subscription plan and/or in-app purchases on the Badoo app in the relevant period, purchases on one of our other apps that we owned and operated in the relevant period, purchases on other third party apps that used our technology in the relevant period and advertising, partnerships or affiliates revenue in the relevant period.

 

   

“Blocker Companies” refer to certain entities that are taxable as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes in which the Pre-IPO Shareholders hold interests, as described under “Organizational Structure—Blocker Restructuring.”

 

   

“Bumble,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer (1) prior to the consummation of the Sponsor Acquisition, to Worldwide Vision Limited, a Bermuda exempted limited company, and its consolidated subsidiaries, (2) after the Sponsor Acquisition but prior to the consummation of the Offering Transactions described under “Organizational Structure—Offering Transactions,” to Buzz Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and its consolidated subsidiaries and (3) after the Offering Transactions described under “Organizational Structure—Offering Transactions,” to Bumble Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

   

“Bumble App Average Revenue per Paying User” or “Bumble App ARPPU” is a metric calculated based on Bumble App Revenue in any measurement period, divided by Bumble App Paying Users in such period divided by the number of months in the period.

 

   

a “Bumble App Paying User” is a user that has purchased or renewed a Bumble subscription plan and/or made an in-app purchase on the Bumble app in a given month. We calculate Bumble App Paying Users as a monthly average, by counting the number of Bumble App Paying Users in each month and then dividing by the number of months in the relevant measurement period.

 

ii


Table of Contents
   

“Bumble App Revenue” is revenue derived from purchases or renewals of a Bumble subscription plan and/or in-app purchases on the Bumble app in the relevant period.

 

   

“Bumble BFF” or “Bumble for Friends” is a mode within the Bumble app that enables users to form platonic connections.

 

   

“Bumble Bizz” is a mode within the Bumble app that enables users to form professional connections.

 

   

“Bumble Date” is a mode within the Bumble app that enables users to form romantic connections.

 

   

“Blackstone” or “our Sponsor” refer to investment funds associated with The Blackstone Group Inc.

 

   

“Co-Investor” or “Accel” refer to an affiliate of Accel Partners LP.

 

   

“Class B Units” refers to the interests in Bumble Holdings called “Class B Units” that are outstanding prior to the Reclassification.

 

   

“Common Units” refers to the new class of units of Bumble Holdings created by the Reclassification as described under “Organizational Structure,” and does not include Incentive Units.

 

   

“Continuing Incentive Unitholders” refers to certain pre-IPO holders of Class B Units who will hold Incentive Units following the consummation of the Reorganization Transactions and the Offering Transactions.

 

   

“Converting Class B Unitholder” refers to pre-IPO holders of Class B Units that are not Continuing Incentive Unitholders.

 

   

“Existing owners” or “pre-IPO owners” refer to our Founder, our Sponsor, Co-Investor and management and other equity holders who are the owners of Bumble Holdings immediately prior to the Offering Transactions.

 

   

“Founder” refers to Whitney Wolfe Herd, our Chief Executive Officer and member of our board of directors, together with entities beneficially owned by her.

 

   

“High Vote Termination Date” means the earlier to occur of (i) seven years from the closing of this offering and (ii) the date the parties to the stockholders agreement cease to own in the aggregate 7.5% of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock, assuming exchange of all Common Units.

 

   

“Incentive Units” refers to the new class of units of Bumble Holdings created by the reclassification of the Class B Units in the Reclassification as described under “Organizational Structure.” The Incentive Units are “profit interests” having economic characteristics similar to stock appreciation rights and having the right to share in any equity value of Bumble Holdings above specified participation thresholds. Vested Incentive Units may be converted to Common Units and be subsequently exchanged for shares of Class A common stock as described under “Organizational Structure.”

 

   

“monthly active user” or “MAU” represents the number of unique users that opened, visited or interacted with our apps in a given calendar month.

 

   

“Offering Transactions” refers to the offering of Class A common stock hereby and certain related transactions, as defined in “Organizational Structure—Offering Transactions.”

 

   

“Payback Period” refers to the average number of months required to fully recoup the marketing expenditure of acquiring a new user in the relevant reporting period.

 

   

“Pre-IPO Shareholders” refer to pre-IPO owners that will receive shares of Class A common stock of Bumble Inc. pursuant to the Blocker Restructuring as defined and described in “Organizational Structure—Blocker Restructuring.”

 

   

“Pre-IPO Common Unitholders” refer to pre-IPO owners that will hold Common Units following the reclassification of our capital structure as described under “Organizational Structure.”

 

   

“Principal Stockholders” refers collectively to our Founder, our Sponsor and Accel.

 

   

“Reclassification” refers to the reclassification of the limited partnership interests of Bumble Holdings, as described in “Summary—Organizational Structure.”

 

iii


Table of Contents
   

“Reorganization Transactions” refers to the reclassification of the limited partnership interests of Bumble Holdings and certain related transactions, as defined in “Organizational Structure—Reclassification and Amendment and Restatement of Limited Partnership Agreement of Bumble Holdings.”

 

   

“Sponsor Acquisition” refers to the acquisition on January 29, 2020 by our Sponsor of a majority stake in Worldwide Vision Limited and certain transactions related thereto, as described in “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Sponsor Acquisition.”

 

   

“Total Average Revenue per Paying User” or “Total ARPPU” is a metric calculated based on Total Revenue in any measurement period, excluding any revenue generated from advertising and partnerships or affiliates, divided by the Total Paying Users in such period divided by the number of months in the period.

 

   

“Total Paying Users” is the sum of Bumble App Paying Users and Badoo App and Other Paying Users.

 

   

“Total Revenue” is the sum of Bumble App Revenue and Badoo App and Other Revenue.

 

   

“user” is a user ID (“UID”), a unique identifier assigned during registration.

 

 

Unless indicated otherwise, the information included in this prospectus assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to an additional                 shares of Class A common stock from us and that the shares of Class A common stock to be sold in this offering are sold at $                per share, which is the midpoint of the price range indicated on the front cover of this prospectus.

 

iv


Table of Contents

LOGO

 


Table of Contents

LOGO

 


Table of Contents

SUMMARY

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in shares of our Class A common stock. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the section entitled “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus, before you decide to invest in shares of our Class A common stock.

Who We Are

Bumble was founded because we noticed two different, yet related issues in our society: antiquated gender norms, and a lack of kindness and accountability on the internet. We observed that women were often treated unequally in society, especially in romantic relationships. At the same time, social networks created possibilities for connections, but they were focused on connections with people you already know and lacked guardrails to encourage better behavior online.

We created Bumble to change this. The Bumble brand was built with women at the center—where women make the first move. We are rewriting the script on gender norms by building a platform that is designed to be safe and empowering for women, and, in turn, provides a better environment for everyone. We are leveraging innovative technology solutions to create a more inclusive, safe and accountable way to connect online for all users regardless of gender.

Our platform enables people to connect and build equitable and healthy relationships on their own terms. We believe there is a significant opportunity to extend our platform beyond online dating into healthy relationships across all areas of life: love, friendships, careers and beyond. By empowering women across all of their relationships, we believe that we have the potential to become a preeminent global women’s brand.

Today, Bumble operates two apps, Bumble and Badoo, where over 40 million users come on a monthly basis to discover new people and connect with each other in a safe, secure and empowering environment.(1) We are a leader in the fast-growing online dating space, which has become increasingly popular over the last decade and is now the most common way for new couples to meet in the United States according to a study published by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (“PNAS”). Our community is highly engaged with, on average, over 150 million messages sent every day in the last nine months ended September 30, 2020.

Bumble and Badoo are two of the highest grossing online dating mobile applications globally, as of August 2020, according to Sensor Tower, with Bumble and Badoo ranking among the top five grossing iOS lifestyle apps in 30 and 89 countries, respectively. We generated $488.9 million of revenue in the year ended December 31, 2019, representing year-over-year growth of 35.8%. We generated $376.6 million and $40.0 million of revenue in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020 and in the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, respectively.

 

   

The Bumble app, launched in 2014, is one of the first dating apps built with women at the center. On Bumble, women make the first move, and have done so more than 1.7 billion times from September 2014 to September 2020. Bumble is the second highest grossing dating app in the world according to Sensor Tower, with 12.3 million monthly active users (“MAUs”) as of September 30, 2020. Bumble is a leader in the online dating sector across several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. We believe that because women feel more confident and empowered

 

(1) 

Total Company monthly active users as of September 30, 2020 was 42.1 million, reflecting the contribution of other apps which are operated by the Company.



 

1


Table of Contents
 

on our platform, they are more engaged than on other dating apps. For example, the Bumble app experienced approximately 30% growth in the number of messages sent by women from the three months ended March 30, 2019 to the three months ended September 30, 2020. As a result, we believe that Bumble has one of the highest percentages of women Paying Users among dating apps. According to OC&C Strategy Consultants LLP, UK (“OC&C”), within the North America freemium market, Bumble has approximately 30% more female users for every male user compared to the gender mix of users in the market who do not use Bumble. Additionally, according to OC&C, a higher percentage of Bumble’s female users convert to payers than the market average. We had approximately 1.1 million Bumble App Paying Users during the nine months ended September 2020.

 

   

The Badoo app, launched in 2006, was one of the pioneers of web and mobile free-to-use dating products. Badoo’s mantra of “Date Honestly” extends our focus on building meaningful connections to everyone. Badoo is the fourth highest grossing dating app in the world according to Sensor Tower, with 28.4 million MAUs as of September 30, 2020. Badoo continues to be a market leader in Europe and Latin America and is diversified across geographies as a top three grossing iOS lifestyle app in 59 countries as of September 30, 2020. We had approximately 1.3 million Badoo App and Other Paying Users during the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

Bumble is more than our apps—we are powering a movement. Our mission-first strategy ensures that values guide our business decisions and our business performance enables us to drive impact. Our strategy is anchored by our powerful brand, product leadership, operational excellence and impact initiatives. Our scale helps us continuously innovate the user experience, enhance brand awareness and operate a durable business model. Examples of how our mission drives our business include:

 

   

We purpose-built the Bumble app with features designed to empower women, giving them more control in relationships. We believe that by empowering women through rewriting relationship dynamics, we can make the world better for everyone.

 

   

We extend the values underpinning Bumble through Badoo’s focus on becoming the leading platform for honest dating. We have also redesigned Badoo’s product features for safety and security enabling a more equitable, inclusive, safe and accountable way to connect online.

 

   

We enhance our brand through impact initiatives beyond our apps, including initiatives such as policy advocacy to ban unwanted lewd images online and our commitment to invest in women founders through the Bumble Fund (our early-stage, corporate investing vehicle focused primarily on businesses founded and led by women of color).

 

   

We enhance our brand through marketing campaigns centered around elevating women, including the “Be the CEO Your Parents Wanted You to Marry” and “Believe Women” campaigns.

As we grow and execute on our mission, we will continue to increase our brand awareness, which we believe will attract more people to our platform.

Our users connect deeply with our brand, making it a powerful marketing tool which generates word of mouth virality and strong, efficient user acquisition. This is evidenced by the fact that only 22% of new users across our apps came from attributable performance marketing in the nine months ended September 30, 2020. As our community continues to grow, user engagement and monetization increase. These increases enable us to reinvest in product innovation and marketing and, in turn, attract more people to our platform. This results in powerful network effects, driving growth and strong unit economics: our Payback Period on user acquisition costs for all new user registrations averaged less than three months in the nine months ended September 30, 2020.



 

2


Table of Contents

We believe that the best way to compete in a world where people have multiple ways to connect is through product innovation. We uniquely design our products to facilitate engagement prioritizing safety and accountability across the user experience. We continuously collect user feedback, which informs our product development roadmap. The Bumble and Badoo apps share a common infrastructure, which allows insights to be shared between apps. Our shared infrastructure, built by a global team of engineers with expertise in mobile app and server development, data science, and machine learning, is also critical to providing our users with personalized and superior experiences. Our team has a strong track record of product leadership in online dating. We were among the first major dating apps to:

 

   

Introduce automated photo verification as a safety feature (2016).

 

   

Launch in-app video chat (2016).

 

   

Leverage machine-learning capabilities to blur unsolicited lewd images (2019).

We are just getting started. We see significant upside in our core online dating market driven by the steady growth of the global singles population, increasing adoption of online dating both in the United States and globally and increasing propensity to pay for online dating. We started with online dating and now have insights from our community that have encouraged us to extend Bumble into many more areas of life. We have built our platform with the flexibility to pursue these opportunities in the future. For example, we are in the early stages of building products for platonic friendships and business networking with Bumble BFF and Bumble Bizz, respectively. There are approximately 3.8 billion women globally, of which approximately 1.1 billion are single and 1.8 billion are working. Women are often the household’s primary decision maker and are estimated to have over $30 trillion of purchasing power globally; yet technology platforms are not being built specifically with women in mind. We believe that there is a significant opportunity to build on our foundation as a technology platform centered on women to become a preeminent global women’s brand. Wherever women go, we can go too.

Our financial model is characterized by a rare combination of growth, scale, strong profitability and cash flow generation. Both the Bumble and Badoo apps monetize via a freemium model where the use of our service is free and a subset of our users pay for subscriptions or in-app purchases to access premium features. These features maximize our users’ probability and speed of developing meaningful connections.

For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, we generated:

 

   

Total Revenue of $360.1 million and $488.9 million, respectively, representing year-over-year growth of 35.8%;

 

   

Bumble App Revenue of $162.4 million and $275.5 million, respectively, representing year-over-year growth of 69.7%;

 

   

Badoo App and Other Revenue of $197.7 million and $213.4 million, respectively, representing year-over-year growth of 7.9%;

 

   

Net earnings (loss) of $(23.7) million and $85.8 million, respectively, representing a year-over-year increase of $109.5 million, with a net earnings (loss) margin of (6.6)% and 17.6%, respectively;

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA of $65.8 million and $101.8 million, respectively, representing Adjusted EBITDA Margins of 18.3% and 20.8%, respectively, and year-over-year growth of 54.7%;

 

   

Net cash provided by operating activities of $71.8 million and $101.4 million, respectively, representing year-over-year growth of 41.2% and Operating Cash Flow Conversion of (303.2)% and 118.1%, respectively; and



 

3


Table of Contents
   

Free Cash Flow of $63.7 million and $91.7 million, respectively, representing Free Cash Flow Conversion of 96.9% and 90.1%, respectively, and year-over-year growth of 44.0%.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, we generated:

 

   

Total Revenue of $362.6 million, $40.0 million and $376.6 million, respectively;

 

   

Bumble App Revenue of $203.4 million, $23.3 million and $231.5 million, respectively;

 

   

Badoo App and Other Revenue of $159.2 million, $16.7 million and $145.1 million, respectively;

 

   

Net (loss) earnings of $68.6 million, $(32.6) million and $(84.1) million, respectively, with a net (loss) earnings margin of 18.9%, (81.4)% and (22.3)%, respectively;

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA of $80.0 million, $9.4 million and $98.9 million, respectively, representing Adjusted EBITDA Margins of 22.1%, 23.4% and 26.3%, respectively;

 

   

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of $70.6 million, $(3.3) million and $1.0 million, respectively, and Operating Cash Flow Conversion of 102.9%, 10.2% and (1.2)%, respectively; and

 

   

Free Cash Flow of $64.3 million, $(4.4) million and $(4.7) million, respectively, representing Free Cash Flow Conversion of 80.4%, (46.4)% and (4.8)%, respectively.

For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, information about why we consider Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion useful and a discussion of the material risks and limitations of these measures, please see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

Our Opportunity

According to a study published by PNAS, online dating is the most common way for couples to meet in the United States. As of 2017, approximately 40% of new couples met online, surpassing bars, restaurants, and friends as the top source. However, adoption of online dating in the United States and globally has substantial runway. The market is buoyed by tailwinds including increased mobile phone penetration, delayed marriage and changing cultural norms around marriage and dating. Because of the unparalleled ease and convenience of finding a potential date, we believe the adoption of online dating has significant upside.

 

LOGO

 

Source:Michael J. Rosenfeld, Reuben J. Thomas, and Sonia Hausen. 2019. “Disintermediating your Friends: How online dating in the United States displaces other ways of meeting.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 116:17753–17758. https://www.pnas.org/content/116/36/17753.



 

4


Table of Contents

OC&C estimates that North America—defined as the United States and Canada—is the largest online dating market with approximately 44 million monthly active users of online dating representing an online dating market of approximately $2.0 billion as of 2020. OC&C estimates that on a global basis—defined to exclude China—there are approximately 190 million monthly active users of online dating representing a global online dating market of approximately $5.3 billion as of 2020. The North American online dating market is projected to grow approximately 11% annually from approximately $2.0 billion in 2020 to approximately $3.4 billion in 2025 and the global market is projected to grow approximately 13% annually from approximately $5.3 billion in 2020 to approximately $9.9 billion in 2025. Within the dating market, the freemium segment in North America is projected to grow approximately 16% annually from approximately $1.3 billion in 2020 to approximately $2.7 billion in 2025, and the global freemium segment is projected to grow approximately 18% annually from approximately $3.3 billion in 2020 to approximately $7.7 billion in 2025. The primary drivers of market growth include a growing singles population (defined as unmarried people), further penetration of online dating and increased monetization. We also see greenfield opportunities in emerging markets, including several countries with far more challenging gender dynamics that can benefit from our mission.

While there are significant benefits to scale, we believe that online dating is not a “winner-take-all” market, with people using or having an average of two different apps installed on their phones at the same time to help diversify their network and maximize the probability of finding successful connections. Our scale, mission-driven brand and consistent product innovation position us well to be a top app choice for users.

Our Value Proposition to Our Community

Our goal is to create meaningful connections and healthy relationships for everyone. The Bumble app is helping redefine centuries-old gender dynamics to create a more equitable and balanced environment. The Badoo app encourages honesty in all connections. The values underpinning our mission extend across both apps to create more inclusive, safe spaces to meet and engage with new people.

 

   

Meaningful Connections and Healthy Relationships. Whether a lifelong partnership or a great first date, we strive to provide users the tools to find what they are looking for. We are fundamentally changing people’s lives, and that is reflected in our loyal community who serve as advocates for our platform long after they have stopped daily usage.

 

   

Trust and Safety. We are focused on the trust and safety of our community. We have a zero-tolerance policy against misogynistic, abusive, and inappropriate behavior. We have reinforced that emphasis of online accountability through technology to support safety and security, including being among the first major dating apps to launch features such as video chat, to blur unwanted lewd images, and to introduce automated photo verification.

 

   

Innovative Features. Singles turn to online dating because it provides them the opportunity to seamlessly meet new people virtually. Our obsession with every detail in the user journey drives our hyper-focus on continuously developing new features that keep the user experience fresh, fun, engaging and impactful. We especially emphasize product and feature development geared towards women on the Bumble app.

 

   

A Large, Growing, Engaged Community. We have created a large, growing and engaged community with approximately 2.4 million average Total Paying Users as of September 30, 2020, up 18.8% from September 30, 2019. The sheer scale of our platform creates powerful network effects, with more users on the platform improving selection, which improves user experience and drives even more users to our platform.



 

5


Table of Contents

Our Strengths

We believe the following strengths will drive our continued success in the fast-growing online dating market and beyond.

 

   

Mission-Driven Brand Which Resonates Deeply With Users: Bumble is building a preeminent global women’s brand founded to address antiquated gender norms and a lack of kindness and accountability on the internet. We built brand recognition through a commitment to empowering women, which is integral to every decision we make—from the product features we launch to our marketing campaigns to our policy advocacy and philanthropic work.

 

   

Relentless Focus on Product Leadership to Improve User Experience: We have been focused on transforming online dating user experiences through products designed to ensure safety and accountability. We were among the first major dating apps to introduce automated photo verification, to launch in-app video chat, and to leverage machine-learning capabilities to blur unsolicited lewd images. Badoo was one of the first online dating apps to implement a freemium business model, via opt-in subscriptions as a form of monetization.

 

   

Fully Integrated Platform Accelerates Innovation and Drives Operational Efficiency: Our apps are powered by a platform that is fully integrated across technology infrastructure, product, marketing and operations. We believe this approach is a competitive advantage, enabling us to innovate and grow quickly and efficiently in both dating and new categories as well as in existing and new geographies. We share insights about user adoption and behavior, monetization, product and marketing across our entire business.

 

   

Strong Profitability and Cash Flow Generation Enables Reinvestment and Delivers Long-Term Value: We have maintained a balanced approach to investment for growth and profitability for the last decade. We have increased our margin over time while continuing to invest in our brand, product innovation and technology platform. We believe that our fully integrated platform across the Bumble and Badoo apps will continue to drive significant operating leverage over the long-term. Our strong profitability and cash flow generation enables us to continue to reinvest in our growth.

 

   

Founder-Led, Seasoned Management Team to Lead Growth: Our leadership team is comprised of seasoned executives with a proven track record of scaling dating, technology, and other consumer businesses profitably. We are aligned, inspired, and energized by our opportunity to build a next generation consumer technology platform and a preeminent global women’s brand.

Our Growth Strategies

We see significant upside in our core online dating market driven by the steady growth of the global singles population, increasing adoption of online dating and increasing propensity for users to pay. We started with online dating and believe that our brand combined with our innovative product development and technology platform uniquely enables us to expand in dating and extend to new categories in both existing and new markets. We are focused on the following areas to drive our growth:

 

   

Growing Users in Existing Markets: We believe that there is significant upside to our adoption in the markets in which we currently operate. Our priorities include continuing to attract new users to the Bumble app in North America through brand marketing and product innovation, as well as increasing spend on Badoo app marketing where there has historically been less of a focus on brand investment.

 

   

Growing Users in New Markets: We are in the early stages of expanding the Bumble app globally. Our early proof points from launches in new markets in Europe, Asia, and Latin America encourage us to invest in our global expansion. We benefit from our 10+ years of insights into dating behaviors and established local operations across Badoo’s footprint to launch new markets. The power of Bumble’s mission and brand, coupled with our marketing expertise, helps us expand efficiently.



 

6


Table of Contents
   

Investment in Product Innovation, Machine Learning and Data Science: We will continue to invest in new dating products and features to enhance our existing users’ experience and to attract new users. We also plan to invest in innovation by leveraging the power of machine learning and data science to drive better outcomes for users and further improve our user acquisition efficiency.

 

   

Increasing Monetization: We are still early in our monetization journey and expect to increase paying users and average revenue per paying user over time. We will develop new monetization features and improve existing features in order to increase adoption of in-app purchases and our subscription programs. We will also test new pricing strategies, including different pricing tiers and user segmentation.

 

   

Expanding Into New Categories Beyond Dating: Our brand and product are designed to encourage women to go after whatever they want, not just in love but in life and work as well. We have insights from our community that we believe will enable us to extend Bumble into all areas of life and have built our platform with the flexibility to do so. We are in the early stages of building products for platonic friendships and business networking with Bumble BFF and Bumble Bizz, respectively. We plan to begin investing in marketing and product and to develop a monetization strategy for Bumble BFF, Bumble Bizz and other potential new categories.

Our Sponsor

Blackstone (NYSE: BX) is one of the world’s leading investment firms. Blackstone’s alternative asset management businesses include the management of corporate private equity funds, real estate funds, hedge fund solutions, credit-oriented funds and closed-end mutual funds. Through its different businesses, Blackstone had total assets under management of over $584 billion as of September 30, 2020.

After the completion of this offering, our Principal Stockholders will be parties to a stockholders agreement described in “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Stockholders Agreement” and will beneficially own approximately    % of the combined voting power of our Class A and Class B common stock (or     % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). As a result, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq corporate governance standards. Under these corporate governance standards, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is beneficially owned by an individual, group or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance standards, including the requirements (1) that a majority of our board of directors consist of independent directors, (2) that our board of directors have a compensation committee that is comprised entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities and (3) that our director nominations be made, or recommended to our full board of directors, by our independent directors or by a nominations committee that is comprised entirely of independent directors and that we adopt a written charter or board resolution addressing the nominations process. Accordingly, you will not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of these corporate governance requirements. In the event that we cease to be a “controlled company” and our Class A common stock continues to be listed on Nasdaq, we will be required to comply with these provisions within the applicable transition periods.

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

As a company with less than $1.07 billion in revenue during our most recently completed fiscal year as of the initial filing date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). As an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of specified reduced disclosure and other requirements that



 

7


Table of Contents

are otherwise applicable generally to public companies that are not emerging growth companies. These provisions include:

 

   

presentation of only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations in this prospectus;

 

   

reduced disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements;

 

   

no non-binding stockholder advisory votes on executive compensation or golden parachute arrangements;

 

   

exemption from any requirement of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (i.e., an auditor discussion and analysis); and

 

   

exemption from the auditor attestation requirement in the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting.

We may take advantage of these exemptions for up to five years or such earlier time that we are no longer an emerging growth company. We will cease to be an emerging growth company upon the earliest of: (1) the end of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of this offering; (2) the first fiscal year after our annual gross revenues are $1.07 billion or more; (3) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities; or (4) the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We have taken advantage of reduced disclosure regarding executive compensation arrangements and the presentation of certain historical financial information in this prospectus, and we may choose to take advantage of some but not all of these reduced disclosure obligations in future filings. If we do, the information that we provide stockholders may be different than you might get from other public companies in which you hold stock.

The JOBS Act permits an emerging growth company like us to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period until we are no longer an emerging growth company or until we affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period. Accordingly, this election allows us to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies. When a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, will adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard, unless early adoption is permitted by the standard. As a result, our consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to the financial statements of companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

Investment Risks

An investment in shares of our Class A common stock involves substantial risks and uncertainties that may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and cash flows. Some of the more significant challenges and risks relating to an investment in our company include, among other things, the following:

 

   

If we fail to retain existing users or add new users, or if our users decrease their level of engagement with our products or do not convert to paying users, our revenue, financial results and business may be significantly harmed.

 

   

The dating industry is highly competitive, with low switching costs and a consistent stream of new products and entrants, and innovation by our competitors may disrupt our business.



 

8


Table of Contents
   

Distribution and marketing of, and access to, our products depends, in significant part, on a variety of third-party publishers and platforms. If these third parties limit, prohibit or otherwise interfere with or change the terms of the distribution, use or marketing of our products in any material way, it could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

   

Access to our products depends on mobile app stores and other third parties such as data center service providers, as well as third party payment aggregators, computer systems, internet transit providers and other communications systems and service providers. If third parties such as the Apple App Store or Google Play Store adopt and enforce policies that limit, prohibit or eliminate our ability to distribute or update our applications through their stores, it could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

   

If we are not able to maintain the value and reputation of our brands, our ability to expand our base of users may be impaired, and our business and financial results may be harmed.

 

   

Changes to our existing brands and products, or the introduction of new brands or products, could fail to attract or retain users or generate revenue and profits.

 

   

Security breaches, improper access to or disclosure of our data or user data, other hacking and phishing attacks on our systems, or other cyber incidents could compromise sensitive information related to our business and/or personal data processed by us or on our behalf and expose us to liability, which could harm our reputation and materially adversely affect our business.

 

   

If the security of personal and confidential or sensitive user information that we maintain and store is breached, or otherwise accessed by unauthorized persons, it may be costly to remediate such breach and our reputation could be harmed.

 

   

We are subject to a number of risks related to credit card payments, including data security breaches and fraud that we or third parties experience or additional regulation, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

   

If we are unable to obtain, maintain, protect and enforce intellectual property rights and successfully defend against claims of infringement, misappropriation or other violations of third-party intellectual property, it could materially adversely affect our business.

 

   

Our success depends, in part, on our ability to access, collect, and use personal data about our users and payers, and to comply with applicable data privacy laws.

 

   

Our business is subject to complex and evolving U.S. and international laws and regulations. Many of these laws and regulations are subject to change and uncertain interpretation, and could result in claims, changes to our business practices, monetary penalties, increased cost of operations, or declines in user growth or engagement, or otherwise harm our business.

 

   

The varying and rapidly-evolving regulatory framework on privacy and data protection across jurisdictions could result in claims, changes to our business practices, monetary penalties, increased cost of operations, or declines in user growth or engagement, or otherwise harm our business.

 

   

Our substantial indebtedness could materially adversely affect our financial condition, our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, our ability to operate our business, our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry, our ability to meet our obligations under our outstanding indebtedness and could divert our cash flow from operations for debt payments.

 

   

Our Sponsor and our Founder control us and their interests may conflict with ours or yours in the future.

 

   

Upon the listing of our Class A common stock on Nasdaq, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of Nasdaq rules and, as a result, will qualify for exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements. You will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such requirements.



 

9


Table of Contents

Please see “Risk Factors” for a discussion of these and other factors you should consider before making an investment in shares of our Class A common stock.

Organizational Structure

Immediately following this offering, Bumble Inc. will be a holding company and its sole material asset will be a controlling equity interest in Bumble Holdings. As the general partner of Bumble Holdings, Bumble Inc. will operate and control all of the business and affairs, have the obligation to absorb losses and receive benefits from Bumble Holdings, and consolidate the financial results of Bumble Holdings and through Bumble Holdings and its subsidiaries, conduct our business. Prior to the completion of this offering, (1) the Pre-IPO Shareholders will receive shares of Class A common stock of Bumble Inc. pursuant to the Blocker Restructuring as defined and described in “Organizational Structure—Blocker Restructuring” and (2) the limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings will be amended and restated to, among other things, modify its capital structure by reclassifying the interests held by the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders and the Continuing Incentive Unitholders, resulting in Common Units and Incentive Units, respectively (such reclassification, the “Reclassification”). In addition, Class B Units that are not reclassified into Incentive Units will be directly or indirectly exchanged for shares of Class A common stock, as described under “Organizational Structure—Reclassification and Amendment and Restatement of Limited Partnership Agreement of Bumble Holdings” and “Executive Compensation—Compensation Arrangements to be Adopted in Connection with this Offering—Conversion of Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units.”

We and the holders of our Common Units will also enter into an exchange agreement under which they (or certain permitted transferees) will have the right (subject to the terms of the exchange agreement) to exchange their Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) for shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to customary conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications. For a description of the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings and the exchange agreement, please read “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions.”

In general, each share of our Class A common stock entitles its holder to one vote on all matters to be voted on by stockholders generally. Holders of our Common Units will hold all of the issued and outstanding shares of our Class B common stock. The shares of Class B common stock will have no economic rights but will generally entitle each holder, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such holder, to a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by such holder on all matters on which stockholders of Bumble Inc. are entitled to vote generally. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless they elect otherwise, each of our Principal Stockholders will be entitled to outsized voting rights as follows. Until the High Vote Termination Date (as defined below), each share of Class A common stock held by a Principal Stockholder will entitle such Principal Stockholder to ten votes and each Principal Stockholder that holds Class B common stock will be entitled, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such Principal Stockholder, to a number of votes equal to 10 times the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by such Principal Stockholder. The “High Vote Termination Date” means the earlier to occur of (i) seven years from the closing of this offering and (ii) the date the parties to the stockholders agreement cease to own in the aggregate 7.5% of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock, assuming exchange of all Common Units. In addition, if, at any time, our Founder is neither an employee nor a director, any Class A common stock or Class B common stock held by our Founder will be entitled to one vote per share (in the case of the Class A common stock) or a number of votes that is equal to the



 

10


Table of Contents

aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by our Founder (in the case of the Class B common stock), in each case on all matters on which stockholders of Bumble Inc. are entitled to vote generally.

The voting power afforded to holders of Common Units by their shares of Class B common stock will be automatically and correspondingly reduced as they sell Common Units to Bumble Inc. for cash as part of the Offering Transactions or subsequently exchange Common Units for shares of Class A common stock of Bumble Inc. pursuant to the exchange agreement. If at any time the ratio at which Common Units are exchangeable for shares of our Class A common stock changes from one-for-one as described under “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Exchange Agreement,” the number of votes to which Class B common stockholders are entitled will be adjusted accordingly. Holders of shares of our Class B common stock will vote together with holders of our Class A common stock as a single class on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally, except as otherwise required by law.

Our post-offering organizational structure, as described above, is commonly referred to as an umbrella partnership-C-corporation (or UP-C) structure. This organizational structure will allow our Pre-IPO Common Unitholders and Continuing Incentive Unitholders to retain their equity ownership in Bumble Holdings, an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in the form of Common Units or Incentive Units, respectively. Investors in this offering, the Pre-IPO Shareholders and Converting Class B Unitholders will, by contrast, hold their equity ownership in Bumble Inc., a Delaware corporation that is a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in the form of shares of Class A common stock. We believe that our Pre-IPO Common Unitholders and Continuing Incentive Unitholders generally find it advantageous to continue to hold their equity interests in an entity that is not taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We do not believe that our UP-C organizational structure will give rise to any significant business or strategic benefit or detriment to us.

The reorganization will be accounted for as a reorganization of entities under common control. As a result, the consolidated financial statements of Bumble Inc. will recognize the assets and liabilities received in the reorganization at their historical carrying amounts, as reflected in the historical financial statements of Bumble Holdings. Bumble Inc. will consolidate Bumble Holdings on its consolidated financial statements and record a non-controlling interest related to the Common Units held by our Pre-IPO Common Unitholders and the Incentive Units held by our Continuing Incentive Unitholders on its consolidated balance sheet and statement of operations.



 

11


Table of Contents

The simplified diagram below depicts our organizational structure immediately following this offering. For additional detail, see “Organizational Structure.”

 

 

LOGO

 

 

(1)

In general, each share of our Class A common stock entitles its holder to one vote on all matters to be voted on by stockholders generally. The Class B common stock will generally provide each of the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders with a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) held by such Pre-IPO Common Unitholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless they elect otherwise, each of our Principal Stockholders will be entitled to outsized voting rights as follows. Until the High Vote Termination Date, each share of Class A common stock held by a Principal Stockholder will entitle such Principal Stockholder to ten votes and each Principal Stockholder that holds Class B common stock will be entitled, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such Principal Stockholder, to a number of votes equal to 10 times the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by such Principal Stockholder. In addition, if, at any time, our Founder is neither an employee nor a director, any Class A common stock or Class B common stock held by our Founder will be entitled to one vote per share (in the case of the Class A common stock) or a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by our Founder (in the case of the Class B common stock), in each case on all matters on which stockholders of Bumble Inc. are entitled to vote generally. Immediately following this offering, assuming the issuance of the number of shares and the midpoint of the range in each case as set forth on the cover of this prospectus, our Principal Stockholders will hold     % of the voting power in Bumble Inc. For additional information, see “Organizational Structure—Organizational Structure Following this Offering” and “Description of Capital Stock—Common Stock—Class B Common Stock.”



 

12


Table of Contents
(2)

Immediately following this offering, assuming the issuance of the number of shares and the midpoint of the range in each case as set forth on the cover of this prospectus, our Founder, our Sponsor and the other Pre-IPO Common Unitholders will hold             %,             %, and             % of the outstanding Common Units of Bumble Holdings, respectively.

(3)

Assuming such Incentive Units are fully vested, at the time of this offering,              shares of Class A common stock would be issuable upon the exchange of              as-converted Incentive Units (assuming an offering price of $             per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus, and assuming such Incentive Units are fully vested and converted to Common Units) held by the Continuing Incentive Unitholders. For additional information, see “Organizational Structure—Reclassification and Amendment and Restatement of Limited Partnership Agreement of Bumble Holdings” and “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Bumble Holdings Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement.”

(4)

Certain intermediate holding companies that are not material to this offering have been omitted from the structure chart.

 

 

Corporate Information

Bumble Inc. was incorporated in Delaware on October 5, 2020. Our principal executive offices are located at 1105 West 41st Street, Austin, Texas 78756 and our telephone number is (512) 696-1409.



 

13


Table of Contents

Recent Developments

Preliminary Estimated Unaudited Financial Results for the Period from January 29, 2020 to December 31, 2020

The data presented below reflects our preliminary estimated unaudited financial results for the period from January 29, 2020 to December 31, 2020 based upon information available to us as of the date of this prospectus. This data is not a comprehensive statement of our financial results for the period from January 29, 2020 to December 31, 2020, and our actual results may differ materially from this preliminary estimated data.

While we currently expect our results for the period from January 29, 2020 to December 31, 2020 to be within the ranges set forth below, the audit of our financial statements for the period from January 29, 2020 to December 31, 2020 has not been completed. During the course of the preparation of our financial statements and related notes and the completion of the audit for the period from January 29, 2020 to December 31, 2020, additional adjustments to the preliminary estimated financial information presented below may be identified. Any such adjustments may be material. Our independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, has not audited, reviewed, compiled or performed any procedures with respect to this preliminary financial data and, accordingly, Ernst & Young LLP does not express an opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto.

Based upon such preliminary estimated financial results, we expect revenue, (loss) earnings before taxes and Adjusted EBITDA of Buzz Holdings L.P. (the “Successor”) for the period from January 29, 2020 to December 31, 2020 to be within the ranges set out in the following table as compared to the results of Worldwide Vision Limited (the “Predecessor”), the accounting predecessor of Buzz Holdings L.P., for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 and for the year ended December 31, 2019:

 

     Successor            Predecessor  
(Amounts in thousands)    Preliminary Estimated
Period
from January 29
to December 31,
2020
           Period from
January 1 to
January 28,
2020
     Year Ended
December 31,
2019
 
     Low      High            (unaudited)         

Revenue

   $                    $                        $ 39,990      $ 488,940  

(Loss) earnings before taxes

               (32,191      91,982  

Adjusted EBITDA

               9,371        101,834  

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of (loss) earnings before taxes to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods indicated. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure that is required to be disclosed by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for our results as reported under GAAP. We believe earnings (loss), before taxes is an appropriate measure for the reconciliation given that we have only recently completed the financial close process for the period from January 29, 2020 to December 31, 2020 and have not had adequate time to complete our year-end tax accounting procedures. Accordingly, there is a higher degree of complexity and lower visibility with respect to income tax accounting effects on our results for the period from January 29, 2020 to December 31, 2020, including the need to adjust (or re-measure) deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, as well as evaluate the need for a valuation allowance for the period from January 29, 2020 to December 31, 2020. We do not yet have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed to develop a reasonable estimate of the tax provisions for the period from January 29, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Accordingly, we do not believe that a presentation or estimate based on currently available information would be meaningful to users of our financial statements or material to an understanding of our financial results. See “—Summary Historical and Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial and Other Data” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of



 

14


Table of Contents

Operations” for a discussion on how we define and calculate Adjusted EBITDA and a discussion of why we believe this metric is important.

 

     Buzz Holdings L.P.            Worldwide Vision Limited  
(Amounts in thousands)    Preliminary Estimated
Period
from January 29
to December 31,
2020
           Period from
January 1 to
January 28,
2020
    Year Ended
December 31,
2019
 
     Low      High            (unaudited)        

(Loss) earnings before taxes

   $        $            $ (32,191   $ 91,982  

Add back:

              

Interest expense (income)

               (50     (202

Depreciation and amortization

               408       6,734  

Stock-based compensation expense

               336       2,160  

Litigation costs, net of insurance proceeds(1)

               —         —    

Foreign exchange loss (gain)(2)

               523       1,160  

Changes in fair value of interest rate swaps(3)

               —         —    

Transaction costs(4)

               40,345       —    

Changes in fair value of contingent earn-out liability

               —         —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $                    $                        $ 9,371     $ 101,834  
  

 

 

    

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Represents certain litigation costs and insurance proceeds associated with pending litigations or settlements of litigation. For additional information, refer to Note 15, Commitments and Contingencies, within the audited consolidated financial statements and Note 14, Commitments and Contingencies, within the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

(2)

Represents foreign exchange loss (gain) due to foreign currency transactions.

(3)

Represents fair value loss on interest rate swaps.

(4)

Represents transaction costs and professional service fees related to the Sponsor Acquisition and this offering.

Preliminary Estimated Key Operating Metrics for the Year Ended December 31, 2020

The tables below present our preliminary estimates of the following key operating metrics for the year ended December 31, 2020 based upon information available to us as of the date of this prospectus. We use a number of operational and other metrics in order to evaluate performance and make decisions about our business. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Key Operating and Financial Metrics” for additional information regarding our use of these metrics.

 

(Amounts in thousands)    Preliminary
Estimated

Year Ended
December 31,
2020
     Year Ended
December 31,
2019
 

Bumble App Paying Users(1)

        855.6  

Badoo App and Other Paying Users(2)

        1,195.0  

Total Paying Users(3)

        2,050.5  

 

(1)

A “Bumble App Paying User” is a user that has purchased or renewed a Bumble subscription plan and/or made an in-app purchase on the Bumble app in a given month. We calculate Bumble App Paying Users as a monthly average, by counting the number of Bumble App Paying Users in each month and then dividing by the number of months in the relevant measurement period.



 

15


Table of Contents
(2)

A “Badoo App and Other Paying User” is a user that has purchased or renewed a subscription plan and/or made an in-app purchase on the Badoo app in a given month (or made a purchase on one of our other apps that we owned and operated in a given month, or purchase on other third-party apps that used our technology in the relevant period). We calculate Badoo App and Other Paying Users as a monthly average, by counting the number of Badoo App and Other Paying Users in each month and then dividing by the number of months in the relevant measurement period.

(3)

We define Total Paying Users as the sum of Bumble App Paying Users and Badoo App and Other Paying Users.

 

     Preliminary Estimated
Year Ended
December 31, 2020
     Year Ended
December 31,
2019
 
     Low      High         

Bumble App ARPPU(1)

   $                        $                        $ 26.84  

Badoo App and Other ARPPU(2)

   $        $        $ 13.77  

Total ARPPU(3)

   $        $        $ 19.22  

 

(1)

“Bumble App ARPPU,” or Bumble App Average Revenue per Paying User, is calculated based on Bumble App Revenue in any measurement period, divided by Bumble App Paying Users in such period divided by the number of months in the period.

(2)

“Badoo App and Other ARPPU,” or Badoo App and Other Average Revenue per Paying User, is calculated based on Badoo App and Other Revenue in any measurement period, excluding any revenue generated from advertising and partnerships or affiliates, divided by Badoo App and Other Paying Users in such period divided by the number of months in the period.

(3)

“Total ARPPU,” or Total Average Revenue per Paying User, is calculated based on Total Revenue in any measurement period, excluding any revenue generated from advertising and partnerships or affiliates, divided by the Total Paying Users in such period divided by the number of months in the period.



 

16


Table of Contents

The Offering

 

Class A common stock offered by Bumble Inc.

            shares (plus up to an additional             shares at the option of the underwriters).

 

Class A common stock outstanding after giving effect to this offering

            shares (or             shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock).

 

Class A common stock outstanding after this offering assuming exchange of all Common Units held by the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders

            shares (which does not reflect any shares of Class A common stock issuable in exchange for as-converted Incentive Units).

 

Voting power held by investors in this offering after giving effect to this offering

    % (or     % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock).

 

Voting power held by our pre-IPO owners after giving effect to this offering

    % (or     % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock).

 

Use of proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds to Bumble Inc. from this offering, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $             million (or $             million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). Bumble Holdings will bear or reimburse Bumble Inc. for all of the expenses payable by it in this offering. We estimate these offering expenses (excluding underwriting discounts and commissions) will be approximately $             million.

 

  Bumble Inc. intends to use $             million of the net proceeds from this offering to acquire newly issued Common Units from Bumble Holdings, as described under “Organizational Structure—Offering Transactions.”

 

  Bumble Inc. intends to cause Bumble Holdings to use these proceeds to repay outstanding indebtedness under our Term Loan Facility totaling approximately $             million in aggregate principal amount and approximately $             million for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

  Bumble Inc. intends to use the remaining net proceeds from this offering, or $             million (or $             million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) to purchase or redeem outstanding equity interests from our pre-IPO owners, as described under “Organizational Structure—Offering Transactions.” Accordingly, we will not retain any of these proceeds. See “Principal Stockholders” for information regarding the proceeds from this offering that will be paid to our Principal Stockholders.


 

17


Table of Contents

Voting rights

In general, each share of our Class A common stock entitles its holder to one vote on all matters to be voted on by stockholders generally.

 

  The Pre-IPO Unitholders will hold all of the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock. The shares of Class B common stock will have no economic rights but will generally entitle each holder, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such holder, to a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of Common Units held by such holder on all matters on which stockholders of Bumble Inc. are entitled to vote generally. Holders of shares of our Class B common stock will vote together with holders of our Class A common stock as a single class on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally, except as otherwise required by law. See “Description of Capital Stock—Common Stock—Class B Common Stock.”

 

  Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless they elect otherwise, each of our Principal Stockholders will be entitled to outsized voting rights as follows. Until the High Vote Termination Date, each share of Class A common stock held by a Principal Stockholder will entitle such Principal Stockholder to ten votes and each Principal Stockholder that holds Class B common stock will be entitled, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such Principal Stockholder, to a number of votes equal to 10 times the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by such Principal Stockholder. In addition, if, at any time, our Founder is neither an employee nor a director, any Class A common stock or Class B common stock held by our Founder will be entitled to one vote per share (in the case of the Class A common stock) or a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by our Founder (in the case of the Class B common stock), in each case on all matters on which stockholders of Bumble Inc. are entitled to vote generally.

 

Dividend policy

The declaration, amount and payment of any future dividends will be at the sole discretion of our board of directors. Our board of directors may take into account general economic and business conditions, our financial condition and operating results, our available cash and current and anticipated cash needs, capital requirements, contractual, legal, tax and regulatory restrictions and implications on the payment of dividends by us to our stockholders or by our subsidiaries (including Bumble Holdings) to us, and such other factors as our board of directors may deem relevant. Shares of Class B common stock will not entitle their holders to any dividends.

 

 

Bumble Inc. is a holding company and has no material assets other than its equity interest in Bumble Holdings. We intend to cause Bumble Holdings to make distributions to us in an amount sufficient to cover cash dividends, if any, declared by us. If Bumble Holdings



 

18


Table of Contents
 

makes such distributions to Bumble Inc., the other holders of Common Units and any participating Incentive Units (as described below) will be entitled to receive equivalent pro rata distributions. Incentive Units initially will not be entitled to receive distributions (other than tax distributions) until holders of Common Units have received a minimum return as provided in the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings. However, Incentive Units will have the benefit of adjustment provisions that will reduce the participation threshold for distributions in respect of which they do not participate until there is no participation threshold, at which time the Incentive Units would participate pro rata with distributions on Common Units.

 

Exchange rights of holders of Common Units and Incentive Units

Prior to this offering, we will enter into an exchange agreement with the holders of our Common Units so that they may, after the completion of this offering (subject to the terms of the exchange agreement), exchange their Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) for shares of Class A common stock of Bumble Inc. on a one-for-one basis, subject to customary conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Exchange Agreement.”

 

  Subject to certain restrictions, the holders of vested Incentive Units will have the right to convert their vested Incentive Units into a number of Common Units of Bumble Holdings that will generally be equal to (a) the product of the number of vested Incentive Units to be converted with a given per unit participation threshold and then-current difference between the per share value of a Common Unit at the time of the conversion (based on the public trading price of a share of Class A common stock) and the per unit participation threshold of such vested Incentive Units divided by (b) the per unit value of a Common Unit at the time of the conversion (based on the public trading price of a share of Class A common stock). See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Bumble Holdings Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement.” Common Units received upon conversion will be exchangeable on a one-for-one basis for shares of Class A common stock of Bumble Inc. in accordance with the terms of the exchange agreement. An unvested Incentive Unit will not be exchangeable unless and until such Incentive Unit vests.

 

Controlled Company

Upon the closing of this offering, our Principal Stockholders will beneficially own approximately     % of the combined voting power of our Class A and Class B common stock (or     % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). As a result, we will be a “controlled company” under Nasdaq rules. As a controlled company, we qualify for, and intend to rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq.


 

19


Table of Contents

Tax receivable agreement

Prior to the completion of this offering, we will enter into a tax receivable agreement with certain of our pre-IPO owners that provides for the payment by Bumble Inc. to such pre-IPO owners of 85% of the benefits, if any, that Bumble Inc. realizes, or is deemed to realize (calculated using certain assumptions), as a result of (i) Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis acquired in this offering, (ii) increases in Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis and adjustments to the tax basis of the tangible and intangible assets of Bumble Holdings as a result of sales or exchanges of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) in connection with or after this offering, (iii) Bumble Inc.’s utilization of certain tax attributes of the Blocker Companies (as defined below) (including the Blocker Companies’ allocable share of existing tax basis) and (iv) certain other tax benefits related to entering into the tax receivable agreement, including tax benefits attributable to payments under the tax receivable agreement. There is significant existing tax basis in the assets of Bumble Holdings as a result of the Sponsor Acquisition, and subsequent sales or exchanges of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) are expected to result in increases in the tax basis of the assets of Bumble Holdings. The existing tax basis, increases in existing tax basis and tax basis adjustments generated over time may increase (for tax purposes) the depreciation and amortization deductions available to Bumble Inc. and, therefore, may reduce the amount of U.S. federal, state and local tax that Bumble Inc. would otherwise be required to pay in the future. Actual tax benefits realized by Bumble Inc. may differ from tax benefits calculated under the tax receivable agreement as a result of the use of certain assumptions in the tax receivable agreement, including the use of an assumed weighted-average state and local income tax rate to calculate tax benefits. This payment obligation is an obligation of Bumble Inc. and not of Bumble Holdings. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement.”

 

Directed share program

 At our request, the underwriters have reserved for sale, at the initial public offering price, up to     % of the Class A common stock being offered for sale, to certain individuals associated with the Company. We will offer these shares to the extent permitted under applicable regulations. Each person buying shares of Class A common stock through the directed share program will be subject to a 180-day lock-up period with respect to such shares. The number of shares of Class A common stock available for sale to the general public in this offering will be reduced to the extent that such persons purchase such reserved shares. Any reserved shares not purchased will be offered by the underwriters to the general public on the same terms as the other shares of Class A common stock. See “Underwriting.”

 

Risk factors

See “Risk Factors” for a discussion of risks you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our Class A common stock.


 

20


Table of Contents

Certain U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences to non-U.S. holders

For a discussion of certain U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences that may be relevant to non-U.S. stockholders, see “Material U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders.”

 

Nasdaq trading symbol

“BMBL”

In this prospectus, unless otherwise indicated, the number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding and the other information based thereon does not reflect:

 

   

                 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock from us;

 

   

                 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exchange of                  Common Units that will be held by the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders immediately following this offering;

 

   

                 shares of Class A common stock issuable in exchange for                  as-converted Incentive Units (assuming an offering price of $             per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus, and assuming such Incentive Units are fully vested and converted to Common Units) that will be held by the Continuing Incentive Unitholders immediately following this offering;

 

   

                 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exchange of the Loan True Up Units, as described under “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Sponsor Acquisition—Loan to Our Founder”;

 

   

                 shares of Class A common stock that may be granted under the Bumble Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Omnibus Incentive Plan”), which includes shares of Class A common stock underlying the following employee equity grants, in each case, to be awarded in connection with the offering:

 

     

                 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) in respect of                 shares of Class A common stock, which will be issuable upon the settlement of such RSUs on the later to occur of 30 days following vesting and six months following this offering (assuming an offering price of $             per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus);

 

     

                 stock options to be granted to certain Converting Class B Unitholders and holders of phantom Class B units issued by an interest holder in Bumble Holdings (“Phantom Class B Units”), which such interest holder in Bumble Holdings has issued primarily to employees and other service providers located outside of the United States (such individuals, the “Phantom Class B Unitholders”) (assuming an offering price of $             per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus) with a strike price equal to the public offering price per share of Class A common stock; or

 

     

                 shares of Class A common stock underlying new equity awards which are expected to be granted under the Omnibus Incentive Plan at the time of this offering.

 

   

                 shares of our Class A common stock available for issuance under the Bumble Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”).

See “Management—Compensation Arrangements to be Adopted in Connection with this Offering—Omnibus Incentive Plan” and “Management—Compensation Arrangements to be Adopted in Connection with this Offering—Conversion of Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units.”



 

21


Table of Contents

Summary Historical and Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial and Other Data

The following table presents the summary historical consolidated financial and other data for Buzz Holdings L.P. and Worldwide Vision Limited, the accounting predecessor of Buzz Holdings L.P., and its subsidiaries, and the summary pro forma condensed consolidated financial and other data for Bumble Inc. for the periods and at the dates indicated. Immediately following this offering, Bumble Inc. will be a holding company, and its sole material asset will be a controlling equity interest in Bumble Holdings. As the general partner of Bumble Holdings, Bumble Inc. will operate and control all of the business and affairs of Bumble Holdings, will have the obligation to absorb losses and receive benefits from Bumble Holdings and, through Bumble Holdings and its subsidiaries, conduct our business. Bumble Inc. will consolidate Bumble Holdings on its consolidated financial statements and record a non-controlling interest related to the Common Units held by our Pre-IPO Common Unitholders and the Incentive Units held by our Continuing Incentive Unitholders on its consolidated balance sheet and statement of operations. The reorganization will be accounted for as a reorganization of entities under common control.

The summary unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations data and statements of cash flows data presented below for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and the summary unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet data presented below as of September 30, 2020 have been derived from the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Buzz Holdings L.P. and of Worldwide Vision Limited included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary consolidated statements of operations data and statements of cash flows data presented below for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 and the summary consolidated balance sheet data presented below as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 have been derived from the consolidated financial statements of Worldwide Vision Limited included elsewhere in this prospectus.

The summary historical consolidated financial and other data of Bumble Inc. has not been presented because Bumble Inc. is a newly incorporated entity, has had no business transactions or activities to date and had no assets or liabilities during the periods presented in this section.

The unaudited financial statements of Buzz Holdings L.P. have been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements of Worldwide Vision Limited and, in our opinion, have included all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly in all material respects our financial position and results of operations. The results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. Historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for any future period. You should read the summary historical consolidated financial data below, together with the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, as well as “Organizational Structure,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information,” “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Description of Certain Indebtedness” and the other information included elsewhere in this prospectus.

The summary unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial data of Bumble Inc. presented below has been derived from our unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations data for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and the year ended December 31, 2019 gives effect to the Sponsor Acquisition, the Reorganization Transactions and the Offering Transactions (each as defined under “Organizational Structure”) as if they had occurred on January 1, 2019. The summary unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet data as of September 30, 2020 gives effect to the transactions described under “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information,” including the sale by us of              shares of Class A common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $                per share (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described in “Use of Proceeds” as if they had occurred on September 30, 2020. The



 

22


Table of Contents

following summary unaudited condensed consolidated pro forma financial information is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the operating results or financial position that would have occurred if the relevant transactions had been consummated on the dates indicated, nor is it indicative of future operating results or financial position. See “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information.”

 

    Bumble Inc.     Buzz
Holdings L.P.
    Worldwide Vision Limited     Worldwide Vision Limited  
    Unaudited Pro Forma     Unaudited Historical     Historical  
(Amounts in thousands)   Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2020
    Year Ended,
December 31,
2019
    Period from
January 29 to
September 30,
2020
    Period from
January 1 to
January 28,
2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
    Year Ended
December 31,
2019
    Year Ended
December 31,
2018
 

Summary Statements of Operations Data:

               

Revenue

  $                   $                   $ 376,587     $ 39,990     $ 362,639     $ 488,940     $ 360,105  

Operating costs and expenses:

               

Cost of revenue (exclusive of items shown separately below)

        102,017       10,790       105,054       139,767       110,259  

Selling and marketing expense

        104,511       11,157       102,341       142,902       93,605  

General and administrative expense

        128,120       44,907       47,373       67,079       128,981  

Product development expense

        29,915       4,087       29,010       39,205       37,517  

Depreciation and amortization expense

        65,771       408       4,903       6,734       5,957  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating costs and expenses

        430,334       71,349       288,681       395,687       376,319  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating (loss) income

        (53,747     (31,359     73,958       93,253       (16,214

Interest (expense) income

        (14,704     50       46       202       4  

Other income (expense), net

        3,474       (882     516       (1,473     (4,428
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) earnings before tax

        (64,977     (32,191     74,520       91,982       (20,638

Income tax provision

        (19,143     (365     (5,888     (6,138     (3,031
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) earnings

        (84,120     (32,556     68,632       85,844       (23,669
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests

        (100     1,917       14,587       19,698       (2,150
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) earnings attributable to owners / shareholders

  $       $       $ (84,020)     $ (34,473   $ 54,045     $ 66,146     $ (21,519
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Summary Balance Sheet Data (at period end):

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $                                      $ 176,353         $ 57,449     $ 33,289  

Total assets

        3,535,252           210,298       116,729  

Total debt

        557,438           —         —    

Total liabilities

        1,250,428           180,616       151,948  

Total owners’ / shareholders’ equity (deficit)

        2,284,824           29,682       (35,219

Summary Statements of Cash Flows Data:

               

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

      $ 1,041     $ (3,306   $ 70,595     $ 101,392     $ 71,766  

Net cash (used in) investing activities

        (2,807,488     (1,029     (8,084     (11,396     (8,394

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

        2,932,559       —         (23,359     (65,196     (37,225


 

23


Table of Contents
(Amounts in thousands, except ARPPU)    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2020
     Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
     Year Ended
December 31,
2019
     Year Ended
December 31,
2018
 
     Unaudited  

Summary Operational and Other Data:(1)

 

     

Bumble App Paying Users(2)

     1,100.2        843.9        855.6        574.1  

Badoo App and Other Paying Users(3)

     1,342.9        1,212.3        1,195.0        1,319.0  

Total Paying Users(4)

     2,443.1        2,056.2        2,050.5        1,893.1  

Bumble App ARPPU(5)

   $ 25.72      $ 26.78      $ 26.84      $ 23.57  

Badoo App and Other ARPPU(6)

   $ 12.54      $ 13.53      $ 13.77      $ 11.80  

Total ARPPU(7)

   $ 18.48      $ 18.97      $ 19.22      $ 15.37  

 

(Amounts in thousands, except percentages)    Period from
January 29 to
September 30,
2020
          Period from
January 1 to
January 28,
2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
    Year Ended
December 31,
2019
    Year Ended
December 31,
2018
 
     Unaudited  

Adjusted EBITDA(8)

   $ 98,948          $ 9,371     $ 79,963     $ 101,834     $ 65,766  

Net (Loss) Earnings Margin(8)

     (22.3 )%           (81.4 )%      18.9     17.6     (6.6 )% 

Adjusted EBITDA Margin(8)

     26.3          23.4     22.1     20.8     18.3

Operating Cash Flow Conversion(9)

     (1.2 )%           10.2     102.9     118.1     (303.2 )% 

Free Cash Flow(8)

   $ (4,738        $ (4,351   $ 64,258     $ 91,718     $ 63,719  

Free Cash Flow Conversion(8)

     (4.8 )%           (46.4 )%      80.4     90.1     96.9

 

 

(1)

We use a number of operational and other metrics in order to evaluate performance and make decisions about our business. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Key Operating and Financial Metrics” for additional information regarding our use of these metrics.

(2)

A “Bumble App Paying User” is a user that has purchased or renewed a Bumble subscription plan and/or made an in-app purchase on the Bumble app in a given month. We calculate Bumble App Paying Users as a monthly average, by counting the number of Bumble App Paying Users in each month and then dividing by the number of months in the relevant measurement period.

(3)

A “Badoo App and Other Paying User” is a user that has purchased or renewed a subscription plan and/or made an in-app purchase on the Badoo app in a given month (or made a purchase on one of our other apps that we owned and operated in a given month, or purchase on other third-party apps that used our technology in the relevant period). We calculate Badoo App and Other Paying Users as a monthly average, by counting the number of Badoo App and Other Paying Users in each month and then dividing by the number of months in the relevant measurement period.

(4)

We define Total Paying Users as the sum of Bumble App Paying Users and Badoo App and Other Paying Users.

(5)

“Bumble App ARPPU,” or Bumble App Average Revenue per Paying User, is calculated based on Bumble App Revenue in any measurement period, divided by Bumble App Paying Users in such period divided by the number of months in the period.

(6)

“Badoo App and Other ARPPU,” or Badoo App and Other Average Revenue per Paying User, is calculated based on Badoo App and Other Revenue in any measurement period, excluding any revenue generated from advertising and partnerships or affiliates, divided by Badoo App and Other Paying Users in such period divided by the number of months in the period.

(7)

“Total ARPPU,” or Total Average Revenue per Paying User, is calculated based on Total Revenue in any measurement period, excluding any revenue generated from advertising and partnerships or affiliates, divided by the Total Paying Users in such period divided by the number of months in the period.

(8)

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net earnings (loss) excluding income tax provision, interest (income) expense, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, foreign exchange loss (gain),



 

24


Table of Contents
  changes in fair value of contingent earn-out liability and interest rate swaps, transaction costs, and one-time litigation costs. Adjusted EBITDA Margin represents Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue. We define Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less capital expenditures. Free Cash Flow Conversion represents Free Cash Flow as a percentage of Adjusted EBITDA.

 

  

Management believes that certain financial measures that are not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) provide users of our financial information with useful supplemental information that enables a better comparison of our performance across periods. We believe Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin provide visibility to the underlying continuing operating performance by excluding the impact of certain expenses, including income tax provision, interest (income) expense, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, foreign exchange loss (gain), changes in fair value of contingent earn-out liability and interest rate swaps, transaction costs and one-time litigation costs, as management does not believe these expenses are representative of our core earnings. In addition to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin, we believe Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion provide useful information regarding how cash provided by operating activities compares to the capital expenditures required to maintain and grow our business, and our available liquidity, after funding such capital expenditures, to service our debt, fund strategic initiatives and strengthen our balance sheet, as well as our ability to convert our earnings to cash. Additionally, we believe such metrics are widely used by investors, securities analysis, ratings agencies and other parties in evaluating liquidity and debt-service capabilities. We calculate Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion using methodologies that we believe can provide useful supplemental information to help investors better understand underlying trends in our business.

 

  

Our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies, have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation, or as substitutes for analysis of our operating results as reported under GAAP. Additionally, we do not consider our non-GAAP financial measures as superior to, or a substitute for, the equivalent measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Some of the limitations are:

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin exclude the recurring, non-cash expenses of depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and definite-lived intangible assets and, although these are non-cash expenses, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be replaced in the future;

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin excludes the non-cash expense of stock-based compensation, which has been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, an important part of how we attract and retain our employees and a significant recurring expense in our business;

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin do not reflect the interest (income) expense or the cash requirements to service interest or principal payments on our indebtedness, and Free Cash Flow does not reflect the cash requirements to service principal payments on our indebtedness;

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin do not reflect the income tax (benefit) provision we are required to make; and

 

   

Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion do not represent our residual cash flow available for discretionary purposes and does not reflect our future contractual commitments.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a liquidity measure and should not be considered as discretionary cash available to us to reinvest in the growth of our business or to distribute to stockholders or as a measure of cash that will be available to us to meet our obligations.



 

25


Table of Contents

To properly and prudently evaluate our business, we encourage you to review the financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus, and not rely on a single financial measure to evaluate our business. We also strongly urge you to review the reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA, the computation of Adjusted EBITDA Margin as compared to net (loss) earnings margin which is net earnings as a percentage of revenue, the reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to Free Cash Flow, and the computation of Free Cash Flow Conversion as compared to Operating Cash Flow Conversion, which is net cash provided by operating activities as a percentage of net earnings (loss), in each case set forth below.

The following table reconciles net earnings (loss), the most comparable GAAP financial measure, to Adjusted EBITDA for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:

 

    

Period

from
January 29

to
September 30,
2020

          Period
from
January 1
to
January 28,
2020
   

Nine

Months
Ended
September 30,
2019

    Years Ended
December 31,
 
    2019     2018  

(Amounts in thousands,

except percentages)

   Unaudited           Unaudited     Unaudited              

Net (loss) earnings

   $ (84,120        $ (32,556   $ 68,632     $ 85,844     $ (23,669

Add back:

               

Income tax provision

     19,143            365       5,888       6,138       3,031  

Interest expense (income)

     14,704            (50     (46     (202     (4

Depreciation and amortization

     65,771            408       4,903       6,734       5,957  

Stock-based compensation expense

     13,118            336       1,080       2,160       255  

Litigation costs, net of insurance proceeds(1)

     (7,365          —         —         —         75,738  

Foreign exchange loss (gain)(2)

     4,921            523       (494     1,160       4,458  

Changes in fair value of interest rate swaps(3)

     1,828            —         —         —         —    

Transaction costs(4)

     51,848            40,345       —         —         —    

Changes in fair value of contingent earn-out liability

     19,100            —         —         —         —    
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 98,948          $ 9,371     $ 79,963     $ 101,834     $ 65,766  
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (Loss) Earnings Margin

     (22.3 )%         (81.4 )%      18.9     17.6     (6.6 )% 

Adjusted EBITDA Margin

     26.3          23.4     22.1     20.8     18.3

 

  (1)

Represents certain litigation costs and insurance proceeds associated with pending litigations or settlements of litigation. For additional information, refer to Note 15, Commitments and Contingencies, within the audited consolidated financial statements and Note 14, Commitments and Contingencies, within the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

  (2)

Represents foreign exchange loss (gain) due to foreign currency transactions.

  (3)

Represents fair value loss on interest rate swaps.

  (4)

Represents transaction costs and professional service fees related to the Sponsor Acquisition and this offering.



 

26


Table of Contents

The following table reconciles net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, the most comparable GAAP financial measure, to Free Cash Flow for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:

 

    

Period from
January 29

to
September
30, 2020

          Period from
January 1 to
January 28,
2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
    December 31,  
    2019     2018  
(Amounts in thousands, except
percentages)
   Unaudited           Unaudited     Unaudited              

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

   $ 1,041          $ (3,306   $ 70,595     $ 101,392     $ 71,766  

Less:

               

Capital expenditures

     (5,779          (1,045     (6,337     (9,674     (8,047
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Free Cash Flow

     (4,738          (4,351     64,258     $ 91,718     $ 63,719  
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Cash Flow Conversion

     (1.2 )%           10.2     102.9     118.1     (303.2 )% 

Free Cash Flow Conversion

     (4.8 )%           (46.4 )%      80.4     90.1     96.9
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(9)

“Operating Cash Flow Conversion” is calculated based on net cash provided by (used in) operating activities as a percentage of net earnings (loss) in any measurement period.



 

27


Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

An investment in shares of our Class A common stock involves risks. You should carefully consider the following information about these risks, together with the other information contained in this prospectus, before investing in shares of our Class A common stock.

Risks Related to Our Brand, Products and Operations

If we fail to retain existing users or add new users, or if our users decrease their level of engagement with our products or do not convert to paying users, our revenue, financial results and business may be significantly harmed.

The size of our user base and our users’ level of engagement are critical to our success. Our financial performance has been and will continue to be significantly determined by our success in adding, retaining and engaging users of our products and converting users into paying subscribers or in-app purchasers. We expect that the size of our user base will fluctuate or decline in one or more markets from time to time. If people do not perceive our products to be useful, reliable, and/or trustworthy, we may not be able to attract or retain users or otherwise maintain or increase the frequency and duration of their engagement. A number of other online dating companies that achieved early popularity have since experienced slower growth or declines in their user bases or levels of engagement. There is no guarantee that we will not experience a similar erosion of our user base or engagement levels. User engagement can be difficult to measure, particularly as we introduce new and different products and services. Any number of factors can negatively affect user retention, growth, and engagement, including if:

 

   

users increasingly engage with other competitive products or services;

 

   

user behavior on any of our products changes, including decreases in the quality of the user base and frequency of use of our products and services;

 

   

users feel that their experience is diminished as a result of the decisions we make with respect to the frequency, prominence, format, size and quality of ads that we display;

 

   

there are decreases in user sentiment due to questions about the quality of our user data practices or concerns related to privacy and the sharing of user data;

 

   

there are decreases in user sentiment due to questions about the quality or usefulness of our products or concerns related to safety, security, well-being or other factors;

 

   

users are no longer willing to pay for subscriptions or in-app purchases;

 

   

users have difficulty installing, updating or otherwise accessing our products on mobile devices as a result of actions by us or third parties that we rely on to distribute our products and deliver our services;

 

   

we fail to introduce new features, products or services that users find engaging or if we introduce new products or services, or make changes to existing products and services, that are not favorably received;

 

   

we fail to keep pace with evolving online, market and industry trends (including the introduction of new and enhanced digital services);

 

   

initiatives designed to attract and retain users and engagement are unsuccessful or discontinued, whether as a result of actions by us, third parties or otherwise;

 

   

there is a decrease in user retention as a result of users finding meaningful relationships on our platforms and no longer needing to engage with our products;

 

   

third-party initiatives that may enable greater use of our products, including low-cost or discounted data plans, are discontinued;

 

28


Table of Contents
   

we adopt terms, policies or procedures related to areas such as user data or advertising that are perceived negatively by our users or the general public;

 

   

we fail to combat inappropriate or abusive activity on our platform;

 

   

users, particularly women, do not perceive our products as being safer than other competitive products or services;

 

   

we fail to provide adequate customer service to users, marketers or other partners;

 

   

we fail to protect our brand image or reputation;

 

   

we, our partners or companies in our industry are the subject of adverse media reports or other negative publicity, including as a result of our or their user data practices;

 

   

technical or other problems prevent us from delivering our products in a rapid and reliable manner or otherwise affect the user experience, such as security breaches, distributed denial-of-service attacks or failure to prevent or limit spam or similar content;

 

   

there is decreased engagement with our products as a result of internet shutdowns or other actions by governments that affect the accessibility of our products in any of our markets;

 

   

there is decreased engagement with our products, or failure to accept our terms of service, as part of changes that we have implemented, or may implement, in the future in connection with regulations, regulatory actions or otherwise;

 

   

there is decreased engagement with the Bumble or Badoo apps, as applicable, as we expand the Bumble app internationally (into markets the Badoo app has historically operated in) and the Badoo app in North America (into markets the Bumble app has historically operated in);

 

   

there is decreased engagement with our products as a result of changes in prevailing social, cultural or political preferences in the markets where we operate; or

 

   

there are changes mandated by legislation, regulatory authorities or litigation that adversely affect our products or users.

From time to time, certain of these factors have negatively affected user retention, growth, and engagement to varying degrees. If we are unable to maintain or increase our user base and user engagement, our revenue and financial results may be materially adversely affected. In addition, we may not experience rapid user growth or engagement in countries where, even though mobile device penetration is high, due to the lack of sufficient cellular based data networks, consumers rely heavily on Wi-Fi and may not access our products regularly throughout the day. Any decrease in user retention, growth or engagement could render our products less attractive to users, which is likely to have a material and adverse impact on our revenue, business, financial condition and results of operations. If our user growth rate slows or declines, we will become increasingly dependent on our ability to maintain or increase levels of user engagement and monetization in order to drive revenue growth.

The dating industry is highly competitive, with low switching costs and a consistent stream of new products and entrants, and innovation by our competitors may disrupt our business.

The dating industry is highly competitive, with a consistent stream of new products and entrants. Some of our competitors may enjoy better competitive positions in certain geographical regions, user demographics or other key areas that we currently serve or may serve in the future. These advantages could enable these competitors to offer products that are more appealing to users and potential users than our products, or to respond more quickly and/or cost-effectively than us to new or changing opportunities.

In addition, within the dating industry generally, costs for consumers to switch between products are low, and consumers have a propensity to try new approaches to connecting with people and to use multiple dating

 

29


Table of Contents

products at the same time. As a result, new products, entrants and business models are likely to continue to emerge. It is possible that a new product could gain rapid scale at the expense of existing brands through harnessing a new technology, or a new or existing distribution channel, creating a new or different approach to connecting people or some other means.

Potential competitors include larger companies that could devote greater resources to the promotion or marketing of their products and services, take advantage of acquisition or other opportunities more readily or develop and expand their products and services more quickly than we do. Potential competitors also include established social media companies that may develop products, features, or services that may compete with ours or operators of mobile operating systems and app stores. For example, Facebook has introduced a dating feature on its platform, which it has rolled out in North America, Europe and other markets around the globe. These social media and mobile platform competitors could use strong or dominant positions in one or more markets, and ready access to existing large pools of potential users and personal information regarding those users, to gain competitive advantages over us. These may include offering different product features, services or pricing models that users may prefer, which may enable them to acquire and engage users at the expense of our user growth or engagement.

If we are not able to compete effectively against our current or future competitors and products that may emerge, the size and level of engagement of our user base may decrease, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Distribution and marketing of, and access to, our products depends, in significant part, on a variety of third-party publishers and platforms. If these third parties limit, prohibit or otherwise interfere with or change the terms of the distribution, use or marketing of our products in any material way, it could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We market and distribute our products (including related mobile applications) through a variety of third-party publishers and distribution channels, including Facebook, which has rolled out its own dating product. Our ability to market our brands on any given property or channel is subject to the policies of the relevant third party. There is no guarantee that popular mobile platforms will continue to feature our products, or that mobile device users will continue to use our products rather than competing products. We are dependent on the interoperability of our products with popular mobile operating systems, networks, technologies, products, and standards that we do not control, such as the Android and iOS operating systems. Any changes, bugs, or technical issues in such systems, or changes in our relationships with mobile operating system partners, handset manufacturers, or mobile carriers, or in their terms of service or policies that degrade our products’ functionality, reduce or eliminate our ability to update or distribute our products, give preferential treatment to competitive products, limit our ability to deliver, target, or measure the effectiveness of ads, or charge fees related to the distribution of our products or our delivery of ads could materially adversely affect the usage of our products on mobile devices. For example, the release of iOS 14 brought with it a number of new changes, including the need for app users to opt in before their identifier for advertisers (“IDFA”) can be accessed by an app (which is currently expected to come into effect in 2021). Apple’s IDFA is a string of numbers and letters assigned to Apple devices which advertisers use to identify app users to deliver personalized and targeted advertising. As of October 31, 2020, according to Mixpanel, more than half of iOS devices were running on iOS 14. We expect that app users’ opt-in rate to grant IDFA access will ultimately be approximately 0 to 20%. As a consequence, the ability of advertisers to accurately target and measure their advertising campaigns at the user level may become significantly limited and app developers may experience increased cost per registration.

Further, certain publishers and channels have, from time to time, limited or prohibited advertisements for dating products for a variety of reasons, including as a result of poor behavior by other industry participants. There is no assurance that we will not be limited or prohibited from using certain current or prospective marketing channels in the future. If this were to happen in the case of a significant marketing channel and/or for a significant period of time, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

 

30


Table of Contents

Finally, many users historically registered for (and logged into) the application through their Facebook profiles or their Apple IDs. While we have other methods that allow users to register for (and log into) our products, no assurances can be provided that users will use these other methods. Facebook and Apple have broad discretion to change their terms and conditions in ways that could limit, eliminate or otherwise interfere with our ability to use Facebook or Apple as a registration method or to allow Facebook or Apple to use such data to gain a competitive advantage. If Facebook or Apple did so, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. Additionally, if security on Facebook or Apple is compromised, if our users are locked out from their accounts on Facebook or Apple or if Facebook or Apple experiences an outage, our users may be unable to access our products. As a result, user growth and engagement on our service could be materially adversely affected, even if for a temporary period. We also rely on Facebook for targeted advertisement and performance marketing. In the event that we are no longer able to conduct targeted advertisement and performance marketing through Facebook, our user acquisition and revenue stream may be materially adversely affected. Any of these events could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Access to our products depends on mobile app stores and other third parties such as data center service providers, as well as third party payment aggregators, computer systems, internet transit providers and other communications systems and service providers. If third parties such as the Apple App Store or Google Play Store adopt and enforce policies that limit, prohibit or eliminate our ability to distribute or update our applications through their stores, it could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our products depend on mobile app stores and other third parties such as data center service providers, as well as third party payment aggregators, computer systems, internet transit providers and other communications systems and service providers. Our mobile applications are almost exclusively accessed through and depend on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. While our mobile applications are generally free to download from these stores, we offer our users the opportunity to purchase subscriptions and certain à la carte features through these applications. We determine the prices at which these subscriptions and features are sold. Purchases of these subscriptions and features via our mobile applications are mainly processed through the in-app payment systems provided by Apple and Google. We pay Apple and Google, as applicable, a meaningful share (generally 30%) of the revenue we receive from transactions processed through in-app payment systems.

Both Apple and Google have broad discretion to make changes to their operating systems or payment services or change the manner in which their mobile operating systems function and their respective terms and conditions applicable to the distribution of our applications, including the amount of, and requirement to pay, certain fees associated with purchases required to be facilitated by Apple and Google through our applications, and to interpret their respective terms and conditions in ways that may limit, eliminate or otherwise interfere with our products, our ability to distribute our applications through their stores, our ability to update our applications, including to make bug fixes or other feature updates or upgrades, the features we provide, the manner in which we market our in-app products, our ability to access native functionality or other aspects of mobile devices, and our ability to access information about our users that they collect. To the extent either or both of them do so, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. For example, Google has announced that they intend to enforce a policy, which will come into effect on January 20, 2021 (with a grace period for existing apps currently using an alternative billing system), whereby only Google Play’s in-app billing system can be used for transactions in its store. Compliance with this new policy may materially adversely affect our revenue. In the event that we fail to maintain compliance by the end of September 2021, according to their policy, we may be removed from the Google Play store. If Google enforces this policy and removes our apps from the Google Play store, it would significantly reduce our ability to distribute our products to users, which would decrease the size of the user base we could convert into Paying Users, and would materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

31


Table of Contents

If we are not able to maintain the value and reputation of our brands, our ability to expand our base of users may be impaired, and our business and financial results may be harmed.

We believe that our brands have significantly contributed to the success of our business. We also believe that maintaining, protecting and enhancing our brands is critical to expanding our base of users and, if we fail to do so, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. We believe that the importance of brand recognition will continue to increase, given the growing number of online dating sites and applications, or “apps,” and the low barriers to entry for companies offering online dating and other types of personal services. Many of our new users are referred by existing users. Maintaining our brands will depend largely on our ability to continue to provide useful, reliable, trustworthy and innovative products, which we may not do successfully.

Further, we may experience media, legislative, or regulatory scrutiny of our actions or decisions regarding user privacy, encryption, content, advertising and other issues, which may materially adversely affect our reputation and brands. In addition, we may fail to respond expeditiously or appropriately to objectionable practices by users, or to otherwise address user concerns, which could erode confidence in our brands. Maintaining and enhancing our brands will require us to make substantial investments and these investments may not be successful.

Changes to our existing brands and products, or the introduction of new brands or products, could fail to attract or retain users or generate revenue and profits.

Our ability to retain, increase, and engage our user base and to increase our revenue depends heavily on our ability to continue to evolve our existing brands and products and to create successful new brands and products, both independently and in conjunction with developers or other third parties. We may introduce significant changes to our existing brands and products, or acquire or introduce new and unproven brands, products and product extensions, including using technologies with which we have little or no prior development or operating experience. We have also invested, and expect to continue to invest, significant resources in growing our products to support increasing usage as well as new lines of business, new products, new product extensions and other initiatives to generate revenue. The launch of our Bumble BFF product extension in 2016 and our Bumble Bizz product extension in 2017, which have not yet generated significant revenue for us, are examples. There is no guarantee that investing in new lines of business, new products, new product extensions and other initiatives will succeed. If our new or enhanced brands, products or product extensions fail to engage users, marketers, or developers, or if our business plans are unsuccessful, we may fail to attract or retain users or to generate sufficient revenue, operating margin, or other value to justify our investments, and our business may be materially adversely affected.

We may also introduce new products, features or terms of service or policies, and seek to find new, effective ways to show our community new and existing products and alert them to events and meaningful opportunities to connect, that users do not like, which may negatively affect our brands. New products may provide temporary increases in engagement that may ultimately fail to attract and retain users such that they may not produce the long-term benefits that we expect.

We have grown rapidly in recent years and have limited operating experience at our current scale of operations. If we are unable to manage our growth effectively, our brand, company culture and financial performance may suffer.

We have experienced rapid growth and demand for our services since inception. We have expanded our operations rapidly and have limited operating experience at our current size. As we have grown, we have increased our employee headcount and we expect headcount growth to continue for the foreseeable future. Further, as we grow, our business becomes increasingly complex. To effectively manage and capitalize on our growth, we must continue to expand our sales and marketing, focus on innovative product and content

 

32


Table of Contents

development, upgrade our management information systems and other processes, and obtain more space for our expanding staff. Our continued growth could strain our existing resources, and we could experience ongoing operating difficulties in managing our business across numerous jurisdictions, including difficulties in hiring, training, and managing a diffuse and growing employee base. Failure to scale and preserve our company culture with growth could harm our future success, including our ability to retain and recruit personnel and to effectively focus on and pursue our corporate objectives. If our management team does not effectively scale with our growth, we may experience erosion to our brand, the quality of our products and services may suffer, and our company culture may be harmed. Moreover, we have been, and may in the future be, subject to legacy claims or liabilities arising from systems and controls in earlier periods of our rapid development. For example, we settled a claim for an immaterial sum with a former consultant whose right to payment in connection with the Sponsor Acquisition had not been sufficiently documented in our books and records.

Because we have a limited history operating our business at its current scale, it is difficult to evaluate our current business and future prospects, including our ability to plan for and model future growth. Our limited operating experience at this scale, combined with the rapidly-evolving nature of the market in which we operate, substantial uncertainty concerning how these markets may develop, and other economic factors beyond our control, reduces our ability to accurately forecast quarterly or annual revenue. Failure to manage our future growth effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results.

We operate in various international markets, including certain markets in which we have limited experience. As a result, we face additional risks in connection with certain of our international operations.

Bumble and Badoo are available in 25 and 51 different languages, respectively, all over the world. Operating internationally, particularly in countries in which we have limited experience, exposes us to a number of additional risks, including:

 

   

operational and compliance challenges caused by distance, language and cultural differences;

 

   

difficulties in staffing and managing international operations;

 

   

differing levels of social and technological acceptance of our products or lack of acceptance of them generally;

 

   

foreign currency fluctuations;

 

   

restrictions on the transfer of funds among countries and back to the United States, as well as costs associated with repatriating funds to the United States;

 

   

differing and potentially adverse tax laws;

 

   

multiple, conflicting and changing laws, rules and regulations, and difficulties understanding and ensuring compliance with those laws by both our employees and our business partners, over whom we exert no control;

 

   

compliance challenges due to different laws and regulatory environments, particularly in the case of privacy, data security, and intermediary liability;

 

   

competitive environments that favor local businesses;

 

   

limitations on the level of intellectual property protection;

 

   

low usage and/or penetration of internet-connected consumer electronic devices;

 

   

political tension or social unrest and economic instability, particularly in countries in which we operate;

 

   

trade sanctions, political unrest, terrorism, war, health and safety epidemics (such as COVID-19) or the threat of any of these events; and

 

33


Table of Contents
   

breaches or violation of any anti-corruption laws, rules or regulations applicable to our business, including but not limited to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

Moreover, geopolitical tensions in countries in which we operate, such as Russia, may prevent us from operating in certain countries or increase our costs of operating in those countries. Additionally, if enforcement authorities demand access to our user data, our failure to comply could lead to our inability to operate in such country or other punitive acts. For example, in 2018, Russia blocked access to the messaging app Telegram after it refused to provide access to the Russian government to encrypted messages. Our office of approximately 130 employees in Moscow makes it easier for the Russian authorities to bring enforcement actions against us.

The occurrence or impact of any or all of the events described above could materially adversely affect our international operations, which could in turn materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our growth and profitability rely, in part, on our ability to attract and retain users through cost-effective marketing efforts, including through our social media presence and use of sponsorships, brand ambassadors, spokespersons and social media influencers. Any failure in these efforts could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Attracting and retaining users for our products involve considerable expenditures for online and offline marketing. Historically, we have had to increase our marketing expenditures over time in order to attract and retain users and sustain our growth. Evolving consumer behavior can affect the availability of profitable marketing opportunities. For example, as consumers communicate less via email and more via text messaging, messaging apps and other virtual means, the reach of email campaigns designed to attract new and repeat users (and retain current users) for our products is adversely impacted. To continue to reach potential users and grow our businesses, we must identify and devote our overall marketing expenditures to newer advertising channels, such as mobile and online video platforms as well as targeted campaigns in which we communicate directly with potential, former and current users via new virtual means. Generally, the opportunities in and sophistication of newer advertising channels are relatively undeveloped and unproven, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to appropriately manage and fine-tune our marketing efforts in response to these and other trends in the advertising industry. Any failure to do so could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, from time to time, we use the success stories of our users, and utilize sponsorships, Bumble app brand ambassadors, spokespersons and social media influencers, including in some cases celebrities, in our advertising and marketing programs to communicate on a personal level with consumers. If these individuals act in a way that is contrary to our women-first mission or that harms their personal reputation or image, or if they stop using our services and products, it could have an adverse impact on the advertising and marketing campaigns in which they are featured and on our brand. We and our brand ambassadors, spokespersons and social media influencers also use social media channels as a means of communicating with consumers. Unauthorized or inappropriate use of these channels could result in harmful publicity or negative consumer experiences, which could have an adverse impact on the effectiveness of our marketing in these channels. In addition, substantial negative commentary by others on social media platforms could have an adverse impact on our reputation and ability to attract and retain users. If our advertising and marketing campaigns do not generate a sufficient number of users, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be materially affected.

We are subject to certain risks as a mission-based company.

We believe that a critical contributor to our success has been our commitment to empower women in their relationships, in an effort to make the world a better place for everyone. The mission of the Bumble app is a significant part of our business strategy and who we are as a company. We believe that Bumble app users value

 

34


Table of Contents

our commitment to our mission. However, because we hold ourselves to such high standards, and because we believe our users have come to have high expectations of us, we may be more severely affected by negative reports or publicity if we fail, or are perceived to have failed, to live up to the Bumble app’s mission. For example, providing a safe online community for users to build new relationships and to empower women is central to the Bumble app’s mission. As a result, our brands and reputation may be negatively affected by the actions of users that are deemed to be hostile or inappropriate to other users or disempowering to women or by the actions of users acting under false or inauthentic identities. Similarly, any negative publicity about activity in the business that is perceived to be disempowering to women would negatively affect our brands and reputation. The damage to our reputation may be greater than other companies that do not have similar values as us, and it may take us longer to recover from such an incident and gain back the trust of our users.

In addition, we may make decisions regarding our business and products in accordance with the Bumble app’s mission and values that may reduce our short- or medium-term operating results if we believe those decisions are consistent with the mission and will improve the aggregate user experience. Although we expect that our commitment to the Bumble app’s mission will, accordingly, improve our financial performance over the long term, these decisions may not be consistent with the expectations of investors and any longer-term benefits may not materialize within the time frame we expect or at all, which could harm our business, revenue and financial results.

Finally, we have in the past and may in the future be subjected to litigation by those that disagree with aspects of the Bumble app’s mission or features of our platforms that we have developed in support of our mission.

Our costs are continuing to grow, and some of our investments have the effect of reducing our operating margin and profitability. If our investments are not successful, our business and financial performance could be harmed.

Operating our business is costly. We anticipate that our expenses will continue to increase in the future as we broaden our user base, develop and implement new products, market new and existing products and promote our brands, continue to expand our technical infrastructure, and continue to hire additional employees and contractors to support our expanding operations, including our efforts to focus on privacy, safety, and security. In addition, from time to time we may be subject to settlements, judgments, fines, or other monetary penalties in connection with legal and regulatory developments that may be material to our business. We may invest in new platforms and technologies. Some of these investments may generate only limited revenue and reduce our operating margin and profitability. If our investments are not successful, our ability to grow revenue will be harmed, which could materially adversely affect our business and financial performance.

Our future success depends on the continuing efforts of our key employees and our ability to attract and retain highly skilled personnel and senior management.

We currently depend on the continued services and performance of our key personnel, including Whitney Wolfe Herd. If one or more of our executive officers or key employees were unable or unwilling to continue their employment with us, we might not be able to replace them easily, in a timely manner, or at all. The risk that competitors or other companies may poach our talent increases as we continue to build our brands and become more well-known. Our key personnel have been, and may continue to be, subject to poaching efforts by our competitors and other internet and high-growth companies, including well-capitalized players in the social media and consumer internet space. The loss of key personnel, including members of management as well as key engineering, product development, marketing, and sales personnel, could disrupt our operations and have a material adverse effect on our business. The success of our brand also depends on the commitment of our key personnel to our mission. To the extent that any of our key personnel act in a way that does not align with our mission, our reputation could be materially adversely affected. See “—Our employees could engage in misconduct that materially adversely affects us.”

 

35


Table of Contents

Our future success will depend upon our continued ability to identify, hire, develop, motivate and retain highly skilled individuals across the globe, with the continued contributions of our senior management being especially critical to our success. Competition for well-qualified, highly skilled employees in our industry is intense and our continued ability to compete effectively depends, in part, upon our ability to attract and retain new employees. While we have established programs to attract new employees and provide incentives to retain existing employees, particularly our senior management, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to attract new employees or retain the services of our senior management or any other key employees in the future. Additionally, we believe that our culture and core values have been, and will continue to be, a key contributor to our success and our ability to foster the innovation, creativity and teamwork we believe we need to support our operations. If we fail to effectively manage our hiring needs and successfully integrate our new hires, or if we fail to effectively manage remote work arrangements resulting from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”), our efficiency and ability to meet our forecasts and our ability to maintain our culture, employee morale, productivity and retention could suffer, and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Finally, effective succession planning is also important to our future success. If we fail to ensure the effective transfer of senior management knowledge and smooth transitions involving senior management across our various businesses, our ability to execute short and long term strategic, financial and operating goals, as well as our business, financial condition and results of operations generally, could be materially adversely affected.

We may enter into “white label” or licensing agreements in collaboration with third parties that may take actions outside of our control that harm our brand.

We have entered into “white label” agreements and may, from time to time, enter into licensing agreements pursuant to which we license our brand or our product technology to third parties. For example, pursuant to our white label agreements, we agree to set up, operate and maintain a version of our product technology for a third party where the product is branded with such third-party partner’s trademarks and other content. If any of our white label partners provide unsatisfactory service to their users, fail to comply with applicable laws or regulations or engage in actions contrary to our mission and it is ascertained that we provide the product technology for such partners, our brands and reputation may be harmed as a result of our affiliation with such white label partner. In addition, from time to time we license our brand in collaborations with third parties where they, and not we, have primary control over day-to-day operations of the project and, as a result, we may have less control over its ultimate success or its impact on our brand. For example, we have announced our intention to partner with Delicious Hospitality Group to open “Bumble Brew,” a café and wine bar. While “Bumble Brew” will use our brand, we will not control the day-to-day operations of the café. Any harm to our reputation as a result of these partnerships could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and cash flows.

Inappropriate actions by certain of our users could be attributed to us and damage our brands’ reputations, which in turn could materially adversely affect our business.

Users of our products have been, and may in the future be, physically, financially, emotionally or otherwise harmed by other individuals that such users have met or may meet through the use of one of our products. When one or more of our users suffers or alleges to have suffered any such harm either on our platform or in person after meeting on our products, we have in the past, and could in the future, experience negative publicity or legal action that could damage our brands and our brands’ reputation. Similar events affecting users of our competitors’ products have in the past, and could in the future, result in negative publicity for the dating industry generally, which could in turn negatively affect our business.

In addition, the reputations of our brands may be materially adversely affected by the actions of our users that are deemed to be hostile, offensive, defamatory, inappropriate or unlawful. Furthermore, users have in the past and may in the future use our products for illegal or harmful purposes rather than for their intended

 

36


Table of Contents

purposes, such as romance scams, promotion of false or inaccurate information, financial fraud, drug trafficking, sex-trafficking, and recruitment to terrorist groups. While we have systems and processes in place that aim to monitor and review the appropriateness of the content accessible through our products, which include, in particular, reporting tools through which users can inform us of such behavior on the platform, and have adopted policies regarding illegal, offensive or inappropriate use of our products, our users have in the past, and could in the future, nonetheless engage in activities that violate our policies. Additionally, while our policies attempt to address illegal, offensive or inappropriate use of our products, we cannot control how our users engage if and when they meet in person after meeting on our products. These safeguards may not be sufficient to avoid harm to our reputation and brands, especially if such hostile, offensive or inappropriate use is well-publicized. Furthermore, to the extent that our users, particularly women, do not feel safe using our products, our reputation and “women-first” brand would be negatively affected, which may in turn materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Unfavorable media coverage could materially adversely affect our business, brand image or reputation.

We receive a high degree of media coverage globally. Unfavorable publicity and/or false media reports regarding us, our privacy practices, data security compromises or breaches, product changes, product quality, litigation or regulatory activity, including any intellectual property proceeding, or regarding the actions of our partners, our users, our employees or other companies in our industry, could materially adversely affect our brand image or reputation. For example, a third-party report identifying certain vulnerabilities related to the Bumble app was published in the fall of 2020. Although we believe we have remediated all such vulnerabilities, the report may have resulted in unfavorable publicity for us. If we fail to protect our brand image or reputation, we may experience material adverse effects to the size, demographics, engagement, and loyalty of our user base, resulting in decreased revenue, fewer app installs (or increased app uninstalls), or slower user growth rates. In addition, if securities analysts or investors perceive any media coverage of us to be negative, the price of our Class A common stock may be materially adversely affected. Any of the foregoing could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. See “—Our employees could engage in misconduct that materially adversely affects us;” “—From time to time, we are party to intellectual property-related litigations and proceedings that are expensive and time consuming to defend, and, if resolved adversely, could materially adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations;” and “—Security breaches, improper access to or disclosure of our data or user data, other hacking and phishing attacks on our systems, or other cyber incidents could compromise sensitive information related to our business and/or personal data processed by us or on our behalf and expose us to liability, which could harm our reputation and materially adversely affect our business.”

Our employees could engage in misconduct that materially adversely affects us.

Our employees could engage in misconduct that materially adversely affects us. It is not always possible to prevent or detect misconduct by our employees, either personal or in the course of their duties on behalf of the Company, and the precautions we take to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in all cases. For example, in July 2019, Forbes published an article alleging that we maintained a misogynistic and hostile work environment for women. We hired a law firm specializing in employment law to investigate these allegations. Although the investigation found there to be a lack of credible evidence in relation to most of the allegations, the investigation did identify some current and former employees who felt that elements of sexism existed at our company. We have implemented a number of recommended changes with the aim of preventing misconduct and building an inclusive workplace culture. If any of our employees were to engage in or be accused of misconduct, we could be exposed to legal liability, our business and reputation could be materially adversely affected, and we could fail to retain key employees. See “—Unfavorable media coverage could seriously harm our business, brand image or reputation.”

 

37


Table of Contents

Our user metrics and other estimates are subject to inherent challenges in measurement, and real or perceived inaccuracies in those metrics may seriously harm and negatively affect our reputation and our business.

We regularly review metrics, including our Bumble App Paying Users, Badoo App and Other Paying Users, Total Paying Users, Bumble App ARPPU, Badoo App and Other ARPPU and Total ARPPU metrics, to evaluate growth trends, measure our performance, and make strategic decisions. These metrics are calculated using internal company data gathered on an analytics platform that we developed and operate and have not been validated by an independent third party. While these metrics are based on what we believe to be reasonable estimates of our user base for the applicable period of measurement, there are inherent challenges in measuring how our products are used across large populations globally. Our user metrics are also affected by technology on certain mobile devices that automatically runs in the background of our application when another phone function is used, and this activity can cause our system to miscount the user metrics associated with such account. The methodologies used to measure these metrics require significant judgment and are also susceptible to algorithm or other technical errors. In addition, we are continually seeking to improve our estimates of our user base, and such estimates may change due to improvements or changes in our methodology.

Errors or inaccuracies in our metrics or data could also result in incorrect business decisions and inefficiencies. For instance, if a significant understatement or overstatement of active users were to occur, we may expend resources to implement unnecessary business measures or fail to take required actions to attract a sufficient number of users to satisfy our growth strategies. We continually seek to address technical issues in our ability to record such data and improve our accuracy, but given the complexity of the systems involved and the rapidly changing nature of mobile devices and systems, we expect these issues to continue, particularly if we continue to expand in parts of the world where mobile data systems and connections are less stable. If partners or investors do not perceive our user, geographic, or other demographic metrics to be accurate representations of our user base, or if we discover material inaccuracies in our user, geographic, or other demographic metrics, our reputation may be materially adversely impacted.

Risks Related to Information Technology Systems and Intellectual Property

Security breaches, improper access to or disclosure of our data or user data, other hacking and phishing attacks on our systems, or other cyber incidents could compromise sensitive information related to our business and/or personal data processed by us or on our behalf and expose us to liability, which could harm our reputation and materially adversely affect our business.

Our products and services and the operation of our business involve the collection, storage, processing, and transmission of data, including personal data. The information systems that store and process such data are susceptible to increasing threats of continually evolving cybersecurity risks. In particular, our industry is prone to cyber-attacks by third parties seeking unauthorized access to confidential or sensitive data, including user personal data, or to disrupt our ability to provide services. We face an ever-increasing number of threats to our information systems from a broad range of threat actors, including foreign governments, criminals, competitors, computer hackers, cyber terrorists and politically motivated groups or individuals, and we have previously experienced various attempts to access our information systems. These threats include physical or electronic break-ins, security breaches from inadvertent or intentional actions by our employees, contractors, consultants, and/or other third parties with otherwise legitimate access to our systems, website or facilities, or from cyber-attacks by malicious third parties which could breach our data security and disrupt our systems. The motivations of such actors may vary, but breaches that compromise our information technology systems can cause interruptions, delays or operational malfunctions, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.

In addition, the risks related to a security breach or disruption, including through a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, computer malware, viruses, social engineering (predominantly spear phishing attacks), and general hacking, have become more prevalent in our industry and have generally increased as the number, intensity, and sophistication of attempted attacks and intrusions from around the world have increased.

 

38


Table of Contents

Such security breaches or disruptions have occurred on our systems in the past and will occur on our systems in the future. We also regularly encounter attempts to create false or undesirable user accounts and advertisements or take other actions on our platform for objectionable ends. As a result of our prominence, the size of our user base, the types and volume of personal data on our systems, and the evolving nature of our products and services (including our efforts involving new and emerging technologies), we may be a particularly attractive target for such attacks, including from highly sophisticated, state-sponsored, or otherwise well-funded actors. In addition, it is possible that we may be perceived as being vulnerable to cyber-attacks because a significant portion of our engineers are located in Russia, which has been known to use social media platforms as a means of media manipulation.

Our efforts to address undesirable activity on our platform also increase the risk of retaliatory attacks. Such breaches and attacks of us or our third-party service providers may cause interruptions to the services we provide, degrade the user experience, cause users or marketers to lose confidence and trust in our products and decrease the use of our products or stop using our products in their entirety, impair our internal systems, or result in financial harm to us. Any failure to prevent or mitigate security breaches and unauthorized access to or disclosure of our data or user data, including personal information, content, or payment information from users, or information from marketers, could result in the loss, modification, disclosure, destruction, or other misuse of such data, which could subject us to legal liability, harm our business and reputation and diminish our competitive position. We may incur significant costs in protecting against or remediating such incidents and as cybersecurity incidents continue to evolve, we may be required to expend significant additional resources to continue to modify or enhance our protective measure or to investigate and remediate any information security vulnerabilities. Our efforts to protect our confidential and sensitive data, the data of our users or other personal information we receive, and to disable undesirable activities on our platform, may also be unsuccessful due to software bugs or other technical malfunctions; employee, contractor, or vendor error or malfeasance, including defects or vulnerabilities in our service providers’ information technology systems or offerings; government surveillance; breaches of physical security of our facilities or technical infrastructure; or other threats that may surface or evolve.

In addition, third parties may attempt to fraudulently induce employees or users to disclose information in order to gain access to our data or our users’ data. Cyber-attacks continue to evolve in sophistication and volume, and may be difficult to detect for long periods of time. Although we have developed systems and processes that are designed to protect our data and user data, to prevent data loss, to disable undesirable accounts and activities on our platform, and to prevent or detect security breaches, we cannot assure you that such measures will be successful, that we will be able to anticipate or detect all cyber-attacks or other breaches, that we will be able to react to cyber-attacks or other breaches in a timely manner, or that our remediation efforts will be successful. We may also incur significant legal and financial exposure, including legal claims, higher transaction fees and regulatory fines and penalties as a result of any compromise or breach of our systems or data security, or the systems and data security of our third party providers. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

In addition, some of our partners may receive or store information provided by us or by our users through mobile or web applications integrated with our applications and we use third-party service providers to store, transmit and otherwise process certain confidential, sensitive or personal information on our behalf. If these third parties fail to adopt or adhere to adequate data security practices, or in the event of a breach of their networks, our data or our users’ data may be improperly accessed, used, or disclosed, which could subject us to legal liability. We cannot control such third parties and cannot guarantee that a security breach will not occur on their systems. Although we may have contractual protections with our third-party service providers, contractors and consultants, any actual or perceived security breach could harm our reputation and brand, expose us to potential liability or require us to expend significant resources on data security and in responding to any such actual or perceived breach. Any contractual protections we may have from our third-party service providers, contractors or consultants may not be sufficient to adequately protect us from any such liabilities and losses, and we may be unable to enforce any such contractual protections.

 

39


Table of Contents

While our insurance policies include liability coverage for certain of these matters, if we experience a significant security incident, we could be subject to liability or other damages that exceed our insurance coverage and we cannot be certain that such insurance policies will continue to be available to us on economically reasonable terms, or at all, or that any insurer will not deny coverage as to any future claim. The successful assertion of one or more large claims against us that exceed available insurance coverage, or the occurrence of changes in our insurance policies, including premium increases or the imposition of large deductible or co-insurance requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

If the security of personal and confidential or sensitive user information that we maintain and store is breached, or otherwise accessed by unauthorized persons, it may be costly to remediate such breach and our reputation could be harmed.

We receive, process, store, and transmit a significant amount of personal user and other confidential or sensitive information, including credit card information, user-to-user communications and personal information of our employees and users, and enable our users to share their personal information with each other. In some cases, we engage third-party service providers to store this information. We continuously develop and maintain systems to protect the security, integrity and confidentiality of this information, but we have experienced past incidents and cannot guarantee that inadvertent or unauthorized use or disclosure of such information will not occur in the future or that third parties will not gain unauthorized access to such information despite our efforts. When such incidents occur, we may not be able to remedy them, we may be required by law to notify regulators and individuals whose personal information was used or disclosed without authorization, we may be subject to claims against us, including government enforcement actions or investigations, fines and litigation, and we may have to expend significant capital and other resources to mitigate the impact of such events, including developing and implementing protections to prevent future events of this nature from occurring. When breaches of our or our third-party service providers’ and partners’ information technology systems occur or unauthorized access to any of the confidential, sensitive or other personal information we collect or process occurs, the perception of the effectiveness of our security measures, the security measures of our partners and our reputation may be harmed, we may lose current and potential users and the recognition of our various brands and such brands’ competitive positions may be diminished, any or all of which might materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. See “—The varying and rapidly-evolving regulatory framework on privacy and data protection across jurisdictions could result in claims, changes to our business practices, monetary penalties, increased cost of operations, or declines in user growth or engagement, or otherwise harm our business.”

We are subject to a number of risks related to credit card payments, including data security breaches and fraud that we or third parties experience or additional regulation, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In addition to purchases through the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, we accept payment from our users through credit card transactions, certain online payment service providers, telecom providers and mobile payment platforms. The ability to access credit card information on a real-time basis without having to proactively reach out to the consumer each time we process an auto-renewal payment or a payment for the purchase of a premium feature on any of our dating products is critical to our success and a seamless experience for our users.

When we or a third party experiences a data security breach involving credit card information, affected cardholders will often cancel their credit cards. In the case of a breach experienced by a third party, the more sizable the third party’s customer base and the greater the number of credit card accounts impacted, the more likely it is that our users would be impacted by such a breach. To the extent our users are ever affected by such a breach experienced by us or a third party, affected users would need to be contacted to obtain new credit card information and process any pending transactions. It is likely that we would not be able to reach all affected

 

40


Table of Contents

users, and even if we could, some users’ new credit card information may not be obtained and some pending transactions may not be processed, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We work with our payment service providers to utilize tokenization tools to replace sensitive cardholder information with a stand-in token to help secure individual cardholder bank account details in credit card transactions and to reduce the number of systems that have access to our customers’ credit card information. While these tokenization tools can help limit the data security risks associated with credit card transactions, it does not eliminate those risks altogether.

Even if our users are not directly impacted by a given data security breach, they may lose confidence in the ability of service providers to protect their personal information generally, which could cause them to stop using their credit cards online and choose alternative payment methods that are not as convenient for us or restrict our ability to process payments without significant cost or user effort.

Additionally, if we fail to adequately prevent fraudulent credit card transactions, we may face litigation, fines, governmental enforcement action, civil liability, diminished public perception of our security measures, significantly higher credit card-related costs and substantial remediation costs, or refusal by credit card processors to continue to process payments on our behalf, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Finally, the passage or adoption of any legislation or regulation affecting the ability of service providers to periodically charge consumers for, among other things, recurring subscription payments may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. For example, under the Payment Services Regulation 2017, banks and other payment services providers are expected to develop and implement by September 14, 2021 strong customer authentication to check that the person requesting access to an account or trying to make a payment is permitted to do so. This could materially adversely affect our payment authorization rate and user journey. Legislation or regulation regarding the foregoing, or changes to existing legislation or regulation governing subscription payments, are being considered in many U.S. states. While we monitor and attempt to comply with these legal developments, we have been in the past, and may be in the future, subject to claims under such legislation or regulation.

Our success depends, in part, on the integrity of third-party systems and infrastructures and on continued and unimpeded access to our products and services on the internet.

We rely on third parties, primarily data center service providers (such as colocation providers), as well as third party payment aggregators, computer systems, internet transit providers and other communications systems and service providers, in connection with the provision of our products generally, as well as to facilitate and process certain transactions with our users. We have no control over any of these third parties, and while we actively reduce risk by minimizing reliance on any single third party or their operations, we cannot guarantee that such third-party providers will not experience system interruptions, outages or delays, or deterioration in the performance.

Problems or insolvency experienced by third-party data center service providers (such as colocation providers) and payment aggregators, upon whom we rely, the telecommunications network providers with whom we or they contract or with the systems through which telecommunications providers allocate capacity among their customers could also materially adversely affect us. Any changes in service levels at our data centers or payment aggregators or any interruptions, outages or delays in our systems or those of our third party providers, or deterioration in the performance of these systems, could impair our ability to provide our products or process transactions with our users, which could materially adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Additionally, if we need to migrate our business to different third party data center service providers or payment aggregators as a result of any such problems or insolvency, it could delay our

 

41


Table of Contents

ability to process transactions with our users. See “—Security breaches, improper access to or disclosure of our data or user data, other hacking and phishing attacks on our systems, or other cyber incidents could compromise sensitive information related to our business and/or personal data processed by us or on our behalf and expose us to liability, which could harm our reputation and materially adversely affect our business.”

In addition, we depend on the ability of our users to access the internet. Currently, this access is provided by companies that have significant market power in the broadband and internet access marketplace, including incumbent telephone companies, cable companies, mobile communications companies, government-owned service providers, device manufacturers and operating system providers, any of whom could take actions that degrade, disrupt or increase the cost of user access to our products or services, which would, in turn, negatively impact our business. The adoption or repeal of any laws or regulations that adversely affect the growth, popularity or use of the internet, including laws or practices limiting internet neutrality, could decrease the demand for, or the usage of, our products and services, increase our cost of doing business and adversely affect our results of operations.

Our success depends, in part, on the integrity of our information technology systems and infrastructures and on our ability to enhance, expand and adapt these systems and infrastructures in a timely and cost-effective manner.

In order for us to succeed, our information technology systems and infrastructures must perform well on a consistent basis. Our products and systems rely on software and hardware that is highly technical and complex, and depend on the ability of such software and hardware to store, retrieve, process and manage immense amounts of data. We have in the past experienced, and we may from time to time in the future experience, system interruptions that make some or all of our systems or data temporarily unavailable and prevent our products from functioning properly for our users; any such interruption could arise for any number of reasons, including human errors. Further, our systems and infrastructures are vulnerable to damage from fire, power loss, hardware and operating software errors, cyber-attacks, technical limitations, telecommunications failures, acts of God and similar events. While we have backup systems in place for certain aspects of our operations, not all of our systems and infrastructures are fully redundant. Disaster recovery planning can never account for all possible eventualities and our property and business interruption insurance coverage may not be adequate to compensate us fully for any losses that we may suffer. Any interruptions or outages, regardless of the cause, could negatively impact our users’ experiences with our products, tarnish our brands’ reputations and decrease demand for our products, any or all of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, even if detected, the resolution of such interruptions may take a long time, during which customers may not be able to access, or may have limited access to, the service. See “—Security breaches, improper access to or disclosure of our data or user data, other hacking and phishing attacks on our systems, or other cyber incidents could compromise sensitive information related to our business and/or personal data processed by us or on our behalf and expose us to liability, which could harm our reputation and materially adversely affect our business.”

We also continually work to expand and enhance the efficiency and scalability of our technology and network systems to improve the experience of our users, accommodate substantial increases in the volume of traffic to our various products, ensure acceptable load times for our products and keep up with changes in technology and user preferences. Any failure to do so in a timely and cost-effective manner could materially adversely affect our users’ experience with our various products and thereby negatively impact the demand for our products, and could increase our costs, either of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

42


Table of Contents

From time to time, we are party to intellectual property-related litigations and proceedings that are expensive and time consuming to defend, and, if resolved adversely, could materially adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our commercial success depends in part on avoiding infringement, misappropriation or other violations of the intellectual property rights of third parties. However, we may become party to disputes from time to time over rights and obligations concerning intellectual property held by third parties, and we may not prevail in these disputes. Companies in the internet, technology and social media industries are subject to frequent litigation based on allegations of infringement, misappropriation or other violations of intellectual property rights. Many companies in these industries, including many of our competitors, have substantially larger intellectual property portfolios than we do, which could make us a target for litigation as we may not be able to assert counterclaims against parties that sue us for infringement, misappropriation or other violations of patent or other intellectual property rights. In addition, various “non-practicing entities” that own patents and other intellectual property rights often attempt to assert claims in order to extract value from technology companies and, given that these patent holding companies or other adverse intellectual property rights holders typically have no relevant product revenue, our own issued or pending patents and other intellectual property rights may provide little or no deterrence to these rights holders in bringing intellectual property rights claims against us. From time to time we receive claims from third parties which allege that we have infringed upon their intellectual property rights and we are also a party to several patent infringement litigations from such third parties. Further, from time to time we may introduce new products, product features and services, including in areas where we currently do not have an offering, which could increase our exposure to patent and other intellectual property claims from competitors and non-practicing entities. In addition, some of our agreements with third-party partners require us to indemnify them for certain intellectual property claims against them, which could require us to incur considerable costs in defending such claims, and may require us to pay significant damages in the event of an adverse ruling. Such third-party partners may also discontinue their relationships with us as a result of injunctions or otherwise, which could result in loss of revenue and adversely impact our business operations.

Although we try to ensure that our employees and consultants do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we or our employees or consultants have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed intellectual property, including trade secrets, software code or other proprietary information, of a former employer or other third parties. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims and if we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. Further, while it is our policy to require our employees and contractors who may be involved in the conception or development of intellectual property to execute agreements assigning such intellectual property to us, we may be unsuccessful in executing such an agreement with each party who, in fact, conceives or develops intellectual property that we regard as our own. Additionally, any such assignment of intellectual property rights may not be self-executing, or the assignment agreements may be breached, and we may be forced to bring claims against third parties, or defend claims that they may bring against us, to determine the ownership of what we regard as our intellectual property.

As we face increasing competition and develop new products, we expect the number of patent and other intellectual property claims against us may grow. There may be intellectual property or other rights held by others, including issued or pending patents, that cover significant aspects of our products and services, and we cannot be sure that we are not infringing or violating, and have not infringed or violated, any third-party intellectual property rights or that we will not be held to have done so or be accused of doing so in the future. For example, in April 2018, Match Group, Inc. filed a lawsuit against us for patent and trademark infringement, as well as trade secret misappropriation. In June 2020, we reached an agreement with Match Group, Inc. to settle such lawsuit. For additional information, please see “Business—Legal Proceedings.”

Any claim or litigation alleging that we have infringed or otherwise violated intellectual property or other rights of third parties, with or without merit, and whether or not settled out of court or determined in our favor, could be time-consuming and costly to address and resolve, and could divert the time and attention of our

 

43


Table of Contents

management and technical personnel. Some of our competitors have substantially greater resources than we do and are able to sustain the costs of complex intellectual property litigation to a greater degree and for longer periods of time than we could. The outcome of any litigation is inherently uncertain, and there can be no assurances that favorable final outcomes will be obtained in all cases. In addition, third parties may seek, and we may become subject to, preliminary or provisional rulings in the course of any such litigation, including potential preliminary injunctions requiring us to cease some or all of our operations. We may decide to settle such lawsuits and disputes on terms that are unfavorable to us. Similarly, if any litigation to which we are a party is resolved adversely, we may be subject to an unfavorable judgment that may not be reversed upon appeal, including being subject to a permanent injunction and being required to pay substantial monetary damages, including treble damages and attorneys’ fees, if we are found to have willfully infringed a party’s intellectual property rights. The terms of such a settlement or judgment may require us to cease some or all of our operations or pay substantial amounts to the other party. In addition, we may have to seek a license to continue practices found to be in violation of a third-party’s rights. If we are required, or choose to enter into royalty or licensing arrangements, such arrangements may not be available on reasonable terms, or at all, and may significantly increase our operating costs and expenses. Such arrangements may also only be available on a non-exclusive basis such that third parties, including our competitors, could have access to the same licensed technology to compete with us. As a result, we may also be required to develop or procure alternative non-infringing technology, which could require significant effort, time and expense or discontinue use of the technology. There also can be no assurance that we would be able to develop or license suitable alternative technology to permit us to continue offering the affected products or services. If we cannot develop or license alternative technology for any allegedly infringing aspect of our business, we would be forced to limit our products and services and may be unable to compete effectively. Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could be compromised by disclosure during this type of litigation. Any of the foregoing, and any unfavorable resolution of such disputes and litigation, would materially and adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We may fail to adequately obtain, protect and maintain our intellectual property rights or prevent third parties from making unauthorized use of such rights.

Our intellectual property is a material asset of our business and our success depends in part on our ability to protect our proprietary rights and intellectual property. For example, we rely heavily upon our trademarks, designs, copyrights, related domain names, social media handles and logos to market our brands and to build and maintain brand loyalty and recognition. We also rely upon proprietary technologies and trade secrets, as well as a combination of laws, and contractual restrictions, including confidentiality agreements with employees, customers, suppliers, affiliates and others, to establish, protect and enforce our various intellectual property rights. For example, we have generally registered and continue to apply to register and renew, or secure by contract where appropriate, trademarks and service marks as they are developed and used, and reserve, register and renew domain names and social media handles as we deem appropriate. If our trademarks and trade names are not adequately protected, then we may not be able to build and maintain name recognition in our markets of interest and our business may be adversely affected. Effective trademark protection may not be available or may not be sought in every country in which our products are made available, in every class of goods and services in which we operate, and contractual disputes may affect the use of marks governed by private contract. Our registered or unregistered trademarks or trade names may be challenged, infringed, circumvented or declared generic or determined to be infringing on other marks. For example, third parties have challenged our “BUMBLE” trademarks in the United Kingdom (“UK”) and the European Union (“EU”), and if such challenges are successful, we could lose valuable trademark rights. Further, at times, competitors may adopt trade names or trademarks similar to ours, thereby impeding our ability to build brand identity and possibly leading to market confusion. Similarly, not every variation of a domain name or social media handle may be available or be registered by us, even if available. The occurrence of any of these events could result in the erosion of our brands and limit our ability to market our brands using our various domain names and social media handles, as well as

 

44


Table of Contents

impede our ability to effectively compete against competitors with similar technologies or products, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We cannot guarantee that our efforts to obtain and maintain intellectual property rights are adequate, that we have secured, or will be able to secure, appropriate permissions or protections for all of the intellectual property rights we use or rely on. Furthermore, even if we are able to obtain intellectual property rights, any challenge to our intellectual property rights could result in them being narrowed in scope or declared invalid or unenforceable. In addition, other parties may also independently develop technologies that are substantially similar or superior to ours and we may not be able to stop such parties from using such independently developed technologies from competing with us.

We also rely upon unpatented proprietary information and other trade secrets to protect intellectual property that may not be registrable, or that we believe is best protected by means that do not require public disclosure. While it is our policy to enter into confidentiality agreements with employees and third parties to protect our proprietary expertise and other trade secrets, we cannot guarantee that we have entered into such agreements with each party that has or may have had access to our proprietary information or trade secrets and, even if entered into, these agreements may otherwise fail to effectively prevent disclosure of proprietary information, may be limited as to their term and may not provide an adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure or use of proprietary information. Monitoring unauthorized uses and disclosures is difficult, and we do not know whether the steps we have taken to protect our proprietary technologies will be effective. Enforcing a claim that a party illegally disclosed or misappropriated a trade secret can be difficult, expensive and time-consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. Some courts inside and outside the United States are less willing or unwilling to protect trade secrets. In addition, trade secrets may be independently developed by others in a manner that could prevent legal recourse by us. If any of our confidential or proprietary information, such as our trade secrets, were to be disclosed or misappropriated, or if any such information was independently developed by a competitor, our competitive position would be materially adversely harmed.

Our intellectual property rights and the enforcement or defense of such rights may be affected by developments or uncertainty in laws and regulations relating to intellectual property rights. Moreover, many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of certain countries, particularly certain developing countries, do not favor the enforcement of patents, trade secrets and other intellectual property protection, which could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement, misappropriation or other violation of our intellectual property or marketing of competing products in violation of our intellectual property rights generally.

We also may be forced to bring claims against third parties to determine the ownership of what we regard as our intellectual property or to enforce our intellectual property against its infringement, misappropriation or other violations by third parties. However, the measures we take to protect our intellectual property from unauthorized use by others may not be effective and there can be no assurance that our intellectual property rights will be sufficient to protect against others offering products or services that are substantially similar or superior to ours and that compete with our business. We may not prevail in any intellectual property-related proceedings that we initiate against third parties. Further, in such proceedings or in proceedings before patent, trademark and copyright agencies, our asserted intellectual property could be found to be invalid or unenforceable, in which case we could lose valuable intellectual property rights. In addition, even if we are successful in enforcing our intellectual property against third parties, the damages or other remedies awarded, if any, may not be commercially meaningful. Regardless of whether any such proceedings are resolved in our favor, such proceedings could cause us to incur significant expenses and could distract our personnel from their normal responsibilities. Accordingly, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights around the world may be inadequate to obtain a significant commercial advantage from the intellectual property that we develop or license.

Despite the measures we take to protect our intellectual property rights, our intellectual property rights may still not be adequate and protected in a meaningful manner, challenges to contractual rights could arise, third

 

45


Table of Contents

parties could copy or otherwise obtain and use our intellectual property without authorization, or laws and interpretations of laws regarding the enforceability of existing intellectual property rights may change over time in a manner that provides less protection. The occurrence of any of these events could impede our ability to effectively compete against competitors with similar technologies, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. See “—From time to time, we are party to intellectual property-related litigations and proceedings that are expensive and time consuming to defend, and, if resolved adversely, could materially adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.”

Our use of “open source” software could subject our proprietary software to general release, adversely affect our ability to sell our products and services and subject us to possible litigation.

We use open source software in connection with a portion of our proprietary software and expect to continue to use open source software in the future. Under certain circumstances, some open source licenses require users of the licensed code to provide the user’s own proprietary source code to third parties upon request, or prohibit users from charging a fee to third parties in connection with the use of the user’s proprietary code. While we try to insulate our proprietary code from the effects of such open source license provisions, we cannot guarantee that we will be successful, that all open source software is reviewed prior to use in our products, that our developers have not incorporated open source software into our products, or that they will not do so in the future. Accordingly, we may face claims from others challenging our use of open source software, claiming ownership of, or seeking to enforce the license terms applicable to such open source software, including by demanding release of the open source software, derivative works or our proprietary source code that was developed or distributed with such software. Such claims could also require us to purchase a commercial license or require us to devote additional research and development resources to change our software, any of which would have a negative effect on our business and results of operations. In addition, if the license terms for the open source code change, we may be forced to re-engineer our software or incur additional costs. Additionally, the terms of many open source licenses to which we are subject have not been interpreted by U.S. or foreign courts. There is a risk that open source software licenses could be construed in a manner that imposes unanticipated conditions or restrictions on our ability to market or provide our products.

Risks Related to Regulation and Litigation

Our success depends, in part, on our ability to access, collect, and use personal data about our users and payers, and to comply with applicable data privacy laws.

Other businesses have been criticized by consumer protection groups, privacy groups and governmental bodies for attempts to link personal identities and other information to data collected on the internet regarding users’ browsing and other habits. Increased regulation of data utilization practices, including self-regulation or findings under existing laws that limit our ability to collect, transfer and use information and other data, could have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, if we were to disclose information and other data about our users in a manner that was objectionable to them, our business reputation could be materially adversely affected, and we could face potential legal claims that could impact our operating results. Internationally, we may become subject to additional and/or more stringent legal obligations concerning our treatment of customer and other personal information, such as laws regarding data localization and/or restrictions on data export. For example, in July 2020 the European Union Court of Justice struck down a permitted personal data transfer mechanism between the European Union and the United States, which may lead to uncertainty about the legal basis for other personal data transfers from the European Union to the United States or interruption of such transfers. In the event any court blocks personal data transfer to or from a particular jurisdiction this could give rise to operational interruption in the performance of services for customers, greater costs to implement alternative data transfer mechanisms that are still permitted, regulatory liabilities or reputational harm. Failure to comply with evolving privacy laws could subject us to liability, and to the extent that we need to alter our business model or practices to adapt to these obligations, we could incur additional expenses, which may in turn materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. See “—The varying and

 

46


Table of Contents

rapidly-evolving regulatory framework on privacy and data protection across jurisdictions could result in claims, changes to our business practices, monetary penalties, increased cost of operations, or declines in user growth or engagement, or otherwise harm our business.”

Additionally, privacy activist groups have previously and may continue to provide resources to support individuals who wish to pursue privacy claims or put pressure on companies to change data processing practices. High-profile brands such as ours risk being targeted by such groups and, due to the nature of the data that we hold, there is a risk that if a user became disgruntled with our data processing practices they could leverage support from such privacy activist groups to take legal action, initiate regulatory investigation or gain publicity for their cause. There is a risk that these groups will seek to challenge our practices, particularly in relation to targeted advertising or international data transfers. Any such campaign could require significant resources to mount a response and could lead to negative publicity and potential investigation from regulators, any of which may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our business is subject to complex and evolving U.S. and international laws and regulations. Many of these laws and regulations are subject to change and uncertain interpretation, and could result in claims, changes to our business practices, monetary penalties, increased cost of operations, or declines in user growth or engagement, or otherwise harm our business.

We are subject to a variety of laws and regulations in the United States and abroad that involve matters that are important to or may otherwise impact our business, including, among others, broadband internet access, online commerce, advertising, user privacy, data protection, intermediary liability, protection of minors, consumer protection, general safety, sex-trafficking, taxation and securities law compliance. The introduction of new products, expansion of our activities in certain jurisdictions, or other actions that we may take may subject us to additional laws, regulations or other government scrutiny. In addition, foreign laws and regulations can impose different obligations or be more restrictive than those in the United States.

These U.S. federal, state, and municipal and foreign laws and regulations, which in some cases can be enforced by private parties in addition to government entities, are constantly evolving and can be subject to significant change. For example, on April 11, 2018, the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act became effective in the United States, which allows victims of sex trafficking crimes, as well as other state and local authorities, to seek redress from platforms in certain circumstances in connection with sex trafficking of individuals online.

In addition, the introduction of new brands and products, or changes to existing brands and products, may result in new or enhanced governmental or regulatory scrutiny. As a result, the application, interpretation, and enforcement of these laws and regulations are often uncertain, particularly in the new and rapidly-evolving industry in which we operate, and may be interpreted and applied inconsistently from state to state and country to country and inconsistently with our current policies and practices. These laws and regulations, as well as any associated inquiries or investigations or any other government actions, may be costly to comply with and may delay or impede the development of new products, require that we change or cease certain business practices, result in negative publicity, increase our operating costs, require significant management time and attention, and subject us to remedies that may harm our business, including fines, demands or orders that require us to modify or cease existing business practices. For example, a variety of laws and regulations govern the ability of users to cancel subscriptions and auto-payment renewals. We have in the past and may in the future be subject to claims under such laws and regulations that could materially adversely affect our business.

The promulgation of new laws or regulations, or the new interpretation of existing laws and regulations, in each case, that restrict or otherwise unfavorably impact our business, or our ability to provide or the manner in which we provide our services, could require us to change certain aspects of our business and operations to ensure compliance, which could decrease demand for services, reduce revenues, increase costs and subject us to additional liabilities. See “—Inappropriate actions by certain of our users could be attributed to us and damage our brands’ reputations, which in turn could materially adversely affect our business.”

 

47


Table of Contents

In addition, concerns about harms and the use of dating products and social networking platforms for such illegal and harmful conduct have produced and could continue to produce future legislation or other governmental action. For example, in January 2020, the Committee on Oversight Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy of the U.S. House of Representatives launched an investigation into the online dating industry’s user safety policies, including certain practices of our businesses relating to the identification and removal of registered sex offenders and underage individuals from our platforms. The United Kingdom and European Union are also considering new legislation on this topic. For instance, the United Kingdom released its Online Harms White Paper and the European Union introduced proposed legislation referred to as the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act. Proposed legislation could expose platforms to liability similar to existing legislation in other jurisdictions or, in some cases, more expansive liability. For instance, the Digital Services Act intends to limit or remove protections afforded technology platforms under the e-Commerce Directive. Similarly, in the United States, legislation has been proposed in 2020, including the EARN IT Act, the PACT Act, the BAD ADS Act and others that would purport to limit or remove the protections afforded technology platforms under the Communications Decency Act, which protect technology platforms from civil liability for certain type of content and actions of the platform’s users. If these proposed laws are passed, or if future legislation or governmental action is proposed or taken to address concerns regarding such harms, and if existing protections are limited or removed, changes could be required to our products that could restrict or impose additional costs upon the conduct of our business generally or cause users to abandon our products, which may in turn materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The adoption of any laws or regulations that adversely affect the popularity or growth in use of the internet or our services, including laws or regulations that undermine open and neutrally administered internet access, could decrease user demand for our service offerings and increase our cost of doing business. For example, in December 2017, the Federal Communications Commission adopted an order reversing net neutrality protections in the United States, including the repeal of specific rules against blocking, throttling or “paid prioritization” of content or services by internet service providers. To the extent internet service providers engage in such blocking, throttling or “paid prioritization” of content or similar actions as a result of this order and the adoption of similar laws or regulations, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Furthermore, we are subject to rules and regulations of the United States and abroad relating to export controls and economic sanctions, including, but not limited to, trade sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control within the U.S. Department of the Treasury, as well as the Export Administration Regulations administered by the Department of Commerce. These regulations may limit our ability to market, sell, distribute or otherwise transfer our products or technology to prohibited countries or persons. While we have taken steps to comply with these rules and regulations, a determination that we have failed to comply, whether knowingly or inadvertently, may result in substantial penalties, including fines, enforcement actions, civil and/or criminal sanctions, the disgorgement of profits, and may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The varying and rapidly-evolving regulatory framework on privacy and data protection across jurisdictions could result in claims, changes to our business practices, monetary penalties, increased cost of operations, or declines in user growth or engagement, or otherwise harm our business.

As discussed above, we process a significant volume of personal information and other regulated information both from our employees and our users. There are numerous laws in the countries in which we operate regarding privacy and the storage, sharing, use, processing, disclosure and protection of this kind of information, the scope of which are constantly changing, and in some cases, inconsistent and conflicting and subject to differing interpretations, as new laws of this nature are proposed and adopted and we currently, and from time to time, may not be in technical compliance with all such laws. Such laws also are becoming increasingly rigorous and could be interpreted and applied in ways that may have a material adverse effect on our

 

48


Table of Contents

business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Therefore, enforcement practices are likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future. In recent years, there has been an increase in attention to and regulations of data protection and data privacy across the globe, including in the United States and the European Union. We are subject to the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), that became effective in May 2018, the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), which took effect on January 1, 2020, and the Brazilian General Data Protection Law, which took effect in August 2020 and imposes requirements similar to GDPR on products and services offered to users in Brazil. Other comprehensive data privacy or data protection laws or regulations have been passed or are under consideration in other jurisdictions, including China, India and Japan. Laws such as these give rise to an increasingly complex set of compliance obligations on us, as well as on many of our service providers. These laws impose restrictions on our ability to gather personal data, provide individuals with the ability to opt out of personal data collection, impose obligations on our ability to share data with others, and potentially subject us to fines, lawsuits, and regulatory scrutiny.

For example, the GDPR greatly increased the EU’s jurisdictional reach of its laws and added a broad array of requirements for handling personal data. EU member states are tasked under the GDPR to enact, and have enacted, certain implementing legislation that adds to and/or further interprets the GDPR requirements and potentially extends our obligations and potential liability for failing to meet such obligations. The GDPR includes obligations and restrictions concerning the consent and rights of individuals to whom the personal data relates, the transfer of personal data out of the European Economic Area, security breach notifications and the security and confidentiality of personal data.

Under the GDPR we may be subject to fines of up to €20 million or up to 4% of the total worldwide annual group turnover of the preceding financial year (whichever is higher), as well as face claims from individuals based on the GDPR’s private right of action. GDPR will continue to be interpreted by EU data protection regulators, which may require that we make changes to our business practices, which could be time-consuming and expensive, and could generate additional risks and liabilities. The European Union is also considering an update to the EU’s Privacy and Electronic Communications (so-called “e-Privacy”) Directive, notably to amend rules on the use of cookies. Brexit (as defined below) and ongoing developments in the United Kingdom have created uncertainty with regard to data protection regulation in the United Kingdom and could result in the application of new data privacy and protection laws and standards to our operations in the United Kingdom and our handling of personal data of users located in the United Kingdom. In particular, while the Data Protection Act of 2018 in the United Kingdom that “implements” and complements the GDPR is effective in the United Kingdom, it is still unclear what framework will apply and what legal mechanisms will be required to transfer data from the European Economic Area to the United Kingdom under GDPR. Additionally, the United Kingdom has transposed the GDPR into domestic law with a United Kingdom version of the GDPR (combining the GDPR and the Data Protection Act of 2018) that took effect in January 2021, which could expose us to two parallel regimes, each of which potentially authorizes similar fines and other potentially divergent enforcement actions for certain violations. Other countries have also passed or are considering passing laws requiring local data residency and/or restricting the international transfer of data.

Multiple legislative proposals concerning privacy and the protection of user information are being considered by the U.S. Congress. Various U.S. state legislatures have announced intentions to consider privacy legislation, and U.S. state legislatures such as California have already passed and enacted privacy legislation. For example, among other cases, the CCPA requires covered companies to provide new disclosures to California consumers and provide such consumers new data protection and privacy rights, including the ability to opt-out of certain sales of personal information. The CCPA provides for civil penalties for violations, as well as a private right of action for certain data breaches that result in the loss of personal information. This private right of action may increase the likelihood of, and risks associated with, data breach litigation. A ballot initiative from privacy rights advocates intended to augment and expand the CCPA called the California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”) was passed in November 2020 and will take effect in January 2023 (with a look back to January 2022). The CPRA will significantly modify the CCPA, including by expanding consumers’ rights with respect to certain sensitive personal information. The CPRA also creates a new state agency that will be vested with authority to implement and enforce the CCPA and the CPRA. New legislation proposed or enacted in a number of states impose, or have the potential to impose additional obligations on companies that collect, store, use, retain,

 

49


Table of Contents

disclose, transfer and otherwise process confidential, sensitive and personal information, and will continue to shape the data privacy environment nationally. State laws are changing rapidly and there is discussion in Congress of a new federal data protection and privacy law to which we would become subject if it is enacted. Additionally, governmental agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission have adopted, or are considering adopting, laws and regulations concerning personal information and data security. For example, the Federal Trade Commission has increased its focus on privacy and data security practices at digital companies, as evidenced by it levying, in July 2019, of a $5 billion fine against Facebook for privacy violations and increasing fines against companies found to be in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”).

The myriad international and U.S. privacy and data breach laws are not consistent, and compliance in the event of a widespread data breach is difficult and may be costly. Moreover, states have been frequently amending existing laws, requiring attention to changing regulatory requirements. In addition to government regulation, privacy advocates and industry groups have and may in the future propose self-regulatory standards from time to time. These and other industry standards may legally or contractually apply to us, or we may elect to comply with such standards. We expect that there will continue to be new proposed laws and regulations concerning data privacy and security, and we cannot yet determine the impact such future laws, regulations and standards may have on our business. Because the interpretation and application of data protection laws, regulations, standards and other obligations are still uncertain, and often contradictory and in flux, it is possible that the scope and requirements of these laws may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent with our practices and our efforts to comply with the evolving data protection rules may be unsuccessful.

We make public statements about our use and disclosure of personal information through our privacy policy, information provided on our website and press statements. Although we endeavor to comply with our public statements and documentation, we may at times fail to do so or be alleged to have failed to do so. We may be subject to potential government or legal action if such policies or statements are found to be deceptive, unfair or misrepresentative of our actual practices. In addition, from time to time, concerns may be expressed about whether our products and services compromise the privacy of our users and others. Any concerns about our data privacy and security practices (even if unfounded), or any failure, real or perceived, by us to comply with our posted privacy policies or with any legal or regulatory requirements, standards, certifications or orders or other privacy or consumer protection-related laws and regulations applicable to us, could cause our users to reduce their use of our products and services.

While we believe that we comply with industry standards and applicable laws and industry codes of conduct relating to privacy and data protection in all material respects, there is no assurance that we will not be subject to claims that we have violated applicable laws or codes of conduct, that we will be able to successfully defend against such claims or that we will not be subject to significant fines and penalties in the event of non-compliance. Additionally, to the extent multiple state-level laws are introduced with inconsistent or conflicting standards and there is no federal law to preempt such laws, compliance with such laws could be difficult to achieve and we could be subject to fines and penalties in the event of non-compliance.

Furthermore, enforcement actions and investigations by regulatory authorities related to data security incidents and privacy violations continue to increase. We have in the past received, and may continue to receive inquiries from regulators regarding our data privacy practices. Any failure or perceived failure by us (or the third parties with whom we have contracted to process such information) to comply with applicable privacy and security laws, policies or related contractual obligations, or any compromise of security that results in unauthorized access, or the use or transmission of, personal user information, could result in a variety of claims against us, including governmental enforcement actions and investigations, class action privacy litigation in certain jurisdictions and proceedings by data protection authorities. We could further be subject to significant fines, other litigation, claims of breach of contract and indemnity by third parties, and adverse publicity. When such events occur, our reputation may be harmed, we may lose current and potential users and the competitive positions of our various brands might be diminished, any or all of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. In addition, if our practices are not consistent or viewed as not consistent with legal and regulatory requirements, including changes in laws, regulations and

 

50


Table of Contents

standards or new interpretations or applications of existing laws, regulations and standards, we may become subject to audits, inquiries, whistleblower complaints, adverse media coverage, investigations, loss of export privileges or severe criminal or civil sanctions, all of which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We are subject to litigation and adverse outcomes in such litigation could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

We are, and from time to time may become, subject to litigation and various legal proceedings, including litigation and proceedings related to intellectual property matters, privacy and consumer protection laws, as well as stockholder derivative suits, class action lawsuits, actions from former employees and other matters, that involve claims for substantial amounts of money or for other relief or that might necessitate changes to our business or operations. Because we strive for gender equality in relationships and empower women to make the first move on our platforms, we have been, and may continue to be, subject to discrimination lawsuits. The defense of these actions is time consuming and expensive. We evaluate these litigation claims and legal proceedings to assess the likelihood of unfavorable outcomes and to estimate, if possible, the amount of potential losses. Based on these assessments and estimates, we may establish reserves and/or disclose the relevant litigation claims or legal proceedings, as and when required or appropriate. These assessments and estimates are based on information available to management at the time of such assessment or estimation and involve a significant amount of judgment. As a result, actual outcomes or losses could differ materially from those envisioned by our current assessments and estimates. Our failure to successfully defend or settle any of these litigations or legal proceedings could result in liability that, to the extent not covered by our insurance, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Please see Note 15, Commitments and Contingencies, within the audited consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

Online applications are subject to various laws and regulations relating to children’s privacy and protection, which if violated, could subject us to an increased risk of litigation and regulatory actions.

A variety of laws and regulations have been adopted in recent years aimed at protecting children using the internet such as the COPPA and Article 8 of the GDPR. We implement certain precautions to ensure that minors do not gain access to our application. Despite our efforts, no assurances can be given that such measures will be sufficient to completely avoid allegations of COPPA violations, any of which could expose us to significant liability, penalties, reputational harm and loss of revenue, among other things. Additionally, new regulations are being considered in various jurisdictions to require the monitoring of user content or the verification of users’ identities and age. Such new regulations, or changes to existing regulations, could increase the cost of our operations.

We are subject to taxation related risks in multiple jurisdictions.

We are a U.S.-based multinational company subject to tax in multiple U.S. and foreign tax jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our global provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets or liabilities and in evaluating our tax positions on a worldwide basis. While we believe our tax positions are consistent with the tax laws in the jurisdictions in which we conduct our business, it is possible that these positions may be challenged by jurisdictional tax authorities, which may have a significant impact on our global provision for income taxes.

Tax laws are being re-examined and evaluated globally. New laws and interpretations of the law are taken into account for financial statement purposes in the quarter or year that they become applicable. Tax authorities are increasingly scrutinizing the tax positions of companies. Many countries in the European Union, as well as a number of other countries and organizations such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Commission, are actively considering changes to existing tax laws that, if enacted, could increase our tax obligations in countries where we do business. These proposals include changes to the existing framework to calculate income tax, as well as proposals to change or impose new types of non-income taxes, including taxes based on a percentage of revenue. For example, several countries in the European Union have proposed or enacted taxes applicable to digital services, which includes business activities

 

51


Table of Contents

on social media platforms and online marketplaces, and would likely apply to our business. Many questions remain about the enactment, form and application of these digital services taxes. The interpretation and implementation of the various digital services taxes (especially if there is inconsistency in the application of these taxes across tax jurisdictions) could have a materially adverse impact on our business, results of operations and cash flows. Moreover, if the U.S. or other foreign tax authorities change applicable tax laws, our overall taxes could increase, and our business, financial condition or results of operations may be adversely impacted.

Action by governments to restrict access to Bumble in their countries could substantially harm our business and financial results.

Governments from time to time seek to censor content available on Bumble or our other products in their country, restrict access to our products from their country entirely, or impose other restrictions that may affect the accessibility of our products in their country for an extended period of time or indefinitely. For example, user access to Bumble and certain of our other products may be restricted in China. In addition, government authorities in other countries may seek to restrict user access to our products if they consider us to be in violation of their laws or a threat to public safety or for other reasons, such as considering the content on our platforms, or online dating services generally, immoral. For example, in September 2020 certain online dating platforms were banned in Pakistan for disseminating what it deemed to be “immoral and indecent” content. In the event that content shown on Bumble or our other products is subject to censorship, access to our products is restricted, in whole or in part, in one or more countries, we are required to or elect to make changes to our operations, or other restrictions are imposed on our products, or our competitors are able to successfully penetrate new geographic markets or capture a greater share of existing geographic markets that we cannot access or where we face other restrictions, our ability to retain or increase our user base, user engagement, or the level of advertising by marketers may be adversely affected, we may not be able to maintain or grow our revenue as anticipated, and our financial results could be materially adversely affected.

Legal, political and economic uncertainty surrounding the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union, or Brexit, and the implementation of the trade and cooperation agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union could have a material adverse effect on our business.

In June 2016, voters in the United Kingdom approved a referendum to withdraw the United Kingdom’s membership from the European Union, which is commonly referred to as “Brexit.” The United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union occurred on January 31, 2020, but the United Kingdom remained in the European Union’s customs union and single market for a transition period that expired on December 31, 2020. On December 24, 2020, the United Kingdom and the European Union entered into a trade and cooperation agreement (the “Trade and Cooperation Agreement”), which was applied on a provisional basis from January 1, 2021. While the economic integration does not reach the level that existed during the time the United Kingdom was a member state of the European Union, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement sets out preferential arrangements in areas such as trade in goods and in services, digital trade and intellectual property. Negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union are expected to continue in relation to the relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union in certain other areas which are not covered by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The long term effects of Brexit will depend on the effects of the implementation and application of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and any other relevant agreements between the United Kingdom and the European Union.

We have operations in the United Kingdom and the European Union and, as a result, we face risks associated with the potential uncertainty and disruptions that may follow Brexit and the implementation and application of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, including with respect to volatility in exchange rates and interest rates, disruptions to the free movement of data, goods, services, people and capital between the United Kingdom and the European Union and potential material changes to the regulatory regime applicable to our operations in the United Kingdom. The uncertainty concerning the United Kingdom’s future legal, political and economic relationship with the European Union could adversely affect political, regulatory, economic or market conditions in the European Union, the United Kingdom and worldwide and could contribute to instability in global political institutions, regulatory agencies and financial markets. These developments, or the perception that any of them could occur, have had and may continue to have a material adverse effect on global economic

 

52


Table of Contents

conditions and the stability of global financial markets and could significantly reduce global market liquidity and limit the ability of key market participants to operate in certain financial markets. In particular, it could also lead to a period of considerable uncertainty in relation to the United Kingdom financial and banking markets, as well as to the regulatory process in Europe. Asset valuations, currency exchange rates and credit ratings may also be subject to increased market volatility.

We may also face new regulatory costs and challenges as a result of Brexit that could have a material adverse effect on our operations. For example, as of January 1, 2021, the United Kingdom lost the benefits of global trade agreements negotiated by the European Union on behalf of its members, which may result in increased trade barriers that could make our doing business in areas that are subject to such global trade agreements more difficult. In addition, Brexit could lead to legal uncertainty and potentially divergent national laws and regulations as the United Kingdom determines which laws of the European Union to replace or replicate. There may continue to be economic uncertainty surrounding the consequences of Brexit that adversely impact customer confidence resulting in customers reducing their spending budgets on our services, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The ongoing instability and uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the implementation and application of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, could require us to restructure our business operations in the United Kingdom and the European Union and could have an adverse impact on our business and employees in the United Kingdom and European Union.

Risks Related to Our Indebtedness

Our substantial indebtedness could materially adversely affect our financial condition, our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, our ability to operate our business, our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry, our ability to meet our obligations under our outstanding indebtedness and could divert our cash flow from operations for debt payments.

We have a substantial amount of debt, which requires significant interest and principal payments. In connection with the Sponsor Acquisition, in January 2020, we entered into a senior secured term loan facility (the “Initial Term Loan Facility”) in an original aggregate principal amount of $575.0 million and a senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) in an aggregate principal amount of up to $50.0 million. In October 2020, we entered into an incremental senior secured term loan facility (the “Incremental Term Loan Facility” and, together with the Initial Term Loan Facility, the “Term Loan Facility”; the Term Loan Facility together with the Revolving Credit Facility, the “Senior Secured Credit Facilities”) in an original aggregate principal amount of $275.0 million. Subject to the limits contained in the Credit Agreement (as defined below) that governs our Senior Secured Credit Facilities, we may be able to incur substantial additional debt from time to time to finance working capital, capital expenditures, investments or acquisitions, or for other purposes. If we do so, the risks related to our high level of debt could increase. Specifically, our high level of debt could have important consequences, including the following:

 

   

it may be difficult for us to satisfy our obligations, including debt service requirements under our outstanding debt;

 

   

our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements, acquisitions or other general corporate purposes may be impaired;

 

   

a substantial portion of cash flow from operations are required to be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness, therefore reducing our ability to use our cash flow to fund our operations, capital expenditures, future business opportunities and other purposes;

 

   

we could be more vulnerable to economic downturns and adverse industry conditions and our flexibility to plan for, or react to, changes in our business or industry is more limited;

 

   

our ability to capitalize on business opportunities and to react to competitive pressures, as compared to our competitors, may be compromised due to our high level of debt and the restrictive covenants in the Credit Agreement that governs our Senior Secured Credit Facilities;

 

   

our ability to borrow additional funds or to refinance debt may be limited; and

 

53


Table of Contents
   

it may cause potential or existing customers to not contract with us due to concerns over our ability to meet our financial obligations under such contracts.

We are a holding company, and our consolidated assets are owned by, and our business is conducted through, our subsidiaries. Revenue from these subsidiaries is our primary source of funds for debt payments and operating expenses. If our subsidiaries are restricted from making distributions to us, our ability to meet our debt service obligations or otherwise fund our operations may be impaired. Moreover, there may be restrictions on payments by subsidiaries to their parent companies under applicable laws, including laws that require companies to maintain minimum amounts of capital and to make payments to stockholders only from profits. As a result, although a subsidiary of ours may have cash, we may not be able to obtain that cash to satisfy our obligation to service our outstanding debt or fund our operations.

Our ability to make scheduled payments on and to refinance our indebtedness depends on and is subject to our financial and operating performance, which in turn is affected by general and regional economic, financial, competitive, business and other factors and reimbursement actions of governmental and commercial payers, all of which are beyond our control, including the availability of financing in the international banking and capital markets. We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to service our debt, to refinance our debt or to fund our other liquidity needs. Any refinancing or restructuring of our indebtedness could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants that could further restrict our business operations. Moreover, in the event of a default, the holders of our indebtedness could elect to declare such indebtedness be due and payable and/or elect to exercise other rights, such as the lenders under our Revolving Credit Facility terminating their commitments thereunder and ceasing to make further loans or the lenders under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities instituting foreclosure proceedings against their collateral, any of which could materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Furthermore, all of the debt under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities bears interest at variable rates. If interest rates increase, our debt service obligations on our Senior Secured Credit Facilities would increase even though the amount borrowed remained the same, and our net income and cash flows, including cash available for servicing our indebtedness, would correspondingly decrease. In addition, our variable rate indebtedness uses the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) as a benchmark for establishing the rate of interest and may be hedged with LIBOR-based interest rate derivatives. LIBOR is the subject of recent national, international and other regulatory guidance and proposals for reform. These reforms and other pressures may cause LIBOR to be replaced with a new benchmark or to perform differently than in the past. The consequences of these developments cannot be entirely predicted, but could include an increase in the cost of our variable rate indebtedness.

Certain of our debt agreements impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us and our subsidiaries, which may prevent us from capitalizing on business opportunities.

The Credit Agreement that governs our Senior Secured Credit Facilities imposes significant operating and financial restrictions on us. These restrictions will limit our ability and/or the ability of our subsidiaries to, among other things:

 

   

incur or guarantee additional debt or issue disqualified stock or preferred stock;

 

   

pay dividends and make other distributions on, or redeem or repurchase, capital stock;

 

   

make certain investments;

 

   

incur certain liens;

 

   

enter into transactions with affiliates;

 

   

merge or consolidate;

 

54


Table of Contents
   

enter into agreements that restrict the ability of restricted subsidiaries to make dividends or other payments to the issuers or the guarantors;

 

   

prepay, redeem or repurchase any subordinated indebtedness or enter into amendments to certain subordinated indebtedness in a manner materially adverse to the lenders;

 

   

designate restricted subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries; and

 

   

transfer or sell assets.

Furthermore, if our borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility exceed certain thresholds, the Credit Agreement requires Buzz Finco L.L.C. to maintain, as of the last day of each four fiscal quarter periods, a maximum consolidated first lien net leverage ratio of 5.75 to 1.00 (subject to customary equity cure rights). As a result of these restrictions, we are limited as to how we conduct our business and we may be unable to raise additional debt or equity financing to compete effectively or to take advantage of new business opportunities. The terms of any future indebtedness we may incur could include similar or more restrictive covenants. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain compliance with these covenants in the future and, if we fail to do so, that we will be able to obtain waivers from the lenders and/or amend the covenants. Our failure to comply with the restrictive or financial covenants described above as well as the terms of any future indebtedness could result in an event of default, which, if not cured or waived, could result in us being required to repay these borrowings before their due date. If we are forced to refinance these borrowings on less favorable terms or are unable to refinance these borrowings, our results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure

Bumble Inc. is a holding company and its only material asset after completion of this offering will be its interest in Bumble Holdings, and it is accordingly dependent upon distributions from Bumble Holdings to pay taxes, make payments under the tax receivable agreement and pay dividends.

Bumble Inc. will be a holding company and after completion of this offering will have no material assets other than its ownership of Common Units. Bumble Inc. has no independent means of generating revenue. Bumble Inc. intends to cause Bumble Holdings to make distributions to holders of its Common Units, including Bumble Inc. and our Pre-IPO Common Unitholders, and Incentive Units in an amount sufficient to cover all applicable taxes at assumed tax rates, payments under the tax receivable agreement and dividends, if any, declared by it. Deterioration in the financial condition, earnings or cash flow of Bumble Holdings and its subsidiaries for any reason could limit or impair their ability to pay such distributions. Additionally, to the extent that Bumble Inc. needs funds, and Bumble Holdings is restricted from making such distributions under applicable law or regulation or under the terms of our financing arrangements, or is otherwise unable to provide such funds, such restriction could materially adversely affect our liquidity and financial condition.

We anticipate that Bumble Holdings will continue to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, as such, generally will not be subject to any entity-level U.S. federal income tax. Instead, taxable income will be allocated to holders of Common Units, including us, and Incentive Units. Accordingly, we will be required to pay income taxes on our allocable share of any net taxable income of Bumble Holdings. Legislation that is effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 may impute liability for adjustments to a partnership’s tax return to the partnership itself in certain circumstances, absent an election to the contrary. Bumble Holdings may be subject to material liabilities pursuant to this legislation and related guidance if, for example, its calculations of taxable income are incorrect. In addition, the income taxes on our allocable share of Bumble Holding’s net taxable income will increase over time as our Pre-IPO Common Unitholders and/or Continuing Incentive Unitholders exchange their Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) for shares of our Class A common stock. Such increase in our tax expenses may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

 

55


Table of Contents

Under the terms of the amended and restated limited partnership agreement, Bumble Holdings is obligated to make tax distributions to holders of Common Units, including us, and Incentive Units at certain assumed tax rates. These tax distributions may in certain periods exceed our tax liabilities and obligations to make payments under the tax receivable agreement. Our board of directors, in its sole discretion, will make any determination from time to time with respect to the use of any such excess cash so accumulated, which may include, among other uses, funding repurchases of Class A common stock; acquiring additional newly issued Common Units from Bumble Holdings at a per unit price determined by reference to the market value of the Class A common stock; paying dividends, which may include special dividends, on its Class A common stock; or any combination of the foregoing. We will have no obligation to distribute such cash (or other available cash other than any declared dividend) to our stockholders. To the extent that we do not distribute such excess cash as dividends on our Class A common stock or otherwise undertake ameliorative actions between Common Units, Incentive Units and shares of Class A common stock and instead, for example, hold such cash balances, holders of our Common Units (other than Bumble Inc.) and Incentive Units may benefit from any value attributable to such cash balances as a result of their ownership of Class A common stock following a redemption or exchange of their Common Units, notwithstanding that such holders of our Common Units (other than Bumble Inc.) and Incentive Units may previously have participated as holders of Common Units and Incentive Units in distributions by Bumble Holdings that resulted in such excess cash balances at Bumble Inc. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Bumble Holdings Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement.”

Payments of dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors after taking into account various factors, including our business, operating results and financial condition, current and anticipated cash needs, plans for expansion and any legal or contractual limitations on our ability to pay dividends. Our existing Senior Secured Credit Facilities include, and any financing arrangement that we enter into in the future may include, restrictive covenants that limit our ability to pay dividends. In addition, Bumble Holdings is generally prohibited under Delaware law from making a distribution to a limited partner to the extent that, at the time of the distribution, after giving effect to the distribution, liabilities of Bumble Holdings (with certain exceptions) exceed the fair value of its assets. Subsidiaries of Bumble Holdings are generally subject to similar legal limitations on their ability to make distributions to Bumble Holdings.

Bumble Inc. will be required to pay certain of our pre-IPO owners for most of the benefits relating to tax depreciation or amortization deductions that we may claim as a result of Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis acquired in this offering, Bumble Inc.’s increase in its allocable share of existing tax basis and anticipated tax basis adjustments we receive in connection with sales or exchanges of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) in connection with or after this offering and our utilization of certain tax attributes of the Blocker Companies.

Prior to the completion of this offering, we will enter into a tax receivable agreement with certain of our pre-IPO owners that provides for the payment by Bumble Inc. to such pre-IPO owners of 85% of the benefits, if any, that Bumble Inc. realizes, or is deemed to realize (calculated using certain assumptions), as a result of (i) Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis acquired in this offering, (ii) increases in Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis and adjustments to the tax basis of the tangible and intangible assets of Bumble Holdings as a result of sales or exchanges of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) for shares of Class A common stock in connection with or after this offering and (iii) Bumble Inc.’s utilization of certain tax attributes of the Blocker Companies (including the Blocker Companies’ allocable share of existing tax basis), and (iv) certain other tax benefits related to entering into the tax receivable agreement, including tax benefits attributable to payments under the tax receivable agreement. The existing tax basis, increases in existing tax basis and tax basis adjustments generated over time may increase (for tax purposes) the depreciation and amortization deductions available to Bumble Inc. and, therefore, may reduce the amount of tax that Bumble Inc. would otherwise be required to pay in the future, although the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) may challenge all or part of the validity of that tax basis, and a court could sustain such a challenge. Actual tax benefits realized by Bumble Inc. may differ from tax benefits calculated under the tax receivable agreement as a result of the use of certain assumptions in the tax receivable

 

56


Table of Contents

agreement, including the use of an assumed weighted-average state and local income tax rate to calculate tax benefits.

The payment obligation under the tax receivable agreement is an obligation of Bumble Inc. and not of Bumble Holdings. While the amount of existing tax basis and anticipated tax basis adjustments and utilization of tax attributes, as well as the amount and timing of any payments under the tax receivable agreement, will vary depending upon a number of factors, we expect the payments that Bumble Inc. may make under the tax receivable agreement will be substantial. The actual amounts payable will depend upon, among other things, the timing of purchases or exchanges, the price of shares of our Class A common stock at the time of such purchases or exchanges, the extent to which such purchases or exchanges are taxable and the amount and timing of our taxable income. We estimate the amount of existing tax basis with respect to which our pre-IPO owners will be entitled to receive payments under the tax receivable agreement (assuming all Pre-IPO Common Unitholders exchange their Common Units for shares of Class A common stock on the date of this offering, and assuming all vested Incentive Units are converted to Common Units and subsequently exchanged for shares of Class A common stock at an offering price of $             per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus) is approximately $            million, which includes Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis acquired in this offering, which we have determined to be approximately $             million. The payments under the tax receivable agreement are not conditioned upon continued ownership of us by the pre-IPO owners. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement.”

In certain cases, payments under the tax receivable agreement may be accelerated and/or significantly exceed the actual benefits Bumble Inc. realizes in respect of the tax attributes subject to the tax receivable agreement.

Bumble Inc.’s payment obligations under the tax receivable agreement will be accelerated in the event of certain changes of control, upon a breach by Bumble Inc. of a material obligation under the tax receivable agreement or if Bumble Inc. elects to terminate the tax receivable agreement early. The accelerated payments required in such circumstances will be calculated by reference to the present value (at a discount rate equal to the lesser of (i) 6.5% per annum and (ii) one year LIBOR (or its successor rate) plus 100 basis points) of all future payments that holders of Common Units or other recipients would have been entitled to receive under the tax receivable agreement, and such accelerated payments and any other future payments under the tax receivable agreement will utilize certain valuation assumptions, including that Bumble Inc. will have sufficient taxable income to fully utilize the deductions arising from the increased tax deductions and tax basis and other benefits related to entering into the tax receivable agreement and sufficient taxable income to fully utilize any remaining net operating losses subject to the tax receivable agreement on a straight line basis over the shorter of the statutory expiration period for such net operating losses or the five-year period after the early termination or change of control. In addition, recipients of payments under the tax receivable agreement will not reimburse us for any payments previously made under the tax receivable agreement if the tax attributes or Bumble Inc.’s utilization of tax attributes underlying the relevant tax receivable agreement payment are successfully challenged by the IRS (although any such detriment would be taken into account as an offset against future payments due to the relevant recipient under the tax receivable agreement). Bumble Inc.’s ability to achieve benefits from any existing tax basis, tax basis adjustments or other tax attributes, and the payments to be made under the tax receivable agreement, will depend upon a number of factors, including the timing and amount of our future income. As a result, even in the absence of a change of control or an election to terminate the tax receivable agreement early, payments under the tax receivable agreement could be in excess of 85% of Bumble Inc.’s actual cash tax benefits.

Accordingly, it is possible that the actual cash tax benefits realized by Bumble Inc. may be significantly less than the corresponding tax receivable agreement payments. It is also possible that payments under the tax receivable agreement may be made years in advance of the actual realization, if any, of the anticipated future tax benefits. There may be a material negative effect on our liquidity if the payments under the tax receivable agreement exceed the actual cash tax benefits that Bumble Inc. realizes in respect of the tax attributes subject to the tax receivable agreement and/or if distributions to Bumble Inc. by Bumble Holdings are not sufficient to

 

57


Table of Contents

permit Bumble Inc. to make payments under the tax receivable agreement after it has paid taxes and other expenses. Based upon certain assumptions described in greater detail below under “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement,” we estimate that if Bumble Inc. were to exercise its termination right immediately following this offering, the aggregate amount of the early termination payments required under the tax receivable agreement would be approximately $            million. The foregoing number is merely an estimate and the actual payments could differ materially. We may need to incur additional indebtedness to finance payments under the tax receivable agreement to the extent our cash resources are insufficient to meet our obligations under the tax receivable agreement as a result of timing discrepancies or otherwise, and these obligations could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combinations or other changes of control.

The acceleration of payments under the tax receivable agreement in the case of certain changes of control may impair our ability to consummate change of control transactions or negatively impact the value received by owners of our Class A common stock.

In the case of certain changes of control, payments under the tax receivable agreement will be accelerated and may significantly exceed the actual benefits Bumble Inc. realizes in respect of the tax attributes subject to the tax receivable agreement. We expect that the payments that we may make under the tax receivable agreement in the event of a change of control will be substantial. As a result, our accelerated payment obligations and/or the assumptions adopted under the tax receivable agreement in the case of a change of control may impair our ability to consummate change of control transactions or negatively impact the value received by owners of our Class A common stock in a change of control transaction.

Risks Related to this Offering and Ownership of our Class A Common Stock

A portion of the proceeds from this offering will be used to purchase outstanding Common Units from our pre-IPO owners and will not be available to fund our operations.

Bumble Inc. intends to use $            million of the net proceeds from this offering (or $            million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) to purchase outstanding Common Units from our pre-IPO owners, as described under “Organizational Structure—Offering Transactions” and “Use of Proceeds.” Accordingly, we will not retain any of these proceeds, and none of these proceeds will be available to fund our operations, capital expenditures or acquisition opportunities.

Our Principal Stockholders control us and their interests may conflict with ours or yours in the future.

Immediately following this offering and the application of net proceeds therefrom, our Principal Stockholders will beneficially own approximately     % of the combined voting power of our Class A and Class B common stock (or     % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). Moreover, we will agree to nominate to our board individuals designated by our Sponsor and our Founder in accordance with the stockholders agreement we intend to enter into in connection with this offering. Our Sponsor and our Founder will retain the right to designate directors subject to the maintenance of certain ownership requirements in us. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Stockholders Agreement.” Even when our Principal Stockholders cease to own shares of our stock representing a majority of the total voting power, for so long as our Principal Stockholders continue to own a significant percentage of our stock, they will still be able to significantly influence or effectively control the composition of our board of directors and the approval of actions requiring stockholder approval through their voting power. Accordingly, for such period of time, our Principal Stockholders will have significant influence with respect to our management, business plans and policies, including the appointment and removal of our officers. In particular, for so long as our Sponsor continues to own a significant percentage of our stock, our Sponsor will be able to cause or prevent a change of control of our company or a change in the composition of our board of directors and could preclude any unsolicited acquisition of our company. The concentration of ownership could deprive you of an opportunity to receive a premium for your shares of Class A common stock as part of a sale of our company and ultimately might affect the market price of our Class A common stock.

 

58


Table of Contents

In addition, immediately following this offering and the application of the net proceeds therefrom, the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders (which include our Sponsor and our Founder) will own     % of the Common Units (or     % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). Because they hold their ownership interest in our business directly in Bumble Holdings, rather than through Bumble Inc., the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders may have conflicting interests with holders of shares of our Class A common stock. For example, if Bumble Holdings makes distributions to Bumble Inc., the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders and participating Continuing Incentive Unitholders (as described below) will also be entitled to receive such distributions pro rata in accordance with the percentages of their respective Common Units or Incentive Units, as applicable, in Bumble Holdings and their preferences as to the timing and amount of any such distributions may differ from those of our public stockholders. Incentive Units initially will not be entitled to receive distributions (other than tax distributions) until holders of Common Units have received a minimum return as provided in the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings. However, Incentive Units will have the benefit of adjustment provisions that will reduce the participation threshold for distributions in respect of which they do not participate until there is no participation threshold, at which time the Incentive Units would participate pro rata with distributions on Common Units. Our pre-IPO owners may also have different tax positions from us which could influence their decisions regarding whether and when to dispose of assets, especially in light of the existence of the tax receivable agreement that we will enter into in connection with this offering, whether and when to incur new or refinance existing indebtedness, and whether and when Bumble Inc. should terminate the tax receivable agreement and accelerate its obligations thereunder. In addition, the structuring of future transactions may take into consideration our pre-IPO owners’ tax or other considerations even where no similar benefit would accrue to us. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement.”

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will not limit the ability of our Sponsor and our Co-Investor to compete with us and they may have investments in businesses whose interests conflict with ours.

Our Sponsor and our Co-Investor and their respective affiliates engage in a broad spectrum of activities, including investments in businesses that may compete with us. In the ordinary course of their business activities, our Sponsor and our Co-Investor and their respective affiliates may engage in activities where their interests conflict with our interests or those of our stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that none of our Sponsor, our Co-Investor or any of their respective affiliates or any of our directors who are not employed by us (including any non-employee director who serves as one of our officers in both his or her director and officer capacities) or his or her affiliates will have any duty to refrain from engaging, directly or indirectly, in the same business activities or similar business activities or lines of business in which we operate. See “Description of Capital Stock—Conflicts of Interest.” Our Sponsor, our Co-Investor and their respective affiliates also may pursue acquisition opportunities that may be complementary to our business, and, as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us. In addition, our Sponsor and our Co-Investor may have an interest in our pursuing acquisitions, divestitures and other transactions that, in their judgment, could enhance their investment, even though such transactions might involve risks to us and our stockholders.

Upon the listing of our Class A common stock on Nasdaq, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of Nasdaq rules and, as a result, will qualify for exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements. You will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such requirements.

After the completion of this offering, our Principal Stockholders will be parties to a stockholders agreement described in “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Stockholders Agreement” and will beneficially own approximately     % of the combined voting power of our Class A and Class B common stock (or % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). As a result, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq corporate governance standards.

 

59


Table of Contents

Under these corporate governance standards, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power in the election of directors is held by an individual, group or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements. For example, controlled companies:

 

   

are not required to have a board that is composed of a majority of “independent directors,” as defined under Nasdaq rules;

 

   

are not required to have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors; and

 

   

are not required to have director nominations be made, or recommended to the full board of directors, by its independent directors or by a nominations committee that is composed entirely of independent directors.

Accordingly, you will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq.

We are an “emerging growth company,” and we cannot be certain if the reduced reporting requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our common stock less attractive to investors.

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act. We will remain an “emerging growth company” until the earliest to occur of:

 

   

the last day of the fiscal year during which our total annual revenue equals or exceeds $1.07 billion (subject to adjustment for inflation);

 

   

the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of this offering;

 

   

the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt; or

 

   

the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Exchange Act.

We may take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including but not limited to, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

In addition, the JOBS Act permits an emerging growth company like us to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period until we are no longer an emerging growth company or until we affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period. Accordingly, this election allows us to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies. When a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, will adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard, unless early adoption is permitted by the standard. As a result, our consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to the financial statements of companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

Investors may find our Class A common stock less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Class A common stock and our per share trading price may be materially adversely affected and more volatile.

 

60


Table of Contents

We will incur increased costs and become subject to additional regulations and requirements as a result of becoming a public company, which could lower our profits, make it more difficult to run our business or divert management’s attention from our business.

As a public company, we will be required to commit significant resources and management time and attention to the requirements of being a public company, which will cause us to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we have not incurred as a private company, including costs associated with public company reporting requirements. We also will incur costs associated with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes- Oxley Act”) and related rules implemented by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and Nasdaq, and compliance with these requirements will place significant demands on our legal, accounting and finance staff and on our accounting, financial and information systems. In addition, we might not be successful in implementing these requirements. The expenses incurred by public companies generally for reporting and corporate governance purposes have been increasing. We expect these rules and regulations to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and to make some activities more time-consuming and costly, although we are currently unable to estimate these costs with any degree of certainty. These laws and regulations also could make it more difficult or costly for us to obtain certain types of insurance, including director and officer liability insurance, and we may be forced to accept reduced policy limits and coverage, higher retention, or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. These laws and regulations could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors, our board committees or as our executive officers. Furthermore, if we are unable to satisfy our obligations as a public company, we could be subject to delisting of our Class A common stock, fines, sanctions and other regulatory action and potentially civil litigation.

We have identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. If our remediation of the material weakness is not effective, or we fail to develop and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, our ability to produce timely and accurate financial statements or comply with applicable laws and regulations could be impaired.

As we prepared the financial statements that are included in this prospectus, our management has determined that we have a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

Specifically, the deficiency we identified relates to a lack of defined processes and controls over information technology.

These information technology control deficiencies, when aggregated, are a material weakness and could result in a material misstatement to our financial statements that may not be prevented or detected. Given we operated as a private company prior to this offering, we did not have the necessary processes and controls formalized to effectively implement information technology controls within key financial systems.

We are taking the following actions to remediate this material weakness:

 

   

Broadening the scope of existing information technology general controls for user access and segregation of duties, change management, computer operations, and program development. We are also reviewing and strengthening policies related to each of these IT domains.

 

   

Engaging an external advisor to assist us with documenting our internal controls, gaps in internal controls, assisting with remediation, and monitoring remediation progress.

 

   

Delivering periodic training to our team members on internal controls over financial reporting.

 

   

Strengthening our compliance and accounting functions with additional experienced hires to assist in our risk assessment process and the design and implementation of controls responsive to those deficiencies.

 

61


Table of Contents

We cannot assure you the measures we are taking to remediate the material weakness will be sufficient or that they will prevent future material weaknesses. Additional material weaknesses or failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations as a public company and may result in a restatement of our financial statements for prior periods.

Our independent registered public accounting firm is not required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting until after we are no longer an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act. At such time, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse in the event it is not satisfied with the level at which our internal control over financial reporting is documented, designed, or operating. If we are not able to complete our initial assessment of our internal controls and otherwise implement the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in a timely manner or with adequate compliance, our independent registered public accounting firm may not be able to certify as to the adequacy of our internal controls over financial reporting. Any failure to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting also could adversely affect the results of periodic management evaluations and annual independent registered public accounting firm attestation reports regarding the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting that we will eventually be required to include in our periodic reports that are filed with the SEC. Ineffective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial and other information, which would likely have a negative effect on the trading price of our Class A common stock. In addition, if we are unable to continue to meet these requirements, we may not be able to remain listed on Nasdaq.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they downgrade their recommendations regarding our Class A common stock, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our Class A common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us or our business. If any of the analysts who cover us downgrade our Class A common stock or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our Class A common stock price may decline. If analysts cease coverage of us or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our Class A common stock price or trading volume to decline and our Class A common stock to be less liquid.

There has been no prior market for our Class A common stock and an active trading market for our Class A common stock may never develop or be sustained, which may cause shares of our Class A common stock to trade at a discount from their initial offering price and make it difficult to sell the shares of Class A common stock you purchase.

Prior to this offering, there has not been a public trading market for shares of our Class A common stock. The initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock will be determined by agreement among us and the representatives of the underwriters, and may not be indicative of the price at which shares of our Class A common stock will trade in the public market after this offering. If you purchase shares of our Class A common stock, you may not be able to resell those shares at or above the initial public offering price. We cannot predict the extent to which investor interest in the Company will lead to the development of an active trading market on Nasdaq or how liquid that market might become. An active public market for our Class A common stock may not develop or be sustained after the offering. If an active public market does not develop or is not sustained, it may be difficult for you to sell your shares of Class A common stock at a price that is attractive to you, or at all. The market price of our Class A common stock may decline below the initial public offering price.

We cannot predict the impact our dual class structure may have on the market price of our Class A common stock.

We cannot predict whether our dual class structure will result in a lower or more volatile market price of our Class A common stock, in adverse publicity or other adverse consequences. Certain index providers have

 

62


Table of Contents

announced restrictions on including companies with multiple class share structures in certain of their indices. For example, S&P Dow Jones has stated that companies with multiple share classes will not be eligible for inclusion in the S&P Composite 1500 (composed of the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400 and S&P SmallCap 600), although existing index constituents in July 2017 were grandfathered. Under the announced policies, our dual class capital structure would make us ineligible for inclusion in any of these indices. Given the sustained flow of investment funds into passive strategies that seek to track certain indices, exclusion from stock indices would likely preclude investment by many of these funds and could make our Class A common stock less attractive to other investors. As a result, the market price of our Class A common stock could be materially adversely affected.

The outsized voting rights of our Principal Stockholders will have the effect of concentrating voting control with our Principal Stockholders, will limit or preclude your ability to influence corporate matters and may have a potential adverse effect on the price of our Class A common stock.

In general, each share of our Class A common stock will entitle its holder to one vote on all matters on which stockholders of Bumble Inc. are entitled to vote generally. Shares of Class B common stock will have no economic rights but each share will generally entitle each holder, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such holder, to a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of Common Units held by such holder on all matters on which stockholders of Bumble Inc. are entitled to vote generally. Holders of shares of our Class B common stock will vote together with holders of our Class A common stock as a single class on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally, except as otherwise required by law. See “Description of Capital Stock—Common Stock—Class B Common Stock.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless they elect otherwise, each of our Principal Stockholders will be entitled to outsized voting rights as follows. Until the High Vote Termination Date, each share of Class A common stock held by a Principal Stockholder will entitle such Principal Stockholder to ten votes and each Principal Stockholder that holds Class B common stock will be entitled, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such Principal Stockholder, to a number of votes equal to 10 times the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by such Principal Stockholder. In addition, if, at any time, our Founder is neither an employee nor a director, any Class A common stock or Class B common stock held by our Founder will be entitled to one vote per share (in the case of the Class A common stock) or a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by our Founder (in the case of the Class B common stock), in each case on all matters on which stockholders of Bumble Inc. are entitled to vote generally. The difference in voting rights could adversely affect the value of our Class A common stock by, for example, delaying or deferring a change of control or if investors view, or any potential future purchaser of our company views, the superior voting rights of our Principal Stockholders to have value. Because of the ten-to-one voting ratio between our Class A and Class B common stock held by our Principal Stockholders, on the one hand, and Class A and Class B common stock held by individuals other than our Principal Stockholders, on the other hand, the Principal Stockholders collectively will control a majority of the combined voting power of our common stock and therefore be able to control all matters submitted to our shareholders. This concentrated control will limit or preclude the ability of other holders of Class A common stock to influence corporate matters for the foreseeable future. For additional information, see “Description of Capital Stock.”

The market price of shares of our Class A common stock may be volatile or may decline regardless of our operating performance, which could cause the value of your investment to decline.

Even if a trading market develops, the market price of our Class A common stock may be highly volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations. Securities markets worldwide experience significant price and volume fluctuations. This market volatility, as well as general economic, market or political conditions, could reduce the market price of shares of our Class A common stock regardless of our operating performance. In addition, our operating results could be below the expectations of public market analysts and investors due to a number of potential factors, including variations in our quarterly operating results or dividends, if any, to stockholders,

 

63


Table of Contents

additions or departures of key management personnel, failure to meet analysts’ earnings estimates, publication of research reports about our industry, litigation and government investigations, changes or proposed changes in laws or regulations or differing interpretations or enforcement thereof affecting our business, adverse market reaction to any indebtedness we may incur or securities we may issue in the future, changes in market valuations of similar companies or speculation in the press or investment community, announcements by our competitors of significant contracts, acquisitions, dispositions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments, adverse publicity about the industries we participate in or individual scandals, and in response the market price of shares of our Class A common stock could decrease significantly. You may be unable to resell your shares of Class A common stock at or above the initial public offering price.

Stock markets and the price of our Class A shares may experience extreme price and volume fluctuations. In the past, following periods of volatility in the overall market and the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against these companies. This litigation, if instituted against us, could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our management’s attention and resources.

In making your investment decision, you should understand that we and the underwriters have not authorized any other party to provide you with information concerning us or this offering, you should not rely on information in public media that is published by third parties and you should rely only on statements made in this prospectus in determining whether to purchase our shares.

You should carefully evaluate all of the information in this prospectus. We have in the past received, and may continue to receive, a high degree of media coverage, including coverage that is not directly attributable to statements made by our officers and employees, that incorrectly reports on statements made by our officers or employees, or that is misleading as a result of omitting information provided by us, our officers or employees. We cannot confirm the accuracy of such coverage. We and the underwriters have not authorized any other party to provide you with information concerning us or this offering. As a result, you should carefully evaluate all of the information in this prospectus and rely only on the information contained in this prospectus in determining whether to purchase our shares of Class A common stock.

Investors in this offering will suffer immediate and substantial dilution.

The initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock will be substantially higher than our pro forma net tangible book value per share immediately after this offering. As a result, you will pay a price per share of Class A common stock that substantially exceeds the per share book value of our tangible assets after subtracting our liabilities. In addition, you will pay more for your shares of Class A common stock than the amounts paid for the Common Units by the pre-IPO owners. See “Dilution.”

You may be diluted by the future issuance of additional Class A common stock or Common Units in connection with our incentive plans, acquisitions or otherwise.

After this offering we will have                shares of Class A common stock authorized but unissued, including                 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exchange of Common Units that will be held by the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders (or                shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and                  shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the vesting and in exchange for              as-converted Incentive Units held by the Continuing Incentive Unitholders (assuming an offering price of $         per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus). Our certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue these shares of Class A common stock and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Class A common stock for the consideration and on the terms and conditions established by our board of directors in its sole discretion, whether in connection with acquisitions or otherwise. Similarly, the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings permits Bumble Holdings to issue an unlimited number of additional limited partnership interests of Bumble Holdings with designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties that

 

64


Table of Contents

are different from, and may be senior to, those applicable to the Common Units, and which may be exchangeable for shares of our Class A common stock. Additionally, we have reserved an aggregate of                shares of Class A common stock and Common Units for issuance under our Omnibus Incentive Plan. In connection with the offering,                  shares of restricted stock will be issued in exchange for unvested Class B Units that are not reclassified into Incentive Units and                  shares of vested Class A common stock will be issued in exchange for vested Class B Units that are not reclassified into Incentive Units (assuming an offering price of $         per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus), RSUs in respect of                  shares of Class A common stock will be issued in exchange for Phantom Class B Units and                  stock options will be issued to certain Converting Class B Unitholders and Phantom Class B Unitholders (in each case, assuming an offering price of $         per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus) with a strike price equal to the public offering price per share of Class A common stock) are expected to be granted under our Omnibus Incentive Plan. In addition, in connection with the offering, we expect to make additional equity-based awards under our Omnibus Incentive Plan to eligible individuals thereunder. There are also                  shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance under our ESPP. Any Class A common stock that we issue, including under our Omnibus Incentive Plan, our ESPP or other equity incentive plans that we may adopt in the future, would dilute the percentage ownership held by the investors who purchase Class A common stock in this offering.

We may issue preferred stock whose terms could materially adversely affect the voting power or value of our Class A common stock.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize us to issue, without the approval of our stockholders, one or more classes or series of preferred stock having such designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights, including preferences over our Class A common stock respecting dividends and distributions, as our board of directors may determine. The terms of one or more classes or series of preferred stock could adversely impact the voting power or value of our Class A common stock. For example, we might grant holders of preferred stock the right to elect some number of our directors in all events or on the happening of specified events or the right to veto specified transactions. Similarly, the repurchase or redemption rights or liquidation preferences we might assign to holders of preferred stock could affect the residual value of the Class A common stock.

If we or our pre-IPO owners sell additional shares of our Class A common stock after this offering or are perceived by the public markets as intending to sell them, the market price of our Class A common stock could decline.

The sale of substantial amounts of shares of our Class A common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could harm the prevailing market price of shares of our Class A common stock. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell shares of our Class A common stock in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate. Upon completion of this offering, we will have a total of                 shares of our Class A common stock outstanding,                 or                 shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock. All of the shares of our Class A common stock sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, by persons other than our “affiliates,” as that term is defined under Rule 144 of the Securities Act. See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale.”

In addition, we and the holders of our Common Units will enter into an exchange agreement under which they (or certain permitted transferees) will have the right, after the completion of this offering (subject to the terms of the exchange agreement), to exchange their Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) for shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to customary conversion rate adjustments. Upon completion of this offering (subject to the terms of the exchange agreement), an aggregate of                 Common Units (including Incentive Units converted into Common Units, assuming full vesting of such Incentive Units) may be exchanged for shares of our Class A common stock (or

 

65


Table of Contents

                 Common Units if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock). Any shares we issue upon exchange of Common Units will be “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144 and may not be sold in the absence of registration under the Securities Act unless an exemption from registration is available, including the exemptions contained in Rule 144. Under applicable SEC guidance, we believe that for purposes of Rule 144 the holding period in such shares will generally include the holding period in the corresponding Common Units exchanged. We, our directors, executive officers and holders of substantially all of our outstanding Common Units immediately prior to this offering, including our Principal Stockholders, have agreed, subject to certain exceptions, not to dispose of or hedge any shares of our Class A common stock (including shares issued upon exchange of Common Units) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our Class A common stock for 180 days from the date of this prospectus, except with the underwriters’ prior written consent. See “Underwriting.” As a result of the registration rights agreement, however, all of these shares of our Class A common stock (including shares issued upon exchange of Common Units) may be eligible for future sale without restriction, subject to applicable lock-up arrangements. See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale—Registration Rights” and “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Registration Rights Agreement.”

Subject to certain limitations and exceptions, pursuant to the terms of the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings, the holders of                  Incentive Units, which have a weighted-average per unit participation threshold of $         per Incentive Unit, will have the right to convert their vested Incentive Units into Common Units of Bumble Holdings, as described in “Organizational Structure—Reclassification and Amendment and Restatement of Limited Partnership Agreement of Bumble Holdings” and “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Bumble Holdings Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement.” Common Units received upon conversion will be exchangeable on a one-for-one basis for shares of Class A common stock of Bumble Inc. in accordance with the terms of the exchange agreement. Assuming such Incentive Units are fully vested, at the time of this offering,                  shares of Class A common stock would be issuable upon the exchange of          as-converted vested Incentive Units (assuming an offering price of $         per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus, and assuming such Incentive Units are fully vested and converted to Common Units) that are held by the Continuing Incentive Unitholders.

Upon the expiration of the lock-up agreements described above, all of such shares will be eligible for resale in the public market, subject, in the case of shares held by our affiliates, to volume, manner of sale and other limitations under Rule 144. We expect that our Sponsor will continue to be considered an affiliate following the expiration of the lock-up period based on its expected share ownership and its board nomination rights. Certain other of our stockholders may also be considered affiliates at that time. However, subject to the expiration or waiver of the 180-day lock-up period, the holders of these shares of Class A common stock will have the right, subject to certain exceptions and conditions, to require us to register their shares of Class A common stock under the Securities Act, and they will have the right to participate in future registrations of securities by us. Registration of any of these outstanding shares of Class A common stock would result in such shares becoming freely tradable without compliance with Rule 144 upon effectiveness of the registration statement. See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale.”

We intend to file one or more registration statements on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register shares of our Class A common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our Class A common stock issued pursuant to our Omnibus Incentive Plan and our ESPP. Any such Form S-8 registration statements will automatically become effective upon filing. Accordingly, shares registered under such registration statements will be available for sale in the open market. We expect that the initial registration statement on Form S-8 will cover                 shares of our Class A common stock.

In the future, we may also issue our securities in connection with investments or acquisitions. The amount of shares of our Class A common stock issued in connection with an investment or acquisition could constitute a material portion of our then outstanding shares of Class A common stock. As restrictions on resale end, the

 

66


Table of Contents

market price of our shares of common stock could drop significantly if the holders of these restricted shares sell them or are perceived by the market as intending to sell them. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to raise additional funds through future offerings of our Class A common stock or other securities or to use our Class A common stock as consideration for acquisitions of other businesses, investments or other corporate purposes.

Anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents and Delaware law might discourage or delay acquisition attempts for us that you might consider favorable.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that will become effective immediately prior to the consummation of this offering will contain provisions that may make the merger or acquisition of our company more difficult without the approval of our board of directors. Among other things, these provisions:

 

   

provide that our board of directors will be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in size as possible, which directors in each class serving three-year terms and with terms of the directors of only one class expiring in any given year;

 

   

provide for the removal of directors only for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 6623% in voting power of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote, if our Principal Stockholders beneficially own less than 30% of the total voting power of all then outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and provide that specified directors designated pursuant to the stockholders agreement may not be removed without cause without the consent of the specified designating party;

 

   

provide that subject to the rights of the holders of any preferred stock and the rights granted pursuant to the stockholders agreement, vacancies and newly created directorships may be filled only by the remaining directors at any time the Principal Stockholders beneficially own less than 30% of the total voting power of all then outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

 

   

would allow us to authorize the issuance of shares of one or more series of preferred stock, including in connection with a stockholder rights plan, financing transactions or otherwise, the terms of which series may be established and the shares of which may be issued without stockholder approval, and which may include super voting, special approval, dividend, or other rights or preferences superior to the rights of the holders of common stock;

 

   

prohibit stockholder action by written consent from and after the date on which our Principal Stockholders beneficially own at least 30% of the total voting power of all then outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors unless such action is recommended by all directors then in office;

 

   

provide for certain limitations on convening special stockholder meetings;

 

   

provide that the board of directors is expressly authorized to make, alter, or repeal our bylaws and that our stockholders may only amend our bylaws with the approval of 6623% or more of all of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote, if our Principal Stockholders beneficially own less than 30% of the total voting power of all then outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

 

   

provide that certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may be amended only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 6623% in voting power of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote, if our Principal Stockholders beneficially own less than 30% of the total voting power of all then outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; and

 

67


Table of Contents
   

establish advance notice requirements for nominations for elections to our board or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at stockholder meetings.

Further, as a Delaware corporation, we are also subject to provisions of Delaware law, which may impede or discourage a takeover attempt that our stockholders may find beneficial. These anti-takeover provisions and other provisions under Delaware law could discourage, delay or prevent a transaction involving a change in control of our company, including actions that our stockholders may deem advantageous, or negatively affect the trading price of our Class A common stock. These provisions could also discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for you and other stockholders to elect directors of your choosing and to cause us to take other corporate actions you desire. For further discussion of these and other such anti-takeover provisions, see “Description of Capital Stock—Anti-Takeover Effects of Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws and Certain Provisions of Delaware Law.”

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the federal district courts of the United States of America, as applicable, as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with the Company or the Company’s directors, officers or other employees.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, unless we consent to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; (ii) any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, stockholder or employee of the Company to the Company or our stockholders; (iii) any action asserting a claim against us arising under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation further will provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the federal district courts of the United States of America will be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the federal securities laws of the United States, including, in each case, the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provision in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. This choice-of-forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a different judicial forum, including one that it may find favorable or convenient for a specified class of disputes with the Company or the Company’s directors, officers, other stockholders or employees, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our management and board of directors.

General Risk Factors

We have a limited operating history and, as a result, our past results may not be indicative of future operating performance.

We have a limited operating history, which makes it difficult to forecast our future results. You should not rely on our past quarterly operating results as indicators of future performance. You should take into account and evaluate our prospects in light of the risks and uncertainties frequently encountered by companies in rapidly-evolving markets like ours.

 

68


Table of Contents

Our quarterly operating results and other operating metrics may fluctuate from quarter to quarter, which makes these metrics difficult to predict.

Our quarterly operating results and other operating metrics have fluctuated in the past and may continue to fluctuate from quarter to quarter, which makes them difficult to predict. Our financial condition and operating results in any given quarter can be influenced by numerous factors, many of which we are unable to predict or are outside of our control, including, for example:

 

   

the timing, size and effectiveness of our marketing efforts;

 

   

the timing and success of new product, service and feature introductions by us or our competitors or any other change in the competitive landscape of our market;

 

   

fluctuations in the rate at which we attract new users, the level of engagement of such users and the propensity of such users to subscribe to our brands or to purchase à la carte features;

 

   

successful expansion into international markets;

 

   

errors in our forecasting of the demand for our products and services, which could lead to lower revenue or increased costs, or both;

 

   

increases in sales and marketing, product development or other operating expenses that we may incur to grow and expand our operations and to remain competitive;

 

   

the diversification and growth of our revenue sources;

 

   

our ability to maintain gross margins and operating margins;

 

   

fluctuations in currency exchange rates and changes in the proportion of our revenue and expenses denominated in foreign currencies;

 

   

changes in our effective tax rate;

 

   

changes in accounting standards, policies, guidance, interpretations, or principles;

 

   

our development and improvement of the quality of the Bumble and Badoo app experiences, including, enhancing existing and creating new products, services, technology and features;

 

   

the continued development and upgrading of our technology platform;

 

   

system failures or breaches of security or privacy;

 

   

our ability to obtain, maintain, protect and enforce intellectual property rights and successfully defend against claims of infringement, misappropriation or other violations of third-party intellectual property;

 

   

adverse litigation judgments, settlements, or other litigation-related costs;

 

   

changes in the legislative or regulatory environment, including with respect to privacy, intellectual property, consumer product safety, and advertising, or enforcement by government regulators, including fines, orders, or consent decrees; and

 

   

changes in business or macroeconomic conditions, including the impact of the current COVID-19 outbreak, lower consumer confidence in our business or in the online dating industry generally, recessionary conditions, increased unemployment rates, stagnant or declining wages, political unrest, armed conflicts or natural disasters.

Any one of the factors above or the cumulative effect of some of the factors above may result in significant fluctuations in our results of operations.

The variability and unpredictability of our quarterly operating results or other operating metrics could result in our failure to meet our expectations or those of analysts that cover us or investors with respect to revenue or

 

69


Table of Contents

other operating results for a particular period. If we fail to meet or exceed such expectations, the market price of our Class A common stock could fall substantially, and we could face costly lawsuits, including securities class action suits.

Our business and results of operations may be materially adversely affected by the recent COVID-19 outbreak or other similar outbreaks.

Our business could be materially adversely affected by the outbreak of a widespread health epidemic or pandemic, including the recent outbreak of the COVID-19, which has been declared a “pandemic” by the World Health Organization. The COVID-19 outbreak has reached across the globe, resulting in the implementation of significant governmental measures, including lockdowns, closures, quarantines, and travel bans intended to control the spread of the virus. While some of these measures have been relaxed over the past few months in certain parts of the world, ongoing social distancing measures, and future prevention and mitigation measures, as well as the potential for some of these measures to be reinstituted in the event of repeat waves of the virus, are likely to have an adverse impact on global economic conditions and consumer confidence and spending, and could materially adversely affect demand, or users’ ability to pay, for our products and services.

A public health epidemic or pandemic, including COVID-19, poses the risk that Bumble or its employees, contractors, vendors, and other business partners may be prevented or impaired from conducting ordinary course business activities for an indefinite period of time, including due to shutdowns necessitated for the health and wellbeing of our employees, the employees of business partners, or shutdowns that may be requested or mandated by governmental authorities. In addition, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have taken several precautions that may adversely impact employee productivity, such as requiring employees to work remotely, imposing travel restrictions, and temporarily closing office locations.

A widespread epidemic, pandemic or other health crisis could also cause significant volatility in global markets. The COVID-19 outbreak has caused disruption in financial markets, which if it continues or intensifies, could reduce our ability to access capital and thereby negatively impact our liquidity.

We intend to continue to execute on our strategic plans and operational initiatives during the COVID-19 outbreak; however, the aforementioned uncertainties may result in delays or modifications to these plans and initiatives. Part of our growth strategy includes increasing the number of international users and expanding into additional geographies. The timing and success of our international expansion may be negatively impacted by COVID-19, which could impede our anticipated growth.

The ultimate extent of the impact of any epidemic, pandemic, or other health crisis on our business will depend on multiple factors that are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including its severity, location and duration, and actions taken to contain or prevent further its spread. Additionally, the COVID-19 outbreak could increase the magnitude of many of the other risks described in this prospectus, and may have other material adverse effects on our operations that we are not currently able to predict. If our business and the markets in which we operate experience a prolonged occurrence of adverse public health conditions, such as COVID-19, it could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

An economic downturn or economic uncertainty may adversely affect consumer discretionary spending and demand for our products and services.

Our products and services may be considered discretionary items for consumers. Factors affecting the level of consumer spending for such discretionary items include general economic conditions, and other factors, such as consumer confidence in future economic conditions, fears of recession, the availability and cost of consumer credit, levels of unemployment, and tax rates. In recent years, the United States and other significant economic markets have experienced cyclical downturns and worldwide economic conditions remain uncertain. As global economic conditions continue to be volatile or economic uncertainty remains, including due to the COVID-19

 

70


Table of Contents

outbreak, trends in consumer discretionary spending also remain unpredictable and subject to reductions. To date, our business has operated almost exclusively in a relatively strong economic environment and, therefore, we cannot be sure the extent to which we may be affected by recessionary conditions. Unfavorable economic conditions may lead consumers to delay or reduce purchases of our products and consumer demand for our products may not grow as we expect. Our sensitivity to economic cycles and any related fluctuation in consumer demand for our products and services could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. In addition, political instability or adverse political developments, including, without limitation, as a result of or in connection with the upcoming 2020 U.S. presidential election, could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations could materially adversely affect our results of operations.

We operate in various international markets. During the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 and the nine months ended September 30, 2019, 44.2%, 47.5% and 47.3% of our total revenues, respectively, were international revenues. During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, 47.3% and 53.8% of our total revenues, respectively, were international revenues. We translate international revenues into U.S. dollar-denominated operating results and during periods of a strengthening U.S. dollar, our international revenues will be reduced when translated into U.S. dollars. In addition, as foreign currency exchange rates fluctuate, the translation of our international revenues into U.S. dollar-denominated operating results affects the period-over-period comparability of such results and can result in foreign currency exchange gains and losses. We have exposure to foreign currency exchange risk related to transactions carried out in a currency other than the U.S. dollar, and investments in foreign subsidiaries with a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk—Foreign Currency Exchange Risk.”

Brexit has caused, and may continue to cause, volatility in currency exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the British pound (“GBP”) and the full impact of Brexit remains uncertain. To the extent that the U.S. dollar strengthens relative the GBP, the translation of our international revenues into U.S. dollars will reduce our U.S. dollar denominated operating results and will affect their period-over-period comparability.

Significant foreign exchange rate fluctuations, in the case of one currency or collectively with other currencies, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may experience operational and financial risks in connection with acquisitions.

We may seek potential acquisition candidates to add complementary companies, products or technologies. The identification of suitable acquisition candidates can be difficult, time-consuming and costly, and we may not be able to successfully complete identified acquisitions. We may experience operational and financial risks in connection with historical and future acquisitions if we are unable to:

 

   

properly value prospective acquisitions, especially those with limited operating histories;

 

   

accurately review acquisition candidates’ business practices against applicable laws and regulations and, where applicable, implement proper remediation controls, procedures, and policies;

 

   

successfully integrate the operations, as well as the accounting, financial controls, management information, technology, human resources and other administrative systems, of acquired businesses with our existing operations and systems;

 

   

overcome cultural challenges associated with integrating employees from the acquired company into our organization;

 

   

successfully identify and realize potential synergies among acquired and existing businesses;

 

71


Table of Contents
   

fully identify potential risks and liabilities associated with acquired businesses, including intellectual property infringement claims, violations of laws, commercial disputes, tax liabilities, litigation or other claims in connection with the acquired company, including claims from terminated employees, former stockholders or other third parties, and other known and unknown liabilities;

 

   

retain or hire senior management and other key personnel at acquired businesses; and

 

   

successfully manage acquisition-related strain on our management, operations and financial resources and those of the various brands in our portfolio.

Furthermore, we may not be successful in addressing other challenges encountered in connection with our acquisitions. The anticipated benefits of one or more of our acquisitions may not be realized or the value of goodwill and other intangible assets acquired could be impacted by one or more continuing unfavorable events or trends, which could result in significant impairment charges. The occurrence of any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Additionally, the integration of acquisitions requires significant time and resources, and we may not manage these processes successfully. Our ability to successfully integrate complex acquisitions is unproven, particularly with respect to companies that have significant operations or that develop products with which we do not have prior experience. We may make substantial investments of resources to support our acquisitions, which would result in significant ongoing operating expenses and may divert resources and management attention from other areas of our business. We cannot assure you that these investments will be successful. If we fail to successfully integrate the companies we acquire, we may not realize the benefits expected from the transactions and our business may be harmed.

 

72


Table of Contents

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, our operations, our financial performance, our industry and the impact of COVID-19 on our business. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “outlook,” “believe(s),” “expect(s),” “potential,” “continue(s),” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “seek(s),” “predict(s),” “intend(s),” “trends,” “plan(s),” “estimate(s),” “anticipates,” “projection,” “will likely result” and or the negative version of these words or other comparable words of a future or forward-looking nature. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. These factors include but are not limited to those described under “Risk Factors.” These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this prospectus. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA

This prospectus includes market and industry data and forecasts that we have derived from independent consultant reports, including a report prepared by OC&C; publicly available information; various industry publications; other published industry sources, including Sensor Tower, Pew Research Center, Accenture, McKinsey and Mixpanel; and our internal data and estimates. In addition, this prospectus includes market and industry data derived from the following study published by PNAS: Michael J. Rosenfeld, Reuben J. Thomas, and Sonia Hausen. 2019. “Disintermediating your Friends: How online dating in the United States displaces other ways of meeting.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 116:17753–17758. Independent consultant reports, industry publications and other published industry sources generally indicate that the information contained therein was obtained from sources believed to be reliable.

Although we believe that these third-party sources are reliable, we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information, and neither we nor the underwriters have independently verified this information. Some market data and statistical information are also based on our good faith estimates, which are derived from management’s knowledge of our industry and such independent sources referred to above. Certain market, ranking and industry data included elsewhere in this prospectus, including the size of certain markets and our size or position and the positions of our competitors within these markets, including our services relative to our competitors, are based on estimates of our management. These estimates have been derived from our management’s knowledge and experience in the markets in which we operate, as well as information obtained from surveys, reports by market research firms, our customers, distributors, suppliers, trade and business organizations and other contacts in the markets in which we operate and have not been verified by independent sources. Unless otherwise noted, all of our market share and market position information presented in this prospectus is an approximation. Our market share and market position in each of our lines of business, unless otherwise noted, is based on our sales relative to the estimated sales in the markets we served. References herein to our being a leader in a market or product category refer to our belief that we have a leading market share position in each specified market, unless the context otherwise requires. As there are no publicly available sources supporting this belief, it is based solely on our internal analysis of our sales as compared to our estimates of sales of our competitors. In addition, the discussion herein regarding our various end markets is based on how we define the end markets for our products, which products may be either part of larger overall end markets or end markets that include other types of products and services.

Our internal data and estimates are based upon information obtained from trade and business organizations and other contacts in the markets in which we operate and our management’s understanding of industry conditions. Although we believe that such information is reliable, we have not had this information verified by any independent sources.

 

73


Table of Contents

Projections, assumptions and estimates of the future performance of the markets in which we operate and our future performance are necessarily subject to uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in “Risk Factors.” These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by the independent sources and by us.

TRADEMARKS, SERVICE MARKS AND COPYRIGHTS

We own or have rights to trademarks, service marks or trade names that we use in connection with the operation of our businesses, including, but not limited to, Bumble and Badoo. In addition, our names, logos, website domain names and addresses are our service marks or trademarks. Other trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrighted materials appearing in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trademarks, service marks, trade names, or copyrighted materials to imply a relationship with, endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.

Solely for convenience, certain trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights referred to in this prospectus are listed without the ©, ® or symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the rights of the applicable licensors to these trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights.

 

74


Table of Contents

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Existing Organizational Structure

The diagram below depicts our current organizational structure.

 

 

LOGO

Organizational Structure Following this Offering

Immediately following this offering, Bumble Inc. will be a holding company, and its sole material asset will be a controlling equity interest in Bumble Holdings. As the general partner of Bumble Holdings, Bumble Inc. will operate and control all of the business and affairs of Bumble Holdings, will have the obligation to absorb losses and receive benefits from Bumble Holdings and, through Bumble Holdings and its subsidiaries, conduct our business. The Reorganization Transactions (as defined below), whereby Bumble Inc. will begin to consolidate Bumble Holdings in its consolidated financial statements, will be accounted for as a reorganization of entities under common control. As a result, the consolidated financial statements of Bumble Inc. will recognize the assets and liabilities received in the reorganization at their historical carrying amounts, as reflected in the historical consolidated financial statements of Bumble Holdings, the accounting predecessor. Bumble Inc. will consolidate Bumble Holdings in its consolidated financial statements and record a non-controlling interest related to the Common Units held by the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders and the Incentive Units held by our Continuing Incentive Unitholders on its consolidated balance sheet and statement of income.

In general, each share of our Class A common stock entitles its holder to one vote on all matters to be voted on by stockholders generally. Holders of our Common Units will hold all of the issued and outstanding shares of our Class B common stock. The shares of Class B common stock will have no economic rights but will generally entitle each holder, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such holder, to a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by such holder on all matters on which stockholders of Bumble Inc. are entitled to vote generally. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless they elect otherwise, each of our Principal Stockholders will be entitled to outsized voting rights as follows. Until the High Vote Termination Date, each share of Class A common stock held by a Principal Stockholder will entitle such

 

75


Table of Contents

Principal Stockholder to ten votes and each Principal Stockholder that holds Class B common stock will be entitled, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such Principal Stockholder, to a number of votes equal to 10 times the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by such Principal Stockholder. In addition, if, at any time, our Founder is neither an employee nor a director, any Class A common stock or Class B common stock held by our Founder will be entitled to one vote per share (in the case of the Class A common stock) or a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by our Founder (in the case of the Class B common stock), in each case on all matters on which stockholders of Bumble Inc. are entitled to vote generally.

The voting power afforded to the holders of Common Units by their shares of Class B common stock is automatically and correspondingly reduced as they sell Common Units to Bumble Inc. for cash as part of the Offering Transactions or subsequently exchange Common Units for shares of Class A common stock of Bumble Inc. pursuant to the exchange agreement. If at any time the ratio at which Common Units are exchangeable for shares of our Class A common stock changes from one-for-one as described under “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Exchange Agreement,” the number of votes to which Class B common stockholders are entitled will be adjusted accordingly. Holders of shares of our Class B common stock will vote together with holders of our Class A common stock as a single class on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally, except as otherwise required by law.

Our post-offering organizational structure, as described above, is commonly referred to as an umbrella partnership-C-corporation (or UP-C) structure. This organizational structure will allow our Pre-IPO Common Unitholders and Continuing Incentive Unitholders to retain their equity ownership in Bumble Holdings, an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in the form of Common Units or Incentive Units, respectively. Investors in this offering and the Pre-IPO Shareholders will, by contrast, hold their equity ownership in Bumble Inc., a Delaware corporation that is a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in the form of shares of Class A common stock. We believe that our Pre-IPO Common Unitholders and Continuing Incentive Unitholders generally find it advantageous to continue to hold their equity interests in an entity that is not taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We do not believe that our UP-C organizational structure will give rise to any significant business or strategic benefit or detriment to us.

 

76


Table of Contents

The diagram below depicts our organizational structure immediately following this offering.

 

 

LOGO

 

(1)

In general, each share of our Class A common stock entitles its holder to one vote on all matters to be voted on by stockholders generally. The Class B common stock will generally provide each of the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders with a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) held by such Pre-IPO Common Unitholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless they elect otherwise, each of our Principal Stockholders will be entitled to outsized voting rights as follows. Until the High Vote Termination Date, each share of Class A common stock held by a Principal Stockholder will entitle such Principal Stockholder to ten votes and each Principal Stockholder that holds Class B common stock will be entitled, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such Principal Stockholder, to a number of votes equal to 10 times the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by such Principal Stockholder. In addition, if, at any time, our Founder is neither an employee nor a director, any Class A common stock or Class B common stock held by our Founder will be entitled to one vote per share (in the case of the Class A common stock) or a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by our Founder (in the case of the Class B common stock), in each case on all matters on which stockholders of Bumble Inc. are entitled to vote generally. Immediately following this offering, assuming the issuance of the number of shares and the midpoint of the range in each case as set forth on the cover of this prospectus, our Principal Stockholders will hold     % of the voting power in Bumble Inc. For additional information, see “Description of Capital Stock—Common Stock—Class B Common Stock.”

(2)

Immediately following this offering, assuming the issuance of the number of shares and the midpoint of the range in each case as set forth on the cover of this prospectus, our Founder, our Sponsor and the other Pre-IPO Common Unitholders will hold         %,         %, and         % of the outstanding Common Units of Bumble Holdings, respectively.

(3)

Assuming such Incentive Units are fully vested, at the time of this offering,                  shares of Class A common stock would be issuable upon the exchange of              as-converted Incentive Units (assuming an offering price of $                 per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range

 

77


Table of Contents
  set forth on the cover of this prospectus, and assuming such Incentive Units are fully vested and converted to Common Units) that are held by the Continuing Incentive Unitholders. For additional information, see “—Reclassification and Amendment and Restatement of Limited Partnership Agreement of Bumble Holdings” and “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Bumble Holdings Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement.”
(4)

Please note that certain intermediate holding companies that are not material to this offering are omitted from the structure chart.

Incorporation of Bumble Inc.

Bumble Inc. was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on October 5, 2020. Bumble Inc. has not engaged in any business or other activities except in connection with its formation. The amended and restated certificate of incorporation of Bumble Inc. authorizes two classes of common stock, Class A common stock and Class B common stock, each having the terms described in “Description of Capital Stock.”

Blocker Restructuring

Immediately prior to the completion of this offering, certain entities that are taxable as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes in which the Pre-IPO Shareholders hold interests (the “Blocker Companies”) will enter into certain restructuring transactions (such transactions, the “Blocker Restructuring”) that will result in the Pre-IPO Shareholders acquiring              shares of newly issued Class A common stock in exchange for their ownership interests in the Blocker Companies and Bumble Inc. acquiring an equal number of outstanding Common Units.

Reclassification and Amendment and Restatement of Limited Partnership Agreement of Bumble Holdings

The capital structure of Bumble Holdings currently consists of two different classes of limited partnership interests (Class A units and Class B Units). Prior to the completion of this offering, the limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings will be amended and restated to, among other things, modify its capital structure by reclassifying its outstanding Class A units into a new class of limited partnership interests that we refer to as “Common Units” and reclassifying its outstanding Class B Units (other than any Class B Units that are directly or indirectly exchanged for shares of Class A common stock, as described below) into a new class of limited partnership interests that we refer to as “Incentive Units.” We refer to this reclassification (the “Reclassification”), together with the transactions described under “—Blocker Restructuring” as the “Reorganization Transactions.” Immediately following the Reorganization Transactions but prior to the other Offering Transactions described below, there will be                Common Units issued and outstanding.

In connection with the Reclassification, all vested and unvested Class B Units that are not reclassified into Incentive Units of Bumble Holdings will be directly or indirectly exchanged for vested shares of Class A common stock (in the case of vested Class B Units) and restricted shares of Class A common stock (in the case of unvested Class B Units). The number of shares of Class A common stock delivered in respect of the Class B Units will be determined based on the amount of proceeds that would be distributed to such Class B Units if the Company were to be sold at a value derived from the initial public offering price, and the intrinsic value of the shares of Class A common stock issued in respect of each Class B Unit will have an intrinsic value equal to the hypothetical proceeds such Class B Units would have received. Such shares of Class A common stock shall be restricted shares of Class A common stock, to the extent such shares related to unvested Class B Units, or vested shares of Class A common stock, to the extent such shares related to vested Class B Units. Assuming an offering price of $         per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the range on the front cover of this prospectus, the aggregate number of restricted shares of Class A common stock delivered in respect of the unvested Class B Units that are exchanged for restricted shares of Class A common stock in the Reclassification would be              and the aggregate number of vested shares of Class A common stock delivered in respect of the vested Class B Units that are exchanged for shares of Class A common stock in the Reclassification would be             .

 

78


Table of Contents

In addition, we may grant options to purchase shares of Class A common stock under the Omnibus Incentive Plan to certain Converting Class B Unitholders whose Class B Units are converted in the Reclassification, in substitution for a portion of the economic benefit to which the Class B Units are entitled prior to this offering that is not reflected in the conversion of Class B Units to shares of Class A common stock. In addition, to ensure consistent treatment, Phantom Class B Units will be converted into RSUs, and we may also grant options to purchase shares of Class A common stock under the Omnibus Incentive Plan to certain Phantom Class B Unitholders. The precise number of options we grant in respect of the Class B Units and the Phantom Class B Units will be determined based on the initial public offering price. Assuming an offering price of $         per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the range on the front cover of this prospectus, the aggregate number of such options granted to holders of Class B Units whose interests are converted into shares of Class A common stock in the Reclassification would be             . For additional information regarding the conversion of the Class B Units, see “Executive Compensation—Compensation Arrangements to be Adopted in Connection with this Offering—Conversion of Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units.”

Pursuant to the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings, Bumble Inc. will be the general partner of Bumble Holdings. Accordingly, Bumble Inc. will have the right to determine when distributions will be made to the holders of Common Units and the amount of any such distributions. If Bumble Inc., as the general partner, authorizes a distribution, such distribution will be made to the holders of Common Units and any participating Incentive Units (as described below) pro rata in accordance with the percentages of their respective Common Units or Incentive Units, as applicable, held. Incentive Units initially will not be entitled to receive distributions (other than tax distributions) until holders of Common Units have received a minimum return as provided in the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings. However, Incentive Units will have the benefit of adjustment provisions that will reduce the participation threshold for distributions in respect of which they do not participate until there is no participation threshold, at which time the Incentive Units would participate pro rata with distributions on Common Units.

The holders of Common Units and Incentive Units in Bumble Holdings, including Bumble Inc., will incur U.S. federal, state and local income taxes on their proportionate share of any taxable income of Bumble Holdings. Net profits and net losses of Bumble Holdings will generally be allocated to its partners (including Bumble Inc.) pro rata in accordance with the percentages of their respective Common Units or Incentive Units held (to the extent the participation threshold has been reached, in the case of Incentive Units), except as otherwise required by law. The amended and restated limited partnership agreement provides for cash distributions to the holders of Common Units and Incentive Units if Bumble Inc. determines that the taxable income of Bumble Holdings will give rise to taxable income for the holders of Common Units or Incentive Units. In accordance with the amended and restated limited partnership agreement, we intend to cause Bumble Holdings to make cash distributions to the holders of Common Units or Incentive Units in Bumble Holdings, including us, for purposes of funding their tax obligations in respect of the income of Bumble Holdings that is allocated to them. Generally, these tax distributions will be computed based on our estimate of the taxable income of Bumble Holdings allocated to the holder of Common Units or Incentive Units that receives the greatest proportionate allocation of income multiplied by an assumed tax rate equal to the highest effective marginal combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate prescribed for an individual or corporation residing in New York, New York, whichever is higher. Tax distributions will be pro rata as among the Common Units and will be pro rata as among the Incentive Units (other than unvested Incentive Units). See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Bumble Holdings Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement.”

Subject to certain restrictions, pursuant to the terms of the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings, the holders of vested Incentive Units will have the right to convert their vested Incentive Units into a number of Common Units of Bumble Holdings that will generally be equal to (a) the product of the number of vested Incentive Units to be converted with a given per unit participation threshold and then-current difference between the per share value of a Common Unit at the time of the conversion (based on the public trading price of a share of Class A common stock) and the per unit participation threshold of such vested Incentive Units divided by (b) the per unit value of a Common Unit at the time of the conversion (based

 

79


Table of Contents

on the public trading price of a share of Class A common stock). Common Units received upon conversion will be exchangeable on a one-for-one basis for shares of Class A common stock of Bumble Inc. in accordance with the terms of the exchange agreement as described below. An unvested Incentive Unit will not be exchangeable unless and until such Incentive Unit vests. The Incentive Units will automatically be converted into Common Units in accordance with the foregoing formula on the date that is seven years from the date of the Reclassification.

Exchange Agreement

We and the holders of outstanding Common Units will enter into an exchange agreement at the time of this offering under which they (or certain permitted transferees thereof) will have the right on a quarterly basis (subject to the terms of the exchange agreement) to exchange their Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) for shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to customary conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications. In addition, subject to certain requirements, our Sponsor, our Founder and our Co-Investor will generally be permitted to exchange Common Units for our Class A common stock from and after the closing of this offering provided that the number of Common Units surrendered in such exchanges during any 30 calendar day period represent, in the aggregate, greater than 2% of total interests in partnership capital or profits. Any Class A common stock received by our Sponsor, our Founder or our Co-Investor in any such exchange during the applicable restricted periods described in “Shares Eligible for Future Sale—Lock-Up Agreements,” would be subject to the restrictions described in such section. The exchange agreement will also provide that a holder of Common Units will not have the right to exchange Common Units if Bumble Inc. determines that such exchange would be prohibited by law or regulation or would violate other agreements with Bumble Inc. to which the holder of Common Units may be subject. Bumble Inc. may impose additional restrictions on exchange that it determines to be necessary or advisable so that Bumble Holdings is not treated as a “publicly traded partnership” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a holder exchanges Common Units for shares of Class A common stock, the number of Common Units held by Bumble Inc. is correspondingly increased as it acquires the exchanged Common Units. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Exchange Agreement.”

Tax Receivable Agreement

Prior to the completion of this offering, we will enter into a tax receivable agreement with certain of our pre-IPO owners that provides for the payment by Bumble Inc. to such pre-IPO owners of 85% of the benefits, if any, that Bumble Inc. actually realizes, or is deemed to realize (calculated using certain assumptions), as a result of (i) Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis acquired in this offering, (ii) increases in Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis and adjustments to the tax basis of the tangible and intangible assets of Bumble Holdings as a result of sales or exchanges of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) in connection with or after this offering, (iii) Bumble Inc.’s utilization of certain tax attributes of the Blocker Companies (including the Blocker Companies’ allocable share of existing tax basis) and (iv) certain other tax benefits related to our entering into the tax receivable agreement, including tax benefits attributable to payments under the tax receivable agreement. There is significant existing tax basis in the assets of Bumble Holdings as a result of the Sponsor Acquisition, and subsequent sales or exchanges of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) are expected to result in increases in the tax basis of the assets of Bumble Holdings. The existing tax basis, increases in existing tax basis and the tax basis adjustments generated over time may increase (for tax purposes) the depreciation and amortization deductions available to Bumble Inc. and, therefore, may reduce the amount of U.S. federal, state and local tax that Bumble Inc. would otherwise be required to pay in the future. Actual tax benefits realized by Bumble Inc. may differ from tax benefits calculated under the tax receivable agreement as a result of the use of certain assumptions in the tax receivable agreement, including the use of an assumed weighted-average state and local income tax rate to calculate tax benefits. This payment obligation is an obligation of Bumble Inc. and not of Bumble Holdings. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement.”

 

80


Table of Contents

Offering Transactions

At the time of the consummation of this offering, Bumble Inc. intends to consummate the purchase, for cash, of newly issued Common Units from Bumble Holdings and the acquisition of outstanding Common Units from our pre-IPO owners, in each case at a purchase price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering net of underwriting discounts and commissions. Assuming that the shares of Class A common stock to be sold in this offering are sold at $                per share, which is the midpoint of the range on the front cover of this prospectus, at the time of this offering, Bumble Inc. will acquire from Bumble Holdings                  newly issued Common Units for an aggregate of $                 million (or                newly issued Common Units for an aggregate of $                million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and acquire from our pre-IPO owners                  outstanding Common Units for an aggregate of $                 million (or                  outstanding Common Units for an aggregate of $                 million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). The issuance of such newly issued Common Units by Bumble Holdings to Bumble Inc. will correspondingly dilute the ownership interests of our pre-IPO owners in Bumble Holdings. See “Principal Stockholders” for more information regarding the proceeds from this offering that will be paid to our directors and named executive officers. Accordingly, following this offering Bumble Inc. will hold a number of Common Units that is equal to the number of shares of Class A common stock that it has issued, a relationship that we believe fosters transparency because it results in a single share of Class A common stock representing (albeit indirectly) the same percentage equity interest in Bumble Holdings as a single Common Unit.

Bumble Inc. intends to cause Bumble Holdings to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay outstanding indebtedness under our Term Loan Facility totaling approximately $                 million in aggregate principal amount and approximately $                 million for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.”

We refer to the foregoing transactions as the “Offering Transactions.”

As a result of the transactions described above:

 

   

the investors in this offering will collectively own                shares of our Class A common stock (or                shares of Class A common stock if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock);

 

   

the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders will hold             Common Units and the Continuing Incentive Unitholders will hold                 Incentive Units with a weighted-average per unit participation threshold of $                 per Incentive Unit;

 

   

the Pre-IPO Shareholders will hold                shares of our Class A common stock (or                  shares of Class A common stock if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock);

 

   

Bumble Inc. will hold             Common Units (or             Common Units if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock);

 

   

the investors in this offering will collectively have     % of the voting power in Bumble Inc. (or     % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock); and

 

   

the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders, as holders of all of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock, will have    % of the voting power in Bumble Inc. (or     % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and the Pre-IPO Shareholders will have     % of the voting power in Bumble Inc. (or     % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock).

In addition, the Class B Units will be reclassified into Incentive Units or directly or indirectly exchanged for shares of Class A common stock and Phantom Class B Units will be converted into RSUs, in each case as described above under “—Reclassification and Amendment and Restatement of Limited Partnership Agreement of Bumble Holdings” and “Executive Compensation—Compensation Arrangements to be Adopted in Connection with this Offering—Conversion of Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units.”

 

81


Table of Contents

USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds to Bumble Inc. from this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $                per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $                million (or $                million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). A $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $                per share would increase or decrease, as applicable, the net proceeds to Bumble Inc. from this offering by approximately $                million, assuming the number of shares offered by us remains the same as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions. Bumble Holdings will bear or reimburse Bumble Inc. for all of the expenses payable by it in this offering. We estimate these offering expenses (excluding underwriting discounts and commissions) will be approximately $                million.

Bumble Inc. intends to use $                million of the net proceeds from this offering to acquire Common Units from Bumble Holdings, as described under “Organizational Structure—Offering Transactions.” Bumble Inc. intends to cause Bumble Holdings to use these proceeds to repay outstanding indebtedness under our Term Loan Facility totaling approximately $                 million in aggregate principal amount and approximately $                 million for general corporate purposes. We do not anticipate using the net proceeds of this offering to make cash payments to the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders pursuant to the tax receivable agreement being entered into in connection with this offering.

The Term Loan Facility and Revolving Credit Facility provided for by the Senior Secured Credit Facilities mature on January 29, 2027 and January 29, 2025, respectively. Borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities bear interest at a rate equal to, at our option, either (i) LIBOR for the relevant interest period, adjusted for statutory reserve requirements (subject to a floor of 0.00% per annum), plus an applicable margin or (ii) a base rate equal to the highest of (a) the rate of interest in effect as last quoted by the Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the United States, (b) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50% and (c) adjusted LIBOR for an interest period of one month plus 1.00% (subject to a floor of 0.00% per annum), in each case, plus an applicable margin. See “Description of Certain Indebtedness.” The net proceeds from borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities were used in part to finance the Sponsor Acquisition and the Distribution Financing Transaction (as defined below) and to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith.

Bumble Inc. intends to use the remaining net proceeds from this offering, or $                million (or $                million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) to purchase or redeem outstanding equity interests from our pre-IPO owners, as described under “Organizational Structure—Offering Transactions.” Accordingly, we will not retain any of these proceeds. See “Principal Stockholders” for information regarding the proceeds from this offering that will be paid to our Principal Stockholders.

 

82


Table of Contents

DIVIDEND POLICY

The declaration, amount and payment of any future dividends on shares of Class A common stock will be at the sole discretion of our board of directors and we may reduce or discontinue entirely the payment of such dividends at any time. Our board of directors may take into account general and economic conditions, our financial condition and operating results, our available cash and current and anticipated cash needs, capital requirements, contractual, legal, tax and regulatory restrictions and implications on the payment of dividends by us to our stockholders or by our subsidiaries to us, and such other factors as our board of directors may deem relevant.

Bumble Inc. is a holding company and has no material assets other than its ownership of Common Units in Bumble Holdings. We intend to cause Bumble Holdings to make distributions to us in an amount sufficient to cover our taxes, expenses and obligations under the tax receivable agreement as well as any cash dividends declared by us. If Bumble Holdings makes such distributions to Bumble Inc., the other holders of Common Units and any participating Incentive Units (as described below) will also be entitled to receive distributions pro rata in accordance with the percentages of their respective Common Units or Incentive Units, as applicable, held. Incentive Units initially will not be entitled to receive distributions (other than tax distributions) until holders of Common Units have received a minimum return as provided in the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings. However, Incentive Units will have the benefit of adjustment provisions that will reduce the participation threshold for distributions in respect of which they do not participate until there is no participation threshold, at which time the Incentive Units would participate pro rata with distributions on Common Units.

The amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings provides that pro rata cash distributions be made to holders of Common Units (including Bumble Inc.) at certain assumed tax rates, which we refer to as “tax distributions.” Tax distributions will be pro rata as among the Common Units and will be pro rata as among the Incentive Units (other than unvested Incentive Units). See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Bumble Holdings Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement.” We anticipate that amounts received by Bumble Inc. may, in certain periods, exceed Bumble Inc.’s actual tax liabilities and obligations to make payments under the tax receivable agreement. We expect that Bumble Inc. will use any such excess cash from time to time: to fund repurchases of its Class A common stock; to acquire additional newly issued Common Units from Bumble Holdings at a per unit price determined by reference to the market value of the Class A common stock; to pay dividends, which may include special dividends, on its Class A common stock; or any combination of the foregoing. Our board of directors, in its sole discretion, will make any determination with respect to the use of any such excess cash. We also expect, if necessary, to undertake ameliorative actions, which may include pro rata or non-pro rata reclassifications, combinations, subdivisions or adjustments of outstanding Common Units, to maintain 1:1 parity between Common Units and shares of Class A common stock. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure—Bumble Inc. is a holding company and its only material asset after completion of this offering will be its interest in Bumble Holdings, and it is accordingly dependent upon distributions from Bumble Holdings to pay taxes, make payments under the tax receivable agreement and pay dividends.”

The agreements governing our Senior Secured Credit Facilities contain a number of covenants that restrict, subject to certain exceptions, Bumble Holdings’ ability to pay dividends to us. See “Description of Certain Indebtedness.”

Any financing arrangements that we enter into in the future may include restrictive covenants that limit our ability to pay dividends. In addition, Bumble Holdings is generally prohibited under Delaware law from making a distribution to a limited partner to the extent that, at the time of the distribution, after giving effect to the distribution, liabilities of Bumble Holdings (with certain exceptions) exceed the fair value of its assets. Subsidiaries of Bumble Holdings are generally subject to similar legal limitations on their ability to make distributions to Bumble Holdings.

 

83


Table of Contents

CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our consolidated cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of September 30, 2020:

 

   

on a historical basis; and

 

   

on a pro forma basis giving effect to the transactions described under “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information,” including the sale by us of                  shares of Class A common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $                 per share (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described in “Use of Proceeds.”

The information below is illustrative only and our capitalization following this offering will be adjusted based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. Cash and cash equivalents are not components of our total capitalization. You should read this table together with the other information contained in this prospectus, including “Organizational Structure,” “Use of Proceeds,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the historical financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

     September 30, 2020  
     Bumble Holdings
Actual
    Unaudited
Bumble Inc.

Pro Forma(1)
 
     (Amounts in thousands, except
par value amounts)
 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 176,353     $                
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term debt (including the current portion thereof and net of unamortized debt issuance costs)

   $ 557,438     $    

TRA liability

     —      

Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 1,000 shares authorized and no shares issued and outstanding, actual; and                 shares authorized and shares issued and outstanding on a pro forma basis

     —      

Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 1,000 shares authorized and 100 shares issued and outstanding, actual; and                 shares authorized and                 shares issued and outstanding on a pro forma basis

     —      

Limited Partners’ interest

     2,258,341    

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     26,583    

Noncontrolling interests

     (100  

Additional paid-in capital

     —      

Noncontrolling interests relating to Pre-IPO Common Unitholders

     —      
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

     2,284,824    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capitalization

   $ 2,842,262     $    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

To the extent we change the number of shares of Class A common stock sold by us in this offering from the shares we expect to sell or we change the initial public offering price from the $                per share assumed initial public offering price, representing the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, or any combination of these events occurs, the net proceeds to us from this offering and each of pro forma total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization may increase or decrease. A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price per share, assuming no change in the number of shares to be sold, would increase (decrease) the net proceeds that we receive in this offering and each of pro forma total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by approximately $                million. An increase

 

84


Table of Contents
  (decrease) of 1,000,000 shares in the expected number of shares to be sold in the offering, assuming no change in the assumed initial offering price per share, would increase (decrease) our net proceeds from this offering and our pro forma total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by approximately $                million. If the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock, the pro forma amount of each of cash, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity, total equity and total capitalization would increase by approximately $                million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, and we would have                shares of our Class A common stock issued and outstanding.

 

85


Table of Contents

DILUTION

If you invest in shares of our Class A common stock in this offering, your investment will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of Class A common stock after this offering. Dilution results from the fact that the per share offering price of the shares of Class A common stock is substantially in excess of the pro forma net tangible book value per share attributable to the Class A common stock held by our pre-IPO owners.

Our pro forma net tangible book value as of September 30, 2020 was approximately $                million, or $                per share of Class A common stock. Pro forma net tangible book value represents the amount of total tangible assets less total liabilities, and pro forma net tangible book value per share of Class A common stock represents pro forma net tangible book value divided by the number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding, after giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions and assuming that all of the holders of Common Units in Bumble Holdings (other than Bumble Inc.) exchanged their Common Units for newly issued shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis.

After giving effect to the transactions described under “Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information,” including the application of the proceeds from this offering as described in “Use of Proceeds,” our pro forma net tangible book value as of September 30, 2020 would have been $                million, or $                per share of Class A common stock. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $                per share of Class A common stock to our pre-IPO owners and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $                per share of Class A common stock to investors in this offering.

The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share of Class A common stock basis assuming the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock:

 

Assumed initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock

      $                

Pro forma net tangible book value per share of Class A common stock as of September 30, 2020

   $                   

Increase in pro forma net tangible book value per share of Class A common stock attributable to investors in this offering

   $       
  

 

 

    

Pro forma net tangible book value per share of Class A common stock after the offering

      $    
     

 

 

 

Dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share of Class A common stock to investors in this offering

      $    
     

 

 

 

Because the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders do not own any Class A common stock or other economic interests in Bumble Inc., we have presented dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share of Class A common stock to investors in this offering assuming that all of the holders of Common Units in Bumble Holdings (other than Bumble Inc.) exchanged their Common Units for newly issued shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis in order to more meaningfully present the dilutive impact on the investors in this offering. The above table does not reflect any shares of Class A common stock that would be issuable following the conversion of any Incentive Units into Common Units.

A $1.00 increase in the assumed initial public offering price of $                per share of our Class A common stock would increase our pro forma net tangible book value after giving effect to this offering by $                million, or by $                per share of our Class A common stock, assuming the number of shares offered by us remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions. A $1.00 decrease in the assumed initial public offering price per share would result in equal changes in the opposite direction.

The following table summarizes, on the same pro forma basis as of September 30, 2020, the total number of shares of Class A common stock purchased from us, the total cash consideration paid to us, and the average price

 

86


Table of Contents

per share of Class A common stock paid by our pre-IPO owners and by new investors purchasing shares of Class A common stock in this offering, assuming that all of the holders of Common Units in Bumble Holdings (other than Bumble Inc.) exchanged their Common Units for newly issued shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. The following table does not reflect any shares of Class A common stock that would be issuable following the conversion of any Incentive Units into Common Units.

 

     Shares of Class A
common stock
Purchased
    Total
Consideration
    Average
Price Per
 
     Number      Percent     Amount      Percent     Share of
Class A
common
stock
 
                  (in thousands)               

Pre-IPO owners

                                        $                                     $                

Investors in this offering

               $                 $    
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

               $                 $    
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Each $1.00 increase in the assumed offering price of $                per share of our Class A common stock would increase total consideration paid by investors in this offering by $                million, assuming the number of shares offered by us remains the same. A $1.00 decrease in the assumed initial public offering price per share of our Class A common stock would result in equal changes in the opposite direction.

If the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full, the number of shares held by new investors will be increased to                 , or approximately     % of the total number of shares of Class A common stock.

In addition, subject to certain limitations and exceptions, the holders of             Incentive Units, which have a weighted-average per unit participation threshold of $         per Incentive Unit, will be able to convert their vested Incentive Units into Common Units of Bumble Holdings, as described in “Organizational Structure—Reclassification and Amendment and Restatement of Limited Partnership Agreement of Bumble Holdings” and “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Bumble Holdings Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement.” Common Units received upon conversion will be exchangeable on a one-for-one basis for shares of Class A common stock of Bumble Inc. in accordance with the terms of the exchange agreement. Assuming such Incentive Units are fully vested, at the time of this offering,                 shares of Class A common stock would be issuable upon the exchange of             as-converted Incentive Units (assuming an offering price of $         per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus, and assuming such Incentive Units are fully vested and converted to Common Units) that are held by the Continuing Incentive Unitholders.

The dilution information above is for illustrative purposes only. Our net tangible book value following the consummation of this offering is subject to adjustment based on the actual initial public offering price of our shares of Class A common stock and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

 

87


Table of Contents

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2020 and the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and for the year ended December 31, 2019 present our consolidated financial position and results of operations after giving effect to the following transactions (collectively, the “Transactions”):

 

   

the Sponsor Acquisition, as described and defined in “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Sponsor Acquisition,” and the related financing under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities;

 

   

the Distribution Financing Transaction, as described and defined below;

 

   

the Reorganization Transactions, as described and defined under “Organizational Structure”; and

 

   

the sale by us of shares of Class A common stock pursuant to this offering and the application of the proceeds from this offering as described in “Use of Proceeds,” based on an assumed initial public offering price of $             per share, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us in connection with this offering (the “Offering Transactions”).

The following unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information is derived from the historical consolidated financial statements of the Company. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and for the year ended December 31, 2019, give pro forma effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred on January 1, 2019. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2020, gives effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred on September 30, 2020.

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information was prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33-10786 “Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses,” using the assumptions set forth in the notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information has been adjusted to include Transaction Accounting Adjustments, which reflect the application of the accounting required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”), linking the effects of the Transactions listed above to the Company’s historical consolidated financial statements.

For purposes of the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information, we have assumed that shares of Class A common stock will be issued by us at a price per share equal to the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and as a result, immediately following the completion of this offering, the ownership percentage represented by Common Units not held by us will be     %, and net earnings attributable to Common Units not held by us will accordingly represent     % of our net earnings. If the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full, the ownership percentage represented by Common Units not held by us will be     % and net earnings attributable to Common Units not held by us will accordingly represent     % of our net earnings.

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information is for illustrative and informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have occurred if the Transactions had been completed as of the dates set forth above, nor is it indicative of the future consolidated results of operations or financial position of the Company. Further, pro forma adjustments represent management’s best estimates based on information available as of the date of this prospectus and are subject to change as additional information becomes available.

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information should be read together with “Organizational Structure,” “Use of Proceeds,” “Capitalization,” “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions” and the historical consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

88


Table of Contents

Bumble Inc.

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

As of September 30, 2020

(in thousands, except par value amounts)

 

    Bumble
Holdings
Historical
    Distribution
Financing

Transaction
Accounting

Adjustments
        As Adjusted
Before
Reorganization
and Offering
Transaction
Adjustments
    Reorganization
Transactions
Adjustments
        As Adjusted
Before
Offering
Transactions
Adjustments
    Offering
Transactions
Adjustments
        Bumble Inc.
Pro Forma
 

ASSETS

                   

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 176,353     $ (64,161   (a)   $ 112,192     $                     $                   $                   (e)   $                

Accounts receivable

    62,028       —           62,028              

Other current assets

    58,869       —           58,869             (b)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total current assets

    297,250       (64,161       233,089              

Right-of-use assets

    12,252       —           12,252              

Lease receivable

    1,010       —           1,010              

Property and equipment, net

    14,350       —           14,350              

Goodwill

    1,465,045       —           1,465,045              

Intangible assets, net

    1,743,963       —           1,743,963              

Deferred tax assets, net

    —         —           —         (d)        

Other noncurrent assets

    1,382       —           1,382              
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total assets

  $ 3,535,252     $ (64,161     $ 3,471,091     $         $       $         $    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

                   

Accounts payable

  $ 14,092     $ —         $ 14,092     $         $       $         $    

Deferred revenue

    29,790       —           29,790              

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    173,503       —           173,503              

Current portion of long-term debt, net

    3,585       —           3,585             (e)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

    220,970       —           220,970              

Long term debt, net

    553,853       270,176     (a)     824,029             (e)  

Deferred tax liabilities

    429,898       —           429,898              

TRA liability

    —         —           —         (d)        

Other liabilities

    45,707       —           45,707              
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    1,250,428       270,176         1,520,604              

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                   

Limited Partners’ interest

    2,258,341       (334,337   (a)     1,924,004       (c)        

Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share

    —         —           —         (c)       (e)  

Class B common stock, $0.01 par value per share

    —         —           —         (c)        

Accumulated other comprehensive income

    26,583       —           26,583              

Noncontrolling interests

    (100     —           (100     (c)       (e)  

Additional paid-in capital

    —         —           —         (c)(d)       (b)(e)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

    2,284,824       (334,337       1,950,487              
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

  $ 3,535,252     $ (64,161     $ 3,471,091     $         $       $         $    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

See accompanying “Notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information”

 

89


Table of Contents

Bumble Inc.

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

    Worldwide
Vision
Limited

Period from
January 1, to
January 28,
2020

(Predecessor)
Historical
          Bumble
Holdings
Period from

January 29,
to
September 30,
2020

(Successor)
Historical
    Sponsor
Acquisition
Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
        As Adjusted
Before
Distribution
Financing,
Reorganization
and Offering
Transactions
    Distribution
Financing
Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
        As Adjusted
Before
Reorganization
and Offering
Transactions
    Reorganization
Transactions
Adjustments
        As Adjusted
Before
Offering
Transactions
Adjustments
    Offering
Transactions
Adjustments
        Bumble Inc.
Pro Forma
     

Revenue

  $ 39,990         $ 376,587     $ (3,860   (f)   $ 412,717     $ —         $ 412,717     $                     $                   $                     $                  

Operating costs and expenses:

                                 

Cost of revenue (exclusive of items shown separately below)

    10,790           102,017       (1,191   (g)     111,616       —           111,616                

Selling and marketing expense

    11,157           104,511       —           115,668       —           115,668                

General and administrative expense

    44,907           128,120       (88,565   (h)     84,462       —           84,462                

Product development expense

    4,087           29,915       —           34,002       —           34,002                

Depreciation and amortization expense

    408           65,771       7,465     (i)     73,644       —           73,644                
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Total operating costs and expenses

    71,349           430,334       (82,291       419,392       —           419,392                
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Operating (loss) income

    (31,359         (53,747     78,431         (6,675     —           (6,675              

Interest (income) expense

    (50         14,704       1,597     (j)     16,251       8,230     (m)     24,481             (p)    

Other expense (income), net

    882           (3,474     —           (2,592     —           (2,592              
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

(Loss) earnings before tax

    (32,191         (64,977     76,834         (20,334     (8,230       (28,564              

Income tax (provision) benefit

    (365         (19,143     (8,098   (k)     (27,606     867     (k)     (26,739     (n)          
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net (loss) earnings

    (32,556         (84,120     68,736         (47,940     (7,363       (55,303              
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests

    1,917           (100     (1,917   (l)     (100     —           (100     (o)       (o)    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net (loss) earnings attributable to Bumble Inc.

  $ (34,473       $ (84,020   $ 70,653       $ (47,840   $ (7,363     $ (55,203   $         $       $         $      
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Pro Forma Loss Per Share:

                                 

Basic

                                $       (q)
                               

 

 

   

Diluted

                                $       (q)
                               

 

 

   

Pro Forma Number of Shares Used in Computing Loss Per Share:

                                 

Basic

                                  (q)
                               

 

 

   

Diluted

                                  (q)
                               

 

 

   

See accompanying “Notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information”

 

90


Table of Contents

Bumble Inc.

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

For the Year Ended December 31, 2019

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

    Worldwide
Vision
Limited

Historical
    Sponsor
Acquisition
Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
        As Adjusted
Before
Distribution
Financing,
Reorganization
and Offering
Transactions
    Distribution
Financing
Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
        As Adjusted
Before
Reorganization
and Offering
Transactions
    Reorganization
Transactions
Adjustments
        As Adjusted
Before
Offering
Transactions
Adjustments
    Offering
Transactions
Adjustments
        Bumble Inc.
Pro Forma
     

Revenue

  $ 488,940     $ (11,577   (f)   $ 477,363     $ —         $ 477,363     $                     $                   $                     $                  

Operating costs and expenses:

                           

Cost of revenue (exclusive of items shown separately below)

    139,767       (3,574   (g)     136,193       —           136,193                

Selling and marketing expense

    142,902       —           142,902       —           142,902                

General and administrative expense

    67,079       88,565     (h)     155,644       —           155,644                

Product development expense

    39,205       —           39,205       —           39,205                

Depreciation and amortization expense

    6,734       89,673     (i)     96,407       —           96,407                
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Total operating costs and expenses

    395,687       174,664         570,351       —           570,351                
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Operating income (loss)

    93,253       (186,241       (92,988     —           (92,988              

Interest (income) expense

    (202     19,459     (j)     19,257       11,059     (m)     30,316             (p)    

Other expense, net

    1,473       —           1,473       —           1,473                
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Earnings (loss) before tax

    91,982       (205,700       (113,718     (11,059       (124,777              

Income tax (provision) benefit

    (6,138     21,681     (k)     15,543       1,166     (k)     16,709       (n)          
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net earnings (loss)

    85,844       (184,019       (98,175     (9,893       (108,068              
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests

    19,698       (19,698   (l)     —         —           —         (o)       (o)    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net earnings (loss) attributable to
Bumble Inc.

  $ 66,146     $ (164,321     $ (98,175   $ (9,893     $ (108,068   $         $       $         $      
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Pro Forma Loss Per Share:

                           

Basic

                          $       (q)
                         

 

 

   

Diluted

                          $       (q)
                         

 

 

   

Pro Forma Number of Shares Used in Computing Loss Per Share:

                           

Basic

                            (q)
                         

 

 

   

Diluted

                            (q)
                         

 

 

   

See accompanying “Notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information”

 

91


Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

1.

Description of the Transactions & Basis of Presentation

On January 29, 2020, Buzz Holdings L.P. (the “Parent,” “Bumble Holdings,” “Successor” or the “Company”) and Buzz Merger Sub Limited (“Buzz Merger Sub”), an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of Bumble Holdings, completed a merger with Worldwide Vision Limited (the “Predecessor” or “WVL”) pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of November 8, 2019 (as amended, the “Acquisition Agreement”). Based on the Acquisition Agreement, Buzz Merger Sub was deemed the surviving company.

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information was prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X, as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33-10786 “Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses,” and present the pro forma financial condition and results of operations of the Company based upon the historical financial information after giving effect to the Transactions and related adjustments set forth in the notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information.

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information presented assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock. In addition, the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information does not reflect any cost savings, operating synergies or revenue enhancements that the consolidated company may achieve as a result of the Transactions.

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and for the year ended December 31, 2019, give pro forma effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred on January 1, 2019. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2020, gives effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred on September 30, 2020.

Sponsor Acquisition

The Sponsor Acquisition was accounted for under the acquisition method in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”), with Buzz Merger Sub treated as the accounting acquirer. In accordance with ASC 805, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed have been measured at fair value based on various estimates and methodologies, including the income and market approaches. These estimates are based on key assumptions related to the Sponsor Acquisition, including reviews of publicly disclosed information for other acquisitions in the industry, historical experience of the Company, data that was available through the public domain and unobservable inputs, such as the due diligence reviews and historical financial information of the acquiree business.

For purposes of measuring the estimated fair value of the tangible and intangible assets acquired and the liabilities assumed, the Company has applied the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification 820, Fair Value Measurements (“ASC 820”), which establishes a framework for measuring fair value. ASC 820 defines fair value as “the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.”

Under ASC 805, acquisition related transaction costs and acquisition-related restructuring charges are not included as components of consideration transferred but are accounted for as expenses in the period in which the costs are incurred.

Distribution Financing Transaction

On October 19, 2020, the Company entered into an incremental senior secured term loan facility (the “Incremental Term Loan”) in an original aggregate principal amount of $275.0 million. The Company used the

 

92


Table of Contents

proceeds from the incremental borrowings under the Incremental Term Loan, together with cash on-hand, to declare a distribution of $360.0 million, of which approximately $334.3 million was paid to pre-IPO owners on October 28, 2020 and $25.6 million was used to partially repay the loan to our Founder, and to pay related fees and expenses in connection therewith (the “Special Distribution”). We refer to the entry into the Incremental Term Loan and the payment of the Special Distribution as the “Distribution Financing Transaction.”

Reorganization Transactions and Offering Transactions

The Company is offering shares of Class A common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $            per share, which is equal to the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting estimated underwriter discounts and commissions. Bumble Inc. intends to use $            million of the net proceeds from this offering to acquire newly issued Common Units from Bumble Holdings. Bumble Inc. intends to cause Bumble Holdings to use these proceeds to repay outstanding indebtedness under the Term Loan Facility totaling approximately $             million in aggregate principal amount and approximately $             million for general corporate purposes. Subsequently, Bumble Inc. intends to use the remaining net proceeds from this offering to purchase or redeem outstanding equity interests from its pre-IPO owners, as described under “Organizational Structure—Offering Transactions.”

Immediately following this offering, and as a result of the Reorganization Transactions, Bumble Inc. will be a holding company, and its sole material asset will be a controlling equity interest in Bumble Holdings. As a result of the Reorganization and Offering Transactions, Bumble Inc. will own approximately     % of the economic interest in Bumble Holdings, but will have 100% of the voting power and will control the management of Bumble Holdings. As the general partner of Bumble Holdings, Bumble Inc. will operate and control all of the business and affairs of Bumble Holdings and its subsidiaries and will have the obligation to absorb losses and receive benefits from Bumble Holdings. The Reorganization Transactions, whereby Bumble Inc. will begin to consolidate Bumble Holdings in its consolidated financial statements, will be accounted for as a reorganization of entities under common control. As a result, the consolidated financial statements of Bumble Inc. will recognize the assets and liabilities received in the reorganization at their historical carrying amounts, as reflected in the historical consolidated financial statements of Bumble Holdings.

For a complete description of the Reorganization Transactions, see section entitled “Organizational Structure” included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

2.

Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

Transaction Accounting Adjustments include the following adjustments related to the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2020, as follows:

Adjustments related to the Distribution Financing Transaction

 

  a)

Represents the issuance of the Incremental Term Loan for an aggregate principal amount of $275.0 million, less issuance costs. The cash proceeds from the Incremental Term Loan as well as cash on-hand was used to declare the Special Distribution of $360.0 million, of which approximately $334.3 million was paid by the Company on October 28, 2020, and $25.6 million of which was used to partially repay the loan to our Founder, and to pay related fees and expenses in connection therewith.

Adjustments related to Reorganization Transactions and Offering Transactions

 

  b)

We are capitalizing one-time incremental direct costs associated with the Offering Transactions. These costs primarily represent legal, accounting and other direct costs and are recorded in “Other current assets” in our condensed consolidated balance sheet. Upon completion of this offering, these capitalized costs will be offset against the proceeds raised from this offering as a reduction of additional paid-in-capital.

 

  c)

Bumble Holdings has been, and will continue to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As such, Bumble Holdings’ earnings and losses will flow through to its partners, including

 

93


Table of Contents
  Bumble Inc., and are generally not subject to significant entity level taxes at the Bumble Holdings level. As described in “Organizational Structure,” upon completion of the Reorganization Transactions, Bumble Inc. will become the general partner of Bumble Holdings and its subsidiaries, and operate and control all of the business and affairs of Bumble Holdings. As a result of the Reorganization and Offering Transactions, Bumble Inc. will own approximately    % of the economic interest in Bumble Holdings, but will have 100% of the voting power and will control the management of Bumble Holdings. Immediately following the completion of the Reorganization Transactions, the ownership percentage held by noncontrolling interest will be approximately    %.

Represents an adjustment to equity reflecting (i) the par value for Class A and Class B common stock, (ii) a decrease in $     million of Limited Partners’ interest to the noncontrolling interests related to the     % economic interest held by the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders, and (iii) reclassification of Limited Partners’ interest of $            million to additional paid-in capital.

 

  d)

Prior to the completion of the Offering Transactions, Bumble Inc. will enter into a tax receivable agreement with certain of our pre-IPO owners that provides for the payment by Bumble Inc. to such pre-IPO owners of 85% of the realized benefits, if any, as a result of Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing basis acquired in this offering, increases in Bumble Inc.’s share of existing tax basis and adjustments to the tax basis of the assets of Bumble Holdings as a result of sales or exchanges of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units), and Bumble Inc.’s utilization of certain tax attributes of the Blocker Companies (including the Blocker Companies’ allocable share of existing tax basis) and certain other tax benefits related to entering into the tax receivable agreement, including tax benefits attributable to payments under the tax receivable agreement. The tax receivable agreement will be accounted for as a contingent liability, with amounts accrued when considered probable and reasonably estimable. The following are the tax receivable agreement adjustments:

 

  (1)

We will record a deferred tax asset of $             million (or $             million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). The deferred tax asset includes, (i) $            million related to Bumble Inc.’s investment in Bumble Holdings, (ii) $             million related to tax loss carryforwards and credits from the merged Blocker Companies, and (iii) $             million related to tax benefits from future deductions attributable to payments under the tax receivable agreement as a result of the Offering Transactions. To the extent we estimate that we will not realize the full benefit represented by the deferred tax assets, based on an analysis of expected future earnings, we will reduce deferred tax assets with a valuation allowance;

 

  (2)

We will record a $             million liability under the tax receivable agreement (or $             million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) based on our estimate of the aggregate amount that we will pay to the pre-IPO owners under the tax receivable agreement as a result of the Offering Transactions;

 

  (3)

We will record an adjustment to additional paid-in capital of $             million, the difference between the increase in deferred tax assets and the increase in liabilities due to existing owners under the tax receivable agreement as a result of the Offering Transactions.

Due to the uncertainty as to the amount and timing of future exchanges of Common Units by the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders and as to the price per share of our Class A common stock at the time of any such exchanges, the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information does not assume that exchanges of Common Units have occurred. Therefore, no increases in tax basis in Bumble Inc.’s assets or other tax benefits that may be realized as a result of any such future exchanges have been reflected in the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information.

 

  e)

Represents (i) the net proceeds of approximately $            million (or $            million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock),

 

94


Table of Contents
  based on an assumed initial public offering price of $             per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting assumed underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses and (ii) the related use of $             million of the proceeds to repay outstanding indebtedness under our Term Loan Facility, as will be determined prior to the offering, and $             million of the proceeds to purchase outstanding Common Units from pre-IPO owners as described in “Use of Proceeds.”

 

3.

Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations

Transaction Accounting Adjustments include the following adjustments related to the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, and for the year ended December 31, 2019, as follows:

Adjustments related to the Sponsor Acquisition and the Distribution Financing Transaction

 

  f)

Represent the adjustments related to the provisional fair value of deferred revenue of the Predecessor in purchase accounting. The pro forma adjustments to revenue reflect the difference between prepayments related to subscriptions and credits, and the provisional fair value of the assumed performance obligations as they are satisfied.

 

  g)

Represents the reduction to cost of revenue for the applicable period resulting from the write-off of certain deferred aggregator costs related to the Sponsor Acquisition.

 

  h)

Represents non-recurring transaction-related costs of approximately $40.3 million incurred by the Predecessor during the period January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and the non-recurring transaction-related costs of approximately $48.2 million incurred by the Successor during the period January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020. These transaction-related costs include advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, one-time employee bonuses and other professional and transaction-related costs. These non-recurring transaction-related costs are reflected as if incurred on January 1, 2019, the date the Sponsor Acquisition occurred for purposes of the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations.

 

  i)

Reflects incremental amortization expense of $7.5 million and $89.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and for the year ended December 31, 2019, respectively, on finite-lived intangible assets acquired in connection with the Sponsor Acquisition. Incremental amortization expense has been calculated as follows (in thousands):

 

Asset Class

   Fair
Value
     Amortization
Method
     Estimated
Life
(Years)
     Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2020
    Year Ended
December 31,
2019
 

Brand

   $ 1,430,000        —          —        $  —       $  —    

Developed technology

     220,000      Straight line        5        33,000       44,000  

User base

     105,000      Straight line        2.5        31,500       42,000  

White label

     30,000        Straight line        8        2,813       3,750  
  

 

 

          

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

     1,785,000              67,313       89,750

Less: Historical amortization expense

              (59,848     (77
           

 

 

   

 

 

 

Incremental amortization expense

            $ 7,465     $ 89,673  
           

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

95


Table of Contents
  j)

Reflects incremental interest expense of $1.6 million and $19.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and for the year ended December 31, 2019, respectively, associated with the borrowings of the $575.0 million Term Loan, offset by the elimination of interest expense (income) related to debt owed to the Company by former owners. Incremental interest expense has been calculated as follows (in thousands):

 

     Principal      Interest
Rate
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2020
    Year Ended
December 31,
2019
 

Interest on Term Loan(1)

   $ 575,000        2.95   $ 16,251     $ 19,257  
  

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

   $ 575,000        $ 16,251     $ 19,257  

Less: Historical interest (expense) income

          (14,654     202  
       

 

 

   

 

 

 

Incremental interest expense

        $ 1,597     $ 19,459  
       

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (1) 

A 0.125% change in the assumed interest rate would result in a change in interest expense of approximately $0.6 million and $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and for the year ended December 31, 2019, respectively.

 

  k)

Represents adjustments to income tax (provision) benefit for the impact of the pro forma adjustments using an estimated blended statutory income tax rate of 10.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and for the year ended December 31, 2019. The income tax expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated pro forma financial information relates to (i) U.S. federal and state income tax expense and (ii) foreign income taxes payable in jurisdictions where the Company had operations that generated operating income. The unaudited pro forma tax expense does not purport to represent what income tax expense actually would have been if the Sponsor Acquisition and the Distribution Financing Transaction had occurred on January 1, 2019.

 

  l)

Reflects the adjustment of historical net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests in relation to the Sponsor Acquisition.

 

  m)

Reflects interest expense of $8.2 million and $11.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and for the year ended December 31, 2019, respectively, associated with the borrowings of the $275.0 million Incremental Term Loan.

Adjustments related to Reorganization Transactions and Offering Transactions

 

  n)

Following the Reorganization Transactions, Bumble Inc. will be subject to U.S. federal income taxes, in addition to state, local and foreign taxes. As a result, the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet reflects an adjustment to our taxes assuming the federal rates currently in effect and the highest statutory rates apportioned to each state, local and foreign jurisdiction.

 

  o)

As described in “Organizational Structure,” upon completion of the Reorganization Transactions, Bumble Inc. will become the general partner of Bumble Holdings and its subsidiaries. As a result of the Reorganization and Offering Transactions, Bumble Inc. will own approximately     % of the economic interest in Bumble Holdings, but will have 100% of the voting power and will control the management of Bumble Holdings. Immediately following the completion of this offering, the ownership percentage held by noncontrolling interests will be approximately    %. Net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interests will represent    % of net earnings before income taxes. These amounts have been determined based on an assumption that the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is not exercised. If the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full, the ownership percentage held by the noncontrolling interest would decrease to     %.

 

  p)

Reflects the reduction in interest expense of $         million and $         million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and for the year ended December 31, 2019, respectively, as a result of the

 

96


Table of Contents
  repayment of a portion of the outstanding indebtedness under our Term Loan Facility, as described in “Use of Proceeds,” as if such repayment occurred on January 1, 2019.

 

  q)

The basic and diluted pro forma net loss per share of Class A common stock represents net loss attributable to Bumble Inc. divided by the combination of the shares owned by existing owners and the Class A common stock issued in this offering, the proceeds of which are expected to equal $             million (based on the midpoint of the price range shown on the cover of this prospectus, after deducting underwriting discounts). See “Use of Proceeds.” The noncontrolling interest owners own shares of Class B common stock. These shares of Class B common stock are not considered participating securities because they have no right to receive dividends or a distribution on liquidation or winding up of Bumble Inc., and no earnings are allocable to such class. Accordingly, basic and diluted earnings per share of Class B common stock has not been presented. The table below presents the computation of pro forma basic and dilutive loss per share for Bumble Inc. (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

     Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2020
     Year Ended
December 31,
2019
 

Numerator:

     

Net loss

   $                    $                

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Bumble Inc.

     

Denominator:

     

Weighted average shares of Class A common stock outstanding (basic)

     

Incremental common shares attributable to dilutive instruments(1)

     

Assumed conversion of Common Units to shares of Class A common stock(2)

     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted average shares of Class A common stock outstanding (diluted)

     

Basic loss per share

   $                    $                
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted loss per share

   $        $    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (1) 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and for the year ended December 31, 2019, the dilutive effects of the Company’s restricted stock units were not included in the computation of diluted loss per share because the effect would have been anti-dilutive.

  (2) 

The noncontrolling interest owners, which we refer to as Pre-IPO Common Unitholders, have exchange rights which enable the noncontrolling interest owners to exchange Common Units for shares of Class A common stock on a one for one basis. The noncontrolling interest owners exchange rights cause the Common Units to be considered potentially dilutive shares for purposes of dilutive loss per share calculations. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and the year ended December 31, 2019, these exchange rights were not included in the computation of diluted loss per share because the effect would have been anti-dilutive.

 

97


Table of Contents

SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table presents the selected historical consolidated financial data for Buzz Holdings L.P. and for Worldwide Vision Limited, the accounting predecessor of Buzz Holdings L.P. and its subsidiaries. The selected unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations data and statements of cash flows data presented below for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and the selected unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet data presented below as of September 30, 2020 have been derived from the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Buzz Holdings L.P. and of Worldwide Vision Limited included elsewhere in this prospectus. The selected consolidated statements of operations data and statements of cash flows data presented below for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data presented below as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 have been derived from the consolidated financial statements of Worldwide Vision Limited included elsewhere in this prospectus.

The selected historical consolidated financial and other data of Bumble Inc. has not been presented because Bumble Inc. is a newly incorporated entity, has had no business transactions or activities to date and had no assets or liabilities during the periods presented in this section.

The unaudited financial statements of Buzz Holdings L.P. have been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements of Worldwide Vision Limited and, in our opinion, have included all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly in all material respects our financial position and results of operations. The results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. Historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for any future period. You should read the selected historical consolidated financial data below, together with the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, as well as “Organizational Structure,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Description of Certain Indebtedness” and the other information included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

     Successor            Predecessor  
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)    Period from
January 29 to
September 30,
2020
           Period from
January 1 to
January 28,
2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
    Year Ended
December 31,
2019
    Year Ended
December 31,
2018
 
     (Unaudited)            (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)              

Statements of Operations Data:

               

Revenue

   $ 376,587          $ 39,990     $ 362,639     $ 488,940     $ 360,105  

Operating costs and expenses:

               

Cost of revenue (exclusive of items shown separately below)

     102,017            10,790       105,054       139,767       110,259  

Selling and marketing expense

     104,511            11,157       102,341       142,902       93,605  

General and administrative expense

     128,120            44,907       47,373       67,079       128,981  

Product development expense

     29,915            4,087       29,010       39,205       37,517  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     65,771            408       4,903       6,734       5,957  
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating costs and expenses

   $ 430,334          $ 71,349     $ 288,681     $ 395,687     $ 376,319  
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating (loss) income

     (53,747          (31,359     73,958       93,253       (16,214

Interest (expense) income

     (14,704          50       46       202       4  

Other income (expense), net

     3,474            (882     516       (1,473     (4,428
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) earnings before tax

   $ (64,977        $ (32,191   $ 74,520     $ 91,982     $ (20,638

Income tax provision

     (19,143          (365     (5,888     (6,138     (3,031
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) earnings

   $ (84,120        $ (32,556   $ 68,632     $ 85,844     $ (23,669
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

98


Table of Contents
     Successor    

 

     Predecessor  
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)    Period from
January 29 to
September 30,
2020
   

 

     Period from
January 1 to
January 28,
2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
    Year Ended
December 31,
2019
    Year Ended
December 31,
2018
 
     (Unaudited)    

 

     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)              

Net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests

   $ (100        $ 1,917     $ 14,587     $ 19,698     $ (2,150
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) earnings attributable to Buzz Holdings L.P. owners / Worldwide Vision Limited shareholders

   $ (84,020        $ (34,473   $ 54,045     $ 66,146     $ (21,519
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) earnings per share attributable to Buzz Holdings L.P. owners /Worldwide Vision Limited shareholders

               

Basic (loss) earnings per unit / share

   $ (0.03            $ 0.65     $ (0.21

Diluted (loss) earnings per unit / share

   $ (0.03            $ 0.65     $ (0.21

Dividend declared per unit / share

     —                $ 0.18     $ 0.30  
 

Balance Sheet Data (at period end):

               

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 176,353              $ 57,449     $ 33,289  

Total assets

   $ 3,535,252              $ 210,298     $ 116,729  

Total debt

   $ 557,438                —         —    

Total liabilities

   $ 1,250,428              $ 180,616     $ 151,948  

Total owners’ / shareholders’ equity (deficit)

   $ 2,284,824              $ 29,682     $ (35,219
 

Statements of Cash Flows Data:

               

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

   $ 1,041          $ (3,306   $ 70,595     $ 101,392     $ 71,766  

Net cash (used in) investing activities

   $ (2,807,488        $ (1,029   $ (8,084   $ (11,396   $ (8,394

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

   $ 2,932,559            —       $ (23,359   $ (65,196   $ (37,225

 

99


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

You should read the following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of Buzz Holdings L.P. (“Bumble Holdings” or the “Successor”) and Worldwide Vision Limited (the “Predecessor”), the accounting predecessor of Buzz Holdings L.P., in conjunction with the section entitled “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties about our business and operations. Our actual results and the timing of selected events may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those we describe under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. See “Forward-Looking Statements.”

Certain revenue information in the section entitled “—Revenue—Foreign Exchange Impact on Revenue” is presented on a constant currency basis. This information is a financial measure not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). To calculate revenue on a constant currency basis, we translated revenue for the full year 2019 using 2018 monthly exchange rates for our settlement or billing currencies other than the U.S. dollar. This non-GAAP financial measure is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. This measure may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies, limiting its usefulness for comparison purposes. Moreover, presentation of revenue on a constant currency basis is provided for year-over-year comparison purposes, and investors should be cautioned that the effect of changing foreign currency exchange rates has an actual effect on our operating results. We believe this non-GAAP financial measure provides investors with useful supplemental information about the financial performance of our business, enables comparison of financial results between periods where certain items may vary independent of business performance, and allows for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in operating our business.

Overview

Today, Bumble operates two apps, Bumble and Badoo, where over 40 million users come on a monthly basis to discover new people and connect with each other in a safe, secure and empowering environment.(1) We are a leader in the fast-growing online dating space, which has become increasingly popular over the last decade and is now the most common way for new couples to meet in the United States according to a study published by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (“PNAS”). Our community is highly engaged with, on average, over 150 million messages sent every day in the last nine months ended September 30, 2020.

Bumble and Badoo are two of the highest grossing online dating mobile applications globally, as of August 2020, according to Sensor Tower, with Bumble and Badoo ranking among the top five grossing iOS lifestyle apps in 30 and 89 countries, respectively. We generated $488.9 million of revenue in the year ended December 31, 2019, representing year-over-year growth of 35.8%. We generated $376.6 million and $40.0 million of revenue in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020 and in the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, respectively.

 

   

The Bumble app, launched in 2014, is one of the first dating apps built with women at the center. On Bumble, women make the first move, and have done so more than 1.7 billion times from September 2014 to September 2020. Bumble is the second highest grossing dating app in the world according to Sensor Tower, with 12.3 million monthly active users (“MAUs”) as of September 30, 2020. Bumble is a leader in the online dating sector across several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. We believe that because women feel more confident and empowered on our platform, they are more engaged than on other dating apps. For example, the Bumble app experienced approximately 30% growth in the number of messages sent by women from the three months ended March 30, 2019 to the three months ended September 30, 2020. As a result, we believe

 

(1) 

Total Company MAUs as of September 30, 2020 was 42.1 million, reflecting the contribution of other apps which are operated by the Company.

 

100


Table of Contents
 

that Bumble has one of the highest percentages of women Paying Users among dating apps. According to OC&C, within the North America freemium market, Bumble has approximately 30% more female users for every male user compared to the gender mix of users in the market who do not use Bumble. Additionally, according to OC&C, a higher percentage of Bumble’s female users convert to payers than the market average. We had approximately 1.1 million Bumble App Paying Users during the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

 

   

The Badoo app launched in 2006 and is the fourth highest grossing dating app in the world according to Sensor Tower, with 28.4 million MAUs as of September 30, 2020. Badoo continues to be a market leader in Europe and Latin America and is diversified across geographies as a top three grossing iOS lifestyle app in 59 countries as of September 30, 2020. We had approximately 1.3 million Badoo App and Other Paying Users during the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

We were one of the pioneers of web and mobile free-to-use dating products with Badoo’s launch in 2006. Since then, we have remained committed to investing in our brands, product innovation and technology infrastructure. In 2020, we brought the Bumble and Badoo apps under the Bumble-branded corporate umbrella. We believe our brand enables us to have a powerful, differentiated connection to users. We are focused on constantly collecting feedback, which informs our product development roadmap. We have invested significantly in our shared infrastructure which enables us to improve execution at scale while driving operating efficiencies.

Our investments to date have enabled us to achieve strong growth and the following key milestones:

 

 

LOGO

We have experienced significant growth in users while maintaining efficient marketing investment. Only 22% of new users across our apps came from attributable performance marketing in the nine months ended September 30, 2020. Our Payback Period on user acquisition costs for all new user registrations averaged less than three months in the nine months ended September 30, 2020. “Payback Period” refers to the average number of months required to fully recoup the marketing expenditure of acquiring a new user in the relevant reporting period. As a result, our financial model is characterized by the combination of growth, scale, strong profitability, and cash flow generation. Our revenue is also diversified across apps and geographies. We monetize both the Bumble and Badoo apps via a freemium model where the use of our service is free and a subset of our users pay for subscriptions or in-app purchases to access premium features which we continually innovate to improve the user experience.

For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, we generated:

 

   

Total Revenue of $360.1 million and $488.9 million, respectively, representing year-over-year growth of 35.8%;

 

   

Bumble App Revenue of $162.4 million and $275.5 million, respectively, representing year-over-year growth of 69.7%;

 

101


Table of Contents
   

Badoo App and Other Revenue of $197.7 million and $213.4 million, respectively, representing year-over-year growth of 7.9%;

 

   

Net earnings (loss) of $(23.7) million and $85.8 million, respectively, representing a year-over-year increase of $109.5 million, with a net earnings (loss) margin of (6.6)% and 17.6%, respectively;

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA of $65.8 million and $101.8 million, respectively, representing Adjusted EBITDA Margins of 18.3% and 20.8%, respectively, and year-over-year growth of 54.7%;

 

   

Net cash provided by operating activities of $71.8 million and $101.4 million, respectively, representing year-over-year growth of 41.2% and Operating Cash Flow Conversion of (303.2)% and 118.1%, respectively; and

 

   

Free Cash Flow of $63.7 million and $91.7 million, respectively, representing Free Cash Flow Conversion of 96.9% and 90.1%, respectively, and year-over-year growth of 44.0%.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, we generated:

 

   

Total Revenue of $362.6 million, $40.0 million and $376.6 million, respectively;

 

   

Bumble App Revenue of $203.4 million, $23.3 million and $231.5 million, respectively;

 

   

Badoo App and Other Revenue of $159.2 million, $16.7 million and $145.1 million, respectively;

 

   

Net (loss) earnings of $68.6 million, $(32.6) million and $(84.1) million, respectively, with a net (loss) earnings margin of 18.9%, (81.4)% and (22.3)%, respectively;

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA of $80.0 million, $9.4 million and $98.9 million, respectively, representing Adjusted EBITDA Margins of 22.1%, 23.4% and 26.3%, respectively;

 

   

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of $70.6 million, $(3.3) million and $1.0 million, respectively, and Operating Cash Flow Conversion of 102.9%, 10.2% and (1.2)%, respectively; and

 

   

Free Cash Flow of $64.3 million, $(4.4) million and $(4.7) million, respectively, representing Free Cash Flow Conversion of 80.4%, (46.4)% and (4.8)%, respectively.

For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion, which are all non-GAAP measures, to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, information about why we consider Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion useful and a discussion of the material risks and limitations of these measures, please see “—Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

How We Generate Revenue

We monetize both the Bumble and Badoo apps via a freemium model where the use of our service is free and a subset of our users pay for subscriptions or in-app purchases to access premium features. These features maximize the probability of developing meaningful connections, improving their experience and saving them valuable time. We build these features first and foremost with value to our users in mind, driving revenue as a result.

On the Bumble app, our subscription offerings are called Bumble Boost and Bumble Premium. These subscription plan offerings currently include 1-day, 7-day, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, or lifetime packages. The most popular features included in Bumble Boost are the following:

 

   

Rematch, which allows subscribers to rematch with any of the prior matches that have already expired after a 24-hour period; and

 

   

Extend, which allows an unlimited number of 24-hour extensions on conversations.

 

102


Table of Contents

Subscribers to Bumble Premium, which is more expensive than Bumble Boost, can also access additional

features, including:

 

   

Beeline, which shows subscribers potential connections who have already indicated interest in the subscriber;

 

   

Incognito Mode, which allows subscribers to have more control over who can see their profile;

 

   

Travel Mode, which allows subscribers to change their location to another city before or during a trip; and

 

   

Access to unlimited advanced filters.

Bumble users, both subscribers and non-subscribing users, can also access additional features through in-app purchases. These features include the following:

 

   

SuperSwipe, which allows users to inform potential matches that they are confidently interested in them;

 

   

Spotlight, which allows users to advance their profile to the top of the stack so it is viewable by more potential matches instantly; and

 

   

Travel Mode, which allow users to change their location to anywhere in the world, rather than just nearby.

On the Badoo app, our subscription offering is called Badoo Premium. Badoo Premium subscription plan offerings currently include 1-day, 7-day, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, or lifetime packages. Badoo Premium includes the following key features:

 

   

Liked You, which allows users to find out who has already liked them;

 

   

Extra Shows, which pushes the user’s profile to the front of the queue; and

 

   

Undo Vote, which undoes a “no” vote on a potential match.

In addition, Badoo users, both subscribers and non-subscribing users, can also purchase Badoo Credits which they can use to acquire in-app features such as one-off popularity boosts. We also selectively monetize through video and banner advertising.

 

103


Table of Contents

Key Operating and Financial Metrics

We regularly review a number of metrics, including the following key operating and financial metrics, to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends in our business, prepare financial projections and make strategic decisions. We believe these non-GAAP and operational measures are useful in evaluating our performance, in addition to our financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP. See “—Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for additional information on non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP measures.

 

(Amounts in thousands, except ARPPU)    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2020
     Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
     Year Ended
December 31,
2019
     Year Ended
December 31,
2018
 

Key Operating Metrics

           

Bumble App Paying Users

     1,100.2        843.9        855.6        574.1  

Badoo App and Other Paying Users

     1,342.9        1,212.3        1,195.0        1,319.0  

Total Paying Users

     2,443.1        2,056.2        2,050.5        1,893.1  

Bumble App Average Revenue per Paying User

   $ 25.72      $ 26.78      $ 26.84      $ 23.57  

Badoo App and Other Average Revenue per Paying User

   $ 12.54      $ 13.53      $ 13.77      $ 11.80  

Total Average Revenue per Paying User

   $ 18.48      $ 18.97      $ 19.22      $ 15.37  

 

    Buzz Holdings
L.P.
          Worldwide Vision Limited  
(Amounts in thousands, except percentages)   Period from
January 29, to
September 30,
2020
          Period from
January 1, to
January 28,
2020
    Nine months
ended
September 30,
2019
    Year Ended
December 31,
2019
    Year Ended
December 31,
2018
 
    (Unaudited)           (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)              

Key Financial and Non-GAAP Metrics

             

Revenue

  $ 376,587         $ 39,990     $ 362,639     $ 488,940     $ 360,105  

Net (Loss) Earnings

  $ (84,120       $ (32,556   $ 68,632     $ 85,844     $ (23,669

Net (Loss) Earnings Margin

    (22.3 )%          (81.4 )%      18.9     17.6     (6.6 )% 

Adjusted EBITDA (unaudited)

  $ 98,948         $ 9,371     $ 79,963     $ 101,834     $ 65,766  

Adjusted EBITDA Margin (unaudited)

    26.3         23.4     22.1     20.8     18.3

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities

  $ 1,041         $ (3,306   $ 70,595     $ 101,392     $ 71,766  

Operating Cash Flow Conversion (unaudited)

    (1.2 )%          10.2     102.9     118.1     (303.2 )% 

Free Cash Flow (unaudited)

  $ (4,738       $ (4,351   $ 64,258     $ 91,718     $ 63,719  

Free Cash Flow Conversion (unaudited)

    (4.8 )%          (46.4 )%      80.4     90.1     96.9

Payer Metrics

 

   

Bumble App Paying Users. A Bumble App Paying User is a user that has purchased or renewed a Bumble subscription plan and/or made an in-app purchase on the Bumble app in a given month. We calculate Bumble App Paying Users as a monthly average, by counting the number of Bumble App Paying Users in each month and then dividing by the number of months in the relevant measurement period. 89.6% of Bumble App Paying Users in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 were subscribers to one of our subscription plans.

 

   

Badoo App and Other Paying Users. A Badoo App and Other Paying User is a user that has purchased or renewed a subscription plan and/or made an in-app purchase on the Badoo app in a given month (or made a purchase on one of our other apps that we owned and operated in a given month, or

 

104


Table of Contents
 

purchase on other third-party apps that used our technology in the relevant period). We calculate Badoo App and Other Paying Users as a monthly average, by counting the number of Badoo App and Other Paying Users in each month and then dividing by the number of months in the relevant measurement period. 84.3% of Badoo App and Other Paying Users in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 were subscribers to one of our subscription plans.

 

   

Total Paying Users. Total Paying Users is the sum of Bumble App Paying Users and Badoo App and Other Paying Users. Paying Users is a primary metric that we use to judge the health of our business and our ability to convert users to purchasers of our premium features. We are focused on building new products and improving on existing products, as well as launching new pricing tiers and subscription plans, to drive payer conversion.

Monetization Metrics

 

   

Bumble App Average Revenue per Paying User (Bumble App ARPPU). We calculate Bumble App ARPPU based on Bumble App Revenue in any measurement period, divided by Bumble App Paying Users in such period divided by the number of months in the period.

 

   

Badoo App and Other Average Revenue per Paying User (Badoo App and Other ARPPU). We calculate Badoo App and Other ARPPU based on Badoo App and Other Revenue in any measurement period, excluding any revenue generated from advertising and partnerships or affiliates, divided by Badoo App and Other Paying Users in such period divided by the number of months in the period.

 

   

Total Average Revenue per Paying User (Total ARPPU). We calculate Total ARPPU based on Total Revenue in any measurement period, excluding any revenue generated from advertising and partnerships or affiliates, divided by the Total Paying Users in such period divided by the number of months in the period. As we expand our monetization product offerings, develop new verticals, and grow our community of users, we believe we can continue to increase our ARPPU.

Profitability and Liquidity

We use net earnings (loss) and net cash provided by (used in) operating activities to assess our profitability and liquidity, respectively. In addition to net earnings (loss) and net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, we also use the following measures:

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net earnings (loss) excluding income tax provision, interest (income) expense, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, foreign exchange loss (gain), changes in fair value of contingent earn-out liability and interest rate swaps transaction costs and one-time litigation costs. Adjusted EBITDA Margin represents Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue.

 

   

Free Cash Flow. We define Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less capital expenditures. Free Cash Flow Conversion represents Free Cash Flow as a percentage of Adjusted EBITDA.

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion are key measures we use to assess our financial performance and are also used for internal planning and forecasting purposes. We believe Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion are helpful to investors, analysts and other interested parties because they can assist in providing a more consistent and comparable overview of our operations across our historical financial periods. In addition, these measures are frequently used by analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate and assess performance.

See “—Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for additional information and a reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin and net cash provided by (used in) operating activities to Free Cash Flow.

 

105


Table of Contents

Key Factors Affecting our Performance

Our results of operations and financial condition have been, and will continue to be, affected by a number of factors that present significant opportunities for us but also pose risks and challenges, including those discussed below and in the section of this prospectus titled “Risk Factors.”

Growth in Users

We acquire new users through investments in marketing and brand as well as through word of mouth from existing users and others. We convert these users to Paying Users by introducing premium features which maximize the probability of developing meaningful connections, improving their experience and saving them valuable time.

As of September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2020, we had approximately 2.1 million and 2.4 million average Total Paying Users, respectively, representing an increase of 18.8%. We grow Paying Users by acquiring new users and converting users to purchasers of one of our subscription plans or in-app offerings.

As we scale and our community grows larger, we are able to facilitate more meaningful connections as a result of the wider selection of potential matches. This in turn increases our brand awareness and increases conversion to one of our premium products.

Our revenue growth primarily depends on growth in paying users. While we believe we are in the early days of our opportunity, at some point we may face challenges increasing our Paying Users, including competition from alternative products and a lack of appealing product features. We may also at some point find that growth in Paying Users slows due to saturation of the online dating market.

Expansion into New Geographic Markets

We are focused on growing our platform globally, including through entering new markets and investing in under-penetrated markets. As we introduce the Bumble app to new markets throughout Europe, Asia, and Latin America we can leverage the local insights, scale, and infrastructure of Badoo’s existing global footprint to efficiently enter new markets. The Badoo app can also leverage Bumble’s marketing expertise and strength in North America to support growth in that market.

Expanding into new geographies will require increased costs related to marketing, as well as localization of

product features and services. Potential risks to our expansion into new geographies will include competition and compliance with foreign laws and regulations.

As we expand into certain new geographies, we may see an increase in users who prefer to access premium features through our in-app purchase options rather than through our subscription packages which could impact our ARPPU. We may also see a lower propensity to pay as we enter certain new markets.

Growth in Average Revenue per Paying User

We have developed a sophisticated understanding of the value our users derive from becoming Paying Users on our platform. We continually develop new monetization features and improve existing features in order to increase adoption of in-app purchases and our subscription programs. We also test new pricing strategies, including different pricing tiers and user segmentation and share those insights across our apps to optimize monetization. For example, we can test monetization features which were effective on the Badoo app on the Bumble app, and roll successful tests out more quickly.

Many variables will impact our ARPPU, including the number of Paying Users and mix of monetization offerings on our platform, as well as the effect of demographic shifts and geographic differences on all of these

 

106


Table of Contents

variables. Our pricing is in local currency and may vary between markets. As foreign currency exchange rates change, translation of the statements of operations into U.S. dollars could negatively impact revenue and distort year-over-year comparability of operating results. To the extent our ARPPU growth slows, our revenue growth will become increasingly dependent on our ability to increase our Paying Users. In addition, changes in mobile app store policies, including the recently announced change to Google Play’s in-app billing system policy, may adversely affect our results of operations over time.

Maintaining Efficient User Acquisition and Strong Unit Economics

We have a track record of efficient user acquisition which drives strong unit economics and, ultimately, profitability. We have a balanced approach to marketing with no dependency on one channel and our strategy relies primarily on an organic user acquisition model. Organic user acquisition includes our brand marketing campaigns, our content creation, our campus ambassador program and our advertising channels. We are also disciplined in how we use paid acquisition marketing.

We expect to continue to invest in marketing, while balancing driving growth with strong unit economics. Our marketing investments could increase, particularly as we expand internationally, if we need to spend more to acquire new users. Our Payback Period on user acquisition costs for all new user registrations averaged less than three months in the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

Investing in Growth While Driving Long-Term Profitability

We have demonstrated our ability to balance investment in product, technology, and marketing with profitability. The Badoo app was profitable as early as 2010, four years after founding, offering a proven playbook of efficient user acquisition and monetization. And, as our Paying Users have scaled, our net (loss) earnings margin, which was impacted by non-recurring litigation and transaction costs, was (6.6)% in the year ended December 31, 2018, 17.6% in the year ended December 31, 2019 and (22.3)% in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, and we have seen our Adjusted EBITDA margin expand from 18.3% in 2018 to 20.8% in 2019 and to 26.3% in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020.

We expect to continue to invest in technology, marketing and product innovation, while balancing driving growth with long-term margins. Key investment areas for our platform include machine learning capabilities, including continually improving our matching technology; features that prioritize security and privacy; and new premium offerings that add incremental value to Paying Users.

We believe that our fully integrated infrastructure across the Bumble and Badoo apps will continue to drive significant operating leverage over the long-term.

Attracting and Retaining Talent

Our business relies on our ability to attract and retain our talent, including engineers, data scientists, product designers and product developers. As of September 30, 2020, we had over 650 full-time employees; of these employees, approximately half work in engineering and product development. We believe that people want to work at a company that has purpose and aligns with their personal values, and therefore our ability to recruit talent is aided by our mission and brand reputation. We compete for talent within the technology industry.

Seasonality

We experience seasonality in user growth, user engagement, Paying User growth, and monetization on our platform. Historically, we see an increase in all of these metrics in the first quarter and during the Northern Hemisphere summer of the calendar year, and a slowdown in the rest of the calendar year. Our activity is also elevated in key seasonal calendar highs such as the January and February lead up to Valentine’s Day and the lead up to major holidays.

 

107


Table of Contents

Impact of COVID-19

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) a global pandemic. The COVID-19 outbreak has reached across the globe, resulting in the implementation of significant governmental measures, including lockdowns, closures, quarantines, and travel bans intended to control the spread of the virus. While some of these measures have been relaxed over the past few months in certain parts of the world, ongoing social distancing measures, and future prevention and mitigation measures, as well as the potential for some of these measures to be reinstituted in the event of repeat waves of the virus, are likely to have an adverse impact on global economic conditions and consumer confidence and spending, and could materially adversely affect demand, or users’ ability to pay, for our products and services.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have taken several precautions that may adversely impact employee productivity, such as requiring employees to work remotely, imposing travel restrictions, and temporarily closing office locations.

We continue to monitor the rapidly-evolving situation and guidance from international and domestic authorities, including federal, state and local public health authorities, and there may be developments outside our control requiring us to adjust our operating plan. As such, given the unprecedented uncertainty around the duration and severity of the impact on market conditions and the business environment, we cannot reasonably estimate the full impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operating results in the future.

For additional information, see “Risk Factors—General Risk Factors—Our business and results of operations may be materially adversely affected by the recent COVID-19 outbreak or other similar outbreaks.”

Reorganization Transactions

Bumble Inc. was incorporated in October 2020 and, pursuant to a reorganization into a holding corporation structure, will become a holding corporation of which the principal asset will be a controlling interest in Bumble Holdings. As the general partner of Bumble Holdings, Bumble Inc. will operate and control the business and affairs of Bumble Holdings and its subsidiaries and will have the obligation to absorb losses and receive benefits from Bumble Holdings. Bumble Inc. will consolidate Bumble Holdings in its consolidated financial statements and will report a non-controlling interest related to the Common Units held by the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders and the Incentive Units held by our Continuing Incentive Unitholders in our consolidated financial statements.

Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will execute several reorganization transactions described under “Organizational Structure—Blocker Restructuring” and “Organizational Structure—Reclassification and Amendment and Restatement of Limited Partnership Agreement of Bumble Holdings,” as a result of which the limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings will be amended and restated to, among other things, modify its capital structure by reclassifying its outstanding Class A units into a new class of limited partnership interests that we refer to as “Common Units” and reclassifying its outstanding Class B Units (other than any Class B Units that are directly or indirectly exchanged for shares of Class A common stock, as described below) into a new class of limited partnership interests that we refer to as “Incentive Units.” In addition, Class B Units that are not reclassified into Incentive Units will be directly or indirectly exchanged for shares of Class A common stock, as described under “Organizational Structure—Reclassification and Amendment and Restatement of Limited Partnership Agreement of Bumble Holdings” and “Executive Compensation—Compensation Arrangements to be Adopted in Connection with this Offering—Conversion of Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units.” Pursuant to the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings, Bumble Inc. will be the general partner of Bumble Holdings.

We and the holders of our Common Units will also enter into an exchange agreement under which they (or certain permitted transferees) will have the right (subject to the terms of the exchange agreement) to exchange their Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) for shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to customary conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications. See “Organizational Structure” and “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions.”

 

108


Table of Contents

In general, each share of our Class A common stock entitles its holder to one vote on all matters to be voted on by stockholders generally. Following this offering, the holders of our Common Units will hold all of the issued and outstanding shares of our Class B common stock. The shares of Class B common stock will have no economic rights but will generally entitle each holder, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such holder, to a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of Common Units of Bumble Holdings held by such holder on all matters on which stockholders of Bumble Inc. are entitled to vote generally. Holders of shares of our Class B common stock will vote together with holders of our Class A common stock as a single class on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally, except as otherwise required by law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless they elect otherwise, each of our Principal Stockholders will be entitled to outsized voting rights as follows. Until the High Vote Termination Date, each share of Class A common stock held by a Principal Stockholder will entitle such Principal Stockholder to ten votes and each Principal Stockholder that holds Class B common stock will be entitled, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such Principal Stockholder, to a number of votes equal to 10 times the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by such Principal Stockholder. In addition, if, at any time, our Founder is neither an employee nor a director, any Class A common stock or Class B common stock held by our Founder will be entitled to one vote per share (in the case of the Class A common stock) or a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by our Founder (in the case of the Class B common stock), in each case on all matters on which stockholders of Bumble Inc. are entitled to vote generally.

Factors Affecting the Comparability of Our Results of Operations

As a result of a number of factors, our historical results of operations may not be comparable from period to period or going forward. Set forth below is a brief discussion of the key factors impacting the comparability of our results of operations.

The Sponsor Acquisition

On January 29, 2020, we completed the Sponsor Acquisition, pursuant to which, among other things, Bumble Holdings acquired Worldwide Vision Limited and its consolidated subsidiaries. For additional information, see “About This Prospectus—Financial Statement Presentation” and “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Sponsor Acquisition.”

The Sponsor Acquisition was accounted for as a business combination under Accounting Standards Codification 805, Business Combinations. The purchase consideration was allocated to the identifiable assets and liabilities of Worldwide Vision Limited measured at their fair value as of the effective date of the Sponsor Acquisition. Any excess of the purchase consideration over the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities of Worldwide Vision Limited was recognized as goodwill in our consolidated financial statements. In addition, we expect to incur higher depreciation and amortization and interest expense.

In connection with the Sponsor Acquisition, in January 2020, we entered into a 7-year senior secured term loan facility in an original aggregate principal amount of $575.0 million (the “Initial Term Loan Facility”) and a 5-year senior secured revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $50.0 million (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The borrower under the Initial Term Loan Facility and the Revolving Credit Facility is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bumble Holdings, Buzz Finco L.L.C. Accordingly, in periods after the Sponsor Acquisition, we have recorded an increase in interest expense.

Concurrent with the Sponsor Acquisition, the Company also decided to no longer actively maintain and market certain platforms, including Chappy, Lumen and Huggle (“Inactive Platforms”). The decision to do so was based on the Company’s greater focus on, and decision to use its resources for strengthening, its brands Bumble and Badoo. During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and the nine months ended

 

109


Table of Contents

September 30, 2019, the revenue associated with the Inactive Platforms is deemed immaterial. The Company does not expect any material revenue associated from the Inactive Platforms and expects selling and marketing expense to decline significantly.

The Distribution Financing Transaction

In October 2020, we entered into an incremental senior secured term loan facility (the “Incremental Term Loan Facility” and, together with the Initial Term Loan Facility, the “Term Loan Facility”; the Term Loan Facility, together with the Revolving Credit Facility, the “Senior Secured Credit Facilities”) with the same maturity as the Initial Term Loan Facility in an original aggregate principal amount of $275.0 million. The Incremental Term Loan provides for additional senior secured term loans with substantially identical terms as the Initial Term Loan Facility (other than the applicable margin). The borrower under the Incremental Term Loan Facility is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bumble Holdings, Buzz Finco L.L.C.

Bumble Holdings used the proceeds from the incremental borrowings under the Incremental Term Loan Facility, together with available cash, to declare a distribution of $360.0 million, of which approximately $334.3 million was paid to our pre-IPO owners on October 28, 2020 and $25.6 million was used to partially repay the loan to our Founder, and to pay related fees and expenses in connection therewith. We refer to the entry into the Incremental Term Loan Facility and the payment of such distribution in this prospectus as the “Distribution Financing Transaction.” In periods after the Distribution Financing Transaction we will record an increase in interest expense.

Impact of the Reorganization Transactions

Bumble Inc. is a corporation for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes. Each of Bumble Inc.’s accounting predecessor, Bumble Holdings, and Bumble Holdings’ accounting predecessor, Worldwide Vision Limited, is, and has been since the Sponsor Acquisition, treated as a flow-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and as such, has generally not been subject to U.S. federal income tax at the entity level. Accordingly, unless otherwise specified, the historical results of operations and other financial information set forth in this prospectus do not include any provision for U.S. federal income tax. However, Worldwide Vision Limited was once a regarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes prior to the Sponsor Acquisition. Following this offering, Bumble Inc. will pay U.S. federal and state income taxes as a corporation on its share of Bumble Holdings’ taxable income. The reorganization will be accounted for as a reorganization of entities under common control. As a result, the consolidated financial statements of Bumble Inc. will recognize the assets and liabilities received in the reorganization at their historical carrying amounts, as reflected in the historical consolidated financial statements of Bumble Holdings, the accounting predecessor.

In addition, in connection with the Reorganization Transactions and this offering we will enter into the tax receivable agreement as described under “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement.”

Public Company Costs

Following the completion of this offering, we expect to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company. We expect that these costs will include additional personnel, legal, consulting, regulatory, insurance, accounting, investor relations and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as well as rules adopted by the SEC and national securities exchanges, requires public companies to implement specified corporate governance practices that are currently inapplicable to us as a private company. These additional rules and regulations will increase our legal, regulatory, financial and insurance compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly.

Components of Results of Operations

Our business is organized into a single reportable segment.

 

110


Table of Contents

Revenue

Revenue is primarily derived in the form of recurring subscriptions and in-app purchases. Subscription revenue is presented net of taxes, refunds and credit card chargebacks. This revenue is initially deferred and is recognized using the straight-line method over the term of the applicable subscription period. Revenue from lifetime subscriptions are deferred over the estimated expected period of the subscriber relationship, which is currently estimated to be twelve months. Revenue from the purchase of in-app features is recognized based on usage.

We also earn revenue from online advertising and partnerships, which are not a significant part of our business. Online advertising revenue is recognized when an advertisement is displayed. Revenue from partnerships is recognized according to the contractual terms of the partnership.

Bumble App Revenue is revenue derived from purchases or renewals of a Bumble subscription plan and/or in-app purchases on the Bumble app in the relevant period. Badoo App and Other Revenue is revenue derived from purchases or renewals of a Badoo subscription plan and/or in-app purchases on the Badoo app in the relevant period, purchases on one of our other apps that we owned and operated in the relevant period, purchases on other third party apps that used our technology in the relevant period and advertising, partnerships or affiliates revenue in the relevant period.

Cost of revenue (exclusive of items shown separately below)

Cost of revenue consists primarily of in-app purchase fees due on payments processed through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Purchases on Android, mobile web and desktop have additional payment methods, such as credit card or via telecom providers. These purchases incur fees which vary depending on payment method. Purchase fees are deferred and expensed over the same period as revenue.

Cost of revenue also includes data center expenses such as rent, power and bandwidth for running servers and associated employee costs. Expenses relating to customer care functions such as customer service, moderators and other auxiliary costs associated with providing services to customers such as fraud prevention are also included within cost of revenue.

Selling and marketing expense

Selling and marketing expense consists primarily of brand marketing, digital and social media spend, field marketing and compensation expense (including stock-based compensation) and other employee-related costs for personnel engaged in sales and sales support functions.

General and administrative expense

General and administrative expense consists primarily of compensation (including stock-based compensation) and other employee-related costs for personnel engaged in executive management, finance, legal, tax and human resources. General and administrative expense also consists of transaction costs, changes in fair value of contingent earn-out liability, expenses associated with facilities, information technology, external professional services, legal costs and settlement of legal claims and other administrative expenses.

Product development expense

Product development expense consists primarily of compensation (including stock-based compensation) and other employee-related costs for personnel engaged in the design, development, testing and enhancement of product offerings and related technology.

 

111


Table of Contents

Depreciation and amortization expense

Depreciation and amortization expense is primarily related to computer equipment, leasehold improvements, furniture and fixtures, developed technology, user base, white label contracts, trademarks and other definite-lived intangible assets.

Interest (expense) income

Interest (expense) income consists of interest income received on related party loans receivables and interest expense incurred in connection with our long-term debt.

Other income (expense), net

Other income (expense), net consists of insurance reimbursement proceeds, fair value changes in derivatives and equity investments and impacts from foreign exchange transactions.

Income tax provision

Income tax provision represents the income tax expense or benefit associated with our operations based on the tax laws of the jurisdictions in which we operate. These foreign jurisdictions have different statutory tax rates than the United States. Our effective tax rates will vary depending on the relative proportion of foreign to domestic income, changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities, and changes in tax laws.

 

112


Table of Contents

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth our consolidated statement of operations information for the periods presented:

 

     Successor      Predecessor  
(in thousands)    Period from
January 29,
2020 through
September 30,
2020
     Period from
January 1,
2020
through
January 28,
2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
    Year Ended
December 31,
2019
    Year Ended
December 31,
2018
 
     (Unaudited)      (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)              

Revenue

   $ 376,587        $39,990     $ 362,639     $ 488,940     $ 360,105  

Operating costs and expenses:

           

Cost of revenue (exclusive of items shown separately below)

     102,017        10,790       105,054       139,767       110,259  

Selling and marketing expense

     104,511        11,157       102,341       142,902       93,605  

General and administrative expense

     128,120        44,907       47,373       67,079       128,981  

Product development expense

     29,915        4,087       29,010       39,205       37,517  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     65,771        408       4,903       6,734       5,957  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating costs and expenses

     430,334        71,349       288,681       395,687       376,319  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating (loss) income

     (53,747      (31,359     73,958       93,253       (16,214

Interest (expense) income

     (14,704      50       46       202       4  

Other income (expense), net

     3,474        (882     516       (1,473     (4,428
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) earnings before tax

     (64,977      (32,191     74,520       91,982       (20,638

Income tax provision

     (19,143      (365     (5,888     (6,138     (3,031
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) earnings

     (84,120      (32,556     68,632       85,844       (23,669
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (100      1,917       14,587       19,698       (2,150
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) earnings attributable to Buzz Holdings L.P. owners / Worldwide Vision Limited shareholders

   $ (84,020      $(34,473   $ 54,045     $ 66,146     $ (21,519
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

113


Table of Contents

The following table sets forth our consolidated statement of operations information as a percentage of revenue for the periods presented:

 

     Successor     Predecessor  
     Period from
January 29,
2020 through
September 30,
2020
    Period from
January 1,
2020
through
January 28,
2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
    Year Ended
December 31,
2019
    Year Ended
December 31,
2018
 
     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)              

Revenue

     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0

Operating costs and expenses:

            

Cost of revenue (exclusive of items shown separately below)

     27.1     27.0     29.0     28.6     30.6

Selling and marketing expense

     27.8     27.9     28.2     29.2     26.0

General and administrative expense

     34.0     112.3     13.1     13.7     35.8

Product development expense

     7.9     10.2     8.0     8.0     10.4

Depreciation and amortization expense

     17.5     1.0     1.4     1.4     1.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating costs and expenses

     114.3     178.4     79.6     80.9     104.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating (loss) income

     (14.3 )%      (78.4 )%      20.4     19.1     (4.5 )% 

Interest (expense) income

     (3.9 )%      0.1     0.0     0.0     0.0

Other income (expense), net

     0.9     (2.2 )%      0.1     (0.3 )%      (1.2 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) earnings before tax

     (17.3 )%      (80.5 )%      20.5     18.8     (5.7 )% 

Income tax provision

     (5.1 )%      (0.9 )%      (1.6 )%      (1.3 )%      (0.8 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) earnings

     (22.3 )%      (81.4 )%      18.9     17.6     (6.6 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests

     0.0     4.8     4.0     4.0     (0.6 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) earnings attributable to Buzz Holdings L.P. owners / Worldwide Vision Limited shareholders

     (22.3 )%      (86.2 )%      14.9     13.5     (6.0 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

114


Table of Contents

The following table sets forth the stock-based compensation expense included in operating costs and expenses:

 

     Successor      Predecessor  
(in thousands)    Period from
January 29, 2020
through
September 30, 2020
     Period from
January 1, 2020
through
January 28, 2020
     Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
     Year Ended
December 31,
2019
     Year Ended
December 31,
2018
 
    

(Unaudited)

     (Unaudited)      (Unaudited)                  

Cost of revenue

   $ 174      $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —    

General and administrative expense

     9,093        3,997        660        1,229        148  

Product development expense

     3,046        84        241        510        107  

Selling and marketing expense

     805        75        179        421        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total stock-based compensation expense

   $ 13,118      $ 4,156      $ 1,080      $ 2,160      $ 255  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Comparison of the Period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020 (Successor), the Period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 (Predecessor) and the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 (Predecessor)

Revenue

 

     Successor      Predecessor  
     Period from
January 29, 2020
through
September 30, 2020
     Period from
January 1, 2020
through
January 28, 2020
     Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
 
    

(Unaudited in thousands)

 

Bumble App

   $ 231,454      $ 23,256      $ 203,403  

Badoo App and Other

     145,133        16,734        159,236  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Revenue

   $ 376,587      $ 39,990      $ 362,639  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Revenue was $376.6 million for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, $40.0 million for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and $362.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Revenue in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020 was negatively impacted by a reduction in deferred revenue of $15.4 million recorded in purchase accounting.

Bumble App Revenue was $231.5 million for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, $23.3 million for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and $203.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. This change was primarily driven by a 30.4% increase in the number of Bumble App Paying Users to 1.1 million.

Badoo App and Other Revenue was $145.1 million for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, $16.7 million for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and $159.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. This change was primarily driven by a 10.8% increase in the number of Badoo App and Other Paying Users to 1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

In addition, Badoo App and Other Revenue includes advertising and partnership revenue of $9.1 million, $1.2 million, and $11.6 million for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively.

 

115


Table of Contents

Cost of revenue (exclusive of items shown separately below)

 

     Successor      Predecessor  
     Period from
January 29, 2020
through
September 30, 2020
     Period from
January 1, 2020
through
January 28, 2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
 
     (Unaudited in thousands, except percentages)  

Cost of revenue

   $ 102,017      $ 10,790     $ 105,054  

Percentage of revenue

     27.1      27.0     29.0

Cost of revenue was $102.0 million for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, $10.8 million for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and $105.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. This change was primarily driven by growth in in-app purchase fees, which were $84.8 million in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, $9.2 million in the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 and $86.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, due to increasing revenue. In-app purchase fees in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020 were impacted by a reduction of deferred aggregator costs of $4.7 million recorded in purchase accounting.

Selling and marketing expense

 

     Successor      Predecessor  
     Period from
January 29, 2020
through
September 30, 2020
     Period from
January 1, 2020
through
January 28, 2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
 
     (Unaudited in thousands, except percentages)  

Selling and marketing expense

   $ 104,511      $ 11,157     $ 102,341  

Percentage of revenue

     27.8      27.9     28.2

Selling and marketing expense was $104.5 million for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, $11.2 million for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and $102.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. This change was primarily due to an increase in digital and social media marketing costs, which were $46.9 million in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, $4.9 million in the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 and $31.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. In addition, selling and marketing expense related to the Company’s Inactive Platforms were $0.0 million in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, $0.4 million in the period from January 1, 2020 to January 29, 2020 and $10.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

General and administrative expense

 

     Successor      Predecessor  
     Period from
January 29, 2020
through
September 30, 2020
     Period from
January 1, 2020
through
January 28, 2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
 
     (Unaudited in thousands, except percentages)  

General and administrative expense

   $ 128,120      $ 44,907     $ 47,373  

Percentage of revenue

     34.0      112.3     13.1

General and administrative expense was $128.1 million for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, $44.9 million for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and $47.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The change was primarily due to transaction costs of $51.8 million in the period from January 29, 2020 through September 30, 2020 and of $40.3 million in the period

 

116


Table of Contents

from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020. The increase in the Successor period was also driven by a $19.1 million change in the fair value of the contingent earn-out liability and stock-based compensation expense, which was $9.1 million in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, compared to $0.3 million in the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 and $0.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

Product development expense

 

     Successor     Predecessor  
     Period from
January 29, 2020
through
September 30, 2020
    Period from
January 1, 2020
through
January 28, 2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
 
     (Unaudited in thousands, except percentages)  

Product development expense

   $ 29,915     $ 4,087     $ 29,010  

Percentage of revenue

     7.9     10.2     8.0

Product development expense was $29.9 million for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, $4.1 million for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and $29.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The change was primarily due to increased personnel-related expense as a result of higher employee headcount in product development functions and stock-based compensation, which was $3.0 million in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, $0.1 million in the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 and $0.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

     Successor      Predecessor  
     Period from
January 29, 2020
through
September 30, 2020
     Period from
January 1, 2020
through
January 28, 2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
 
     (Unaudited in thousands, except percentages)  

Depreciation and amortization expense

   $ 65,771      $ 408     $ 4,903  

Percentage of revenue

     17.5      1.0     1.4

Depreciation and amortization expense was $65.8 million for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, $0.4 million for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and $4.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The increase was primarily due to increased expense in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020 related to the amortization of finite-lived intangible assets recognized in connection with the Sponsor Acquisition.

Interest (expense) income

 

     Successor     Predecessor  
     Period from
January 29, 2020
through
September 30, 2020
    Period from
January 1, 2020
through
January 28, 2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
 
     (Unaudited in thousands, except percentages)  

Interest (expense) income

   $ (14,704   $ 50     $ 46  

Percentage of revenue

     (3.9 )%      0.1     0.0

Interest (expense) income was $(14.7) million for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, and $0.1 million for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, compared to $0.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The change was primarily due to interest expense and amortization of deferred financing fees on our long-term debt obligation in the Successor period.

 

117


Table of Contents

Other income (expense), net

 

     Successor      Predecessor  
     Period from
January 29, 2020
through
September 30, 2020
     Period from
January 1, 2020
through
January
28, 2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
 
     (Unaudited in thousands, except percentages)  

Other income (expense), net

   $ 3,474      $ (882   $ 516  

Percentage of revenue

     0.9      (2.2 )%      0.1

Other income (expense), net was $3.5 million for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, $(0.9) million for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and $0.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The change was primarily due to a $9.3 million insurance reimbursement related to the putative class action lawsuit, partially offset by $1.8 million of fair value loss on derivatives during the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020 and by net foreign exchange losses (gains), which were $4.9 million in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, $0.5 million in the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 and $(0.5) million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

Income tax provision

 

     Successor      Predecessor  
     Period from
January 29, 2020
through
September 30, 2020
     Period from
January 1, 2020
through
January 28, 2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
 
     (Unaudited in thousands, except percentages)  

Income tax provision

   $ (19,143    $ (365   $ (5,888

Effective income tax rate

     29.5      1.1     (7.9 )% 

Income tax provision was $19.1 million for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, $0.4 million for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and $5.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. In the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, a tax rate change in the United Kingdom, in which the deferred tax rate increased from 17% to 19%, was recorded discretely in the period, resulting in a $22.1 million deferred tax income expense. The Company’s effective tax rate can vary significantly on a quarterly basis as a result of significant, infrequent, or extraordinary items, if applicable, which are required to be recognized separately in the quarter in which they occur.

Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018

Revenue

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2019      2018      % change  
     (in thousands)                

Bumble App

   $ 275,545      $ 162,391        69.7

Badoo App and Other

     213,395        197,714        7.9
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total Revenue

   $ 488,940      $ 360,105        35.8
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased $128.8 million, or 35.8%, to $488.9 million from $360.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Bumble App Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased $113.1 million, or 69.7%, to $275.5 million from $162.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase was primarily due to a

 

118


Table of Contents

49.0% increase in the number of Bumble App Paying Users to 855.6 thousand and a 13.9% increase in Bumble App ARPPU as Bumble App Paying Users purchased more premium features during the year ended December 31, 2019.

Badoo App and Other Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased $15.7 million, or 7.9%, to $213.4 million from $197.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase was primarily due to a 9.4% decrease in Badoo App and Other Paying Users to 1.2 million and a 16.7% increase in Badoo App and Other ARPPU as Badoo App and Other Paying Users purchased more premium features during the year ended December 31, 2019. In addition, Badoo App and Other advertising and partnership revenue was $16.0 million and $11.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Foreign exchange impact on revenue

The general strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to certain foreign currencies in the full year of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018, had an unfavorable impact on revenue. If we had translated revenue for the full year 2019 using the prior year’s monthly exchange rates for billing currencies other than the U.S. dollar, our total revenues would have been $502.0 million.

Cost of revenue (exclusive of items shown separately below)

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2019     2018     % change  
     (in thousands)  

Cost of revenue

   $ 139,767     $ 110,259       26.8

Percentage of revenue

     28.6     30.6  

Cost of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased $29.5 million, or 26.8%, to $139.8 million from $110.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase was primarily driven by a $25.9 million increase in in-app purchase fees and a $1.8 million provision for U.S. sales tax due to economic nexus rules. In addition, personnel-related expenses and moderator costs increased by $1.8 million as a result of an increase in employee headcount and an increase in the volume of moderation required on our products from December 31, 2018 to December 31, 2019.

Selling and marketing expense

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2019     2018     % change  
     (in thousands)  

Selling and marketing expense

   $ 142,902     $ 93,605       52.7

Percentage of revenue

     29.2     26.0  

Selling and marketing expense for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased $49.3 million, or 52.7%, to $142.9 million from $93.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase was primarily due to a $19.3 million increase in spend on brand marketing through various channels including events, out of home, partnerships and sponsorships, a $13.2 million increase in spend through digital and social media marketing channels, a $4.4 million increase in field marketing spend and a $3.3 million increase in personnel-related expenses to support marketing growth and increased headcount. In addition, selling and marketing expense related to the Company’s Inactive Platforms for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased $8.9 million, to $14.6 million from $5.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

119


Table of Contents

General and administrative expense

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2019     2018     % change  
     (in thousands)  

General and administrative expense

   $ 67,079     $ 128,981       (48.0 )% 

Percentage of revenue

     13.7     35.8  

General and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2019 decreased $61.9 million, or 48.0%, to $67.1 million from $129.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The decrease was primarily due to a $75.7 million litigation provision recorded during the year ended December 31, 2018 in relation to certain litigations settled during the year ended December 31, 2020, offset by a $6.1 million increase in professional fees, $4.1 million increase in personnel-related expenses and a $3.6 million increase in other overhead costs.

Product development expense

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2019     2018     % change  
     (in thousands)  

Product development expense

   $ 39,205     $ 37,517       4.5

Percentage of revenue

     8.0     10.4  

Product development expense for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased $1.7 million, or 4.5%, to $39.2 million from $37.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase was primarily due to increased personnel-related expenses as a result of higher employee headcount in product development functions from December 31, 2018 to December 31, 2019.

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2019     2018     % change  
     (in thousands)  

Depreciation and amortization expense

   $ 6,734     $ 5,957       13.0

Percentage of revenue

     1.4     1.7  

Depreciation and amortization expense for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased $0.7 million, or 13.0%, to $6.7 million from $6.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase was primarily due to increased capital expenditures during the year ended December 31, 2019.

Other expense, net

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2019     2018     % change  
     (in thousands)  

Other expense, net

   $ (1,271   $ (4,424     (71.3 %) 

Percentage of revenue

     (0.3 )%      (1.2 )%   

Other expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2019 decreased $3.1 million, or 71.3%, to $1.3 million from $4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The decrease was primarily due to a $3.3 million net foreign currency exchange loss.

 

120


Table of Contents

Income tax provision

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2019     2018     % change  
     (in thousands)  

Income tax provision

   $ (6,138   $ (3,031     102.5

Effective income tax rate

     6.7     14.7  

Income tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased $3.1 million, or 102.5%, to $6.1 million from $3.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase was primarily due to year-over-year increase in earnings before tax. For additional information, refer to Note 4, Income Taxes, within the audited consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We report our financial results in accordance with GAAP, however, management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide users of our financial information with useful supplemental information that enables a better comparison of our performance across periods. We believe Adjusted EBITDA provides visibility to the underlying continuing operating performance by excluding the impact of certain expenses, including income tax provision, interest (income) expense, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, foreign exchange loss (gain), changes in fair value of contingent earn-out liability and interest rate swaps, transaction costs and one-time litigation costs, as management does not believe these expenses are representative of our core earnings. We also provide Adjusted EBITDA Margin, which is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue. In addition to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin, we believe Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion provide useful information regarding how cash provided by operating activities compares to the capital expenditures required to maintain and grow our business, and our available liquidity, after funding such capital expenditures, to service our debt, fund strategic initiatives and strengthen our balance sheet, as well as our ability to convert our earnings to cash. Additionally, we believe such metrics are widely used by investors, securities analysis, ratings agencies and other parties in evaluating liquidity and debt-service capabilities. We calculate Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion using methodologies that we believe can provide useful supplemental information to help investors better understand underlying trends in our business.

Our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies, have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation, or as substitutes for analysis of our operating results as reported under GAAP. Additionally, we do not consider our non-GAAP financial measures as superior to, or a substitute for, the equivalent measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Some of the limitations are:

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin exclude the recurring, non-cash expenses of depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and definite-lived intangible assets and, although these are non-cash expenses, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be replaced in the future;

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin excludes the non-cash expense of stock-based compensation, which has been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, an important part of how we attract and retain our employees and a significant recurring expense in our business;

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin do not reflect the interest (income) expense or the cash requirements to service interest or principal payments on our indebtedness, and Free Cash Flow does not reflect the cash requirements to service principal payments on our indebtedness;

 

121


Table of Contents
   

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin do not reflect income tax (benefit) provision we are required to make; and

 

   

Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion do not represent our residual cash flow available for discretionary purposes and does not reflect our future contractual commitments.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a liquidity measure and should not be considered as discretionary cash available to us to reinvest in the growth of our business or to distribute to stockholders or as a measure of cash that will be available to us to meet our obligations.

To properly and prudently evaluate our business, we encourage you to review the financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus, and not rely on a single financial measure to evaluate our business. We also strongly urge you to review the reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA, the computation of Adjusted EBITDA Margin as compared to net (loss) earnings margin which is net earnings as a percentage of revenue, the reconciliation of net cash provided by (used in) operating activities to Free Cash Flow, and the computation of Free Cash Flow Conversion as compared to Operating Cash Flow Conversion, which is net cash provided by operating activities as a percentage of net earnings (loss) in each case set forth below.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net earnings (loss) excluding income tax provision, interest (income) expense, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, foreign exchange loss (gain), changes in fair value of contingent earn-out liability, loss on fair value of interest rate swaps, transaction costs and one-time litigation costs. Adjusted EBITDA Margin represents Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue. The following table reconciles net earnings (loss) and net earnings (loss) margin, the most comparable GAAP financial measures, to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin for the periods presented:

 

     Successor     Predecessor  
     Period from
January 29,
2020 through
September
30, 2020
    Period from
January 1,
2020 through
January 28,
2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September
30, 2019
    Years Ended
December
31, 2019
    Year Ended
December
31, 2018
 
(Unaudited in thousands, except percentages)                               

Net (loss) earnings

   $ (84,120   $ (32,556   $ 68,632     $ 85,844     $ (23,669

Add back:

            

Income tax provision

     19,143       365       5,888       6,138       3,031  

Interest expense (income)

     14,704       (50     (46     (202     (4

Depreciation and amortization

     65,771       408       4,903       6,734       5,957  

Stock-based compensation expense

     13,118       336       1,080       2,160       255  

Litigation costs, net of insurance proceeds(1)

     (7,365     —         —         —         75,738  

Foreign exchange loss (gain)(2)

     4,921       523       (494     1,160       4,458  

Changes in fair value of interest rate swaps(3)

     1,828       —         —         —         —    

Transaction costs(4)

     51,848       40,345       —         —         —    

Changes in fair value of contingent earn-out liability

     19,100       —         —         —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 98,948     $ 9,371     $ 79,963     $ 101,834     $ 65,766  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) earnings margin

     (22.3 )%      (81.4 )%      18.9     17.6     (6.6 )% 

Adjusted EBITDA Margin

     26.3     23.4     22.1     20.8     18.3

 

(1)

Represents certain litigation costs and insurance proceeds associated with pending litigations or settlements of litigation. For additional information, refer to Note 15, Commitments and Contingencies, within the

 

122


Table of Contents
  audited consolidated financial statements and Note 14, Commitments and Contingencies, within the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.
(2)

Represents foreign exchange loss (gain) due to foreign currency transactions.

(3)

Represents fair value loss on interest rate swaps.

(4)

Represents transaction costs and professional service fees related to the Sponsor Acquisition and this offering.

Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion

We define Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less capital expenditures. Free Cash Flow Conversion represents Free Cash Flow as a percentage of Adjusted EBITDA. The following table reconciles net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, the most comparable GAAP financial measure, to Free Cash Flow for the periods presented:

 

     Successor     Predecessor  
(Unaudited in thousands, except percentages)    Period from
January 29,
2020 through
September 30,
2020
    Period from
January 1,
2020
through
January 28,
2020
    Nine
Months
Ended
September
30, 2019
    Year
Ended
December
31, 2019
    Year
Ended
December
31, 2018
 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

   $ 1,041     $ (3,306   $ 70,595     $ 101,392     $ 71,766  

Less:

            

Capital expenditures

     (5,779     (1,045     (6,337     (9,674     (8,047
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Free Cash Flow

   $ (4,738   $ (4,351   $ 64,258     $ 91,718     $ 63,719  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Cash Flow Conversion

     (1.2 )%      10.2     102.9     118.1     (303.2 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Free Cash Flow Conversion

     (4.8 )%      (46.4 )%      80.4     90.1     96.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

123


Table of Contents

Quarterly Results of Operations

The following table sets forth selected unaudited quarterly statements of operations information for each of the quarters in the year ended December 31, 2019, the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, the period from January 29, 2020 to March 31, 2020, and each of the quarters ended June 30 and September 30, 2020. The information for each of these periods has been prepared on the same basis as the annual consolidated financial statements of Worldwide Vision Limited included elsewhere in this prospectus. In the Company’s opinion, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been included and have been prepared on the same basis as the annual consolidated financial statements of Worldwide Vision Limited. All such adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. These results of operations are not indicative of the operating results that may be expected for any future period. This information should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

    Successor     Predecessor  
(Unaudited in thousands)   Three
months
ended
September
30, 2020
    Three
months
ended
June 30,
2020
    Period
from
January
29 to
March 31,
2020
    Period
from
January 1
to
January
28, 2020
    Three
months
ended
December
31, 2019
    Three
months
ended
September
30, 2019
    Three
months
ended
June 30,
2019
    Three
months
ended
March 31,
2019
 

Revenue

  $ 162,300     $ 135,142     $ 79,145     $ 39,990     $ 126,301     $ 130,480     $ 120,790     $ 111,369  

Total operating costs and expenses

    167,489       130,617       132,228       71,349       107,006       107,360       93,646       87,675  

Operating (loss) income

    (5,189     4,525       (53,083     (31,359     19,295       23,120       27,144       23,694  

Net (loss) earnings

    (22,824     (5,465     (55,831     (32,556     17,212       23,025       23,671       21,936  

Adjusted EBITDA

    53,701       32,513       12,734       9,371       21,871       25,680       28,985       25,298  
 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

    36,527       22,066       (57,552     (3,306     30,797       23,257       34,205       13,133  
 

Operating Cash Flow Conversion

    (160.0 )%      (403.8 )%      103.1     10.2     178.9     101.0     144.5     59.9
 

Free Cash Flow

    34,167       19,568       (58,473     (4,351     27,460       21,133       31,445       11,680  

 

124


Table of Contents

The following table reconciles net earnings (loss), the most comparable GAAP financial measure, to Adjusted EBITDA for the each period presented:

 

    Successor     Predecessor  

(Unaudited in thousands,
except percentages)

  Three
months
ended
September
30, 2020
    Three
months
ended
June 30,
2020
    Period from
January 29 to
March 31,
2020
    Period
from
January 1
to January
28, 2020
    Three
months
ended
December
31, 2019
    Three
months
ended
September
30, 2019
    Three
months
ended
June 30,
2019
    Three
months
ended
March
31, 2019
 

Net (loss) earnings

    $(22,824   $ (5,465   $ (55,831   $ (32,556   $ 17,212     $ 23,025     $ 23,671     $ 21,936  

Add back:

                 

Income tax (benefit) provision

    16,737       3,585       (1,179     365       250       2,087       1,993       1,808  

Interest expense (income)

    4,919       5,246       4,539       (50     (156     (32     (13     (1

Depreciation and amortization

    25,404       24,032       16,335       408       1,831       1,698       1,704       1,501  

Stock-based compensation expense

    8,942       2,756       1,420       336       1,080       855       129       96  

Litigation costs, net of insurance proceeds(1)

    (8,365     —         1,000       —         —         —         —         —    

Foreign exchange loss (gain)(2)

    3,964       1,604       (647     523       1,654       (1,953     1,501       (42

Changes in fair value of interest rate swaps(3)

    1,828       —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Transaction costs(4)

    3,996       755       47,097       40,345       —         —         —         —    

Changes in fair value of contingent earn-out liability

    19,100       —         —         —         —         —         —         —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 53,701     $ 32,513     $ 12,734     $ 9,371     $ 21,871     $ 25,680     $ 28,985     $ 25,298  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) earnings margin

    (14.1 )%      (4.0 )%      (70.5 )%      (81.4 )%      13.6     17.6     19.6     19.7

Adjusted EBITDA Margin

    33.1     24.1     16.1     23.4     17.3     19.7     24.0     22.7
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Represents certain litigation costs and insurance proceeds associated with pending litigations or settlements of litigation. For additional information, refer to Note 15, Commitments and Contingencies, within the audited consolidated financial statements and Note 14, Commitments and Contingencies, within the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

(2)

Represents foreign exchange loss (gain) due to foreign currency transactions.

(3)

Represents fair value loss on interest rate swaps.

(4)

Represents transaction costs and professional service fees related to the Sponsor Acquisition and this offering.

 

125


Table of Contents

The following table reconciles net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, the most comparable GAAP financial measure, to Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion for each period presented:

 

    Successor     Predecessor  

(Unaudited in thousands)

  Three
months
ended
September
30, 2020
    Three
months
ended
June 30,
2020
    Period
from
January
29 to
March 31,
2020
    Period
from
January
1 to
January 28,
2020
    Three
months
ended
December
31, 2019
    Three
months
ended
September
30, 2019
    Three
months
ended
June 30,
2019
    Three
months
ended
March 31,
2019
 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

  $ 36,527     $ 22,066     $ (57,552   $ (3,306   $ 30,797     $ 23,257     $ 34,205     $ 13,133  

Less:

                 

Capital expenditures

    (2,360     (2,498     (921     (1,045     (3,337     (2,124     (2,760     (1,453
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Free Cash Flow

    34,167       19,568       (58,473     (4,351     27,460       21,133       31,445       11,680  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Free Cash Flow Conversion

    63.6     60.2     (459.2 )%      (46.4 )%      125.6     82.3     108.5     46.2
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

The Company’s principal sources of liquidity are our cash and cash equivalents and cash generated from operations. Our primary uses of liquidity are operating expenses and capital expenditures. As of September 30, 2020, we had $176.4 million of cash and cash equivalents, an increase of $118.9 million from December 31, 2019. In connection with, and contingent upon, this offering, we intend to use approximately $         million in aggregate principal amount to repay outstanding indebtedness under our Term Loan Facility, approximately $         million for general corporate purposes and the remaining net proceeds from this offering, or approximately $         million (or approximately $         million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) will be used to purchase or redeem outstanding equity interests from our pre-IPO owners, as described under “Organizational Structure—Offering Transactions.” Accordingly, we will not retain any of these proceeds. Please see “Use of Proceeds.” We believe that, following completion of this offering, our cash on hand and operating cash flow will improve our financial flexibility. Following this offering, we expect that our future principal uses of cash will also include funding our debt service obligations and paying income taxes and obligations under our tax receivable agreement. Based on current conditions, we believe that we have sufficient financial resources to fund our activities and execute our business plans during the next twelve months.

After completion of this offering, Bumble Inc. will be a holding company and will have no material assets other than its ownership of Common Units. Bumble Inc. has no independent means of generating revenue. Bumble Inc. intends to cause Bumble Holdings to make distributions and payments to its holders of Common Units, including Bumble Inc. and our pre-IPO owners, and Incentive Units in an amount sufficient to cover all applicable taxes at assumed tax rates, expenses, payments under the tax receivable agreement and dividends, if any, declared by it. Deterioration in the financial condition, earnings or cash flow of Bumble Holdings and its subsidiaries for any reason could limit or impair their ability to pay such distributions. Additionally, the terms of our financing arrangements, including the Senior Secured Credit Facilities (as defined below), contain covenants that may restrict Bumble Holdings and its subsidiaries from paying such distributions, subject to certain exceptions. Further, Bumble Holdings is generally prohibited under Delaware law from making a distribution to a limited partner to the extent that, at the time of the distribution, after giving effect to the distribution, liabilities of Bumble Holdings (with certain exceptions) exceed the fair value of its assets. Subsidiaries of Bumble Holdings are generally subject to similar legal limitations on their ability to make distributions to Bumble Holdings. See “Dividend Policy” and “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure— Bumble Inc. is a holding company and its only material asset after completion of this offering will be its interest in Bumble Holdings, and it is accordingly dependent upon distributions and payments from Bumble Holdings to pay taxes and expenses, make payments under the tax receivable agreement and pay dividends.”

 

126


Table of Contents

As market conditions warrant, we and our equity holders, including our Sponsor, their respective affiliates and members of our management, may from time to time seek to purchase our outstanding debt securities or loans, in privately negotiated or open market transactions, by tender offer or otherwise. Subject to any applicable limitations contained in the agreements governing our indebtedness, any purchases made by us may be funded by the use of cash on our balance sheet or the incurrence of new secured or unsecured debt, including borrowings under our credit facilities. The amounts involved in any such purchase transactions, individually or in the aggregate, may be material. Any such purchases may be with respect to a substantial amount of a particular class or series of debt, with the attendant reduction in the trading liquidity of such class or series. In addition, any such purchases made at prices below the “adjusted issue price” (as defined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) may result in taxable cancellation of indebtedness income to us, which amounts may be material, and in related adverse tax consequences to us.

Cash Flow Information

The following table summarizes our consolidated cash flow information for the periods presented:

 

     Successor      Predecessor  
(in thousands)    Period from
January 29,
2020 through
September
30, 2020
     Period from
January 1,
2020 through
January 28,
2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September

30, 2019
    Year Ended
December 31,
2019
    Year Ended
December 31,
2018
 
     (Unaudited)    

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in):

             

Operating activities

     $1,041      $ (3,306     $70,595       $101,392       $71,766  

Investing activities

     (2,807,488      (1,029     (8,084     (11,396     (8,394

Financing activities

     2,932,559        —         (23,359     (65,196     (37,225

Operating activities

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities was $1.0 million for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, $(3.3) million for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and $70.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. This change was primarily due to net earnings (loss) of $(84.1) million in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, $(32.6) million in the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 and $68.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Net loss in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020 and for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 were impacted by transaction costs of $51.8 million and $40.3 million, respectively, and by depreciation and amortization of $65.8 million in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, $0.4 million in the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 and $4.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, as well as changes in assets and liabilities, which were $(41.8) million, $25.1 million and $(2.5) million in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 and the nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively.

Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased $29.6 million to $101.4 million from $71.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase was primarily due to increases in net earnings of $109.5 million and non-cash items of $4.9 million, offset by net changes in assets and liabilities of $84.8 million.

Investing activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $2,807.6 million for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, $1.0 million for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and $8.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The change was primarily due to acquisition of the business (net of cash acquired) of $2,801.4 million in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020.

 

127


Table of Contents

Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased $3.0 million to $11.4 million from $8.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase was primarily due to increases in capital expenditures of $1.6 million, related to property and equipment and intangible assets, and a $1.2 million purchase of a finance lease asset during the year ended December 31, 2019.

Financing activities

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities was $2,932.6 million for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, nil for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and $(23.4) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The Company received cash of $2,334.8 million in relation to limited partners’ interest, net proceeds from external debt of $558.7 million and proceeds from the repayment of loans to related companies of $41.9 million in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, as well as $23.4 million of dividends paid in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 that did not recur, partially offset by repayment of long-term debt principal of $2.9 million in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020.

Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased $28.0 million to $65.2 million from $37.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase was primarily due to the issuance of loans to related parties of $42.0 million, offset by a decrease in dividends paid of $13.9 million.

Indebtedness

Senior Secured Credit Facilities

In connection with the Sponsor Acquisition, in January 2020, we entered into the Initial Term Loan Facility in an original aggregate principal amount of $575.0 million and the Revolving Credit Facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $50.0 million. In connection with the Distribution Financing Transaction, in October 2020, we entered into the Incremental Term Loan Facility in an original aggregate principal amount of $275.0 million. The borrower under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bumble Holdings, Buzz Finco L.L.C. (the “Borrower”).

Borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities bear interest at a rate equal to, at the Borrower’s option, either (i) LIBOR for the relevant interest period, adjusted for statutory reserve requirements (subject to a floor of 0.00% per annum), plus an applicable margin or (ii) a base rate equal to the highest of (a) the rate of interest in effect as last quoted by the Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the United States, (b) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50% and (c) adjusted LIBOR for an interest period of one month plus 1.00% (subject to a floor of 0.00% per annum), in each case, plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin for loans under the Revolving Credit Facility is subject to adjustment based upon the consolidated first lien net leverage ratio of the Borrower and its restricted subsidiaries and is subject to reduction after the consummation of this offering.

In addition to paying interest on the outstanding principal under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the Borrower is required to pay a commitment fee of 0.50% per annum (which is subject to a decrease to 0.375% per annum based upon the consolidated first lien net leverage ratio of the Borrower and its restricted subsidiaries) to the lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility in respect of the unutilized commitments thereunder. The Borrower must also pay customary letter of credit fees and an annual administrative agency fee.

The Initial Term Loan Facility amortizes in equal quarterly installments in aggregate annual amounts equal to 1.00% of the principal amount of the Initial Term Loan Facility outstanding as of the date of the closing of the Initial Term Loan Facility, with the balance being payable at maturity on January 29, 2027. The Incremental Term Loan Facility amortizes in equal quarterly installments in aggregate annual amounts equal to 1.00% of the principal amount of the Incremental Term Loan Facility outstanding as of the date of the closing of the Incremental Term Loan Facility, with the balance being payable at maturity on January 29, 2027. Principal amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility are due and payable in full at maturity on January 29, 2025.

 

128


Table of Contents

In October 2020, we entered into an incremental senior secured term loan facility (the “Incremental Term Loan Facility”) in an original aggregate principal amount of $275.0 million. The Incremental Term Loan provides for additional senior secured term loans with substantially identical terms as the Initial Term Loan Facility (other than the applicable margin).

The Senior Secured Credit Facilities contain affirmative and negative covenants and customary events of default. For additional information, see “Description of Certain Indebtedness—Senior Secured Credit Facilities.”

Tax Receivable Agreement

In connection with the Offering Transactions, Bumble Inc. will enter into a tax receivable agreement with certain of our pre-IPO owners that provides for the payment by Bumble Inc. to such pre-IPO owners of 85% of the benefits, if any, that Bumble Inc. actually realizes, or is deemed to realize (calculated using certain assumptions) as a result of (i) Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis acquired in this offering, (ii) increases in Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis and adjustments to the tax basis of the tangible and intangible assets of Bumble Holdings as a result of sales or exchanges of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) for shares of Class A common stock in connection with or after this offering and (iii) Bumble Inc.’s utilization of certain tax attributes of the Blocker Companies (including the Blocker Companies’ allocable share of existing tax basis) and (iv) certain other tax benefits related to entering into the tax receivable agreement, including tax benefits attributable to payments under the tax receivable agreement. There is significant existing tax basis in the assets of Bumble Holdings as a result of the Sponsor Acquisition, and subsequent sales or exchanges of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) are expected to result in increases in the tax basis of the assets of Bumble Holdings. The existing tax basis, increases in existing tax basis and tax basis adjustments generated over time may increase (for tax purposes) the depreciation and amortization deductions available to Bumble Inc. and, therefore, may reduce the amount of U.S. federal, state and local tax that Bumble Inc. would otherwise be required to pay in the future, although the IRS may challenge all or part of the validity of that tax basis, and a court could sustain such a challenge. Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis acquired in this offering and the increase in Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis and the anticipated tax basis adjustments upon exchanges of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) for shares of Class A common stock may also decrease gains (or increase losses) on future dispositions of certain assets to the extent tax basis is allocated to those assets. Actual tax benefits realized by Bumble Inc. may differ from tax benefits calculated under the tax receivable agreement as a result of the use of certain assumptions in the tax receivable agreement, including the use of an assumed weighted-average state and local income tax rate to calculate tax benefits. The payment obligation under the tax receivable agreement is an obligation of Bumble Inc. and not of Bumble Holdings. Bumble Inc. expects to benefit from the remaining 15% of cash tax benefits, if any, it realizes from such tax benefits. For purposes of the tax receivable agreement, the cash tax benefits will be computed by comparing the actual income tax liability of Bumble Inc. to the amount of such taxes that Bumble Inc. would have been required to pay had there been no existing tax basis, no anticipated tax basis adjustments of the assets of Bumble Holdings as a result of exchanges and no utilization of certain tax attributes of the Blocker Companies (including the Blocker Companies’ allocable share of existing tax basis), and had Bumble Inc. not entered into the tax receivable agreement. The actual and hypothetical tax liabilities determined in the tax receivable agreement will be calculated using the actual U.S. federal income tax rate in effect for the applicable period and an assumed, weighted-average state and local income tax rate based on apportionment factors for the applicable period (along with the use of certain other assumptions). The term of the tax receivable agreement will continue until all such tax benefits have been utilized or expired, unless Bumble Inc. exercises its right to terminate the tax receivable agreement early, certain changes of control occur or Bumble Inc. breaches any of its material obligations under the tax receivable agreement, in which case all obligations generally will be accelerated and due as if Bumble Inc. had exercised its right to terminate the tax receivable agreement. The payment to be made upon an early termination of the tax receivable agreement will generally equal the present value of payments to be made under the tax receivable agreement using certain assumptions. Estimating the amount of payments that may be made under the tax receivable agreement is by its nature imprecise, insofar as

 

129


Table of Contents

the calculation of amounts payable depends on a variety of factors. The increase in Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis and the anticipated tax basis adjustments upon the exchange of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) for shares of Class A common stock, as well as the amount and timing of any payments under the tax receivable agreement, will vary depending upon a number of factors, including the timing of purchases or exchanges, the price of shares of our Class A common stock at the time of the purchase or exchange, the extent to which such purchases or exchanges do not result in a basis adjustment, the amount of tax attributes, changes in tax rates and the amount and timing of our income.

We expect that as a result of the size of Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis acquired in this offering (including such existing tax basis acquired from the Blocker Companies pursuant to the Blocker Restructuring), the increase in Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis and the anticipated tax basis adjustment of the tangible and intangible assets of Bumble Holdings upon the exchange of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) for shares of Class A common stock and our possible utilization of certain tax attributes, the payments that we may make under the tax receivable agreement will be substantial. We estimate the amount of existing tax basis with respect to which our pre-IPO owners will be entitled to receive payments under the tax receivable agreement (assuming all Pre-IPO Common Unitholders exchange their Common Units for shares of Class A common stock on the date of this offering, and assuming all vested Incentive Units are converted to Common Units and subsequently exchanged for shares of Class A common stock at an offering price of $         per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus) is approximately $         million, which includes Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis acquired in this offering, which we have determined to be approximately $         million. The payments under the tax receivable agreement are not conditioned upon continued ownership of us by the pre-IPO owners. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement.”

Contractual Obligations and Contingencies

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2019:

 

     Payments due by period  
     Less than
1 year
     1 to 3
years
     3 to 5
years
     More than
5 years
     Total  
     (in thousands)  

Operating leases

   $ 6,451      $ 8,240      $ 3,243      $ —        $ 17,934  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 6,451      $ 8,240      $ 3,243      $ —        $ 17,934  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

On January 29, 2020, the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Buzz Bidco LLC, Buzz Merger Sub, and Buzz Finco LLC entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement permitted the Company to borrow up to $625.0 million through a seven-year $575.0 million term loan, as well as a five-year revolving credit loan of $50.0 million, including $25.0 million available through letters of credit. For additional information, refer to Note 9, Debt, within the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. The payments that we may be required to make under the tax receivable agreement that we will enter into prior to the completion of this offering may be significant and are not reflected in the contractual obligations table set forth above.

Assuming no material changes in the relevant tax law, and that we earn sufficient taxable income to realize all tax benefits that are subject to the tax receivable agreement, we expect future payments under the tax receivable agreement relating to the Offering Transactions to aggregate $         million (or $         million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and to range over the next 15 years from approximately $         million to $         million per year (or approximately $         million to $         million per year if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares) and decline thereafter. Future payments to our pre-IPO owners in respect of subsequent exchanges of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) for shares of Class A

 

130


Table of Contents

common stock would be in addition to these amounts and are expected to be substantial as well. The foregoing numbers are merely estimates, and the actual payments could differ materially. See “—Tax Receivable Agreement” and “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement.”

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Other than the items described above, we have no significant off-balance sheet arrangements.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

We conduct business in certain foreign markets, primarily in the United Kingdom and the European Union. For the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, international revenue accounted for 44.2%, 47.5% and 47.3% of combined revenue, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, international revenue accounted for 47.3% and 53.8% of combined revenue, respectively. Our primary exposure to foreign currency exchange risk is the underlying user’s functional currency other than the U.S. Dollar, primarily the British pound sterling (“GBP”) and Euro. As foreign currency exchange rates change, translation of the statements of operations of our international businesses into U.S. dollars affects year-over-year comparability of operating results. The average Euro versus the U.S. Dollar exchange rate was 0.1% lower in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 than in the nine months ended September 20, 2019.

Historically, we have not hedged any foreign currency exposures. Our continued international expansion increases our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations and as a result such fluctuations could have a significant impact on our future results of operations.

Interest Rate Risk

At September 30, 2020, we had long-term debt outstanding with a carrying value of $557.4 million. A hypothetical interest rate increase or decrease of 1% would have increased or decreased interest expense for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020 by $3.8 million based upon the outstanding balance and rate in effect at September 30, 2020. See Note 9, Debt, within the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Borrowings under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities bear interest at a variable market rate. In order to reduce the financial impact of increases in interest rates the Company entered into two interest rate swaps for a total notional amount of $350 million on June 22, 2020. The effective date for the interest rate swaps is June 30, 2020 and final maturity date is June 30, 2024. The financial impact of the interest rate swaps is to fix the variable interest rate element on $350 million of the long-term debt at a rate of 0.4008%. We did not have any long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 2019.

In July 2017, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to phase out LIBOR by the end of 2021. The expected discontinuation, reform or replacement of LIBOR may result in fluctuating interest rates, or higher interest rates, which could have a material adverse effect on our interest expense.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, which often require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses, and related disclosures. Our estimates are based on historical experience, current conditions and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. We evaluate our critical estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

131


Table of Contents

The critical accounting estimates, assumptions, and judgments that we believe to have the most significant impact on our consolidated financial statements are described below. This discussion is provided to supplement the descriptions of our accounting policies contained in Note 2, Summary of Selected Significant Accounting Policies within the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Business Combination

We estimate the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Goodwill as of the acquisition date is measured as the excess of consideration transferred over the net of the acquisition date fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. Such valuations require management to make significant estimates and assumptions, especially with respect to intangible assets. Management’s estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable, and as a result, actual results may differ from estimates.

Goodwill is tested for impairment at a minimum on an annual basis, as well as upon an indicator of impairment. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level by first performing a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value. If the reporting unit does not pass the qualitative assessment, then quantitative assessment is performed to compare the reporting unit’s carrying value to its fair value. Alternatively, we are permitted to bypass the qualitative assessment and proceed directly to performing the quantitative assessment. Goodwill is considered impaired if the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value. The fair value of the reporting unit is based on a discounted cash flow model involving several assumptions.

Contingent consideration arrangements are recognized at their acquisition date fair value and included as part of purchase price at the acquisition date. These contingent consideration arrangements are classified as liabilities and are remeasured to fair value at each reporting period, with any change in fair value being recognized in “General and administrative expense” in the consolidated statement of operations. The estimated fair value of the contingent consideration is based primarily on estimates of meeting the applicable contingency conditions as per the terms of the applicable agreements.

Recoverability of Intangible Assets with Definite Lives and Other Long-Lived Assets

We evaluate definite-lived intangible assets and other long-lived assets whenever events or changes of circumstance indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset group to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated. We group assets for purposes of such review at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows of the asset group are largely independent of the cash flows of the other groups of assets and liabilities. If this comparison indicates impairment, the amount of impairment to be recognized is calculated as the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the asset group.

Unforeseen events, changes in circumstances and market conditions and material differences in estimates of future cash flows could adversely affect the fair value of our assets and could result in an impairment charge. Fair value can be estimated utilizing a number of techniques including quoted market prices, prices for comparable assets, or other valuation processes involving estimates of cash flows, multiples of earnings or revenues, and we may make various assumptions and estimates when performing our impairment assessments, particularly as it relates to cash flow projections. Cash flow estimates are by their nature subjective and include assumptions regarding factors such as recent and forecasted operating performance, revenue trends and operating margins. These estimates could also be adversely impacted by changes in federal, state, or local regulations, economic downturns or developments, or other market conditions affecting our industry.

Internally Developed Software

We incur costs to develop software to be used solely to meet internal needs and applications used to deliver our services. These software development costs meet the criteria for capitalization once the preliminary project

 

132


Table of Contents

stage is complete and it is probable that the project will be completed, and the software will be used to perform the function intended. Development costs that meet the criteria for capitalization were not material to date.

Stock-based Compensation

Prior to the Sponsor Acquisition

Prior to the Sponsor Acquisition, Worldwide Vision Limited granted stock-based awards consisting primarily of share options and restricted stock units (“WVL RSUs”) to employees and certain non-employee advisors. Outstanding share options generally vested over four years or upon the achievement of certain performance conditions, such as revenue growth. Outstanding WVL RSUs generally vested over 4 years and participated in dividends once gross dividend payments to ordinary shareholders exceeded $150 million and in an exit event. No WVL RSUs were granted in 2018 and 2019, and the expense arising from WVL RSUs was not material for the periods presented.

Between 2015 and 2018, Bumble Holdings Limited issued shadow equity to employees and non-employees to provide a bonus to be paid upon an exit event of Bumble Holdings Limited, with the bonus amount to vary based on the exit value. Certain of the awards were payable in the event of an exit of Bumble Holdings Limited only, while one award was payable in the event of an exit event within the group. As the payment was contingent upon the achievement of a liquidity event, no compensation expense was recognized in connection with these awards during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019. These awards issued by Bumble Holdings Limited were settled in connection with the Acquisition, including $3.8 million that was recognized as stock-based compensation expense in “General and administrative expense” in the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020.

We measured share options based on their estimated grant date fair values and recognized stock-based compensation expense over the requisite service period (the “vesting period”). Stock-based compensation expense reflected our best estimate of the number of equity instruments that will ultimately vest, including the impact of estimated forfeitures.

The fair value of each share option was estimated on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo model, which is impacted by a number of variables, including the fair value of our underlying shares, our expected share price volatility over the term of the share option, the expected life of the option, risk-free interest rates, and the expected dividend yield of our shares.

 

   

Dividend yield. The expected annual dividend per share was based on the Company’s expected dividend rate.

 

   

Expected Volatility. The expected volatility was calculated based on the historical volatility of the Company’s shares and measures for a set of peer companies of the Company.

 

   

Risk-free interest rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term equal to the expected life assumed at the date of grant.

 

   

Expected life of options. The average expected life is based on the contractual term of the option and expected employee exercise and post-vesting employment termination behavior.

The predecessor stock-based compensation plans were terminated in connection with the Sponsor Acquisition.

Subsequent to the Sponsor Acquisition

The Company currently has three active plans under which awards have been granted to various employees of the Company, including key management personnel, based on their management grade.

 

133


Table of Contents

In connection with the Acquisition, the Company and Buzz Management Aggregator L.P., an interest holder in the Company, adopted two new Incentive Plans for its employees’ performance and retention purposes, namely the Employee Incentive Plan (“Non-US Plan”) and the Equity Incentive Plan (“US Plan”). The participants of the Non-US Plan and US Plan are selected employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company also adopted one incentive plan for Whitney Wolfe Herd (the “Founder Plan”). Awards granted under the Founder Plan and US Plan are in the form of Class B Units in the Company and Class B Units in Buzz Management Aggregator L.P., respectively (collectively, the “Class B Units”). Under the Non-US Plan, participants receive phantom awards of Class B Units in Buzz Management Aggregator L.P. (the “Phantom Class B Units”) that are liability-classified and settled in cash equal to the notional value of the Buzz Management Aggregator Class B Units at the settlement date.

The Class B Units under the Founder Plan and US Plan and the Phantom Class B Units under the Non-US Plan comprise:

 

   

Time-Vesting Class B Units and Time-Vesting Phantom Class B Units (60% of the Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units granted) that generally vest over a five-year service period and for which expense is recognized under a graded expense attribution model; and

 

   

Exit-Vesting Class B Units and Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units (40% of the Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units granted). Vesting for these awards is based on a liquidity event in which affiliates of The Blackstone Group Inc. receive cash proceeds in respect of its Class A units in the Company prior to the termination of the participant. Further, the portion of the Exit-Vesting Class B Units and Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units that vest is based on certain Multiple on Invested Capital (“MOIC”) and internal rate of return (“IRR”) hurdles associated with a liquidity event. The MOIC and IRR hurdles impact the fair value of the awards. As the vesting of these units is contingent upon a specified liquidity event, which is not considered probable as of September 30, 2020, no expense is required to be recorded prior to the occurrence of a liquidity event that meets the specified MOIC and IRR hurdles. Exit-Vesting Awards are not expected to vest as a result of the Offering Transaction.

Time-Vesting Class B Units and Exit-Vesting Class B Units

Expense for the Time-Vesting Class B Units and Exit-Vesting Class B Units is based on the grant date fair value of the Class B Units. The grant date fair value is measured using a Monte Carlo model, which incorporates various assumptions noted in the following table. Use of a valuation model requires management to make certain assumptions with respect to selected model inputs. Expected volatility was calculated based on the observed equity volatility for comparable companies. The expected time to liquidity event is based on management’s estimate of time to an expected liquidity event. The dividend yield was based on the Company’s expected dividend rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur.

The fair value of each grant was estimated on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo model, which is impacted by a number of variables, including the fair value of our underlying shares, our expected share price volatility over the term of the share option, the expected life of the units, risk-free interest rates, and the expected dividend yield of our shares.

 

   

Dividend yield. The expected annual dividend per share was based on the Company’s expected dividend rate.

 

   

Expected Volatility. The expected volatility was calculated based on the historical volatility of the Company’s shares and measures for a set of peer companies of the Company.

 

   

Risk-free interest rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term equal to the expected life assumed at the date of grant.

 

134


Table of Contents
   

Expected time to liquidity event. The average expected time to a liquidity event is based on the Company’s expectations as of the grant date.

 

Assumptions by Grant Date

   January 2020      June 2020      August 2020      September 2020  

Dividend yield (%)

     0        0        0        0  

Expected volatility (%)

     60        60        55        55  

Risk-free interest rate (%)

     1.41        0.31        0.21        0.23  

Expected time to liquidity (years)

     5.0        4.6        4.5        4.4  

Estimated equity value (millions)(1)

     N/A        N/A      $ 5,250      $ 4,950  

Multiple used(1)

     N/A        N/A        42.8x        40.0x  

 

(1)

The valuations for awards granted in January 2020 and June 2020 were based on the purchase price from the Sponsor Acquisition of $2.9 billion as the estimated equity value as of these dates and, therefore, did not rely on establishing an estimated equity value based on an income or market multiple approach. The implied multiple based on the purchase price was 19.2x.

Based on the assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, as of September 30, 2020, the aggregate intrinsic value of our outstanding Class B Units was $         , with $         relating to Time-Vesting Class B Units and $         relating to Exit-Vesting Class B Units.

In connection with the Offering Transactions, Class B Units will be reclassified into Incentive Units or directly or indirectly exchanged for shares of Class A common stock, in each case as described under “Organizational Structure—Reclassification and Amendment and Restatement of Limited Partnership Agreement of Bumble Holdings” and “Executive Compensation—Compensation Arrangements to be Adopted in Connection with this Offering—Conversion of Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units.”

Valuation of Shares

Prior to this offering, given the absence of a public trading market for our shares, and in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Accounting and Valuation Guide, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation, our board of directors exercised its reasonable judgment and considered numerous objective and subjective factors to determine the best estimate of fair value of our shares, including:

 

   

independent third-party valuations of our shares;

 

   

the purchase price of the Sponsor Acquisition of $2.9 billion;

 

   

our capital resources and financial condition;

 

   

the likelihood and timing of achieving a liquidity event, such as an initial public offering or sale of the Company, given prevailing market conditions;

 

   

our historical operating and financial performance as well as our estimates of future financial performance;

 

   

valuations of comparable companies;

 

   

the status of our development, product introduction, and sales efforts;

 

   

the relative lack of marketability of our shares;

 

   

industry information such as market growth and volume and macro-economic events; and

 

   

additional objective and subjective factors relating to our business.

 

135


Table of Contents

In valuing our shares, our board of directors determined the fair value of our shares using both the income and market approach valuation methods. The income approach estimates value based on the expectation of future cash flows that a company will generate. The market approach estimates value based on a comparison of the subject company to comparable public companies in a similar line of business.

Applying these valuation approaches involves the use of estimates, judgments and assumptions that are highly complex and subjective, including our expected future revenue and expenses, the determination of discount rates, valuation multiples, the selection of comparable public companies and the probability of future events. Changes in any or all of these estimates and assumptions impact our valuation as of each valuation date. Such changes may have a material impact on the valuation of our shares and our share-based awards.

Following this offering, it will not be necessary to determine the fair value of our shares, as our shares will be traded in the public market.

Income Taxes

We are subject to income tax in most of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Management is required to exercise significant judgment in determining our provision for income taxes. The provision for income taxes is determined taking into account guidance related to uncertain tax positions. Judgment is required in assessing the timing and amounts of deductible and taxable items. Deferred tax assets are amounts available to reduce income taxes payable on taxable income in future years and are initially recognized at enacted tax rates. To the extent deferred tax assets are not expected to be realized, we record a valuation allowance. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon settlement. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs.

Although we believe that we have adequately reserved for our uncertain tax positions, we can provide no assurance that the final tax outcome of these matters will not be materially different. We make adjustments to these reserves when facts and circumstances change, such as the closing of a tax audit or the refinement of an estimate. To the extent that the final tax outcome of these matters is different than the amounts recorded, such differences may affect the provision for income taxes in the period in which such determination is made and could have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

Recently-issued accounting pronouncements that may be relevant to our operations but have not yet been adopted are outlined in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, within the audited consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and in Note 2, Summary of Selected Significant Accounting Policies, within the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

136


Table of Contents

BUSINESS

Who We Are

Bumble was founded because we noticed two different, yet related issues in our society: antiquated gender norms, and a lack of kindness and accountability on the internet. We observed that women were often treated unequally in society, especially in romantic relationships. At the same time, social networks created possibilities for connections, but they were focused on connections with people you already know and lacked guardrails to encourage better behavior online.

We created Bumble to change this. The Bumble brand was built with women at the center—where women make the first move. We are rewriting the script on gender norms by building a platform that is designed to be safe and empowering for women, and, in turn, provides a better environment for everyone. We are leveraging innovative technology solutions to create a more inclusive, safe and accountable way to connect online for all users regardless of gender.

Our platform enables people to connect and build equitable and healthy relationships on their own terms. We believe there is a significant opportunity to extend our platform beyond online dating into healthy relationships across all areas of life: love, friendships, careers and beyond. By empowering women across all of their relationships, we believe that we have the potential to become a preeminent global women’s brand.

Today, Bumble operates two apps, Bumble and Badoo, where over 40 million users come on a monthly basis to discover new people and connect with each other in a safe, secure and empowering environment.(1) We are a leader in the fast-growing online dating space, which has become increasingly popular over the last decade and is now the most common way for new couples to meet in the United States according to a study published by PNAS. Our community is highly engaged with, on average, over 150 million messages sent every day in the last nine months ended September 30, 2020.

Bumble and Badoo are two of the highest grossing online dating mobile applications globally, as of August 2020, according to Sensor Tower, with Bumble and Badoo ranking among the top five grossing iOS lifestyle apps in 30 and 89 countries, respectively. We generated $488.9 million of revenue in the year ended December 31, 2019, representing year-over-year growth of 35.8%. We generated $376.6 million and $40.0 million of revenue in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020 and in the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, respectively.

 

   

The Bumble app, launched in 2014, is one of the first dating apps built with women at the center. On Bumble, women make the first move, and have done so more than 1.7 billion times from September 2014 to September 2020. Bumble is the second highest grossing dating app in the world according to Sensor Tower, with 12.3 million MAUs as of September 30, 2020. Bumble is a leader in the online dating sector across several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. We believe that because women feel more confident and empowered on our platform, they are more engaged than on other dating apps. For example, the Bumble app experienced approximately 30% growth in the number of messages sent by women from the three months ended March 30, 2019 to the three months ended September 30, 2020. As a result, we believe that Bumble has one of the highest percentages of women Paying Users among dating apps. According to OC&C, within the North America freemium market, Bumble has approximately 30% more female users for every male user compared to the gender mix of users in the market who do not use Bumble. Additionally, according to OC&C, a higher percentage of Bumble’s female users convert to payers than the market average. We had approximately 1.1 million Bumble App Paying Users during the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

 

   

The Badoo app, launched in 2006, was one of the pioneers of web and mobile free-to-use dating products. Badoo’s mantra of “Date Honestly” extends our focus on building meaningful connections to everyone. Badoo is the fourth highest grossing dating app in the world according to Sensor Tower,

 

(1) 

Total Company MAUs as of September 30, 2020 was 42.1 million, reflecting the contribution of other apps which are operated by the Company.

 

137


Table of Contents
 

with 28.4 million MAUs as of September 30, 2020. Badoo continues to be a market leader in Europe and Latin America and is diversified across geographies as a top three grossing iOS lifestyle app in 59 countries as of September 30, 2020 and a top ten app in iOS in 65 countries through the end of 2019. We had approximately 1.3 million Badoo App and Other Paying Users during the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

Bumble is more than our apps—we are powering a movement. Our mission-first strategy ensures that values guide our business decisions and our business performance enables us to drive impact. Our strategy is anchored by our powerful brand, product leadership, operational excellence and impact initiatives. Our scale helps us continuously innovate the user experience, enhance brand awareness and operate a durable business model. Examples of how our mission drives our business include:

 

   

We purpose-built the Bumble app with features designed to empower women, giving them more control in relationships. We believe that by empowering women through rewriting relationship dynamics, we can make the world better for everyone.

 

   

We extend the values underpinning Bumble through Badoo’s focus on becoming the leading platform for honest dating. We have also redesigned Badoo’s product features for safety and security enabling a more equitable, inclusive, safe and accountable way to connect online.

 

   

We enhance our brand through impact initiatives beyond our apps, including initiatives such as policy advocacy to ban unwanted lewd images online and our commitment to invest in women founders through the Bumble Fund (our early-stage, corporate investing vehicle focused primarily on businesses founded and led by women of color).

 

   

We enhance our brand through marketing campaigns centered around elevating women, including the “Be the CEO Your Parents Wanted You to Marry” and “Believe Women” campaigns.

As we grow and execute on our mission, we will continue to increase our brand awareness, which we believe will attract more people to our platform.

Our users connect deeply with our brand, making it a powerful marketing tool which generates word of mouth virality and strong, efficient user acquisition. This is evidenced by the fact that only 22% of new users across our apps came from attributable performance marketing in the nine months ended September 30, 2020. As our community continues to grow, user engagement and monetization increase. These increases enable us to reinvest in product innovation and marketing and, in turn, attract more people to our platform. This results in powerful network effects, driving growth and strong unit economics: our Payback Period on user acquisition costs for all new user registrations averaged less than three months in the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

We believe that the best way to compete in a world where people have multiple ways to connect is through product innovation. We uniquely design our products to facilitate engagement prioritizing safety and accountability across the user experience. We continuously collect user feedback, which informs our product development roadmap. The more we know about our community’s interests, the better we can innovate products that maximize their chances of making connections most likely to turn into the relationships they are looking for. The Bumble and Badoo apps share a common infrastructure, which allows insights to be shared between apps. Our shared infrastructure, built by a global team of engineers with expertise in mobile app and server development, data science, and machine learning, is also critical to providing our users with personalized and superior experiences. Our team has a strong track record of product leadership in online dating. We were among the first major dating apps to:

 

   

Introduce automated photo verification as a safety feature (2016).

 

   

Launch in-app video chat (2016).

 

   

Leverage machine-learning capabilities to blur unsolicited lewd images (2019).

 

 

138


Table of Contents

We are just getting started. We see significant upside in our core online dating market driven by the steady growth of the global singles population, increasing adoption of online dating both in the United States and globally and increasing propensity to pay for online dating. We started with online dating and now have insights from our community that have encouraged us to extend Bumble into many more areas of life. We have built our platform with the flexibility to pursue these opportunities in the future. For example, we are in the early stages of building products for platonic friendships and business networking with Bumble BFF and Bumble Bizz, respectively. There are approximately 3.8 billion women globally, of which approximately 1.1 billion are single and 1.8 billion are working. Women are often the household’s primary decision maker and are estimated to have over $30 trillion of purchasing power globally; yet technology platforms are not being built specifically with women in mind. We believe that there is a significant opportunity to build on our foundation as a technology platform centered on women to become a preeminent global women’s brand. Wherever women go, we can go too.

Our financial model is characterized by a rare combination of growth, scale, strong profitability and cash flow generation. Both the Bumble and Badoo apps monetize via a freemium model where the use of our service is free and a subset of our users pay for subscriptions or in-app purchases to access premium features. These features maximize our users’ probability and speed of developing meaningful connections.

For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, we generated:

 

   

Total Revenue of $360.1 million and $488.9 million, respectively, representing year-over-year growth of 35.8%;

 

   

Bumble App Revenue of $162.4 million and $275.5 million, respectively, representing year-over-year growth of 69.7%;

 

   

Badoo App and Other Revenue of $197.7 million and $213.4 million, respectively, representing year-over-year growth of 7.9%;

 

   

Net earnings (loss) of $(23.7) million and $85.8 million, respectively, representing a year-over-year increase of $109.5 million, with a net earnings (loss) margin of (6.6)% and 17.6%, respectively;

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA of $65.8 million and $101.8 million, respectively, representing Adjusted EBITDA Margins of 18.3% and 20.8%, respectively, and year-over-year growth of 54.7%;

 

   

Net cash provided by operating activities of $71.8 million and $101.4 million, respectively, representing year-over-year growth of 41.2% and Operating Cash Flow Conversion of (303.2)% and 118.1%, respectively; and

 

   

Free Cash Flow of $63.7 million and $91.7 million, respectively, representing Free Cash Flow Conversion of 96.9% and 90.1%, respectively, and year-over-year growth of 44.0%.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020, and the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, we generated:

 

   

Total Revenue of $362.6 million, $40.0 million and $376.6 million, respectively;

 

   

Bumble App Revenue of $203.4 million, $23.3 million and $231.5 million, respectively;

 

   

Badoo App and Other Revenue of $159.2 million, $16.7 million and $145.1 million, respectively;

 

   

Net (loss) earnings of $68.6 million, $(32.6) million and $(84.1) million, respectively, with a net (loss) earnings margin of 18.9%, (81.4)% and (22.3)%, respectively;

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA of $80.0 million, $9.4 million and $98.9 million, respectively, representing Adjusted EBITDA Margins of 22.1%, 23.4% and 26.3%, respectively;

 

   

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of $70.6 million, $(3.3) million and $1.0 million, respectively, and Operating Cash Flow Conversion of 102.9%, 10.2% and (1.2)%, respectively; and

 

139


Table of Contents
   

Free Cash Flow of $64.3 million, $(4.4) million and $(4.7) million, respectively, representing Free Cash Flow Conversion of 80.4%, (46.4)% and (4.8)%, respectively.

For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, information about why we consider Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion useful and a discussion of the material risks and limitations of these measures, please see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

Our Opportunity

According to a study published by PNAS, online dating is the most common way for couples to meet in the United States. As of 2017, approximately 40% of new couples met online, surpassing bars, restaurants, and friends as the top source. However, adoption of online dating in the United States and globally has substantial runway. The market is buoyed by tailwinds including increased mobile phone penetration, delayed marriage and changing cultural norms around marriage and dating. Because of the unparalleled ease and convenience of finding a potential date, we believe the adoption of online dating has significant upside.

According to OC&C, North America—defined as the United States and Canada—is the largest online dating market with approximately 44 million monthly active users of online dating representing an online dating market of approximately $2.0 billion as of 2020. OC&C estimates that on a global basis—defined to exclude China—there are approximately 190 million monthly active users of online dating representing a global online dating market of approximately $5.3 billion as of 2020. The North American online dating market is projected to grow approximately 11% annually from approximately $2.0 billion in 2020 to approximately $3.4 billion in 2025 and the global market is projected to grow approximately 13% annually from approximately $5.3 billion in 2020 to approximately $9.9 billion in 2025. The primary drivers of market growth include a growing singles population (defined as unmarried people), further penetration of online dating and increased monetization.

Our global addressable market includes 804 million singles (defined throughout this section as unmarried people) between the ages of 18 to 69 who had access to the internet in 2020. Younger generations are increasingly delaying marriage or avoiding it altogether; according to a Pew Research Center study in 2014, one in four young adults may never marry at all. As a result, the North America singles market is projected to grow from 103 million singles in 2020 to 111 million by 2025. The global singles market is projected to grow from 804 million in 2020 to 981 million by 2025.

Online dating penetration has accelerated due to the global expansion of online dating apps and liberalization of social norms around online dating. Online dating penetration is expected to continue to increase as new generations of young adults are increasingly digitally native and mobile-savvy. Additionally, online dating is not a “winner-take-all” market, with people using or having an average of two different apps installed on their phones at the same time to help diversify their network and maximize the probability of finding successful connections. Our scale, mission-driven brand and consistent product innovation position us well to be a top app choice for users. In 2016, approximately 22% of North American singles used online dating apps. In 2020, that figure increased to approximately 43% and OC&C projects that it will increase to approximately 59% by 2025. Online dating penetration of global singles is projected to increase from approximately 24% in 2020 to approximately 32% in 2025. Accordingly, North American online dating users are projected to increase approximately 8% annually from approximately 44 million in 2020 to approximately 65 million in 2025 and global online dating users are projected to increase approximately 11% annually from approximately 190 million in 2020 to approximately 319 million in 2025. We also see greenfield opportunities in emerging markets, including several countries with far more challenging gender dynamics that can benefit from our mission.

Despite addressing the most basic human needs—intimacy, romance and human connection—only 16% of online dating users in North America are paying to use online dating apps and only 15% of freemium mobile app

 

140


Table of Contents

users are paying to use freemium mobile apps. In contrast, the majority of American households pay for monthly subscriptions to entertainment and commerce offerings: almost three-fourths of U.S. households pay for a video streaming service and almost 60% have an Amazon Prime membership. In addition to the expected upside in paid penetration of singles, we believe that there is a significant gap between what consumers are willing to pay for online dating and current monetization levels, which should support continued growth in online dating average revenue per user over time. On average, paying users of freemium online dating spend only approximately $17 per month on a global basis, and, in North America, paying users of freemium online dating spend approximately $20 per month. Meanwhile, Americans spend upwards of $100 every month on entertainment and eCommerce.

The freemium segment of the online dating market, which includes apps like Bumble and Badoo that are free to use with optional premium paid features, is projected to be the primary driver of increased penetration of online dating far outpacing traditional web-based dating platforms that require upfront paid subscriptions. Badoo was one of the first mobile apps to pioneer the freemium subscription model and remains one of the largest freemium dating platforms in the world. Paid usage of freemium apps and average revenue per user are both projected to increase modestly. In North America, freemium paid usage is projected to increase from 15% of freemium online dating users paying approximately $20 per month in 2020 to approximately 17% of users paying approximately $24 in 2025. On a global basis, freemium paid usage is projected to increase from approximately 10% of freemium online dating users paying approximately $17 per month in 2020 to approximately 12% of users paying approximately $19 in 2025. The freemium segment in North America is thus projected to grow approximately 16% annually from approximately $1.3 billion in 2020 to approximately $2.7 billion in 2025, and the global freemium segment is projected to grow approximately 18% annually from approximately $3.3 billion in 2020 to approximately $7.7 billion in 2025.

We believe women are underserved by existing online dating platforms, a reality we recognized and sought to address with the launch of the Bumble app in 2014. Despite being half of the population, women are significantly less than half of all online dating users. We know from the offline world that attracting women inevitably improves the experience for the entire ecosystem, including men, and have built our products with this in mind. Beyond dating, technology platforms are generally not built for the needs of women, despite the fact that women are often the household’s primary decision maker with over $30 trillion of purchasing power globally.

Our Technology Has Transformed Online Dating

Technology is at the core of what differentiates our platform. We have a global team of software engineers and product managers who drive the development of our platform. We release live updates rapidly, often once a week to our mobile app and twice a day to our server backend, allowing us to run hundreds of tests simultaneously across the entire audience. The rapid nature of our testing framework allows us to optimize the user experience. Our ultimate goal is to build the technology infrastructure that allows us to engineer accountability into product and create opportunities for safer and healthier connection. Our technology and product teams work hand in hand from ideation to product launch, and this has allowed us to be at the forefront of releasing features geared towards improving the safety of our community, such as profile verification, video and voice chatting, and blocking unwanted lewd images.

Our technology platform is fueled by:

 

   

Shared infrastructure: The Bumble and Badoo apps share a common infrastructure, which allows insights to be shared between apps. This allows us to quickly test new features and migrate from one app to the other. For instance, we built video chat feature on the Badoo app over a span of six months, but it took only two months to migrate that feature to the Bumble app. This provides us with flexibility to share features where appropriate and improves execution at scale by driving faster improvements in our apps, while simultaneously driving operating efficiencies by reducing the cost of launching new features. Given our shared infrastructure, we can also innovate and scale efficiently as we enter new geographies and new categories outside online dating.

 

141


Table of Contents
   

Our data and machine learning capabilities: We are continually analyzing data from user interactions on our platform, allowing us to constantly optimize the user experience. We have machine and deep learning capabilities that we leverage to personalize the potential matches we display and to inform our product pipeline. We are able to also target users who are likely to purchase a subscription package or in-app feature and tailor the experience for them. Our machine and deep learning posture plays a key role in identity fraud prevention as well as blocking inappropriate behavior and content from polluting our platform.

 

   

Our data protection and privacy standards: We are both committed and mandated to adhere to the strictest privacy standards. We do not sell personal data to third parties. We believe our commitment to data protection and privacy as well as our superior user experience are primary reasons why users provide us with personal data on our platform.

Our Value Proposition to Our Community

Our goal is to create meaningful connections and healthy relationships for everyone. The Bumble app is helping redefine centuries-old gender dynamics to create a more equitable and balanced environment. The Badoo app encourages honesty in all connections. The values underpinning our mission extend across both apps to create more inclusive, safe spaces to meet and engage with new people.

 

   

Meaningful Connections and Healthy Relationships. Whether a lifelong partnership or a great first date, we strive to provide users the tools to find what they are looking for. The size of our data set and our algorithms enable us to continually maximize the probability of a meaningful connection. Our users will naturally churn as some settle into relationships. User churn is therefore sometimes a cause for celebration: as we scale we are inundated with success stories of relationships of all types born out of our platform. We are fundamentally changing people’s lives, and that is reflected in our loyal community who serve as advocates for our platform long after they have stopped daily usage. We also see the opportunity to migrate users to other types of connections on the platform due to their positive experience with dating, opening up additional opportunities for lifetime value extension.

 

   

Trust and Safety. We are focused on the trust and safety of our community. We have a zero-tolerance policy against misogynistic, abusive, and inappropriate behavior. While we support freedom of speech, we do not support abusing that freedom to harm, bully, or attack people online. We have reinforced that emphasis of online accountability through technology to support safety and security, including being among the first major dating apps to launch features such as video chat, to blur unwanted lewd images, and to introduce automated photo verification. We are also actively investing in migrating many of the successful safety features we built for the Bumble app onto the Badoo app, as well as amplifying the safety features we already have on the Badoo app that were proven successful. We know consumers prefer to engage with brands they trust and our success is proven by what we hear from our users.

 

   

Innovative Features. Singles turn to online dating because it provides them the opportunity to seamlessly meet new people virtually. Our obsession with every detail in the user journey drives our hyper-focus on continuously developing new features that keep the user experience fresh, fun, engaging and impactful. For example, we were one of the first dating apps to allow users to see who liked their profiles. We also pioneered a 24-hour reply window, increasing the conversion from match to chat, and later offered re-matching with expired connections and extending matches because we saw an opportunity to increase convenience and flexibility for our users. We especially emphasize product and feature development geared towards women on the Bumble app.

 

   

A Large, Growing, Engaged Community. We have created a large, growing and engaged community in over 150 countries globally. Badoo has 28.4 million MAUs as of September 30, 2020 and is a top ten app in iOS in 65 countries through the end of 2019. Bumble has 12.3 million active users as of September 30, 2020, with leadership positions in the United States, UK, Australia and Canada. We have approximately 2.4 million average Total Paying Users as of September 30, 2020, up 18.8% from September 30, 2019. The sheer scale of our platform creates powerful network effects, with more users

 

142


Table of Contents
 

on the platform improving selection, which improves user experience and drives even more users to our platform.

The Bumble App User Journey

Setting Up a Profile

Setting up a profile on Bumble is easy, allowing users to begin finding potential matches after only a handful of steps. First, users input their name, age, gender identity, sexual orientation / who they are looking for, and a photo. In addition, we offer multiple ways for users to add customization and further detail to their profiles. For example, many users opt to fill out a short bio, which is limited to 300 characters. Users can also add Badges to their profiles, which allows a user to prominently display certain values or characteristics, ranging from religion, to preference around having children, to zodiac sign.

The profile set up includes features geared towards our users’ safety—for example, by encouraging additional photographs, verifying their profile, and utilizing offering filters to search for other verified users to protect themselves from “catfishing” or profiles with false identities. We require all users to review our community guidelines which include items such as respecting all users regardless of their identity and only uploading your own photos. We also enable enhanced personalization of your profile, through integration with Spotify and Instagram.

 

LOGO

LOGO

 

143


Table of Contents

Matching

We use a matching algorithm combined with the preferences provided by users to recommend potential connections. Users can opt to use one of our filters to be more specific in the types of matches they see. For example, users can select their preferred age range and distance for potential matches. Users can opt to only see verified profiles, or limit potential matches by height, education, politics, religion, and whether they drink, smoke, have pets, or want kids.

On the screen where we display potential matches, users can see the photos, distance of the potential match, and all the additional details the other user provided. A user can swipe right to vote “yes” to a potential match, or left to go to the next profile, or react with an emoji to a part of someone’s profile. When both users vote yes, a connection is made and users move to the chatting function.

 

LOGO     

        LOGO

 

144


Table of Contents

Chatting

After an initial match is formed, users on Bumble must initiate a chat within 24 hours or the connection disappears. As our motto implies, women make the first move by initiating a chat in a heterosexual connection. Free users can extend one match per day by adding another 24 hours to the countdown. We offer our users multiple mediums to engage with their matches, including through voice chat, video chatting, voice recordings, or GIFs—animated images. These features not only enrich the conversation but also improve safety by allowing added layers of verification and interactions prior to meeting in person. Users can also opt to play our Question Game which asks both users in a match the same question.

 

LOGO

Safety

The safety and security of our users is a key priority. In addition to prioritizing verification of users and offering communication like voice and video chat tools to allow interactions before or in lieu of in-person meeting without exchanging sensitive personal information, we have also engineered other safety features such as Private Detector, which uses machine learning to identify and flag potentially unwanted lewd images. Our Safety Center is an in-app section with advice around safety and security, standards of behavior, how to report unwanted behavior, and other information about how Bumble maintains safety. We also prioritize mental health by offering options such as Snooze, which temporarily hides a user’s profile to potential matches allowing users to take a break from the platform, without losing their match history or profile details.

 

145


Table of Contents

LOGO

LOGO

 

146


Table of Contents

Premium Features

Our subscription offerings, Bumble Boost and Bumble Premium, provide users with additional features to increase their success making a meaningful connection. We offer users flexible subscription plans, and the most common lengths are 7-day, 30-day and 90-day. The most popular features included in the subscription plans are:

 

   

Beeline: The Beeline shows you who likes you: potential suiters who have already voted yes on the user, but on which the user has not yet voted one way or another. Bumble Premium subscribers can not only see the Beeline, but they can also apply their filters for a more curated experience.

 

   

Rematch: Allows Bumble Boost and Bumble Premium subscribers to rematch with any of the prior matches that have already expired after a 24-hour period.

 

   

Extend: Bumble Boost and Bumble Premium subscribers have an unlimited number of 24-hour extensions on conversations.

There are also additional, in-app purchases that subscribers and non-subscribing users can purchase. Some of these features are included in Bumble Boost and Bumble Premium, whereas most are additional features we offer on top of the subscription platform. Some of these additional in-app purchases include:

 

   

SuperSwipe: Users can use SuperSwipe to inform potential matches that they are confidently interested in them, whereas typically a yes vote is anonymous until both matches vote yes.

 

   

Spotlight: Users can use Spotlight to advance their profile to the top of the list of potential matches so it is viewable by more potential matches instantly.

 

   

Travel Mode: Users can change their location to anywhere in the world, opening up potential matches in new geographies rather than just nearby.

 

   

Backtrack: Allows users to undo a “no” vote to revisit potential matches.

 

147


Table of Contents

LOGO

LOGO

 

148


Table of Contents

Bumble BFF and Bumble Bizz

In addition to dating, we offer users the opportunity to develop platonic connections through Bumble BFF for friendships and Bumble Bizz for professional networking and mentorship. Users access these product extensions through the Bumble app by changing their “mode.” Bumble BFF and Bumble Bizz have a format similar to Bumble Date, requiring users to set up profiles and matching users through “yes” and “no” votes, similar to the dating platform. Through the same app as Bumble Date, users can switch modes to BFF or Bizz to set up a new profile.

 

LOGO

The Badoo App User Journey

We have a shared commitment across both apps to enable meaningful connections and healthy relationships in a safe and secure environment. Due to our shared infrastructure, there are many common products and features across the Bumble and Badoo apps. Below are a few features unique to the Badoo app journey.

Setting Up a Profile

Badoo’s account setup is similar to Bumble in a number of ways: customizations include the ability to add photos, to add work or education background, and other personal information such as height, body type, and religion. We also allow profile videos on the Badoo app, which is not currently available on the Bumble app. Aligned with our Badoo mantra of dating honestly, users can answer the question of “What I Honestly Want,” encouraging users to express their genuine, true self and intentions for the app. Another unique feature of the Badoo app is the My Interests feature, which allows users to highlight certain topics by entering words or multiple words that are then displayed on the front screen of all users’ profiles. The My Interests feature is another opportunity for our users to bring their full genuine selves to the app.

 

149


Table of Contents

LOGO

Matching and Chatting

The Badoo app has a similar matching algorithm to Bumble and the same vote “yes” or “no” methodology by swiping right and left, respectively. However, the Badoo app also has a “People Nearby” feature which allows users to see all potential connections nearby. Unlike on the Bumble app, where messaging is restricted until both users vote yes, Badoo allows users to directly message anyone who is of interest immediately without having to mutually vote yes. The Badoo app also has a Bumped Into feature, which connects people who are frequently in nearby vicinity—say, when two users frequent the same coffee shop or share the same commute to work. Badoo will notify both users that there is a Badoo user whose path is frequently crossed and give the option of starting a conversation. Badoo messaging capabilities include GIFs, gift giving, photos, audio, voice calls, and video calls. For the year ended December 31, 2019, Badoo users sent 46.5 billion messages, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, Badoo users sent 36.1 billion messages.

 

LOGO

 

150


Table of Contents

Premium Features

Our premium subscription offering on the Badoo app, Badoo Premium, includes additional features such as:

 

   

Liked You: Allows users to find out who has already liked them.

 

   

Extra Shows: Pushes the user’s profile to the front of the queue.

 

   

Undo Vote: Undoes a “no” vote on a potential match.

These subscription plans also offer flexible packages, similar to on the Bumble app. The Badoo app also offers Badoo Credits, which can be purchased in bundles and used to acquire in-app features such as one-off popularity boosts.

 

LOGO

How We Grow Our Community

We are investing in growing our community by building Bumble and Badoo as distinct brands with complementary but unique user value propositions. For the Bumble app, we educate audiences on how women making the first move creates healthier relationships across love, friendship, and business. For Badoo, our “Date Honestly” mantra is about helping people overcome the self-doubt they might feel, to open themselves up to others, embrace the journey of meeting people to figure out what they want.

Our strategy to grow our community across both apps relies primarily on an organic user acquisition model. We benefit from a powerful brand that embraces a set of values and connects those values, not just with our community, but also with culture at large. Ultimately, we believe our brand connects deeply with our users, both existing users and those that have settled into relationships, which makes it a powerful marketing tool for us. We also benefit from the fact that people can download and use our apps for free. As a result, attributable performance marketing accounted for only 21% of total user acquisition in 2019. We share marketing learnings across our apps and geographies, which enable the broadest application of successful strategies.

 

151


Table of Contents

The efficiency of this strategy has resulted in a profitable and capital efficient model. Our Payback Period on user acquisition costs for all new user registrations averaged less than three months in the nine months ended September 30, 2020. Key elements of growing our community include:

 

   

Brand Marketing: Our brand marketing campaigns reinforce our mission and the importance of healthy relationships, utilizing online and offline channels. We often put users at the center of our campaigns to showcase the connections they made on our platform. We also partner with influential and globally visible leaders such as Serena Williams and Priyanka Chopra, who are aligned with and help us promote our mission. These investments in our brand enable us to drive long-term growth through driving both new users and re-engaged users to our platforms across new and existing markets.

 

   

Field Marketing: We also target our efforts towards niche communities on a hyperlocal basis. For example, as of year end 2019, our Bumble app campus ambassadors program included over 500 students who promote and strengthen our brand at the local level in the United States alone.

 

   

Paid Acquisition Marketing: We complement our primarily organic user acquisition model with a disciplined and innovative paid marketing strategy. We focus on two key objectives. First, ensuring strong return on investment of our spend and second to ensure ecosystem health to maximize the total number of meaningful connections created at the geo and age-band level, which further propels our organic growth. We use paid acquisition marketing on a limited basis and are not reliant on it for user growth.

 

   

Global Expansion: We are focused on expanding into new markets through creating local communities around the world. We are often able to leverage deep data insights on Badoo to understand a new market before we enter with Bumble, and we are able to understand which neighborhoods have an existing Badoo community that mirrors what the Bumble community typically looks like. The replicability of our marketing strategy from one country to another and the established playbook in expanding geographically has allowed us to maintain an efficient user acquisition strategy as we have expanded.

 

152


Table of Contents

LOGO


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

"I did _nd the love of my life on Bumble... I found the person that challenges me, that lifts me up, that supports me,_that comforts me when I need it... I'm not letting her go." - LayneLayne + Bri"Being a part of the LGBTQ+ community, I felt that on Bumble I just got to be a person looking for another person to love." - Bri


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Erika + Rob"Bumble is a place where I put myself out there with all I have, good or bad, and get the same back.""One of the things I liked about Bumble was that it was up to the woman to initiate the conversation. I felt more in control, especially in a world where so much sometimes seems out of control." - Erika


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

"Bumble stood out from the different apps_based on the fact that one, women made the decision and then two, they would also initiate the _rst message. It is one thing to say I'm interested, it is another thing to engage in conversation as well." - Ben"The number one thing I liked about Bumble, women made the _rst move."Shay+Ben


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

"I just wanted to meet someone, which I did! I had some failed relationships before, so I knew exactly what I was looking for. In real life, outside of the internet, it's so hard - MichalMarta + Michal"I recommend Badoo to all of my friends because he's my dream man. If it wasn't for Michal I don't know what I would do." - Marta


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

"I recommend Badoo to all of my friends because he's my dream man. If it wasn't for Michal I don't know what I would do." - MartaKelly + Emily"I found the two most important people in my life right now, my boyfriend and my best friend, on Bumble." - Kelly


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

"I would have never met my co-founder without Bumble Bizz. The Growth & Grace Collective wouldn't exist without Bumble and we have evolved as a team because of the app." - JessJess + Mikaela"Bumble Bizz _ipped everything I knew about networking on its head. For me, what made this app work is that it allows you to build that trust with your partner before trusting them with your business." - Mikaela


Table of Contents

Our Strengths

We believe the following strengths will drive our continued success in the fast-growing online dating market and beyond.

 

   

Mission-Driven Brand Which Resonates Deeply With Users: Bumble is building a preeminent global women’s brand founded to address antiquated gender norms and a lack of kindness and accountability on the internet. We built brand recognition through a commitment to empowering women, which is integral to every decision we make—from the product features we launch to our marketing campaigns to our policy advocacy and philanthropic work. We believe our brand is a competitive advantage as consumers increasingly align themselves with mission-driven brands. According to Accenture, 63% of global consumers prefer to purchase products from companies that stand for a purpose and will avoid companies that do not.

 

   

Relentless Focus on Product Leadership to Improve User Experience: We have been focused on transforming online dating user experiences through products designed to ensure safety and accountability. We were among the first major dating apps to introduce automated photo verification, to launch in-app video chat, and to leverage machine-learning capabilities to blur unsolicited lewd images. Badoo was one of the first online dating apps to implement a freemium business model, via opt-in subscriptions as a form of monetization. We believe our long track record of identifying and delivering superior products for a differentiated user experience is a testament to our product leadership and capabilities for future growth.

 

   

Fully Integrated Platform Accelerates Innovation and Drives Operational Efficiency: Our apps are powered by a platform that is fully integrated across technology infrastructure, product, marketing and operations. We believe this approach is a competitive advantage, enabling us to innovate and grow quickly and efficiently in both dating and new categories as well as in existing and new geographies. We share insights about user adoption and behavior, monetization, product and marketing across our entire business.

 

   

Strong Profitability and Cash Flow Generation Enables Reinvestment and Delivers Long-Term Value: We have maintained a balanced approach to investment for growth and profitability for the last decade. We have increased our margin over time while continuing to invest in our brand, product innovation and technology platform. In the year ended December 31, 2019, we grew total revenue by 35.8% year-over-year while generating a net earnings margin of 17.6% and an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 20.8%, Operating Cash Flow Conversion of 118.1% and Free Cash Flow Conversion of 90.1%. In the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, our net loss margin was (22.3)% and Adjusted EBITDA margin was 26.3%. We believe that our fully integrated platform across the Bumble and Badoo apps will continue to drive significant operating leverage over the long-term. Our strong profitability and cash flow generation enables us to continue to reinvest in our growth.

 

   

Founder-Led, Seasoned Management Team to Lead Growth: Our leadership team is comprised of seasoned executives with a proven track record of scaling dating, technology, and other consumer businesses profitably. We are aligned, inspired, and energized by our opportunity to build a next generation consumer technology platform and a preeminent global women’s brand.

Our Growth Strategies

We see significant upside in our core online dating market driven by the steady growth of the global singles population, increasing adoption of online dating and increasing propensity for users to pay. We started with online dating and believe that our brand combined with our innovative product development and technology platform uniquely enables us to expand in dating and extend to new categories in both existing and new markets. We are focused on the following areas to drive our growth:

 

   

Growing Users in Existing Markets: We believe that there is significant upside to our adoption in the markets in which we currently operate. For the Bumble app, we will continue to leverage our brand

 

160


Table of Contents
 

marketing and impact as well as product leadership to attract new users to the Bumble app in North America where we still address only a fraction of the total addressable market today. For the Badoo app, we see an opportunity to increase spend on marketing, where there has historically been less focus on brand investment historically to drive increased awareness and word of mouth acquisition in core markets.

 

   

Growing Users in New Markets: We are in the early stages of expanding the Bumble app globally. Our early proof points from launches in new markets in Europe, Asia, and Latin America encourage us to invest in our global expansion. We benefit from our 10+ years of insights into dating behaviors and established local operations across Badoo’s footprint to launch new markets. The power of Bumble’s mission and brand, coupled with our marketing expertise, helps us expand efficiently. We plan to strategically sequence these launches in countries around the world while investing in marketing and product innovation to ensure our app meets the needs of our global user base.

 

   

Investment in Product Innovation, Machine Learning and Data Science: We will continue to invest in new dating products and features to enhance our existing users’ experience and to attract new users. We also plan to invest in innovation by leveraging the power of machine learning and data science to drive better outcomes for users and further improve our user acquisition efficiency.

 

   

Increasing Monetization: We are still early in our monetization journey and expect to increase paying users and average revenue per paying user over time. We will develop new monetization features and improve existing features in order to increase adoption of in-app purchases and our subscription programs. We will also test new pricing strategies, including different pricing tiers and user segmentation. We may also expand into other revenue streams, such as advertising and affiliate marketing. Machine learning capabilities will inform our decision-making, allowing us to be targeted in our monetization efforts while always prioritizing the user experience.

 

   

Expanding Into New Categories Beyond Dating: Our brand and product are designed to encourage women to go after whatever they want, not just in love but in life and work as well. We have insights from our community that we believe will enable us to extend Bumble into all areas of life and have built our platform with the flexibility to do so. We are in the early stages of building products for platonic friendships and business networking with Bumble BFF and Bumble Bizz, respectively. We plan to begin investing in marketing and product and to develop a monetization strategy for Bumble BFF, Bumble Bizz and other potential new categories. In September 2020, Bumble BFF MAU comprised approximately 9% of the total Bumble app MAU. We believe Bumble BFF MAU has room to grow as we increase our focus on this space. Ultimately, expanding the platform will extend the lifetime value of our existing users and expand our addressable market opportunity. Where appropriate, we may also make selective acquisitions of businesses that fit into our broader vision, whether dating or beyond.

Our Impact

Bumble is more than our apps—we are powering a movement. Our mission-first strategy ensures that values guide our business decisions and our business performance enables us to drive impact.

Engaging Experts to Make our Platform Safe

We aim to create safe and accountable online spaces for connection to combat the pervasive experience of online harassment: according to the Anti-Defamation League, 44% of American adults have experienced online harassment in 2020. Beyond designing and engineering products with safety in mind, we leverage both internal and external experts to understand how toxicity manifests online and then create practical solutions. For example, we work closely with the Anti-Defamation League to continuously identify and create moderation policies to address hate speech.

 

161


Table of Contents

In-App Integration of Bumble Initiatives

The Moves Making Impact product feature within the Bumble app leverages users’ first move to give power to women globally. When users set up a new profile, they can select a cause that matters to them. Then, each time that user sends a first message, Bumble donates to a woman in the Vital Voices Global Partnership network aligned with that cause. In under two years, Bumble has donated to causes ranging from supporting transgender people in India to women in the U.S. workplace.

Policy Advocacy and Legislation Efforts

In 2019, Bumble released a product feature, Private Detector, which warns users who may be receiving an unsolicited lewd photo. We then recognized that we could influence legislation in Texas to create similar accountability beyond our platform. We initiated bipartisan legislation—Texas House Bill 2789—in partnership with state senators that made the sending of a lewd photo without the recipient’s consent a Class C misdemeanor. We are supporting similar legislation in other states and nationwide.

Healthy Relationships

According to the Hotline 2019 Impact, instances of digital abuse more than doubled in 2019. In response, Bumble is the presenting sponsor of “Love is Respect,” a program of the National Domestic Violence Hotline that engages, educates and empowers young people to identify, prevent and end dating abuse. We integrate “Love is Respect” in our business in the following ways: (1) Training for Bumble employees and Bumble Ambassadors; (2) Marketing content on various Bumble-owned channels such as OOH, social media, editorial, press, and in-app content; and (3) The option to engage the Hotline to audit our platform and provide recommendations as experts. With these approaches to integrate “Love is Respect” across our business, it provides invaluable resources and support to our employees and users.

Bumble Fund Investment Strategy

Bumble is building a bigger table in the world of venture capital through Bumble Fund, our early-stage, corporate investing vehicle focusing primarily on businesses founded and led by women of color. We invest in companies that solve problems disproportionately affecting women including exploratory investments in categories of interest.

Philanthropic Partnerships Program

We aim to build partnerships with non-profits that support our mission and connect with our business. Our main strategic philanthropic partners include the Anti-Defamation League, The National Domestic Violence Hotline, and Vital Voices. In addition to our core non-profit partners, we sponsor key initiatives or research by Black Women’s Health Imperative, NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, and Southern Poverty Law Center. We also partner with organizations like Austin Justice Coalition and GLAAD to provide resources and training for our employees.

Our People, Culture and Values

Our core values for our platforms are as follows, and we expect the same from our team:

 

   

Growth: Our collective priority is driving growth and delivering meaningful value to our users, our business, and our teammates by embracing challenges, taking risks, and using learnings to go after even greater opportunities.

 

   

Make the first move: We take initiative to advance the mission and the business, moving quickly and with focus, rigor and intent.

 

   

Honesty: We foster constructive and respectful honesty on our platforms and our teams, operating with directness and the intention of raising the bar for all.

 

162


Table of Contents
   

Kindness: We create environments where kindness and respect are paramount, both in our products and in our culture.

 

   

Accountability: We all take ownership of our objectives and our roles in advancing the mission and growing the business. And we all take responsibility for the safety and well-being of our Badoo and Bumble communities.

 

   

Inclusivity: We embrace differing perspectives and the opportunity to collaborate with teammates of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and cultures, bringing others along in pursuit of our goals.

As a result of our corporate culture, we attract a diverse team which enables us to execute on our mission. At the time of this offering, 54% of our management team and 73% of our Board are women. We believe that the diversity of our management and workforce is key to our success. For example, according to a McKinsey study, companies with more than 30% of women on their executive teams are significantly more likely to outperform those with fewer than 30%. We have proven that this cultural shift can be not just supportive to our employees, but drive value to all stakeholders.

As of September 30, 2020, we had over 650 full-time employees, of which approximately 560 are located outside of the United States; our largest workforces are in Austin, London and Moscow, with additional offices in New York, Los Angeles, Sydney, Mumbai, Berlin, Toronto, Valletta and Mexico City. We compete to attract and retain diverse and highly talented individuals, particularly people with expertise in engineering, product development, data science and machine learning. Our ability to recruit talent benefits from our mission-first orientation and brand. None of our employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements, and we consider our employee relations to be good.

Competition

The online dating industry is fast growing and highly competitive. We compete with a number of companies that provide dating products and services for the same markets in which we operate. However, online dating is not a winner-take-all market, with users on average using two different apps at the same time—and very few competitors operate at our scale or level of brand awareness. In addition, while we compete with other online dating platforms, offline forms of dating are sources of competition as well. We compete with offline dating services, such as in-person matchmakers, as well as more traditional forms of dating that involve people meeting offline without the use of dating products or services altogether. Because of the extensibility of the Bumble platform beyond dating, we also compete with social media and networking platforms.

We believe that our ability to compete successfully depends primarily on the following factors:

 

   

our ability to continue to increase social and technological acceptance and adoption of dating products, particularly in emerging markets and other parts of the world where the stigma is beginning to erode;

 

   

continued growth in internet access and smart phone adoption in certain regions of the world, particularly emerging markets;

 

   

our ability to maintain the value and reputation of our brands;

 

   

the scale, growth and engagement of our community relative to those of our competitors;

 

   

our ability to introduce new, and improve on existing, features, products and services in response to competition, user sentiment, online, market and industry trends, the ever-evolving technological landscape and the ever-changing regulatory landscape (in particular, as it relates to the regulation of consumer digital media platforms); and

 

   

our ability to continue developing new monetization features and improving on existing features.

 

163


Table of Contents

Intellectual Property

We believe that our rights in our intellectual property, including trademarks and domain names, as well as contractual provisions and restrictions on access to our proprietary technology, are important to our marketing efforts to develop brand recognition and differentiate our brand from our competitors. We own a number of trademarks that have been registered, or for which registration applications are pending, in the U.S. as well as in certain foreign jurisdictions. These trademarks include, among others, BUMBLE and BADOO. The current registrations of these trademarks are effective for varying periods of time and may be renewed periodically, provided that we, as the registered owner, or our licensees where applicable, comply with all applicable renewal requirements including, where necessary, the continued use of the trademarks in connection with similar services and goods. We expect to pursue additional trademark registrations to the extent we believe they would be beneficial and cost-effective.

In addition to trademark protection, we own numerous domain names, including www.bumble.com. We also enter into, and rely on, confidentiality and proprietary rights agreements with our employees, consultants, contractors and business partners to protect our trade secrets, proprietary technology and other confidential information. We further protect the use of our proprietary technology and intellectual property through provisions in both our customer terms of use on our website and in our vendor terms and conditions. For information regarding risks related to our intellectual property, please see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Information Technology Systems and Intellectual Property.”

Seasonality

We experience seasonality in user growth, user engagement, Paying User growth, and monetization on our platform. Historically, we see an increase in all of these metrics in the first quarter and during the Northern Hemisphere summer of the calendar year, and a slowdown in the rest of the calendar year. Our activity is also elevated in key seasonal calendar highs such as the January and February lead up to Valentine’s Day and the lead up to major holidays.

Licensing and Regulation

We are subject to a variety of laws and regulations in the United States and abroad that involve matters central to our business. Many of these laws and regulations are still evolving and being tested in courts, and could be interpreted in ways that could harm our business. These may involve privacy, data protection and personal information, rights of publicity, content, intellectual property, advertising, marketing, distribution, data security, data retention and deletion, electronic contracts and other communications, competition, protection of minors, consumer protection, telecommunications, taxation, economic or other trade prohibitions or sanctions, anti-corruption law compliance, securities law compliance, and online payment services. In particular, we are subject to federal, state, and foreign laws regarding privacy and protection of people’s data and we currently, and from time to time, may not be in technical compliance with all such laws. Foreign data protection, privacy, content, competition, and other laws and regulations can impose different obligations or be more restrictive than those in the United States. U.S. federal and state and foreign laws and regulations, which in some cases can be enforced by private parties in addition to government entities, are constantly evolving and can be subject to significant change. As a result, the application, interpretation, and enforcement of these laws and regulations are often uncertain, particularly in the new and rapidly-evolving industry in which we operate, and may be interpreted and applied inconsistently from country to country and inconsistently with our current policies and practices.

Proposed or new legislation and regulations could also significantly affect our business. For example, the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) took effect in May 2018 and applies to all of our products and services. The GDPR includes operational requirements for companies that receive or process personal data of residents of the European Union that are different from those previously in place in the European Union, and includes significant penalties for non-compliance. The Brazilian General Data Protection Law took effect in

 

164


Table of Contents

August 2020 and imposes requirements similar to GDPR on products and services offered to users in Brazil. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which took effect in January 2020, also establishes certain transparency rules and creates new data privacy rights for users, including rights to access and delete their personal information and new ways to opt-out of certain sales or transfers of their personal information, and provides users with additional causes of action. Additionally, California voters approved a new privacy law, the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), in the November 3, 2020 election. Effective starting on January 1, 2023 (with a look back to January 2022), the CPRA will significantly modify the CCPA, including by expanding consumers’ rights with respect to certain sensitive personal information. The CPRA also creates a new state agency that will be vested with authority to implement and enforce the CCPA and the CPRA. Similarly, there are a number of legislative proposals in the European Union, the United States, at both the federal and state level, as well as other jurisdictions that could impose new obligations or limitations in areas affecting our business. In addition, some countries are considering or have passed legislation implementing data protection requirements or requiring local storage and processing of data or similar requirements that could increase the cost and complexity of delivering our services. For information regarding risks related to these compliance requirements, please see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Regulation and Litigation—The varying and rapidly-evolving regulatory framework on privacy and data protection across jurisdictions could result in claims, changes to our business practices, monetary penalties, increased cost of operations, or declines in user growth or engagement, or otherwise harm our business.”

The foregoing description does not include an exhaustive list of the laws and regulations governing or impacting our business. See the discussion contained in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus for information regarding how actions by regulatory authorities or changes in legislation and regulation in the jurisdictions in which we operate may have a material adverse effect on our business.

Properties

Our corporate headquarters is located in leased office space in Austin, Texas and consists of approximately 10,000 square feet spread out across various properties. In addition, we have material properties located outside of the United States, including office spaces in London and Moscow and a data center in Prague.

We also lease a number of operations, data centers and other facilities in several states and in international locations. We believe that our facilities are generally adequate for our current anticipated and future use, although we may from time to time lease additional facilities or vacate existing facilities as our operations require.

Legal Proceedings

We are subject to various legal proceedings, claims, and governmental inspections, audits or investigations arising out of our business which cover matters such as general commercial, governmental regulations, product liability, environmental, intellectual property, employment and other actions that are incidental to our business, including a number of trademark proceedings, both offensive and defensive, regarding the BUMBLE mark. Although the outcomes of these claims cannot be predicted with certainty, in the opinion of management, the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

In April 2018, Match Group, Inc. filed a lawsuit in the Western District of Texas against Bumble Trading Inc. and Bumble Holding Limited for patent and trademark infringement, as well as trade secret misappropriation. In June 2020, we reached an agreement with Match Group, Inc. to settle such lawsuit.

On May 29, 2018, a plaintiff filed a class action complaint against Bumble Trading Inc. in the Superior Court of the State of California alleging that Bumble’s “women message first” feature discriminates against men and is therefore unlawful under California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act and Cal. Bus & Prof. Code Section 17200. The parties held a mediation on June 23, 2020 and signed a settlement agreement on November 20, 2020, subject to preliminary approval by the court.

 

165


Table of Contents

On November 13, 2018, a class action lawsuit was filed against Bumble Trading Inc. in the Northern District of California. There are two elements to the lawsuit: New York Dating Services Law and California Auto-Renewal Law. The parties held a mediation on April 2, 2020 ultimately resulting in the plaintiffs and Bumble accepting the mediator’s settlement proposal. The settlement received preliminary approval by the court on July 15, 2020, and final approval was granted on December 18, 2020. The settlement will be fully effective as of January 18, 2021. On August 26, 2020, the Company received an insurance reimbursement of $9.3 million related to the class action lawsuit, which has been recognized in the financial statements for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020.

At September 30, 2020, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, management has assessed that provisions of $60.4 million, $73.9 million and $75.7 million, respectively, are a reasonable estimate of any probable future obligation, including legal costs incurred to date and expected to be incurred up to completion, for the three litigations. For additional information, refer to Note 14, Commitments and Contingencies, within the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and Note 15, Commitments and Contingencies, within the audited consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

166


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT

Directors and Executive Officers

The following table sets forth the names, ages and positions of the directors, director nominees and executive officers of Bumble Inc.

 

Name

  

Age

  

Position

Whitney Wolfe Herd

   31    Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Tariq M. Shaukat

   48    President

Anuradha B. Subramanian

   39    Chief Financial Officer

Laura Franco

   58    Chief Legal and Compliance Officer

Ann Mather

   60    Chair of the Board of Directors

Christine L. Anderson

   44    Director

R. Lynn Atchison

   61    Director

Sachin J. Bavishi

   36    Director

Matthew S. Bromberg

   54    Director

Amy M. Griffin

   44    Director Nominee

Jonathan C. Korngold

   46    Director

Jennifer B. Morgan

   49    Director Nominee

Elisa A. Steele

   54    Director

Pamela A. Thomas-Graham

   57    Director

Whitney Wolfe Herd is our founder and has served as our Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our board of directors since January 2020. Prior to founding Bumble in 2014, Ms. Wolfe Herd was a co-founder of Tinder, a dating application, where she served as Vice President of Marketing from May 2012 to April 2014. Currently, Ms. Wolfe Herd serves on the board of directors of Imagine Entertainment as well as the Executive Board at Southern Methodist University’s Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, where she graduated with a B.A. in International Studies.

Tariq M. Shaukat has served as our President since July 2020. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Shaukat served as President for Google Cloud at Google LLC from June 2016 to July 2020. Prior to that, Mr. Shaukat served in various roles for Caesars Entertainment, including as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer from October 2014 to May 2016 and Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer from March 2012 to October 2014. Prior to joining Caesars Entertainment, Mr. Shaukat was a Partner at McKinsey & Company, and worked in a variety of roles in the technology industry. Since July 2019, he has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Public Storage. Mr. Shaukat holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University and an M.S. in Technology and Policy from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Anuradha B. Subramanian has served as our Chief Financial Officer since September 2020. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Subramanian served as Chief Financial Officer, Digital at Univision Communications Inc. from February 2018 to September 2020. Prior to that, Ms. Subramanian served as Chief Financial Officer, Digital at VICE Media during 2017. Prior to that, Ms. Subramanian served in various roles at Scripps Networks Interactive from August 2010 to January 2017, including most recently as the Head of Finance, Digital. Prior to Scripps Networks, Ms. Subramanian worked in investment banking at Citi as part of the Media and Telecom group. Ms. Subramanian began her career at Ernst & Young in the assurance division. Ms. Subramanian holds an M.B.A from the Yale School of Management and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honors) from Delhi University and is a Chartered Accountant in India.

Laura Franco has served as our Chief Legal and Compliance Officer since November 2020. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Franco served most recently as Executive Vice President, General Counsel of the CBS business of ViacomCBS since December 2019 and before that, Ms. Franco was Executive Vice President and

 

167


Table of Contents

General Counsel of CBS Corporation from March 2019 to December 2019. Prior to that, Ms. Franco had various senior legal positions at Viacom Inc. and CBS Corporation. Prior to joining Viacom Inc. in 1995, Ms. Franco began her career at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP where she practiced mergers and acquisitions and securities law. Ms. Franco holds a B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Ann Mather has served as the Chair of our board of directors since March 2020. Ms. Mather has more than 20 years of experience serving as a finance executive in a number of technology companies, particularly public companies, overseeing and assessing company performance. Ms. Mather also serves as a member of the board of directors of: Alphabet Inc., a global technology company; Arista Networks, Inc., a computer networking company; Glu Mobile Inc., a publisher of mobile games; and Netflix, Inc., a streaming media company. Ms. Mather also serves as a member of the board of directors of Airbnb, a vacation rental online marketplace company, as an independent trustee to the Dodge & Cox Funds board of trustees and was a director of Shutterfly, Inc., an internet-based image publishing company, from May 2013 to September 2019 when it became a private company. From September 1999 to April 2004, Ms. Mather was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Pixar, a computer animation film studio. Prior to her service at Pixar, Ann was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Village Roadshow Pictures, the film production division of Village Roadshow Limited. Ann holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Cambridge, is an honorary fellow of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, and is a chartered accountant.

Christine L. Anderson has served as a member of our board of directors since August 2020. Ms. Anderson is a Senior Managing Director and the Global Head of Public Affairs and Marketing at Blackstone. Ms. Anderson oversees Blackstone’s external and internal communications, brand strategy, marketing and Environmental Social Governance (ESG) functions. Prior to joining Blackstone in 2009, Ms. Anderson held political communications roles with the Governor of New York, the Kerry-Edwards presidential campaign and the Clinton White House. She has also worked in other financial communications and media roles, including with ABC News’ “Good Morning America.” She serves on the boards of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a biomedical research and education facility, and The Feminist Institute, a not-for-profit organization focused on digitizing the archives of important feminists. Ms. Anderson holds a B.A. in political science from The College of the Holy Cross.

R. Lynn Atchison has served as a member of our board of directors since October 2020. Ms. Atchison also serves as a director of Q2 Holdings, Inc., a provider of virtual banking solutions, and as a director of Absolute Software Corporation, a leading endpoint security software company. Ms. Atchison previously served as Chief Financial Officer of Spredfast, Inc., a social marketing software provider (acquired by Lithium Technologies, LLC.), from February 2017 to September 2018. Prior to joining Spredfast, Ms. Atchison served as the Chief Financial Officer of HomeAway, Inc., a provider of online vacation rental services (acquired by Expedia, Inc.), from August 2006 until March 2016. Prior to that, Ms. Atchison served as Chief Financial Officer or consultant to various software and technology organizations, including Hoover’s Inc., an early online provider of company information. Ms. Atchison began her career with Ernst & Young in the assurance division. Ms. Atchison is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a B.B.A. in accounting from Stephen F. Austin State University. 

Sachin J. Bavishi has served as a member of our board of directors since January 2020. Mr. Bavishi is a Managing Director in Blackstone’s Private Equity Group. Mr. Bavishi currently focuses on new investment opportunities in Technology, Media & Telecom. Since joining Blackstone in 2013, Mr. Bavishi has been involved in the execution of the firm’s investments in Ancestry, Catalent, Ipreo, Kronos, Performance Food Group, Pinnacle Foods, Refinitiv, SESAC, Tradeweb, Trilliant Food & Nutrition, UKG (Ultimate Software / Kronos), and Vungle. He currently serves as a Director of Ancestry, Bumble, Refinitiv, SESAC, UKG, and Vungle. Prior to joining Blackstone, Mr. Bavishi was an Associate at Olympus Partners where he evaluated and executed private equity investments across several industries. Prior to that, he worked in investment banking at Piper Jaffray in the Healthcare Group. Mr. Bavishi holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from The University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he graduated with Highest Distinction (Top 5%), and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated as a Palmer Scholar.

 

168


Table of Contents

Matthew S. Bromberg has served as a member of our board of directors since July 2020. Mr. Bromberg has served as Chief Operating Officer of Zynga Inc., a social media game developer, since August 2016. Prior to joining Zynga, Mr. Bromberg served in various roles at Electronic Arts Inc., a video game company, including most recently as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Operations of the mobile division at Electronic Arts Inc. from January 2015 to July 2016. Prior to joining Electronic Arts, Mr. Bromberg was the founder and Chief Executive Officer of I’mOK Inc., a location-based communication platform for families. Prior to this, Mr. Bromberg served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Major League Gaming Corp., a professional eSports company, and as Chief Executive Officer of Davidson Media Holdings, LLC, an online gaming investment and consulting partnership, and held a number of senior roles at AOL Inc. (now a subsidiary of Verizon Communications Inc.). Mr. Bromberg also serves on the board of directors of Fitbit, Inc. Mr. Bromberg holds a B.A. in English from Cornell University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Amy M. Griffin is expected to join our board of directors prior to the completion of this offering. Ms. Griffin is the Founder and Managing Partner of G9 Ventures, an early-stage fund focused on supporting companies that empower consumers to live, look, and feel better. Prior to founding G9, Ms. Griffin began her career in marketing at Ms. and Working Woman magazines before moving on to work at Sports Illustrated as a Sports Marketing and Olympic Manager. Beginning in 2011, Ms. Griffin started leveraging her operating and branding experience to both invest in and work alongside early-stage companies. In 2018, she formalized her portfolio into G9 Ventures. In 2019, Ms. Griffin co-founded Social Studies, a next-generation entertaining platform. In addition to her work at G9 and Social Studies, Ms. Griffin has held board positions at a number of organizations including KIPP, The Boys’ Club of NYC, The Virginia Athletics Foundation, The Spence School, The Mead Foundation, and One Love Foundation. She also serves as a trustee of the John & Amy Griffin Foundation. Ms. Griffin graduated from The University of Virginia with a B.A. in English.

Jonathan C. Korngold has served as a member of our board of directors since January 2020. Mr. Korngold is a Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Blackstone’s Growth Equity Business, which is focused on providing capital to companies seeking to manage the execution risks associated with high-growth environments. Mr. Korngold is a member of both the BXG and Tactical Opportunities Investment Committees at Blackstone. Prior to joining Blackstone in 2019, Mr. Korngold served in various roles at General Atlantic since 2001, most recently as the head of General Atlantic’s Global Financial Services and Healthcare sectors, Chairman of the firm’s Portfolio Committee, and as a member of the firm’s Management and Investment Committees. Prior to joining General Atlantic in 2001, Mr. Korngold was a member of Goldman Sachs’ Principal Investment Area and Mergers & Acquisitions groups in London and New York, respectively. Mr. Korngold holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and graduated with an A.B. in Economics from Harvard College.

Jennifer B. Morgan is expected to join our board of directors prior to the completion of this offering. Ms. Morgan is the Global Head of Portfolio Transformation and Talent at Blackstone. Prior to joining Blackstone in November 2020, Ms. Morgan served in various leadership roles at SAP SE from 2004 to April 2020, including most recently as Co-Chief Executive Officer from October 2019 to April 2020, and served on its executive board between 2017 and 2020. Previously, she was President of the SAP Cloud Business Group in 2019, President of SAP Americas and Asia Pacific Japan, Global Customer Operations, from 2017 to 2019, and President of SAP North America from 2014 to 2017. Prior to that she served in other leadership roles, including as head of SAP North America’s public sector organization and president of its Regulated Industries business unit. Prior to joining SAP SE, she served in various management roles at Siebel Systems and Accenture. Ms. Morgan serves as a member of the board of directors of Bank of New York Mellon and the National Academy Foundation. Ms. Morgan is also on the Board of Advisors at James Madison University’s College of Business. Ms. Morgan holds a B.A. in Business Administration from James Madison University.

Elisa A. Steele has served as a member of our board of directors since July 2020. Ms. Steele has served as a director of Namely, Inc., a human resources software company, including serving as the chair of the Namely board of directors since July 2019, and she previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of Namely from

 

169


Table of Contents

August 2018 to July 2019. Prior to joining Namely, Ms. Steele served in various positions at Jive Software, Inc., a collaboration software company (acquired by Aurea Software, Inc.), including as Chief Executive Officer and President, from February 2015 to July 2017. Prior to joining Jive Software, Ms. Steele served as Chief Marketing Officer and Corporate Vice President, Consumer Apps & Services at Microsoft Corporation, a worldwide provider of software, services and solutions, and Chief Marketing Officer of Skype, an internet communications company. Ms. Steele also has held executive leadership positions at Yahoo! Inc. and NetApp, Inc. Ms. Steele also serves on the boards of directors of Cornerstone OnDemand, Inc., Splunk Inc. and JFrog Ltd. Ms. Steele holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of New Hampshire and an M.B.A. from the Lam Family College of Business at San Francisco State University.

Pamela A. Thomas-Graham has served as member of our board of directors since August 2020. Since August 2016, Ms. Thomas-Graham has served as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Dandelion Chandelier LLC, a private digital media enterprise focused on the world of luxury. From 2010 to 2016, she served as a member of the Executive Board at Credit Suisse, a multinational investment bank and financial services company. While at the firm she held several titles, including Chair, New Markets for the Private Bank; and Global Chief Marketing and Talent Officer. From 2008 to 2010, she served as a Managing Director at Angelo, Gordon & Co., a privately held investment firm. From 2005 to 20007, Ms. Thomas-Graham was a Group President of Liz Claiborne Inc. (now Tapestry). She served as President and Chief Executive Officer of NBC Universal’s CNBC television, and President and Chief Executive Officer of CNBC.com, beginning in 1999. She began her career at global consultancy firm McKinsey & Co. in 1989, becoming the firm’s first black woman partner in 1995. Ms. Thomas-Graham is the Lead Independent Director of The Clorox Company. She also serves as a board member of Peloton Interactive Inc.; Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.; Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son; and Compass. Ms. Thomas-Graham holds a B.A. in Economics from Harvard University and a joint M.B.A.– J.D. from Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School.

In addition, Blackstone is entitled to designate a non-voting observer to attend meetings of our board of directors pursuant to our stockholders agreement. Blackstone has appointed Martin Brand, a Senior Managing Director and co-head of U.S. Acquisitions for Blackstone’s Private Equity Group, to serve as the non-voting observer. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Stockholders Agreement.”

Composition of the Board of Directors After this Offering

Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our board of directors. In connection with this offering, we will amend and restate our certificate of incorporation to provide for a classified board of directors, with            directors in Class I (expected to be            ),            directors in Class II (expected to be            ) and                directors in Class III (expected to be            ). See “Description of Capital Stock—Anti-Takeover Effects of Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws and Certain Provisions of Delaware Law—Classified Board of Directors.” In addition, we intend to enter into a stockholders agreement with our Principal Stockholders in connection with this offering. This agreement will grant our Sponsor and our Founder the right to designate nominees to our board of directors subject to the maintenance of certain ownership requirements in us. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Stockholders Agreement.”

Director Independence

Our board of directors has affirmatively determined that each of                 ,                 and                 qualify as independent directors under Nasdaq listing standards.

Background and Experience of Directors

When considering whether directors and director nominees have the experience, qualifications, attributes or skills, taken as a whole, to enable our board of directors to satisfy its oversight responsibilities effectively in light of our business and structure, the board of directors focuses primarily on each person’s background and experience as reflected in the information discussed in each of the directors’ and director nominees’ individual

 

170


Table of Contents

biographies set forth above. We believe that our directors and director nominees provide an appropriate mix of experience and skills relevant to the size and nature of our business. In particular, the members of our board of directors considered the following important characteristics, among others:

 

   

Ms. Wolfe Herd—our board of directors considered Ms. Wolfe Herd’s perspective, experience and thorough knowledge of our industry as our Founder and Chief Executive Officer.

 

   

Ms. Mather—our board of directors considered Ms. Mather’s service on the boards of a diverse group of companies in the technology industry and extensive financial and business experience gained from her time as the Chief Financial Officer of Pixar.

 

   

Ms. Anderson—our board of directors considered Ms. Anderson’s extensive management, communications and marketing experience from her involvement in Blackstone, as Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Public Affairs and Marketing.

 

   

Ms. Atchison—our board of directors considered Ms. Atchison’s significant management and business experience from her time as Chief Financial Officer of various technology companies and her knowledge of our industry.

 

   

Mr. Bavishi—our board of directors considered Mr. Bavishi’s extensive knowledge of our industry and his significant financial and investment experience from his involvement in Blackstone, including as a Managing Director.

 

   

Mr. Bromberg—our board of directors considered Mr. Bromberg’s extensive board and management experience as an executive of technology companies and thorough knowledge of our industry.

 

   

Ms. Griffin—our board of directors considered Ms. Griffin’s significant management and business experience as the Founder and Managing Partner of G9 Ventures and her knowledge of our industry.

 

   

Mr. Korngold—our board of directors considered Mr. Korngold’s significant financial and investment experience from his involvement at Blackstone, including as a Senior Managing Director, and his tenure at General Atlantic.

 

   

Ms. Morgan—our board of directors considered Ms. Morgan’s significant management, financial and business experience from her tenure at SAP SE and her involvement in Blackstone, including as Global Head of Portfolio Transformation and Talent.

 

   

Ms. Steele—our board of directors considered Ms. Steele’s extensive board and management experience as an executive of various technology companies and thorough knowledge of our industry.

 

   

Ms. Thomas-Graham—our board of directors considered Ms. Thomas-Graham’s service on the boards of a diverse group of companies, as well as her extensive leadership and business experience as a chief executive officer and executive leader of public and private companies.

Controlled Company Exception

After the completion of this offering, our Principal Stockholders will be party to a Stockholders Agreement, described in “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Stockholders Agreement” and will beneficially own approximately            % of the combined voting power of our Class A and Class B common stock (or            % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). As a result, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq corporate governance standards. Under these corporate governance standards, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance standards, including the requirements (1) that a majority of our board of directors consist of independent directors, (2) that our board of directors have a compensation committee that consists entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities and (3) that our director nominations be made, or recommended to our full board of directors, by our independent directors or by a nominations committee that consists entirely of independent directors and that

 

171


Table of Contents

we adopt a written charter or board resolution addressing the nominations process. Accordingly, you will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to these corporate governance requirements. In the event that we cease to be a “controlled company” and our shares continue to be listed on Nasdaq, we will be required to comply with these provisions within the applicable transition periods.

Board Committees

We anticipate that, prior to the completion of this offering, our board of directors will establish the following committees: an audit committee; a compensation committee; and a nominating and corporate governance committee. The composition and responsibilities of each committee are described below. Our board of directors may also establish from time to time any other committees that it deems necessary or desirable. Members serve on these committees until their resignation or until otherwise determined by our board of directors.

Audit Committee

Upon completion of this offering, we expect our audit committee will consist of                ,                  and                 , with                  serving as chair. Our audit committee will be responsible for, among other things:

 

   

selecting and hiring our independent auditors, and approving the audit and non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditors;

 

   

assisting the board of directors in evaluating the qualifications, performance and independence of our independent auditors;

 

   

assisting the board of directors in monitoring the quality and integrity of our financial statements and our accounting and financial reporting;

 

   

assisting the board of directors in monitoring our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;

 

   

reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting processes;

 

   

assisting the board of directors in monitoring the performance of our internal audit function;

 

   

monitoring the performance of our internal audit function;

 

   

reviewing with management and our independent auditors our annual and quarterly financial statements;

 

   

establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and the confidential, anonymous submission by our employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters; and

 

   

preparing the audit committee report required per SEC rules and regulations to be included in our annual proxy statement.

The SEC rules and Nasdaq rules require us to have one independent audit committee member upon the listing of our Class A common stock on Nasdaq, a majority of independent directors within 90 days of the effective date of the registration statement and all independent audit committee members within one year of the effective date of the registration statement.                  and                 qualify as independent directors under Nasdaq listing standards and the independence standards of Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act.

Compensation Committee

Upon completion of this offering, we expect our compensation committee will consist of                ,                  and                 , with                  serving as chair. Our compensation committee will be responsible for, among other things:

 

   

reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our CEO, evaluating our CEO’s performance in light of those goals and objectives, and, either as a committee or

 

172


Table of Contents
 

together with the other independent directors (as directed by the board of directors), determining and approving, or making recommendations to the board of directors with respect to, our CEO’s compensation level based on such evaluation;

 

   

reviewing and approving, or making recommendations to the board of directors with respect to, the compensation of our other executive officers, including annual base salary, bonus and equity-based incentives and other benefits;

 

   

reviewing and recommending the compensation of our directors;

 

   

reviewing and discussing annually with management our “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” disclosure required by SEC rules;

 

   

preparing the compensation committee report required by the SEC to be included in our annual proxy statement; and

 

   

reviewing and making recommendations with respect to our equity compensation plans.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

Upon completion of this offering, we expect our nominating and corporate governance committee will consist of                 ,                  and                 , with                  serving as chair. The nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for, among other things:

 

   

assisting our board of directors in identifying prospective director nominees and recommending nominees to the board of directors;

 

   

overseeing the evaluation of the board of directors and management;

 

   

reviewing developments in corporate governance practices and developing and recommending a set of corporate governance guidelines; and

 

   

recommending members for each committee of our board of directors.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Bumble Inc. does not presently have, nor did it have during the last completed fiscal year, a compensation committee. Decisions regarding the compensation of our executive officers have historically been made by the board of managers of the general partner of Bumble Holdings or a duly authorized committee thereof. Whitney Wolfe Herd, who is the founder of Bumble and serves as our Chief Executive Officer and member of our board of directors, generally participates in discussions and deliberations of the board of managers regarding executive compensation, including during the last completed fiscal year. Other than Ms. Wolfe Herd, no member of our board of directors was at any time during the last completed fiscal year, or at any other time, one of our officers or employees. None of our executive officers currently serves, or has served during the last completed fiscal year as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee (or other committee performing equivalent functions) of any entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving on our board of directors or compensation committee.We are party to certain transactions with affiliates of our Sponsor described in “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions.”

Code of Ethics

We will adopt a new Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of our officers, directors and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and controller, or persons performing similar functions, which will be posted on our website. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is a “code of ethics,” as defined in Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K. We will make any legally required disclosures regarding amendments to, or waivers of, provisions of our code of ethics on our website. The information contained on, or accessible from, our website is not part of this prospectus by reference or otherwise.

 

173


Table of Contents

Executive Compensation

Summary Compensation Table

The following table provides summary information concerning compensation earned by our principal executive officer and our two other most highly-compensated executive officers as of December 31, 2020 plus our former Chief Financial Officer, who would have been one of our most highly-compensated executive officers had he been serving as an executive officer as of December 31, 2020 (the “named executive officers” or “NEOs”) for services rendered for the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

Name and Principal
Position

  Year     Salary
($)(1)
    Bonus
($)(2)
    Stock
Awards
($)(3)
    Option
Awards
($)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)(4)
    Non-Qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings ($)
    All Other
Compensation
($)(5)
    Total ($)  

Whitney Wolfe Herd

Chief Executive Officer

    2020       637,500       —         18,642,249       —         119,796       —         —         19,399,545  
                 

Tariq M. Shaukat

President

    2020       252,459       350,000       13,983,427       —         —         —         200,000       14,785,886  

Anuradha B. Subramanian

Chief Financial Officer

    2020       125,410       190,000       4,072,367       —         19,690       —         10,000       4,417,467  
                 

Idan Wallichman

Former Chief Financial Officer

    2020       367,084       9,113,733       1,177,552       —         —         —         22,025       10,680,394  

 

(1)

The amounts reported represent the named executive officer’s base salary earned during the fiscal year covered. With respect to Mr. Wallichman, the U.S. dollar amount shown with respect to Mr. Wallichman’s base salary is based on the average monthly British pound sterling—U.S. dollar exchange rate for 2020 of 1.284.

(2)

With respect to Mr. Shaukat, the amount shown in this column reflects the bonus to which he was entitled pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement so long as he did not resign without Good Reason (as defined therein) prior to December 31, 2020. See “—Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table—Employment and Service Agreements—Shaukat Agreement” below. With respect to Ms. Subramanian, the amount shown in this column reflects the one-time additional bonus payment of $150,000, which we expect to pay to her in January 2021, and the portion of her sign-on bonus to which she was entitled to be paid within three business days following the commencement of her employment with us, in each case, pursuant to the terms of her employment agreement. With respect to Mr. Wallichman, the amount shown in this column reflects the aggregate Badoo Limited Bonus Program payouts for Mr. Wallichman earned in 2020 ($106,285 (based on the average monthly British pound sterling—U.S. dollar exchange rate for 2020 of 1.284)). With respect to Mr. Wallichman, the amount shown in this column also reflects the Transaction Bonus (as defined below) ($8,415,608), the Retention Bonus (as defined below) ($535,000 (based on the British pound sterling—U.S. dollar exchange rate on December 1, 2020 of 1.339)) and the Badoo Limited LTIP payout earned in 2020 ($56,136 (based on the British pound sterling—U.S. dollar exchange rate of 1.295 on November 1, 2020)). See “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table—Transaction, Retention and Legacy Cash Bonus Opportunities—Mr. Wallichman.”

(3)

The amounts reported represent the aggregate grant-date fair value of the Class B Units of, in the case of Ms. Wolfe Herd, Buzz Holdings L.P. and, in the case of Mr. Shaukat and Ms. Subramanian, Buzz Management Aggregator L.P. (the “Class B Units”), awarded to them in 2020 and the Incentive Units in Buzz Management Aggregator L.P. (the “Phantom Class B Units”) awarded to Mr. Wallichman in 2020, calculated in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) ASC Topic 718 (“Topic 718”), utilizing the assumptions discussed in Note 11, Stock-based Compensation, to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The 2.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units (as defined below), 3.0x Exit-Vesting Class B Units (as defined below) and 3.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units (as defined below) and the 2.5x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units (as defined below), 3.0x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units (as defined below) and 3.5x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units (as defined below) are subject to market conditions and an implied performance condition as defined under applicable accounting standards. The grant date fair value of the 2.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units, 3.0x Exit-Vesting Class B Units and 3.5x Exit-Vesting

 

174


Table of Contents
  Class B Units and the 2.5x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units, 3.0x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units and 3.5x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units was computed based upon the probable outcome of the performance conditions as of the grant date in accordance with Topic 718. Achievement of the performance conditions for the 2.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units, 3.0x Exit-Vesting Class B Units and 3.0x Exit-Vesting Class B Units and the 2.5x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units, 3.0x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units and 3.5x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units was not deemed probable on the grant date and, accordingly, no value is included in the table for these awards pursuant to the SEC’s disclosure rules. Assuming achievement of the performance conditions, the aggregate grant date fair values of the 2.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units, 3.0x Exit-Vesting Class B Units and 3.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units or the 2.5x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units, 3.0x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units and 3.5x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units, as applicable, would have been: Ms. Wolfe Herd—$3,371,140, $3,044,901 and $2,848,666, respectively; Mr. Shaukat—$2,675,496, $2,479,728 and $2,301,132, respectively; Ms. Subramanian—$783,072, $717,816 and $668,424, respectively; and Mr. Wallichman $203,019, $181,267 and $168,019, respectively. In June 2020, the Company and Ms. Wolfe Herd agreed to reduce the aggregate number of Class B Units awarded to her in January 2020 by 1,352,730. There was no incremental compensation expense in connection with such modification.
(4)

The amount reported reflects the aggregate Legacy Bonus Program payouts for Mses. Wolfe Herd and Subramanian earned in 2020. In addition to amounts earned under the Bonus Program, Ms. Wolfe Herd was also eligible to receive a target bonus of $287,500 based on her performance against a scorecard of financial and strategic objectives. Such amount is not yet calculable as of the date of this prospectus and is expected to be determined in the first quarter 2021. See “—Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table—Annual Bonus/Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation.”

(5)

Amounts in this column for Mr. Shaukat reflect the relocation payment and legal expense reimbursement to which he was entitled pursuant to his employment agreement. Amounts in the column for Ms. Subramanian reflect the legal expense reimbursement to which she was entitled pursuant to her employment agreement. Pursuant to her employment agreement Ms. Subramanian is also entitled to relocation payments. See “—Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table—Employment and Service Agreements.” The amount in this column for Mr. Wallichman reflects the employer contribution to our UK defined contribution plan.

Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table

Employment and Service Agreements

Buzz Holdings L.P. entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Wolfe Herd, dated as of January 29, 2020, and Bumble Trading LLC entered into an employment agreement with each of Mr. Shaukat, dated as of July 12, 2020, and Ms. Subramanian, dated as of August 14, 2020, which we refer to as the Wolfe Herd agreement, the Shaukat agreement and the Subramanian agreement, respectively. Badoo Limited entered into a Service Agreement with Idan Wallichman, dated as of October 11, 2016, which was amended by an agreement between Mr. Wallichman and a former director of Worldwide Vision Limited, dated as of October 5, 2017, and which we refer to as the Wallichman agreement. In addition, Buzz Holdings L.P. entered into a retention bonus agreement, dated as of December 11, 2019, which modified certain aspects of Mr. Wallichman’s employment following the Sponsor Acquisition and which we refer to as the retention agreement, and is described below and under “—Transaction, Retention and Legacy Cash Bonus Opportunities—Mr. Wallichman—Retention Agreement.”

Wolfe Herd Agreement

The Wolfe Herd agreement provides that Ms. Wolfe Herd will serve as our Chief Executive Officer. The Wolfe Herd agreement has an initial term of three years that automatically renews on an annual basis unless terminated in accordance with the Wolfe Herd agreement. The Wolfe Herd agreement also provides for (i) an annual base salary of $650,000, subject to annual review and increase (but not decrease) by the board of directors and (ii) eligibility to receive an annual bonus, with a target bonus of $450,000. Ms. Wolfe Herd is also entitled to participate in our employee benefit arrangements, on terms and conditions no less favorable than available to any other senior executive and to receive certain perquisites, including continued maintenance of a leased vehicle for the remainder of the current lease term for such vehicle, childcare services when Ms. Wolfe Herd is traveling with her child (or children, as the case may be), and full-time security benefits at any of our offices or when

 

175


Table of Contents

Ms. Wolfe Herd is traveling under circumstances that pose a risk to Ms. Wolfe Herd, as reasonably determined by Ms. Wolfe Herd.

The Wolfe Herd agreement contains restrictive covenants, including confidentiality of information, assignment of certain intellectual property, non-competition, non-solicitation and mutual non-disparagement covenant. The confidentiality covenant and non-disparagement covenants have an indefinite term, and the non-competition and non-solicitation covenants are effective both during the executive’s employment with us and until the later of January 29, 2023 or the second anniversary of termination of employment. In addition, the Wolfe Herd agreement further provides for severance benefits, as described below under “—Termination and Change in Control Provisions.”

Shaukat Agreement

The Shaukat agreement provides that Mr. Shaukat will serve as our President. The Shaukat agreement further provides for “at will” employment, commencing on July 20, 2020, that will continue unless otherwise terminated in accordance with the Shaukat agreement. The Shaukat agreement provides for (i) an annual base salary of $560,000, subject to increase in our discretion from time to time; (ii) eligibility to receive a performance bonus; (iii) eligibility for a grant of Class B Units in Buzz Management Aggregator L.P.; (iv) paid vacation; and (v) participation in our employee benefit plans. Under the Shaukat agreement, Mr. Shaukat will be guaranteed a bonus equal to $350,000 in 2020 so long as Mr. Shaukat does not resign without “good reason” (as defined in the Shaukat agreement) before December 31, 2020 and, with respect to fiscal years beginning after 2020, will be eligible to earn a bonus with an annualized target of no less than $500,000. Mr. Shaukat is required to relocate to the Austin, Texas metropolitan area on or before July 31, 2021 and, upon commencement of his employment, received a lump-sum relocation payment of $175,000. Mr. Shaukat is entitled to reimbursement of up to $25,000 in reasonable legal fees incurred in the negotiation of the Shaukat agreement and Mr. Shaukat’s Class B Unit award agreement.

The Shaukat agreement contains restrictive covenants, including confidentiality of information, assignment of certain intellectual property, non-competition, non-solicitation and mutual non-disparagement covenants. The confidentiality covenant and non-disparagement covenants have an indefinite term, and the non-competition and non-solicitation covenants are effective both during the executive’s employment with us and, if termination of Mr. Shaukat’s employment occurs prior to July 20, 2022, until the 18-month anniversary of termination of employment or, if termination of Mr. Shaukat’s employment occurs on or after July 20, 2022, until the second anniversary of termination of employment. In addition, the Shaukat Agreement further provides for severance benefits, as described below under “—Termination and Change in Control Provisions.”

Subramanian Agreement

The Subramanian agreement provides that Ms. Subramanian will serve as our Chief Financial Officer. The Subramanian agreement further provides for “at will” employment, commencing on September 21, 2020, that will continue unless otherwise terminated in accordance with the Subramanian agreement. The Subramanian agreement provides for (i) an annual base salary of $450,000, subject to increase in our discretion from time to time; (ii) eligibility to receive a quarterly bonus, with a target bonus equal to 25% of Ms. Subramanian’s base salary for such quarter; (iii) eligibility for a grant of Class B Units in Buzz Management Aggregator L.P.; (iv) paid vacation; and (v) participation in our employee benefit plans. The Subramanian agreement also provides that if we elect to transition from a quarterly bonus program to an annual bonus program, Ms. Subramanian will be eligible to participate in such program, in fiscal year 2021 and beyond, on a level consistent with similarly situated executives and with a target bonus determined by us, provided that, for fiscal year 2021, Ms. Subramanian is guaranteed a bonus equal to 60% of Ms. Subramanian’s base salary. The Subramanian agreement also provides for (i) a one-time additional bonus payment of $150,000, payable no later than January 31, 2021; (ii) a sign-on bonus payment of $80,000, 50% of which is payable within three business days following Ms. Subramanian’s commencement of employment, with the remainder paid on the six-month

 

176


Table of Contents

anniversary of employment; and (iii) a lump-sum relocation payment of $100,000, payable upon commencement of her employment and, if Ms. Subramanian relocates to the Austin, Texas metropolitan area on or before December 31, 2020 and enrolls her children in school in that area, a payment of an additional (net after-tax) $50,000. Ms. Subramanian is entitled to reimbursement of up to $10,000 in reasonable legal fees incurred in the negotiation of the Subramanian agreement and Ms. Subramanian’s Class B Unit award agreement.

The Subramanian agreement contains restrictive covenants, including confidentiality of information, assignment of certain intellectual property, non-competition, non-solicitation and mutual non-disparagement covenants. The confidentiality covenant and non-disparagement covenants have an indefinite term, and the non-competition and non-solicitation covenants are effective both during the executive’s employment with us and until the first anniversary of termination of employment. In addition, the Subramanian Agreement further provides for severance benefits, as described below under “—Termination and Change in Control Provisions.”

Wallichman Agreement

The Wallichman agreement provides that Mr. Wallichman would serve as our Chief Financial Officer. Effective as of October 15, 2020 and in connection with the hiring of Ms. Subramanian, the current Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Wallichman’s title was changed to Principal, Office of the President. The Wallichman agreement provides for his employment, commencing on November 15, 2016, that will continue unless otherwise terminated in accordance with the Wallichman agreement. The Wallichman agreement provides for (i) an annual base salary of £160,000 (increased to £300,000 pursuant to Mr. Wallichman’s retention agreement); (ii) eligibility to receive a bonus of up to 25% of Mr. Wallichman’s base salary (increased to 30% pursuant to Mr. Wallichman’s retention agreement); (iii) paid holiday and sick leave; and (iv) participation in our pension benefits and our insurance schemes.

The Wallichman agreement contains restrictive covenants, including confidentiality of information, intellectual property rights, non-competition, non-solicitation and non-disparagement. The confidentiality covenant has an indefinite term, the non-disparagement provision is effective during the executive’s employment with us and the non-competition and non-solicitation covenants are effective during the executive’s employment with us and until the six-month anniversary of termination of employment, with respect to the non-competition covenant, and the first anniversary of termination of employment, with respect to the non-solicitation covenant. In addition, the Wallichman agreement provides for a notice period (or pay in lieu of notice), as described below under “—Termination and Change in Control Provisions.”

Pursuant to Mr. Wallichman’s retention agreement, following the Sponsor Acquisition, Mr. Wallichman (i) was required to continue to carry out his job functions and duties as Chief Financial Officer, unless our board otherwise determined or until the transition date (as defined below) occurred, and to perform other responsibilities and have other duties as reasonably requested by Buzz Holdings L.P. and (ii) agreed that neither the Sponsor Acquisition nor the transition of Mr. Wallichman’s role as Chief Financial Officer would not, by itself, constitute “good reason” under the retention agreement or any other employment-related agreements between us and Mr. Wallichman.

Mr. Wallichman’s retention agreement also provides for payment of the retention bonus in connection with specified terminations of employment, as described below under “—Termination and Change in Control Provisions.”

Base Salary

We provide each named executive officer with a base salary, reflective of the competitive marketplace, for the services that the executive officer performs for us. Base salary serves as the primary form of fixed compensation for our NEOs. Base salary can also impact other compensation and benefit opportunities, including annual bonuses, as such opportunities are expressed as a percentage of base salary. This compensation

 

177


Table of Contents

component constitutes a stable element of compensation while other compensation elements are variable. Base salaries are reviewed annually and may be increased based on the individual performance of the named executive officer, company performance, any change in the executive’s position within our business, the scope of his or her responsibilities, market intelligence and any changes thereto.

Annual Bonus/Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation

We believe it is important to provide rewards for specific results and behaviors that support our overall long-term business strategy. Accordingly, our executive officers have been generally eligible to earn cash bonuses, short-term incentives tied to our financial results, under our legacy Bumble app bonus program (the “Legacy Bonus Program”). Amounts our executive officers are eligible to earn under the Legacy Bonus Program are expressed as a percentage of base salary and executive officers are eligible to earn 25% of their total target bonus amount based on our performance for each fiscal quarter. The key performance indicators used in our Legacy Bonus Program are registrations, monthly active users (“MAUs”), and revenue, in each case for the Bumble App. These key performance indicators are given different weightings depending on the executive’s role within the organization.

In 2020, the only NEOs who were eligible to participate in the Legacy Bonus Program were Ms. Wolfe Herd and Ms. Subramanian. Ms. Wolfe Herd was eligible to earn a total target bonus equal to 25% of her base salary. She was eligible to earn 25% of this amount based on our performance in each fiscal quarter of 2020, subject to her continued employment with us on the respective payment date. 30% of Ms. Wolfe Herd’s total award opportunity under the Legacy Bonus Program in 2020 was based on registrations, 40% was based on MAUs and 30% was based on revenue. Since Ms. Subramanian commenced her employment with us on September 21, 2020, she was eligible to earn a total target bonus equal to 25% of her base salary earned during the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2020 based on our performance during that fiscal quarter, subject to her continued employment with us on the payment date. 30% of Ms. Subramanian’s total award opportunity under the Legacy Bonus Program in 2020 was based on registrations, 40% was based on MAUs and 30% was based on revenue. Payouts under the Legacy Bonus Program in 2020 were uncapped and were proportional to the percentage of target performance achieved.

The amounts Mses. Wolfe Herd and Subramanian earned based on our performance in fiscal 2020 and in the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2020, respectively, are reported in the “Non-Equity Incentive Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table.

In addition to amounts earned under the Legacy Bonus Program, Ms. Wolfe Herd was also eligible to receive a target bonus of $287,500 in 2020 based on her performance against a scorecard of financial and strategic objectives. The financial objectives included revenue, year-over-year growth, EBITDA margin, and MAUs at year end targets. The strategic objectives related to: internal culture and performance; innovation goals; and improvements to the user experience. In determining the amount payable to Ms. Wolfe Herd under this bonus award, the board of managers of the general partner of Bumble Holdings retained discretion to assign weightings to the metrics, and to exercise positive or negative discretion if they determine it is appropriate in the circumstances. The amount Ms. Wolfe Herd earned under this bonus award has not yet been determined. We expect it will be determined in the first quarter of 2021.

In 2020, Mr. Wallichman was entitled to earn a total target bonus equal to 30% of his base salary under the Badoo Limited bonus program (the “Badoo Limited Bonus Program”). He was eligible to earn 25% of this amount in each fiscal quarter of 2020, subject to his continued employment with us on the respective payment date. 50% of Mr. Wallichman’s total award opportunity under the Badoo Limited Bonus program was discretionary and was based on Ms. Wolfe Herd’s assessment of his performance. The other 50% of his total award opportunity paid out at a flat rate of 92% of target. Mr. Wallichman received a payout of $106,285 (based on the average monthly British pound sterling—U.S. dollar exchange rate for 2020 of 1.284) for 2020 under the Badoo Limited Bonus Program. This amount is reported in the “Bonus” column of the Summary Compensation Table.

 

178


Table of Contents

In addition, in 2020, Mr. Shaukat and Ms. Subramanian were eligible to receive the bonus amounts to which they are entitled under their employment agreements. See “—Employment and Service Agreements.”

Transaction, Retention and Legacy Cash Bonus Opportunities – Mr. Wallichman

Transaction Bonus. In October 2019, in connection with the Sponsor Acquisition, we entered into an agreement with Mr. Wallichman pursuant to which, among other things, Mr. Wallichman agreed to forfeit his rights to any proceeds otherwise payable to him in the Sponsor Acquisition as our equity holder in exchange for a transaction bonus. Under this agreement, Mr. Wallichman was eligible to receive a transaction bonus of at least $5,000,000 (if the consideration paid in the Sponsor Acquisition was less than or equal to a specified threshold amount) but no more than $8,983,100 (if the consideration paid in the Sponsor Acquisition was equal to or greater than a specified maximum amount), with any bonus payment in between specified transaction values determined by linear interpolation. A portion of the transaction bonus corresponding to transaction-related contingent payments was held back and was payable if and when those transaction-related contingent payments were also made. In respect of this agreement, in February 2020, Mr. Wallichman received a transaction bonus equal to $8,306,373 and, in October 2020, received an amount equal to $109,235 in respect of the holdback portion. Additional amounts in respect of the holdback portion may be payable if additional transaction-related contingent payments are made.

Retention Agreement. In December 2019, in connection with the Sponsor Acquisition and to encourage Mr. Wallichman to remain employed with us, Buzz Holdings L.P. granted Mr. Wallichman a retention bonus equal to £400,000 ($535,744 based on the translation rate on December 1, 2020 of 1.339), subject to Mr. Wallichman’s continued employment with us through the earlier of (i) January 29, 2021 or (ii) the date that is three months following the earlier of (A) the date a new Chief Financial Officer is hired and (B) the date, if any, on which Mr. Wallichman experiences a material change in title, duties and responsibilities, measured in the aggregate, which we refer to as the transition date, and to his continued compliance with the terms of the retention agreement, including the satisfactory transition of his duties to our new Chief Financial Officer. The retention bonus is payable within 30 days following December 21, 2020, which is the three-month anniversary of the date that we hired Ms. Subramanian as our new Chief Financial Officer, subject to Mr. Wallichman’s continued employment on the payment date.

Badoo Limited Long-Term Incentive Plan. In connection with the Sponsor Acquisition and the integration of the Badoo and Bumble businesses, the legacy Badoo Limited long-term cash incentive plan, which we refer to as the Badoo Limited LTIP, was terminated. In connection with the termination of this arrangement, participants in the Badoo Limited LTIP were offered the opportunity to earn cash bonus amounts equal to certain amounts accrued in respect of the Badoo Limited LTIP at the time of the Sponsor Acquisition. In replacement of his rights under the Badoo Limited LTIP and in consideration of Mr. Wallichman’s release of claims in respect of the Badoo Limited LTIP, Mr. Wallichman was offered a cash bonus opportunity equal to £86,729 ($112,272 based on the average monthly translation rate on November 1, 2020 of 1.295) that vests and becomes payable with respect to 50% of such amount on each of November 28, 2020 and May 28, 2021, in each case, subject to his continued employment with Badoo Limited (or one of its affiliates) on such date.

Equity and Equity-Based Awards

Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units. In 2020, following the Sponsor Acquisition or, if later, following the service or employment commencement date, as applicable, directors (other than those affiliated with Blackstone) and employees, including Ms. Wolfe Herd, Mr. Shaukat, Ms. Subramanian and Mr. Wallichman, were granted long-term equity (or, in the case of Mr. Wallichman, equity-based) incentive awards designed to promote our interests and incentivize them to remain in our service. The long-term equity (or equity-based) incentive awards were granted, with respect to Ms. Wolfe Herd, in the form of Class B Units of Buzz Holdings L.P., with respect to Mr. Shaukat and Ms. Subramanian, in the form of Class B Units in Buzz Management Aggregator L.P. and, with respect to Mr. Wallichman, in the form of Phantom Class B Units of Buzz

 

179


Table of Contents

Management Aggregator L.P. For each Class B Unit of Buzz Management Aggregator L.P. issued to each director or employee, Buzz Holdings L.P. issues a Class B Unit of Buzz Holdings L.P. to Buzz Management Aggregator L.P. on a one-to-one basis.

The Class B Units are “profits interests” under U.S. federal income tax law having economic characteristics similar to stock appreciation rights (i.e., representing the right to share in any increase in the equity value of Buzz Holdings L.P. that exceeds specified thresholds). Phantom Class B Units are granted to employees who are located outside of the United States and are “phantom” interests (i.e., a notional interest representing the right to receive a payment in cash and/or in kind, as determined in our discretion, upon a distribution by Buzz Management Aggregator L.P. to a specified corresponding Class B Unit).

The Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units are divided into Time-Vesting Class B Units and Time-Vesting Phantom Class B Units (60% of the Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units granted) and Exit-Vesting Class B Units and Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units (40% of the Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units granted, of which one third are 2.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units or 2.5x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units, one third are 3.0x Exit-Vesting Class B Units or 3.0x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units and one third are 3.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units or 3.5x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units, as applicable). Unvested Class B Units are not entitled to distributions from Buzz Management Aggregator L.P., and unvested Phantom Class B Units are not entitled to any payments or benefits. In January 2020, Beehive Holdings II, LP, a Delaware limited partnership controlled by Ms. Wolfe Herd, was granted 81,764,248 Class B Units of Buzz Holdings L.P., which number was later reduced, with the consent of Ms. Wolfe Herd, in June 2020 to 80,411,518 Class B Units of Buzz Holding L.P. In August 2020, September 2020 and June 2020, respectively, Mr. Shaukat, Ms. Subramanian and Mr. Wallichman were granted the following number of Class B Units or Phantom Class B Units, as applicable, of Buzz Management Aggregator L.P.: Mr. Shaukat, 24,532,328 Class B Units; Ms. Subramanian, 8,177,433 Class B Units; and Mr. Wallichman, 5,451,628 Phantom Class B Units. The grant date fair values, calculated in accordance with FASB Topic 718, for these awards are reported in the Summary Compensation Table.

The specific sizes of the Class B Unit or Phantom Class B Units grants, as applicable, made to our named executive officers were determined in consideration of Blackstone’s practices with respect to management equity programs at other private companies in its portfolio and the executive officer’s position and level of responsibilities with us, and, with respect to Ms. Wolfe Herd, her role as founder.

Terms of the Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units

The vesting terms of the Class B Units and the Phantom Class B Units are as follows:

 

   

The Time-Vesting Class B Units and Time-Vesting Phantom Class B Units vest over 5 years, with 20% vesting on each of the first five anniversaries of a specified vesting reference date, subject to continued employment or service through each applicable vesting date.

 

   

The 2.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units and 2.5x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units vest when and if Blackstone receives cash proceeds (or, solely with respect to Ms. Wolfe Herd’s Class B Unit award agreement, marketable securities) in respect of its Class A units in Buzz Holdings L.P. equal to (x) a 2.5x multiple on its investment and (y) a 17.5% annualized internal rate of return on its investment, subject to the executive’s continued employment or service through each applicable vesting date.

 

   

The 3.0x Exit-Vesting Class B Units and 3.0x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units vest when and if Blackstone receives cash proceeds (or, solely with respect to Ms. Wolfe Herd’s Class B Unit award agreement, marketable securities) in respect of its Class A units in Buzz Holdings L.P. equal to (x) a 3.0x multiple on its investment and (y) a 17.5% annualized internal rate of return on its investment, subject to the executive’s continued employment or service through each applicable vesting date.

 

   

The 3.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units and 3.5x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units vest when and if Blackstone receives cash proceeds (or, solely with respect to Ms. Wolfe Herd’s Class B Unit award

 

180


Table of Contents
 

agreement, marketable securities) in respect of its Class A units in Buzz Holdings L.P. equal to (x) a 3.5x multiple on its investment and (y) a 17.5% annualized internal rate of return on its investment, subject to the executive’s continued employment or service through each applicable vesting date.

Subject to the call rights described below, in connection with a termination of employment for “cause” or in the event of a “restrictive covenant violation” (each as defined in the Class B Unit award agreements), all Class B Units, whether vested or unvested, will be immediately forfeited. In connection with a termination of employment for “cause,” a resignation by an executive when grounds for “cause” exist or in the event of a “restrictive covenant violation” (each as defined in the Phantom Class B Unit plan), all Phantom Class B Units, whether vested or unvested, will immediately be forfeited. In addition, other than the potential vesting that may occur in connection with certain terminations of employment or change in control events described under “—Termination and Change in Control Provisions—Equity and Equity-Based Awards,” all unvested Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units, as applicable, will be forfeited upon a named executive officer’s termination of employment.

The Class B Units held by Ms. Wolfe Herd, Mr. Shaukat and Ms. Subramanian are subject to call rights as set forth in the applicable Class B Unit award agreement, as follows:

 

   

If the named executive officer’s employment with us is terminated by us for cause, if the named executive officer resigns employment when grounds for cause exist, or if a restrictive covenant violation occurs, we have the right, but not the obligation, for a 12-month period following such termination of employment or restrictive covenant violation, as applicable, to purchase the vested Class B Units held by such named executive officer at a price per Class B Unit equal to the lesser of fair market value and cost, which means that such vested Class B Units will be effectively forfeited;

 

   

If the named executive officer’s employment with us is terminated for any reason other than as set forth above, we have the right, but not the obligation, for a 12-month period following such termination of employment, to purchase the vested Class B Units held by such named executive officer at a price per Class B Unit equal to fair market value; or

 

   

Solely with respect to Mr. Shaukat or Ms. Subramanian, if the named executive officer engages in any “competitive activity” (as defined in the applicable Class B Unit award agreement), regardless of whether such engagement constitutes a restrictive covenant violation, we have the right, but not the obligation, for a 12-month period following such engagement in a competitive activity, to purchase the vested Class B Units held by such named executive officer at a price per Class B Unit equal to fair market value.

Upon a termination of employment other than (i) for cause or (ii) a resignation by Mr. Wallichman when grounds for cause exist, and other than upon a restrictive covenant violation, vested Phantom Class B Units remain outstanding or, at our election, are subject to cancellation and payment therefor, as follows:

 

   

If the named executive officer’s employment with us is terminated for any reason other than (i) for cause or (ii) a resignation by the executive when grounds for cause exist, and other than upon a restrictive covenant violation, we have the right, but not the obligation, for a 12-month period following such termination of employment or restrictive covenant violation, as applicable, to cancel any vested Phantom Class B Units held by such named executive officer for an amount equal to the fair market value of such vested Phantom Class B Units.

 

   

If the named executive engages in any “competitive activity” (as defined in the Phantom Class B Unit plan), regardless of whether such engagement constitutes a restrictive covenant violation, we have the right, but not the obligation, for a 12-month period following such engagement in a competitive activity, to cancel any vested Phantom Class B Units held by such named executive officer for an amount equal to the fair market value of such vested Phantom Class B Units.

In addition, as a condition to receiving their Class B Units, each of Ms. Wolfe Herd, Mr. Shaukat and Ms. Subramanian was required to enter into an incentive unit award agreement with Buzz Management

 

181


Table of Contents

Aggregator L.P. and/or Buzz Holdings L.P., as applicable, and become a party to the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Buzz Management Aggregator L.P. and/or Buzz Holdings L.P., as applicable, and the Securityholders Agreement. As a condition to receiving his Phantom Class B Units, Mr. Wallichman was required to enter into an incentive unit award agreement with Buzz Management Aggregator L.P. and his employer, Badoo Limited. In addition, as a condition of receiving the Class B Units or the Phantom Class B Units, as applicable, each of the named executive officers agreed to certain restrictive covenants, including confidentiality of information, non-competition, non-solicitation and non-disparagement covenants. In the case of Ms. Wolfe Herd and Mr. Shaukat, the non-disparagement covenant is mutual. The confidentiality covenant and non-disparagement covenants have an indefinite term, and the non-competition and non-solicitation covenants are effective both during the executive’s employment with us and for a period following termination of employment, as follows: Mses. Wolfe Herd and Subramanian and Mr. Wallichman, until the later of January 29, 2023 or the second anniversary of termination of employment and Mr. Shaukat, if termination of Mr. Shaukat’s employment occurs prior to July 20, 2022, until the 18-month anniversary of termination of employment or, if termination of Mr. Shaukat’s employment occurs on or after July 20, 2022, until the second anniversary of termination of employment. Class B Units, Phantom Class B Units and proceeds received in respect thereof are subject to customary clawback upon a termination of employment by us for cause, a resignation by a named executive officer where grounds for cause exist or certain restrictive covenant violations.

Purchased Units. In connection with the Sponsor Acquisition, Ms. Wolfe Herd reinvested in Class A units of Buzz Holdings L.P. and, in connection with their commencement of employment, certain key executives were provided with the opportunity to invest in Class A units of Buzz Management Aggregator L.P. This investment opportunity further aligns the individual’s financial interests with those of our equity-owners. As of the date of this offering, Beehive Holdings III, LP, a Delaware limited partnership controlled by Ms. Wolfe Herd, invested in 286,198,242 Class A units of Buzz Holdings L.P. (which amount reflects the settlement of the loan to our Founder as described under “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Sponsor Acquisition—Loan to Our Founder”) and Mr. Shaukat invested in 1,000,000 Class A units of Buzz Management Aggregator L.P.

Retirement and Other Benefits

Our named executive officers are eligible to receive the same benefits we provide, and to participate in all plans we offer, to other full-time employees, including: health and dental insurance; group term life insurance; long-term disability insurance; other health and welfare benefits; as to Mses. Wolfe Herd and Subramanian and Mr. Shaukat, our 401(k) Savings Plan; as to Mr. Wallichman, our UK defined contribution plan; and other voluntary benefits.

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2020

The following table provides information regarding outstanding equity awards made to our named executive officers as of December 31, 2020.

 

     Stock Awards  

Name

   Number of Shares or
Units of Stock That
Have Not Vested
(#)(1)
     Market Value of
Shares or Units of
Stock That Have
Not Vested
($)(2)
     Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned Shares,
Units or Other
Rights That Have
Not Vested
(#)(3)
     Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or Payout
Value
of Unearned Shares,
Units or Other
Rights That Have
Not Vested
($)(4)
 

Whitney Wolfe Herd

     48,246,911           32,164,607     

Tariq M. Shaukat

     14,719,397           9,812,931     

Anuradha B. Subramanian

     4,906,466           3,270,977     

Idan Wallichman

     3,270,977           2,180,651     

 

(1)

With respect to Mses. Wolfe Herd and Subramanian and Mr. Shaukat, reflects Time-Vesting Class B Units that vest as to 20% of such units on each of the first five anniversaries of the applicable Vesting Reference

 

182


Table of Contents
  Date. The Vesting Reference Date for Ms. Wolfe Herd’s Class B Units is January 29, 2020; the Vesting Reference Date for Mr. Shaukat’s Class B Units is July 20, 2020; and the Vesting Reference Date for Ms. Subramanian’s Class B Units is September 21, 2020. With respect to Mr. Wallichman, reflects Time-Vesting Phantom Class B Units that vest as to 20% of such units on each of the first five anniversaries of the Vesting Reference Date, which is January 29, 2020. See “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table—Equity and Equity-Based Awards.”
(2)

Amounts in this column are based on the appreciation in the value of our business, if any, from and after the date of grant through the date of our most recent valuation prior to December 31, 2020.

(3)

With respect to Mses. Wolfe Herd and Subramanian and Mr. Shaukat, reflects Exit-Vesting Class B Units (of which one third are 2.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units, one third are 3.0x Exit-Vesting Class B Units and one third are 3.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units). With respect to Mr. Wallichman, reflects Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units (of which one third are 2.5x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units, one third are 3.0x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units and one third are 3.5x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units). The vesting terms of these Exit-Vesting Class B Units and Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units are described under “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table—Equity and Equity-Based Awards.”

(4)

Amounts in this column are based on the appreciation in the value of our business, if any, from and after the date of grant through the date of our most recent valuation prior to December 31, 2020.

Termination and Change in Control Provisions

Severance Arrangements

Ms. Wolfe Herd. Pursuant to the terms of the Wolfe Herd agreement, if Ms. Wolfe Herd’s employment is terminated (i) by us without “cause” (as defined in the Wolfe Herd agreement) and not due to her death or disability or (ii) for “good reason” (as defined in the Wolfe Herd agreement) by Ms. Wolfe Herd, Ms. Wolfe Herd will be entitled to receive the following severance payments and benefits, in addition to certain accrued obligations (including any earned but unpaid prior year annual bonus):

 

   

an amount equal to 12 months’ base salary, payable in equal monthly installments over 12 months;

 

   

an amount equal to the target bonus for the year of termination of employment, payable within 60 days following such termination of employment; and

 

   

if Ms. Wolfe Herd timely elects continued coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), continued medical and dental coverage, at active employee rates, for up to 12 months following termination of employment or, if earlier, until the date on which Ms. Wolfe Herd becomes eligible for medical and/or dental coverage from a subsequent employer.

In addition, upon a termination of Ms. Wolfe Herd’s employment due to her death or as a result of her disability, in addition to certain accrued obligations (including any earned but unpaid prior year annual bonus), Ms. Wolfe Herd will be entitled to a pro-rated bonus for the year of termination of employment, based on actual performance and paid no later than two and one-half months after the end of the applicable performance period, which we refer to as the pro-rated bonus.

Our obligation to provide the severance payments and benefits are contingent upon Ms. Wolfe Herd’s execution and non-revocation of a release of claims and Ms. Wolfe Herd’s continued compliance, in all material respects, with any existing non-competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements with us.

Mr. Shaukat. Pursuant to the terms of the Shaukat agreement, if Mr. Shaukat’s employment is terminated (i) by us without “cause” (as defined in the Shaukat agreement) and not due to his death or disability or (ii) for “good reason” (as defined in the Shaukat agreement), Mr. Shaukat will be entitled to receive the following severance payments and benefits, in addition to certain accrued obligations (including any earned but unpaid prior year annual bonus):

 

   

if such termination of employment occurs (i) prior to July 20, 2022, an amount equal to the sum of (x) 18 months’ base salary and (y) 150% of Mr. Shaukat’s target annual bonus or (ii) on or following

 

183


Table of Contents
 

July 20, 2022, an amount equal to the sum of (x) 24 months’ base salary and (y) 200% of Mr. Shaukat’s target annual bonus, in each case, payable in equal monthly installments over 18 months or 24 months, as applicable; and

 

   

if Mr. Shaukat timely elects continued coverage under COBRA, continued medical and dental coverage, at active employee rates.

In addition, upon a termination of Mr. Shaukat’s employment due to his death or as a result of his disability, in addition to certain accrued obligations (including any earned but unpaid prior year annual bonus), Mr. Shaukat will be entitled to the pro-rated bonus.

Our obligation to provide the severance payments and benefits listed above are contingent upon Mr. Shaukat’s execution and non-revocation of a release of claims and Mr. Shaukat’s continued compliance with any existing non-competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements with us.

Ms. Subramanian. Pursuant to the terms of the Subramanian agreement, if Ms. Subramanian’s employment is terminated (i) by us without “cause” (as defined in the Subramanian agreement) and not due to her death or disability or (ii) terminated for “good reason” (as defined in the Subramanian agreement) by Ms. Subramanian, Ms. Subramanian will be entitled to receive the following severance payments and benefits, in addition to certain accrued obligations (including any earned but unpaid prior performance period bonus) and payment of any unpaid portion of Ms. Subramanian’s additional bonus payment and/or sign-on bonus payment (as described in more detail above in “—Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table—Employment and Service Agreements—Subramanian Agreement”):

 

   

an amount equal to 12 months’ base salary, payable in equal monthly installments over 12 months;

 

   

the pro-rated bonus; and

 

   

if Ms. Subramanian timely elects continued coverage under COBRA, continued medical and dental coverage, at active employee rates, for up to 12 months following termination of employment or, if earlier, until the date on which Ms. Subramanian becomes eligible for medical and/or dental coverage from a subsequent employer.

In addition, upon a termination of Ms. Subramanian’s employment due to her death or as a result of her disability, in addition to certain accrued obligations (including any earned but unpaid prior year annual bonus), Ms. Subramanian will be entitled to the pro-rated bonus.

Our obligation to provide the severance payments and benefits listed above are contingent upon Ms. Subramanian’s execution and non-revocation of a release of claims and Ms. Subramanian’s continued compliance with any existing non-competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements with us.

Mr. Wallichman. Pursuant to the terms of the Wallichman agreement, we are required to give Mr. Wallichman 12 months’ prior notice of termination of his employment, other than for a termination of employment by us for “cause” (as described in the Wallichman agreement) and, Mr. Wallichman is required to give us six months’ prior notice of termination of his employment, which 12 or six month period, as applicable, we refer to as the notice period. In our discretion, we may terminate the notice period and pay to Mr. Wallichman, in lieu of notice, amounts otherwise payable to Mr. Wallichman during the notice period (or remainder thereof) as provided in the applicable agreements.

In addition, pursuant to the terms of Mr. Wallichman’s retention agreement, if Mr. Wallichman’s employment is terminated by us without cause or by Mr. Wallichman for “good reason” (as defined in Mr. Wallichman’s retention agreement), Mr. Wallichman will be paid the retention bonus, if unpaid, within 30 days following his termination of employment or, if sooner, on the date that the retention bonus would otherwise have been paid.

 

184


Table of Contents

Equity and Equity-Based Awards

Termination without “cause” or by executive for “good reason”

Ms. Wolfe Herd. In the event that Ms. Wolfe Herd’s employment is terminated by us without “cause” or by Ms. Wolfe Herd for “good reason” (each as defined in the Wolfe Herd agreement), an additional 20% of the Time-Vesting Class B Units will become vested upon such termination of employment. Furthermore, the 2.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units, 3.0x Exit-Vesting Class B Units and 3.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units will remain eligible to vest for 180 days following termination of employment if the applicable performance-vesting criteria discussed above under “—Narrative Disclosure Summary to Compensation Table—Equity and Equity-Based Awards—Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units” is satisfied during such 180-day period (including upon a change in control event that occurs during such period, as described below).

Mr. Shaukat, Ms. Subramanian and Mr. Wallichman. There is no additional vesting with respect to the Class B Units or Phantom Class B Units, as applicable, held by Mr. Shaukat, Ms. Subramanian or Mr. Wallichman upon a termination of employment by us without cause (other than as set forth below following a change in control event) or by Mr. Shaukat, Ms. Subramanian or Mr. Wallichman for good reason.

Change in Control

Ms. Wolfe Herd. If a change in control (generally defined to include the acquisition of a majority of Bumble Holdings by a third party) occurs while Ms. Wolfe Herd is employed or providing services, all unvested Time-Vesting Class B Units will become fully vested on an accelerated basis. Furthermore, the 2.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units, 3.0x Exit-Vesting Class B Units and 3.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units will vest to the extent the applicable vesting criteria discussed above under “—Narrative Disclosure Summary to Compensation Table—Equity and Equity-Based Awards—Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units” is satisfied in connection with such change in control event. Any such 2.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units, 3.0x Exit-Vesting Class B Units and 3.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units that do not vest in connection with the change in control event will remain outstanding and eligible to vest in connection with the receipt by Blackstone of cash or marketable securities (as determined in accordance with Ms. Wolfe Herd’s Class B Unit award agreement) in respect of its investment prior to Ms. Wolfe Herd’s termination of employment with us or, if applicable, during the 180-day period following termination of employment by us without “cause” or by Ms. Wolfe Herd for “good reason.”

Mr. Shaukat, Ms. Subramanian and Mr. Wallichman. If a change in control occurs while Mr. Shaukat, Ms. Subramanian or Mr. Wallichman is employed or providing services, and, within the two-year period following such change in control event, the employment of Mr. Shaukat, Ms. Subramanian or Mr. Wallichman, as applicable, is terminated by us (or a successor) without cause, then all then-unvested outstanding Time-Vesting Class B Units or Time-Vesting Phantom Class B Units, as applicable (or substitute equity or consideration of a successor or its affiliate, as applicable), will become vested upon such termination of employment. Furthermore, the 2.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units or 2.5x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units, 3.0x Exit-Vesting Class B Units or 3.0x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units and 3.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units and 3.5x Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units, as applicable, will vest to the extent the applicable vesting criteria discussed above under “—Narrative Disclosure Summary to Compensation Table—Equity and Equity-Based Awards—Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units” is satisfied in connection with such change in control event.

Compensation Arrangements to be Adopted in Connection with this Offering

Omnibus Incentive Plan

In connection with this offering, our Board of Directors expects to adopt, and we expect our stockholders to approve, the Bumble Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan, which we refer to as the Omnibus Incentive Plan, prior to the completion of the offering. The term “Board of Directors” as used in this “Omnibus Incentive Plan” section refers to the Board of Directors of Bumble Inc.

 

185


Table of Contents

Purpose. The purpose of our Omnibus Incentive Plan is to provide a means through which to attract and retain key personnel and to provide a means whereby our directors, officers, employees, consultants and advisors can acquire and maintain an equity interest in us, or be paid incentive compensation, including incentive compensation measured by reference to the value of our shares of Class A common stock, thereby strengthening their commitment to our welfare and aligning their interests with those of our stockholders.

Eligibility. Eligible participants are any (i) individual employed by Bumble or any of its subsidiaries, provided that no employee covered by a collective bargaining agreement will be eligible to receive awards under our Omnibus Incentive Plan unless and to the extent such eligibility is set forth in a collective bargaining agreement or in an agreement or instrument related thereto; (ii) director or officer of Bumble or any of its subsidiaries; or (iii) a consultant or advisor to Bumble or any of its subsidiaries who may be offered securities registrable pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act who, in the case of each of clauses (i) through (iii) above, has entered into an award agreement or who has received written notification from the Committee (as defined below) or its designee that they have been selected to participate in our Omnibus Incentive Plan. As of                 , 2020, there were approximately                  such persons eligible to participate in the programs to be approved under our Omnibus Incentive Plan.

Administration. Our Omnibus Incentive Plan will be administered by the compensation committee of our Board of Directors, or such other committee of our Board of Directors to which it has properly delegated power, or if no such committee or subcommittee exists, our Board of Directors (such administering body referred to herein, for purposes of this description of the Omnibus Incentive Plan, as the “Committee”). Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules and regulations of any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which our securities are listed or traded, the Committee may allocate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any one or more of its members and may delegate all or any part of its responsibilities and powers to any person or persons selected by it in accordance with the terms of our Omnibus Incentive Plan. The Committee is authorized to: (i) designate participants; (ii) determine the type or types of awards to be granted to a participant; (iii) determine the number of shares of our Class A common stock to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights or other matters are to be calculated in connection with, awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any award; (v) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances awards may be settled in, or exercised for, cash, shares of our Class A common stock or Common Units, as applicable, other securities, other awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited or suspended and the method or methods by which awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances the delivery of cash, shares of our Class A common stock, other securities, other awards, or other property and other amounts payable with respect to an award will be deferred either automatically or at the election of the participant or of the Committee; (vii) interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in, and/or supply any omission in our Omnibus Incentive Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or award granted under, our Omnibus Incentive Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive any rules and regulations and appoint such agents as the Committee may deem appropriate for the proper administration of our Omnibus Incentive Plan; (ix) adopt sub-plans; and (x) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of our Omnibus Incentive Plan. Unless otherwise expressly provided in our Omnibus Incentive Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to our Omnibus Incentive Plan or any award or any documents evidencing awards granted pursuant to our Omnibus Incentive Plan are within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time, and are final, conclusive and binding upon all persons or entities, including, without limitation, us, any participant, any holder or beneficiary of any award and any of our stockholders.

Awards Subject to our Omnibus Incentive Plan. Our Omnibus Incentive Plan provides that the total number of shares of our Class A common stock or Common Units (collectively, “Interests”) that may be issued under our Omnibus Incentive Plan is equal to no more than              shares of our Class A common stock (excluding shares of Class A common stock received by, or to be received by, participants in connection with the exchange for, conversion into, redemption of, or substitution for Common Units or for such other equity or equity-based

 

186


Table of Contents

awards issued by Bumble Holdings (or a predecessor or affiliate thereof) and exchangeable for, convertible into or redeemable or substitutable for, shares of Class A common stock), or the “Absolute Share Limit”; provided, however, that the Absolute Share Limit shall be increased on the first day of each fiscal year beginning with the 2022 fiscal year in an amount equal to the least of (x)                Interests, (y)                of the total number of Interests outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year, and (z) a lower number of Interests as determined by our Board of Directors. Of this amount, the maximum number of Interests for which incentive stock options may be granted is                ; and during a single fiscal year, each non-employee director shall be granted a number of Interests subject to awards, taken together with any cash fees paid to such non-employee director during the fiscal year, equal to a total value of $                or such lower amount as determined by our Board of Directors. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, shares of our Class A common stock delivered by us or our affiliates upon exchange of Common Units or other equity securities of any of our subsidiaries that have been issued under our Omnibus Incentive Plan shall be issued under our Omnibus Incentive Plan. Except for “Substitute Awards” (as described below), to the extent that an award expires or is canceled, forfeited, terminated, settled in cash, or otherwise is settled without issuance to the participant of the full number of Interests to which the award related, the unissued shares will again be available for grant under our Omnibus Incentive Plan. Shares of our Class A common stock withheld in payment of the exercise price, or taxes relating to an award, and shares equal to the number of shares surrendered in payment of any exercise price, or taxes relating to an award, shall be deemed to constitute shares not issued; provided, however, that such shares shall not become available for issuance if either: (i) the applicable shares are withheld or surrendered following the termination of our Omnibus Incentive Plan or (ii) at the time the applicable shares are withheld or surrendered, it would constitute a material revision of our Omnibus Incentive Plan subject to stockholder approval under any then-applicable rules of the national securities exchange on which our Class A common stock is listed. No award may be granted under our Omnibus Incentive Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date (as defined in our Omnibus Incentive Plan), but awards granted before then may extend beyond that date. Awards may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be granted in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an entity directly or indirectly acquired by us or with which we combine, or Substitute Awards, and such Substitute Awards will not be counted against the Absolute Share Limit, except that Substitute Awards intended to qualify as incentive stock options will count against the limit on incentive stock options described above.

Grants. All awards granted under our Omnibus Incentive Plan will vest and become exercisable in such manner and on such date or dates or upon such event or events as determined by the Committee, including, without limitation, attainment of Performance Conditions. For purposes of this proxy statement, “Performance Conditions” means specific levels of performance of Bumble (and/or one or more members of its subsidiaries, divisions or operational and/or business units, product lines, brands, business segments, administrative departments, or any combination of the foregoing), which may be determined in accordance with GAAP or on a non-GAAP basis on the following measures: (i) net earnings, net income (before or after taxes), or consolidated net income; (ii) basic or diluted earnings per share (before or after taxes); (iii) net revenue or net revenue growth; (iv) gross revenue or gross revenue growth, gross profit or gross profit growth; (v) net operating profit (before or after taxes); (vi) return measures (including, but not limited to, return on investment, assets, capital, employed capital, invested capital, equity, or sales); (vii) cash flow measures (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, or cash flow return on capital), which may be, but are not required to be, measured on a per share basis; (viii) actual or adjusted earnings before or after interest, taxes, depreciation, and/or amortization (including EBIT and EBITDA); (ix) gross or net operating margins; (x) productivity ratios; (xi) share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total stockholder return); (xii) expense targets or cost reduction goals, general and administrative expense savings; (xiii) operating efficiency; (xiv) objective measures of customer/client satisfaction; (xv) working capital targets; (xvi) measures of economic value added or other ‘value creation’ metrics; (xvii) enterprise value; (xviii) sales; (xix) stockholder return; (xx) customer/client retention; (xxi) competitive market metrics; (xxii) employee retention; (xxiii) objective measures of personal targets, goals, or completion of projects (including, but not limited to, succession and hiring projects, completion of specific acquisitions, dispositions, reorganizations, or other corporate transactions or capital-raising transactions, expansions of specific business operations, and meeting divisional or project budgets); (xxiv)

 

187


Table of Contents

comparisons of continuing operations to other operations; (xxv) market share; (xxvi) cost of capital, debt leverage, year-end cash position or book value; (xxvii) strategic objectives; or (xxviii) any combination of the foregoing. Any one or more of the aforementioned performance criteria may be stated as a percentage of another performance criteria, or used on an absolute or relative basis to measure the performance of one or more of Bumble or its subsidiaries as a whole or any divisions or operational and/or business units, product lines, brands, business segments, or administrative departments of Bumble and/or one or more of its subsidiaries or any combination thereof, as the Committee may deem appropriate, or any of the above performance criteria may be compared to the performance of a selected group of comparison companies, or a published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or as compared to various stock market indices.

Options. Under our Omnibus Incentive Plan, the Committee may grant non-qualified stock options and incentive stock options with terms and conditions determined by the Committee that are not inconsistent with our Omnibus Incentive Plan; provided, that all stock options granted under our Omnibus Incentive Plan are required to have a per share exercise price that is not less than 100% of the fair market value of our shares of Class A common stock underlying such stock options on the date such stock options are granted (other than in the case of options that are Substitute Awards), and all stock options that are intended to qualify as incentive stock options must be granted pursuant to an award agreement expressly stating that the options are intended to qualify as incentive stock options, and will be subject to the terms and conditions that comply with the rules as may be prescribed by Section 422 of the Code. The maximum term for stock options granted under our Omnibus Incentive Plan will be ten years from the initial date of grant, or with respect to any stock options intended to qualify as incentive stock options, such shorter period as prescribed by Section 422 of the Code. However, if a non-qualified stock option would expire at a time when trading of our shares of Class A common stock is prohibited by our insider trading policy (or “blackout period” imposed by us), the term will automatically be extended to the 30th day following the end of such period. The purchase price for the shares of our Class A common stock as to which a stock option is exercised may be paid to us, to the extent permitted by law (i) in cash, check, cash equivalent and/or shares of our Class A common stock valued at the fair market value at the time the option is exercised; provided, that such shares of our Class A common stock are not subject to any pledge or other security interest and have been held by the participant for at least six months (or such other period as established from time to time by the Committee in order to avoid adverse accounting treatment applying GAAP) or (ii) by such other method as the Committee may permit in its sole discretion, including, without limitation: (a) in other property having a fair market value on the date of exercise equal to the exercise price, (b) if there is a public market for the shares of our Class A common stock at such time, by means of a broker-assisted “cashless exercise” pursuant to which we are delivered (including telephonically to the extent permitted by the Committee) a copy of irrevocable instructions to a stockbroker to sell the shares of our Class A common stock otherwise issuable upon the exercise of the option and to deliver promptly to us an amount equal to the exercise price or (c) a “net exercise” procedure effected by withholding the minimum number of shares of our Class A common stock otherwise issuable in respect of an option that is needed to pay the exercise price. Any fractional shares of our Class A common stock shall be settled in cash.

Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee may grant stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) under our Omnibus Incentive Plan, with terms and conditions determined by the Committee that are not inconsistent with our Omnibus Incentive Plan. The Committee may also award SARs independent of any option. Generally, each SAR will entitle the participant upon exercise to an amount (in cash, shares of our Class A common stock or a combination of cash and shares, as determined by the Committee) equal to the product of (i) the excess of (a) the fair market value on the exercise date of one share of our Class A common stock over (b) the strike price per share of our Class A common stock covered by the SAR, times (ii) the number of shares of our Class A common stock covered by the SAR, less any taxes required to be withheld. The strike price per share of our Class A common stock covered by a SAR will be determined by the Committee at the time of grant but in no event may such amount be less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of our Class A common stock on the date the SAR is granted (other than in the case of SARs granted in substitution of previously granted awards).

 

188


Table of Contents

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. The Committee may grant restricted shares of Class A common stock or restricted stock units (“RSUs”). RSUs represent the right to receive, upon vesting and the expiration of any applicable restricted period, one share of our Class A common stock for each RSU, or, in the sole discretion of the Committee, the cash value thereof (or any combination thereof). As to restricted shares of our Class A common stock, subject to the other provisions of our Omnibus Incentive Plan, the holder will generally have the rights and privileges of a stockholder as to such restricted shares of our Class A common stock, including, without limitation, the right to vote such restricted shares of our Class A common stock.

Common Units. The Committee may issue awards in the form of Common Units or other classes of limited partnership units in Bumble Holdings established pursuant to Bumble Holdings’s limited partnership agreement. Common Unit awards will be valued by reference to, or otherwise determined by reference to or based on, our shares of Class A common stock. Common Unit awards may be (i) convertible, exchangeable or redeemable for other limited partnership interests in Bumble Holdings or our shares of Class A common stock or (ii) valued by reference to the book value, fair value or performance of Bumble Holdings. For purposes of calculating the number of our shares of Class A common stock underlying Common Unit awards relative to the total number of our shares of Class A common stock available for issuance under our Omnibus Incentive Plan, the Committee will establish, in good faith, the maximum number of our shares of Class A common stock to which a participant receiving a Common Unit award may be entitled upon fulfillment of all applicable conditions set forth in the relevant award documentation, including vesting conditions, capital account allocations, value accretion factors, conversion ratios, exchange ratios and other similar criteria. If and when any such conditions are no longer capable of being met, in whole or in part, the number of our shares of Class A common stock underlying such Common Unit award will be reduced accordingly by the Committee, and the number of our shares Class A common stock available under our Omnibus Incentive Plan will be increased by one share for each share so reduced. The Committee will determine all other terms of Common Unit awards.

Other Equity-Based Awards and Other Cash-Based Awards. The Committee may grant other equity-based or other cash-based awards under our Omnibus Incentive Plan, with terms and conditions determined by the Committee that are not inconsistent with our Omnibus Incentive Plan.

Effect of Certain Events on Our Omnibus Incentive Plan and Awards. In the event of (i) any dividend (other than regular cash dividends) or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares of our Class A common stock, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of shares of our Class A common stock, Common Units or other securities, issuance of warrants or other rights to acquire shares of our Class A common stock or other securities, or other similar corporate transaction or event that affects the shares of our Class A common stock (including a “Change in Control,” as defined in our Omnibus Incentive Plan); or (ii) unusual or nonrecurring events affecting us, including changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations, or other requirements, that the Committee determines, in its sole discretion, could result in substantial dilution or enlargement of the rights intended to be granted to, or available for, participants (any event in (i) or (ii), an “Adjustment Event”), the Committee will, in respect of any such Adjustment Event, make such proportionate substitution or adjustment, if any, as it deems equitable, to any or all of (a) the Absolute Share Limit, or any other limit applicable under our Omnibus Incentive Plan with respect to the number of awards which may be granted thereunder; (b) the number of our Interests or other securities (or number and kind of other securities or other property) which may be issued in respect of awards or with respect to which awards may be granted under our Omnibus Incentive Plan or any sub-plan; and (c) the terms of any outstanding award, including, without limitation, (x) the number of Interests or other securities (or number and kind of other securities or other property) subject to outstanding awards or to which outstanding awards relate; (y) the exercise price or strike price with respect to any award; or (z) any applicable performance measures; provided, that in the case of any “equity restructuring,” (within the meaning of the FASB ASC Topic 718 (or any successor pronouncement thereto)) the Committee will make an equitable or proportionate adjustment to outstanding awards to reflect such equity restructuring. In connection with any Adjustment Event, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for any one or more of the following: (i) substitution or assumption of awards, acceleration of the

 

189


Table of Contents

exercisability of, lapse of restrictions on, or termination of, awards or a period of time for participants to exercise outstanding awards prior to the occurrence of such event (and any such award not so exercised will terminate upon the occurrence of such event); and (ii) subject to any limitations or reductions as may be necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code, cancellation of any one or more outstanding awards and payment to the holders of such awards that are vested as of such cancellation (including, without limitation, any awards that would vest as a result of the occurrence of such event but for such cancellation or for which vesting is accelerated by the Committee in connection with such event) the value of such awards, if any, as determined by the Committee (which value, if applicable, may be based upon the price per share of our Class A common stock received or to be received by other holders of our shares of Class A common stock in such event), including, without limitation, in the case of stock options and SARs, a cash payment equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares of our Class A common stock subject to the option or SAR over the aggregate exercise price or strike price thereof, or, in the case of restricted stock, RSUs, or other equity-based awards that are not vested as of such cancellation, a cash payment or equity subject to deferred vesting and delivery consistent with the vesting restrictions applicable to such award prior to cancellation of the underlying shares in respect thereof.

Nontransferability of Awards. No award will be permitted to be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance will be void and unenforceable against us or any of our subsidiaries. However, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit awards (other than incentive stock options) to be transferred, including transfers to a participant’s family members, any trust established solely for the benefit of a participant or such participant’s family members, any partnership or limited liability company of which a participant, or such participant and such participant’s family members, are the sole member(s), and a beneficiary to whom donations are eligible to be treated as “charitable contributions” for tax purposes.

Amendment and Termination. Our Board of Directors may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate our Omnibus Incentive Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided, that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance or termination may be made without stockholder approval if (i) such approval is necessary to comply with any regulatory requirement applicable to our Omnibus Incentive Plan or for changes in GAAP to new accounting standards; (ii) it would materially increase the number of securities which may be issued under our Omnibus Incentive Plan (except for adjustments in connection with certain corporate events); or (iii) it would materially modify the requirements for participation in our Omnibus Incentive Plan; provided, further, that any such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance or termination that would materially adversely affect the rights of any participant or any holder or beneficiary of any award will not to that extent be effective without such individual’s consent.

The Committee may, to the extent consistent with the terms of any applicable award agreement, waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, any award granted or the associated award agreement, prospectively or retroactively (including after a termination of employment or service); provided, that, except as otherwise permitted in our Omnibus Incentive Plan, any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would materially adversely affect the rights of any participant with respect to such award will not to that extent be effective without such individual’s consent; provided, further, that without stockholder approval, except as otherwise permitted in our Omnibus Incentive Plan, (i) no amendment or modification may reduce the exercise price of any option or the strike price of any SAR; (ii) the Committee may not cancel any outstanding option or SAR and replace it with a new option or SAR (with a lower exercise price or strike price, as the case may be) or other award or cash payment that is greater than the value of the cancelled option or SAR; and (iii) the Committee may not take any other action which is considered a “repricing” for purposes of the stockholder approval rules of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which our securities are listed or quoted.

Dividends and Dividend Equivalents. The Committee in its sole discretion may provide as part of an award dividends or dividend equivalents, on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee in its

 

190


Table of Contents

sole discretion. Any dividends payable in respect of restricted stock awards that remain subject to vesting conditions shall be retained by the Company and delivered to the participant within 15 days following the date on which such restrictions on such restricted stock awards lapse and, if such restricted stock is forfeited, the participant shall have no right to such dividends. Dividends attributable to RSUs shall be distributed to the participant in cash or, in the sole discretion of the Committee, in shares of our Class A common stock having a

fair market value equal to the amount of such dividends, upon the settlement of the RSUs and, if such RSUs are forfeited, the participant shall have no right to such dividends.

Clawback/Repayment. All awards are subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment to the extent necessary to comply with (i) any clawback, forfeiture or other similar policy adopted by our Board of Directors or the Committee and as in effect from time to time and (ii) applicable law. To the extent that a participant receives any amount in excess of the amount that the participant should otherwise have received under the terms of the award for any reason (including, without limitation, by reason of a financial restatement, mistake in calculations or other administrative error), the participant will be required to repay us any such excess amount.

Detrimental Activity. If a participant has engaged in any detrimental activity, as defined in our Omnibus Incentive Plan, as determined by the Committee, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for one or more of the following: (i) cancellation of any or all of such participant’s outstanding awards or (ii) forfeiture and repayment to us on any gain realized on the vesting, exercise or settlement of any awards previously granted to such participant.

Conversion of Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units

Class B Units

All Class B Units held by Continuing Incentive Unitholders, including Mses. Wolfe Herd and Subramanian and Mr. Shaukat and Mses. Mather, Steele, Atchison, Thomas-Graham and Mr. Bromberg, will be converted into Incentive Units in connection with the Reclassification, as described above in “Organizational Structure.” The Incentive Units will be subject to the same terms and conditions as applied to the Class B Units immediately prior to the Reclassification.

In addition, in connection with the Reclassification, all Class B Units that are not reclassified into Incentive Units will be directly or indirectly exchanged for vested shares of Class A common stock (in the case of vested Class B Units) and restricted shares of Class A common stock (in the case of unvested Class B Units). The number of shares of Class A common stock delivered in respect of the Class B Units will be determined based on the amount of proceeds that would be distributed to such Class B Units if the Company were to be sold at a value derived from the initial public offering price, and the intrinsic value of the shares of Class A common stock issued in respect of the Class B Units will have an intrinsic value equal to the hypothetical proceeds the Class B Units would have received. Vested Class B Units will be converted into fully vested shares of Class A common stock and unvested Class B Units will be converted into shares of restricted Class A common stock, which will be subject to vesting terms that are the same as those applicable to the unvested Class B Units immediately prior to the Reclassification, as described above. The precise number of shares of Class A common stock delivered in respect of Class B Units will be determined based on the initial public offering price. Assuming an offering price of $         per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the range on the front cover of this prospectus, the aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock issued to Converting Class B Unitholders in respect of vested Class B Units would be            , or approximately    % of the total of                shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding following this offering and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Reclassification. The total number of shares of restricted Class A common stock issued to Converting Class B Unitholders in respect of unvested Class B Units would be            , or approximately    % of the total of                shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding following this offering and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Reclassification.

 

191


Table of Contents

Phantom Class B Units

In connection with this offering, Phantom Class B Units will be converted into RSUs in respect of a number of shares of Class A common stock. The number of RSUs issued in respect of the Phantom Class B Units will be determined based on the payment to which such Phantom Class B Units would be entitled pursuant to the terms of the Phantom Class B Unit plan, assuming the Company were to be sold at a value derived from the initial public offering price (i.e., a payment in an amount equal to the proceeds distributable to a corresponding Class B Unit upon such event, as described above). Vested Phantom Class B Units will be converted into fully vested RSUs and unvested Phantom Class B Units will be converted into unvested RSUs. Each RSU entitles the Phantom Class B Unitholder to a share of Class A common stock upon settlement, which shall occur upon the later of 30 days following vesting and the date that is six months following this offering. The unvested RSUs will be subject to vesting terms that are the same as those applicable to the unvested Phantom Class B Units immediately prior to this offering, as described above. Assuming such RSUs are fully vested, at the time of this offering,                 shares of Class A common stock would be issuable upon the settlement of such RSUs (assuming an offering price of $        per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the range on the front cover of this prospectus, and assuming such RSUs are fully vested) held by Phantom Class B Unitholders, and the number of RSUs granted to Mr. Wallichman would be                 . Mses. Wolfe Herd, Subramanian, Atchison, Mather, Steele and Thomas-Graham and Messrs. Bromberg and Shaukat will not receive a grant of RSUs as they are Continuing Incentive Unitholders.

Equity Award Grants

In connection with the Reclassification, we may grant options to purchase shares of Class A common stock under the Omnibus Incentive Plan to certain Converting Class B Unitholders and to certain Phantom Class B Unitholders, in substitution for a portion of the economic benefit to which the Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units are entitled prior to this offering that is not reflected in the conversion of Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units to shares of Class A common stock and RSUs, respectively. These stock options will have an exercise price per share that is equal to or higher than the initial public offering price per share and will vest according to the same vesting schedule as the corresponding Class B Units or Phantom Class B Units, as applicable, in respect of which they are being granted. The precise number of stock options we grant in respect of Class B Units or Phantom Class B Units held by certain Converting Class B Unitholders or certain Phantom Class B Unitholders, respectively, will be based on the initial public offering price. Assuming an offering price of $        per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the range on the front cover of this prospectus, the aggregate number of stock options granted to certain Converting Class B Unitholders would be             and the aggregate number of stock options granted to certain Phantom Class B Unitholders would be, and the number of stock options granted to Mr. Wallichman would be                 . Mses. Wolfe Herd, Subramanian, Atchison, Mather, Steele and Thomas-Graham and Messrs. Bromberg and Shaukat will not receive a grant of stock options as they are Continuing Incentive Unitholders.

In connection with this offering, we also expect to grant options to purchase shares of Class A common stock and RSUs under the Omnibus Incentive Plan to other employees, none of whom are named executive officers or non-employee directors. These stock options will also have an exercise price per share that is equal to or higher than the initial public offering price per share. These stock options and RSUs generally will be subject to time-and/or performance-based vesting criteria. Assuming an offering price of $                 per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the range on the front cover of this prospectus, the aggregate number of stock options granted to these employees would be                  (for an aggregate value of $                 at this assumed offering price) and the aggregate number of RSUs granted to these employees would be                  (for an aggregate value of $                 at this assumed offering price).

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

In connection with this offering, our Board of Directors expects to adopt, and we expect our stockholders to approve, the Bumble Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which we refer to as the ESPP, prior to the

 

192


Table of Contents

completion of the offering. The ESPP is intended to give eligible employees an opportunity to acquire shares of our common stock and promote our best interests and enhance our long-term performance. The term “Board of Directors” as used in this “Employee Stock Purchase Plan” section refers to the Board of Directors of Bumble Inc.

Purpose. The ESPP is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code. We may also authorize offerings under the ESPP that are not intended to comply with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code, which may, but are not required to, be made pursuant to any rules, procedures or sub-plans adopted by the compensation committee of our Board of Directors for such purpose.

Shares Reserved for the ESPP. The aggregate number of shares of our common stock that may be issued under the ESPP may not exceed                shares, subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the ESPP. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the share reserve of the ESPP shall automatically be increased on the first day of each fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the effective date of the ESPP occurred by a number of shares of our common stock equal to the lesser of (i) the positive difference between (x)                % of the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year (treating certain vested convertible securities as outstanding common stock for this purpose), and (y) the share reserve of the ESPP on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year, and (ii) a lower number of shares as may be determined by our Board of Directors. If a purchase right expires or is terminated, surrendered or canceled without being exercised, in whole or in part, the number of shares subject to the purchase right will again be available for issuance and will not reduce the aggregate number of shares available under the ESPP.

Administration. The ESPP will be administered by the compensation committee of our Board of Directors unless the Board of Directors elects to administer the ESPP. The compensation committee may appoint one or more agents to assist in the administration of the ESPP and may delegate certain responsibilities or powers subject to ESPP terms and applicable law. Subject to ESPP terms and applicable law, the compensation committee will have full and final authority to take any action with respect to the ESPP, including, without limitation, the authority to: (a) establish, amend and rescind rules and regulations for administration of the ESPP; (b) prescribe the form(s) of any agreements or other instruments used in connection with the ESPP; (c) determine the terms and provisions of the purchase rights granted under the ESPP; (d) determine eligibility and adjudicate all disputed claims filed under the ESPP; and (e) construe and interpret the ESPP, purchase rights, the rules and regulations, and the agreements or other written instruments, and to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the ESPP. The compensation committee may also adopt sub-plans relating to the operation and administration of the ESPP to accommodate the specific requirements of local laws and procedures for jurisdictions outside the United States, the terms of which sub-plans may take precedence over the terms of the ESPP, to the extent provided in the ESPP. To the extent inconsistent with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code, purchase rights offered under any such sub-plan will not be required by the terms of the ESPP to comply with Section 423 of the Code.

Effective Date. The ESPP will become effective on or about the date of this offering. However, no offering periods will commence under the ESPP until such time and subject to such terms and conditions as may be determined by the compensation committee of our Board of Directors. The term of the ESPP will continue until terminated by our Board of Directors or until the date on which all shares available for issuance under the ESPP have been issued.

Eligible Participants. Subject to the compensation committee’s ability to exclude certain groups of employees on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis, including Section 16 officers, generally, all of our employees will be eligible to participate in the ESPP if they are employed by us or by a designated company (as defined below) except for (a) any employee who has been employed for less than 90 days, (b) any employee whose customary employment is less than 20 hours per week or (c) any employee whose customary employment is for not more than five months in any calendar year; provided that the compensation committee may determine prior to any purchase period start date that employees outside of the United States who are participating in a

 

193


Table of Contents

separate offering will be “eligible employees” even if they do not meet the requirements of (b) or (c) above if and to the extent required by applicable law. No employee will be eligible to participate if, immediately after the purchase right grant, the employee would own stock (including any stock the employee may purchase under outstanding purchase rights) representing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of our common stock. A “designated company” is any subsidiary or affiliate of Bumble, Inc., whether now existing or existing in the future, that has been designated by the compensation committee from time to time in its sole discretion as eligible to participate in the ESPP. The compensation committee may designate subsidiaries or affiliates of Bumble Inc. as designated companies in an offering that does not satisfy the requirements of Section 423 of the Code. For offerings that, when taken together with the ESPP, comply with Section 423 of the Code and the regulations thereunder, only Bumble Inc. and its subsidiaries may be designated companies; provided, however, that at any given time, a subsidiary that is a designated company under a Section 423 Code-compliant offering will not be a designated company under an offering that does not comply with Section 423 of the Code.

Contributions. A participant may acquire common stock under the ESPP by authorizing the use of contributions to purchase shares of common stock. Contributions must be at a rate of not less than 1% nor more than 15% (in whole percentages only) of the participant’s total compensation (with certain exclusions as set forth in the ESPP or as otherwise determined by the compensation committee). All contributions made by a participant will be credited (without interest) to his or her account. A participant may discontinue plan participation as provided in the ESPP, but a participant may not alter the amount of his or her contributions during an offering period. However, a participant’s contribution election may be decreased to 0% at any time during an offering period to the extent necessary to comply with Section 423 of the Code or the terms of the ESPP. A participant may not make separate cash payments into his or her account except in limited circumstances when the participant is on leave of absence or unless otherwise required by applicable law. A participant may withdraw contributions credited to his or her account during an offering period at any time before the applicable purchase period end date.

Offering Periods and Purchase Price. The ESPP generally provides for two six-month offering periods, with one purchase period in each offering period. The compensation committee has the authority to change the duration of a purchase period; provided that the change is announced a reasonable period of time prior to its effective date and the purchase period is not greater than 27 months.

On the first day of an offering period, a participant will be granted a purchase right to purchase on the purchase period end date, at the applicable purchase price, the number of shares of common stock as is determined by dividing the amount of the participant’s contributions accumulated as of the last day of the purchase period by the applicable purchase price; provided that (a) no participant may purchase shares of common stock with a fair market value (as of the date of purchase right grant) in excess of $                per calendar year in the case of offerings intended to comply with Section 423 of the Code; and (b) in no event will the aggregate number of shares subject to purchase rights during a purchase period exceed the number of shares then available under the ESPP or the maximum number of shares available for any single purchase period (as determined by the compensation committee from time to time).

The purchase price will be 85% (or such greater percentage as may be determined by the compensation committee prior to the start of any purchase period) of the lesser of (i) the fair market value per share of our common stock as determined on the applicable grant date of the purchase right or (ii) the fair market value per share of our common stock as determined on the applicable purchase period end date (provided that, in no event may the purchase price be less than the par value per share of our common stock). The compensation committee may determine prior to a purchase period to calculate the purchase price for such period solely by reference to the fair market value of a share on the applicable purchase period end date or applicable grant date of the purchase right, or based on the greater (rather than the lesser) of such values.

A participant’s purchase right to purchase shares of common stock during a purchase period will be exercised automatically on the purchase period end date for that purchase period unless the participant withdraws

 

194


Table of Contents

at least thirty days prior to the end of the purchase period or his or her participation is terminated. On the purchase period end date, a participant’s purchase right will be exercised to purchase that number of shares which the accumulated contributions in his or her account at that time will purchase at the applicable purchase price, but not in excess of the number of shares subject to the purchase right or other ESPP terms. Subject to the terms of the ESPP, a purchase right will generally terminate on the earlier of the date of the participant’s termination of employment or the last day of the applicable purchase period.

Rights as Stockholder. A participant will have no rights as a stockholder with respect to our shares that the participant has a purchase right to purchase in any offering until those shares are issued to the participant.

Rights Not Transferable. A participant’s rights under the ESPP will be exercisable only by the participant and are not transferable other than by will or the laws of descent or distribution.

Effect of a Change in Control; Adjustments. If there is any change in the outstanding shares of our common stock because of a merger, change in control (as defined in the Omnibus Incentive Plan), consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization involving Bumble Inc., or if our Board of Directors declares a stock dividend, stock split distributable in shares of common stock or reverse stock split, other distribution or combination or reclassification of our common stock, or if there is a similar change in the capital stock structure of Bumble Inc. affecting our common stock, then the number and type of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the ESPP will be correspondingly adjusted and, subject to applicable law, the compensation committee will make such adjustments to purchase rights or to any ESPP provision as the compensation committee deems equitable to prevent dilution or enlargement of purchase rights or as may otherwise be advisable. In addition, in the event of a change in control, the compensation committee’s discretion includes, but is not limited to, the authority to provide for any of, or a combination of any of, the following:

 

   

assumption or substitution of purchase rights by a successor entity (or parent or subsidiary of such successor);

 

   

selection of a date on which all outstanding purchase rights will be exercised on or before the consummation date of the change in control;

 

   

termination of outstanding purchase rights and refund of accumulated contributions to each participant prior to the change in control; or

 

   

continuation of outstanding purchase rights unchanged.

Amendment; Termination. The ESPP may be amended, altered, suspended and/or terminated at any time by our Board of Directors; provided, that approval of an amendment to the ESPP by our stockholders will be required to the extent, if any, that stockholder approval of such amendment is required by applicable law. The compensation committee may (subject to the provisions of Section 423 of the Code and the ESPP) amend, alter, suspend and/or terminate any purchase right granted under the ESPP, prospectively or retroactively, but (except as otherwise provided in the ESPP) such amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of a purchase right may not, without the written consent of a participant with respect to an outstanding purchase right, materially adversely affect the rights of the participant with respect to the purchase right. In addition, the compensation committee has unilateral authority to (a) subject to the provisions of Section 423 of the Code, amend the ESPP and any purchase right (without participant consent) to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law or changes in applicable law and (b) make adjustments to the terms and conditions of purchase rights in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting us or any parent or subsidiary corporation (each as defined under Section 424 of the Code), or our financial statements (or those of any parent or subsidiary corporation), or of changes in applicable law, or accounting principles, if the compensation committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of benefits intended to be made available under the ESPP or necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable accounting principles or applicable law.

 

195


Table of Contents

Director Compensation

Employee directors and directors who are employed by the Sponsor receive no additional compensation for serving as directors. However, all directors are reimbursed for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to their service as directors. Accordingly, none of our directors, other than Mses. Atchison, Mather, Thomas-Graham and Steele and Mr. Bromberg, received compensation for the year ended December 31, 2020.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, Ms. Mather, as Chair of the board of managers of the general partner of Bumble Holdings (the “board of managers”), was entitled to an annual cash retainer in the amount of $300,000, payable quarterly in arrears, pro-rated for her period of service, and each of Mses. Atchison, Thomas-Graham and Steele and Mr. Bromberg was entitled to an annual retainer in the amount of $75,000, payable quarterly in arrears, pro-rated, in each case, for her or his period of service.

In addition, in connection with their appointments to the board of managers, on June 19, 2020, we granted Ms. Mather 5,451,628 Class B Units, on August 8, 2020, we granted each of Ms. Steele and Mr. Bromberg 1,362,907 Class B Units, on September 11, 2020, we granted Ms. Thomas-Graham 1,362,907 Class B Units and on October 29, 2020, we granted Ms. Atchison 1,362,907 Class B Units. Like the Class B Units granted to our named executive officers, the Class B Units granted to our directors consist of a time-vesting portion (60% of the Class B Units granted), and an exit-vesting portion (40% of the Class B Units granted, of which one third are 2.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units, one third are 3.0x Exit-Vesting Class B Units, and one third are 3.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units). For a description of the vesting terms of the Class B Units granted to our directors, see “—Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table—Equity and Equity-Based Awards—Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units.”

As a condition to receiving their Class B Units, each of the directors was required to enter into an incentive unit award agreement with Buzz Management Aggregator L.P. and Buzz Holdings L.P. and become a party to the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Buzz Management Aggregator L.P., Buzz Holdings L.P. and the Securityholders Agreement. Additionally, as a condition of receiving their Class B Units, the directors agreed to certain restrictive covenants, including confidentiality of information, non-disparagement and non-solicitation. The confidentiality covenant has an indefinite term, the non-disparagement covenant has an indefinite term and the non-solicitation covenant applies during each director’s service with us until the later of January 29, 2023 and the second anniversary of termination of service. Class B Units and proceeds received in respect thereof are subject to customary clawback upon a termination of service with us for cause, a resignation by a director when grounds for cause exist or certain restrictive covenant violations.

 

196


Table of Contents

The following table provides summary information concerning compensation paid or accrued by us to or on behalf of our non-employee directors for services rendered to us as members of the board of managers during the last fiscal year.

 

Name

  Fees Earned
or Paid
in Cash
($)
    Stock
Awards
($)(1)(2)
    Option
Awards
($)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
    Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings

($)
    All Other
Compensation
($)
     Total
($)
 

Ann Mather

    244,262       1,177,552       —         —         —         —          1,421,814  

Vishal R. Amin

    —         —         —         —         —         —          —    

Christine L. Anderson

    —         —         —         —         —         —          —    

R. Lynn Atchison

    13,115         —         —         —         —       

Sachin J. Bavishi

    —         —         —         —         —         —          —    

Matthew S. Bromberg

    37,705       776,857       —         —         —         —          332,092  

Jonathan C. Korngold

    —         —         —         —         —         —          —    

Kelley E. Morrell

    —         —         —         —         —         —          —    

Elisa A. Steele

    37,705       776,857       —         —         —         —          332,092  

Pamela Thomas-Graham

    30,943       678,728       —         —         —         —          325,330  

 

(1)

The amounts reported represent the aggregate grant-date fair value of the Class B Units awarded to the director in 2020, calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 (“Topic 718”), utilizing the assumptions discussed in Note 11, Stock-based Compensation, to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Such grant-date fair value does not take into account any estimated forfeitures related to service-vesting conditions. The 2.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units, 3.0x Exit-Vesting Class B Units and 3.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units are subject to market conditions and an implied performance condition as defined under applicable accounting standards. The grant date fair value of the 2.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units, 3.0x Exit-Vesting Class B Units and 3.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units was computed based upon the probable outcome of the performance conditions as of the grant date in accordance with Topic 718. Achievement of the performance conditions for the 2.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units, 3.0x Exit-Vesting Class B Units and 3.0x Exit-Vesting Class B Units was not deemed probable on the grant date and, accordingly, no value is included in the table for these awards pursuant to the SEC’s disclosure rules. Assuming achievement of the performance conditions, the aggregate grant date fair values of the 2.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units, 3.0x Exit-Vesting Class B Units and 3.5x Exit-Vesting Class B Units would have been: Ms. Atchison—$        , $         and $        , respectively; Ms. Mather—$203,019, $181,267 and $168,019, respectively; Ms. Thomas-Graham—$130,512, $119,636 and $111,404, respectively; and each of Mr. Bromberg and Ms. Steele—$148,639, $137,763 and $127,841, respectively. Amounts relating to the Class B Units granted to Ms. Atchison will be included in a subsequent filing.

(2)

As of December 31, 2020, Mses. Atchison, Mather, Steele and Thomas-Graham and Mr. Bromberg each held 1,362,907, 5,451,628, 1,362,907, 1,362,907 and 1,362,907 unvested Class B Units, respectively.

 

197


Table of Contents

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

The agreements described in this section, or forms of such agreements as they will be in effect at the time of this offering, are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and the following descriptions are qualified by reference thereto.

Stockholders Agreement

In connection with this offering, we intend to enter into a stockholders agreement with our Principal Stockholders. This agreement will require us to, among other things, nominate a number of individuals designated by our Sponsor for election as our directors at any meeting of our stockholders (each a “Sponsor Director”) such that, upon the election of each such individual, and each other individual nominated by or at the direction of our board of directors or a duly-authorized committee of the board, as a director of our company, the number of Sponsor Directors serving as directors of our company will be equal to: (i) if our Sponsor, our Co-Investor and their affiliates together continue to beneficially own at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock, assuming exchange of all Common Units, the lowest whole number that is greater than 50% of the total number of directors comprising our board of directors; (ii) if our Sponsor, our Co-Investor and their affiliates together continue to beneficially own at least 40% (but less than 50%) of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock, assuming exchange of all Common Units, the lowest whole number that is at least 40% of the total number of directors comprising our board of directors; (iii) if our Sponsor, our Co-Investor and their affiliates together continue to beneficially own at least 30% (but less than 40%) of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock, assuming exchange of all Common Units, the lowest whole number that is at least 30% of the total number of directors comprising our board of directors; (iv) if our Sponsor, our Co-Investor and their affiliates together continue to beneficially own at least 20% (but less than 30%) of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock, assuming exchange of all Common Units, the lowest whole number that is at least 20% of the total number of directors comprising our board of directors; and (v) if our Sponsor, our Co-Investor and their affiliates together continue to beneficially own at least 5% (but less than 20%) of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock, assuming exchange of all Common Units, the lowest whole number that is at least 10% of the total number of directors comprising our board of directors. In addition, for so long as our Sponsor, our Co-Investor and their affiliates together continue to beneficially own at least 5% of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock, assuming exchange of all Common Units, our Sponsor will have the right to appoint a non-voting observer to attend meetings of our board of directors. For so long as the stockholders agreement remains in effect, Sponsor Directors may be removed only with the consent of our Sponsor. In the case of a vacancy on our board created by the removal or resignation of a Sponsor Director, the stockholders agreement will require us to nominate an individual designated by our Sponsor for election to fill the vacancy. Additionally, our Sponsor must consent to any increase or decrease in the total number of directors on our board of directors. As described more specifically in “Description of Capital Stock,” the stockholders agreement and our charter and bylaws require that certain amendments to our charter and bylaws, and any change to the number of our directors, will require the consent of our Sponsor.

In addition, the stockholders agreement will permit our Sponsor and its affiliates to assign their rights and obligations under the agreement, in whole or in part, without our prior written consent, including the ability to designate an assignee as a “Principal Stockholder” for the purposes of the voting provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Furthermore, the stockholders agreement also requires us to cooperate with our Sponsor in connection with certain future pledges, hypothecations, grants of security interest in or transfers (including to third party investors) of any or all of the Common Units held by our Sponsor, including to banks or financial institutions as collateral or security for loans, advances or extensions of credit.

Additionally, the agreement will grant our Founder the right to nominate one director to our board of directors for so long as our Founder beneficially owns at least 50% of the Common Units beneficially owned by our Founder as of the closing of the Sponsor Acquisition (as appropriately adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, combination, reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, exchange or the like). Further, the agreement will grant our Co-Investor the right to appoint a non-voting observer to attend meetings of our

 

198


Table of Contents

board of directors for so long as such entity or its affiliates beneficially owns at least 50% of the Common Units beneficially owned by such entity as of the closing of the Sponsor Acquisition (as appropriately adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, combination, reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, exchange or the like).

Exchange Agreement

In connection with the Offering Transactions, we will enter into an exchange agreement with the holders of our Common Units, including our Sponsor and our Founder, pursuant to which each holder of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) (and certain permitted transferees thereof) may on a quarterly basis (subject to the terms of the exchange agreement) exchange their Common Units for shares of Class A common stock of Bumble Inc. on a one-for-one basis, subject to customary conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications. In addition, subject to certain requirements, our Sponsor, our Founder and our Co-Investor will generally be permitted to exchange Common Units for our Class A common stock from and after the closing of this offering provided that the number of Common Units surrendered in such exchanges during any 30 calendar day period represent, in the aggregate, greater than 2% of total interests in partnership capital or profits. Any Class A common stock received by our Sponsor, our Founder or our Co-Investor in any such exchange during the applicable restricted periods described in “Shares Eligible for Future Sale—Lock-Up Agreements,” would be subject to the restrictions described in such section. The exchange agreement will also provide that a holder of Common Units will not have the right to exchange Common Units if Bumble Inc. determines that such exchange would be prohibited by law or regulation or would violate other agreements with Bumble Inc. to which the holder of Common Units may be subject. Bumble Inc. may impose additional restrictions on exchange that it determines to be necessary or advisable so that Bumble Holdings is not treated as a “publicly traded partnership” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a holder exchanges Common Units for shares of Class A common stock, the number of Common Units held by Bumble Inc. is correspondingly increased as it acquires the exchanged Common Units.

Registration Rights Agreement

In connection with the Offering Transactions, we will enter into a registration rights agreement with our Principal Stockholders, which will provide for customary “demand” registrations and “piggyback” registration rights. The registration rights agreement also will provide that we will pay certain expenses relating to such registrations and indemnify the registration rights holders against (or make contributions in respect of) certain liabilities which may arise under the Securities Act.

Tax Receivable Agreement

In connection with the Offering Transactions, Bumble Inc. will enter into a tax receivable agreement with certain of our pre-IPO owners, including our Sponsor and our Founder, that provides for the payment by Bumble Inc. to such pre-IPO owners of 85% of the benefits, if any, that Bumble Inc. actually realizes, or is deemed to realize (calculated using certain assumptions), as a result of (i) Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis acquired in this offering, (ii) increases in Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis and adjustments to the tax basis of the tangible and intangible assets of Bumble Holdings as a result of sales or exchanges of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) for shares of Class A common stock in connection with or after this offering and (iii) Bumble Inc.’s utilization of certain tax attributes of the Blocker Companies (including the Blocker Companies’ allocable share of existing tax basis) and (iv) certain other tax benefits related to entering into the tax receivable agreement, including tax benefits attributable to payments under the tax receivable agreement. There is significant existing tax basis in the assets of Bumble Holdings as a result of the Sponsor Acquisition, and subsequent sales or exchanges of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) are expected to result in increases in the tax basis of the assets of Bumble Holdings. The existing tax basis, increases in existing tax basis and tax basis adjustments generated over time may increase (for tax purposes) the depreciation and amortization deductions

 

199


Table of Contents

available to Bumble Inc. and, therefore, may reduce the amount of U.S. federal, state and local tax that Bumble Inc. would otherwise be required to pay in the future, although the IRS may challenge all or part of the validity of that tax basis, and a court could sustain such a challenge. Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis acquired in this offering and the increase in Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis and the anticipated tax basis adjustments upon purchases or exchanges of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) for shares of Class A common stock may also decrease gains (or increase losses) on future dispositions of certain assets to the extent tax basis is allocated to those assets. Actual tax benefits realized by Bumble Inc. may differ from tax benefits calculated under the tax receivable agreement as a result of the use of certain assumptions in the tax receivable agreement, including the use of an assumed weighted-average state and local income tax rate to calculate tax benefits. The payment obligation under the tax receivable agreement is an obligation of Bumble Inc. and not of Bumble Holdings. Bumble Inc. expects to benefit from the remaining 15% of cash tax benefits, if any, it realizes from such tax benefits. For purposes of the tax receivable agreement, the cash tax benefits will be computed by comparing the actual income tax liability of Bumble Inc. to the amount of such taxes that Bumble Inc. would have been required to pay had there been no existing tax basis, no anticipated tax basis adjustments of the assets of Bumble Holdings as a result of purchases or exchanges and no utilization of certain tax attributes of the Blocker Companies (including the Blocker Companies’ allocable share of existing tax basis), and had Bumble Inc. not entered into the tax receivable agreement. The actual and hypothetical tax liabilities determined in the tax receivable agreement will be calculated using the actual U.S. federal income tax rate in effect for the applicable period and an assumed, weighted-average state and local income tax rate based on apportionment factors for the applicable period (along with the use of certain other assumptions). The term of the tax receivable agreement will continue until all such tax benefits have been utilized or expired, unless Bumble Inc. exercises its right to terminate the tax receivable agreement early, certain changes of control occur (as described in more detail below) or Bumble Inc. breaches any of its material obligations under the tax receivable agreement, in which case all obligations generally will be accelerated and due as if Bumble Inc. had exercised its right to terminate the tax receivable agreement. The payment to be made upon an early termination of the tax receivable agreement will generally equal the present value of payments to be made under the tax receivable agreement using certain assumptions. Estimating the amount of payments that may be made under the tax receivable agreement is by its nature imprecise, insofar as the calculation of amounts payable depends on a variety of factors. The increase in Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis and the anticipated tax basis adjustments upon the purchase or exchange of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) for shares of Class A common stock, as well as the amount and timing of any payments under the tax receivable agreement, will vary depending upon a number of factors, including:

 

   

the timing of purchases or exchanges—for instance, the increase in any tax deductions will vary depending on the fair market value, which may fluctuate over time, of the depreciable or amortizable assets of Bumble Holdings at the time of each purchase or exchange. In addition, the increase in Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis acquired upon the future exchange of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) for shares of Class A common stock will vary depending on the amount of remaining existing tax basis at the time of such purchase or exchange;

 

   

the price of shares of our Class A common stock at the time of the purchase or exchange—the increase in any tax deductions, as well as the tax basis increase in other assets, of Bumble Holdings, is directly proportional to the price of shares of our Class A common stock at the time of the purchase or exchange;

 

   

the extent to which such purchases or exchanges do not result in a basis adjustment—if a purchase or an exchange does not result in an increase to the existing basis, increased deductions will not be available;

 

   

the amount of tax attributes—the amount of applicable tax attributes of the Blocker Companies at the time of the Blocker Restructuring will impact the amount and timing of payments under the tax receivable agreement;

 

200


Table of Contents
   

changes in tax rates—payments under the tax receivable agreement will be calculated using the actual U.S. federal income tax rate in effect for the applicable period and an assumed, weighted-average state and local income tax rate based on apportionment factors for the applicable period, so changes in tax rates will impact the magnitude of cash tax benefits covered by the tax receivable agreement and the amount of payments under the tax receivable agreement; and

 

   

the amount and timing of our income—Bumble Inc. is obligated to pay 85% of the cash tax benefits under the tax receivable agreement as and when realized. If Bumble Inc. does not have taxable income, Bumble Inc. is not required (absent a change of control or circumstances requiring an early termination payment) to make payments under the tax receivable agreement for a taxable year in which it does not have taxable income because no cash tax benefits will have been realized. However, any tax attributes that do not result in realized benefits in a given tax year will likely generate tax attributes that may be utilized to generate benefits in previous or future tax years. The utilization of such tax attributes will result in cash tax benefits that will result in payments under the tax receivable agreement.

We expect that as a result of the size of Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis acquired in this offering (including such existing tax basis acquired from the Blocker Companies pursuant to the Blocker Restructuring), the increase in Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis and the anticipated tax basis adjustment of the tangible and intangible assets of Bumble Holdings upon the purchase or exchange of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) for shares of Class A common stock and our possible utilization of certain tax attributes, the payments that we may make under the tax receivable agreement will be substantial. We estimate the amount of existing tax basis with respect to which our pre-IPO owners will be entitled to receive payments under the tax receivable agreement (assuming all Pre-IPO Common Unitholders exchange their Common Units for shares of Class A common stock on the date of this offering, and assuming all vested Incentive Units are converted to Common Units and subsequently exchanged for shares of Class A common stock at an offering price of $                per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus) is approximately $                 million, which includes Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis acquired in this offering, which we have determined to be approximately $                  million. There may be a material negative effect on our liquidity if, as a result of timing discrepancies or otherwise, the payments under the tax receivable agreement exceed the actual cash tax benefits that Bumble Inc. realizes in respect of the tax attributes subject to the tax receivable agreement and/or if distributions to Bumble Inc. by Bumble Holdings are not sufficient to permit Bumble Inc. to make payments under the tax receivable agreement after it has paid taxes and other expenses. Late payments under the tax receivable agreement generally will accrue interest at an uncapped rate equal to one year LIBOR (or its successor rate) plus 500 basis points. The payments under the tax receivable agreement are not conditioned upon continued ownership of us by the pre-IPO owners.

In addition, Bumble Inc. may elect to terminate the tax receivable agreement early by making an immediate payment equal to the present value of the anticipated future cash tax benefits with respect to all Common Units (including Common Units issued or that would be issued upon the conversion of vested Incentive Units entitled to convert to Common Units). In determining such anticipated future cash tax benefits, the tax receivable agreement includes several assumptions, including that (i) any Common Units (including Common Units issued or that would be issued upon the conversion of vested Incentive Units entitled to convert to Common Units) that have not been exchanged are deemed exchanged for the market value of the shares of Class A common stock at the time of termination, (ii) Bumble Inc. will have sufficient taxable income in each future taxable year to fully realize all potential tax benefits, (iii) Bumble Inc. will have sufficient taxable income to fully utilize any remaining net operating losses subject to the tax receivable agreement on a straight line basis over the shorter of the statutory expiration period for such net operating losses or the five-year period after the early termination or change in control, (iv) the tax rates for future years will be those specified in the law as in effect at the time of termination and (v) certain non-amortizable assets are deemed disposed of within specified time periods. In addition, the present value of such anticipated future cash tax benefits are discounted at a rate equal to the lesser of (i) 6.5% per annum and (ii) one year LIBOR (or its successor rate) plus 100 basis points. Assuming that the

 

201


Table of Contents

market value of a share of Class A common stock were to be equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering and that one year LIBOR were to be     %, we estimate that the aggregate amount of these termination payments would be approximately $                  million if Bumble Inc. were to exercise its termination right immediately following this offering.

Furthermore, in the event of certain changes of control, if Bumble Inc. breaches any of its material obligations under the tax receivable agreement and in certain events of bankruptcy or liquidation, the obligations of Bumble Inc. would be automatically accelerated and be immediately due and payable, and Bumble Inc. would be required to make an immediate payment equal to the present value of the anticipated future cash tax benefit with respect to all Common Units (including Common Units issued or that would be issued upon the conversion of vested Incentive Units entitled to convert to Common Units), calculated based on the valuation assumptions described above. In these situations, our obligations under the tax receivable agreement could have a substantial negative impact on our liquidity. As a result, Bumble Inc. could be required to make payments under the tax receivable agreement that are greater than the specified percentage of the actual cash tax benefits that Bumble Inc. realizes in respect of the tax attributes subject to the tax receivable agreement or that are prior to the actual realization, if any, of such future tax benefits. In these situations, our obligations under the tax receivable agreement could have a substantial negative impact on our liquidity. Changes in law or changes in tax rates following the date of acceleration may also result in payments being made in excess of the future tax benefits, if any.

Decisions made by our pre-IPO owners in the course of running our business may influence the timing and amount of payments that are received by an exchanging or selling existing owner under the tax receivable agreement. For example, the earlier disposition of assets following an exchange or acquisition transaction generally will accelerate payments under the tax receivable agreement and increase the present value of such payments, and the disposition of assets before an exchange or acquisition transaction will increase an existing owner’s tax liability without giving rise to any rights of an existing owner to receive payments under the tax receivable agreement.

Payments under the tax receivable agreement will be based on the tax reporting positions that we will determine. Bumble Inc. will not be reimbursed for any payments previously made under the tax receivable agreement if Bumble Inc.’s allocable share of existing tax basis acquired in this offering and increased upon the purchase or exchange of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) for shares of Class A common stock, the anticipated tax basis adjustments or our utilization of tax attributes are successfully challenged by the IRS, although such amounts may reduce our future obligations, if any, under the tax receivable agreement. As a result, in certain circumstances, payments could be made under the tax receivable agreement in excess of the Bumble Inc.’s cash tax benefits.

Bumble Holdings Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement

As a result of the Offering Transactions, Bumble Inc. will hold Common Units in Bumble Holdings and will be the general partner of Bumble Holdings. Accordingly, Bumble Inc. will operate and control all of the business and affairs of Bumble Holdings, will have the obligation to absorb losses and receive benefits from Bumble Holdings, and consolidate the financial results of Bumble Holdings and, through Bumble Holdings and its operating entity subsidiaries, conduct our business.

Pursuant to the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings as it will be in effect at the time of this offering among Bumble Inc., as general partner, and the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders, including our Sponsor and our Founder, as limited partners, Bumble Inc. will have the right to determine when distributions will be made to holders of Common Units and the amount of any such distributions. If a distribution is authorized, such distribution will be made to the holders of Common Units and any participating Incentive Units (as described below) pro rata in accordance with the percentages of their respective Common Units or Incentive Units, as applicable, held. Incentive Units initially will not be entitled to receive distributions (other

 

202


Table of Contents

than tax distributions) until holders of Common Units have received a minimum return as provided in the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings. However, Incentive Units will have the benefit of adjustment provisions that will reduce the participation threshold for distributions in respect of which they do not participate until there is no participation threshold, at which time the Incentive Units would participate pro rata with distributions on Common Units.

The holders of Common Units and Incentive Units, including Bumble Inc., will incur U.S. federal, state and local income taxes on their proportionate share of any taxable income of Bumble Holdings. Net profits and net losses of Bumble Holdings will generally be allocated to its holders (including Bumble Inc.) pro rata in accordance with the percentages of their respective Common Units or Incentive Units held, except as otherwise required by law. The amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings provides for cash distributions, which we refer to as “tax distributions,” to the holders of Common Units and Incentive Units if Bumble Inc., as the general partner of Bumble Holdings, determines that a holder, by reason of holding Common Units or Incentive Units, as applicable, incurs an income tax liability. Generally, these tax distributions will be computed based on our estimate of the net taxable income of Bumble Holdings allocated to the holder of Common Units or Incentive Units that receives the greatest proportionate allocation of income multiplied by an assumed tax rate equal to the highest effective marginal combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate prescribed for an individual or corporation residing in New York, New York, whichever is higher. Tax distributions will be pro rata as among the Common Units and will be pro rata as among the Incentive Units (other than unvested Incentive Units).

Subject to certain restrictions, pursuant to the terms of the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings, the holders of vested Incentive Units will have the right to convert their vested Incentive Units into a number of Common Units of Bumble Holdings that will generally be equal to (a) the product of the number of vested Incentive Units to be converted with a given per unit participation threshold and then-current difference between the per share value of a Common Unit at the time of the conversion (based on the public trading price of a share of Class A common stock) and the per unit participation threshold of such vested Incentive Units divided by (b) the per unit value of a Common Unit at the time of the conversion (based on the public trading price of a share of Class A common stock). Common Units received upon conversion will be exchangeable on a one-for-one basis for shares of Class A common stock of Bumble Inc. in accordance with the terms of the exchange agreement as described below. An unvested Incentive Unit will not be exchangeable unless and until such Incentive Unit vests. The Incentive Units will automatically be converted into Common Units in accordance with the foregoing formula on the date that is seven years from the date of the Reclassification.

Pursuant to the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings, certain actions of Bumble Holdings or its subsidiaries require the prior approval of our Founder. Subject to the exceptions and

qualifications provided in the amended and restated limited partnership agreement, these matters include: (i) any issuance or transfer of any equity securities of any subsidiary of Bumble Holdings to our Sponsor, (ii) any repurchase or redemption of equity securities of Bumble Holdings or its subsidiaries, (iii) entering into, amending or modifying, or waiving any provision of, any agreement or transaction with or involving our Sponsor or any of its affiliates, other than ordinary course commercial agreements and certain other transactions, (iv) non-pro rata distributions by Bumble Holdings, (v) with respect to any tax matter, taking any action that would reasonably be expected to have a materially adverse and disproportionate effect on our Founder relative to any other limited partner, (vi) the creation of any tax receivable agreement or similar agreement in which our Founder does not participate on substantially similar terms to our Sponsor, (vii) the conversion or exchange of our Founder’s Common Units in certain transactions, and (viii) entering into any agreement or commitment to do any of the foregoing. The foregoing approval rights of our Founder will terminate at such time as our Founder no longer beneficially owns at least 50% of the Common Units beneficially owned by our Founder as of the closing of the Sponsor Acquisition (as appropriately adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, combination, reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, exchange or the like).

 

203


Table of Contents

The amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings will also provide that substantially all expenses incurred by or attributable to Bumble Inc. (such as expenses incurred in connection with this offering), but not including obligations incurred under the tax receivable agreement by Bumble Inc., income tax expenses of Bumble Inc. and payments on indebtedness incurred by Bumble Inc., will be borne by Bumble Holdings.

Support and Services Agreement

In connection with the closing of the Sponsor Acquisition, Bumble Holdings and Buzz Merger Sub Ltd. entered into a support and services agreement (the “Support and Services Agreement”) with Blackstone Buzz Holdings L.P. (“BBH”), an affiliate of our Sponsor. Under the Support and Services Agreement, we reimburse BBH and its affiliates for expenses related to support services customarily provided by our Sponsor’s portfolio operations group to our Sponsor’s portfolio companies, as well as healthcare-related services provided by our Sponsor’s Equity Healthcare group and our Sponsor’s group purchasing program. The Support and Services Agreement also requires us to, among other things, make certain information available to our Sponsor and to indemnify BBH and its affiliates against certain claims.

We did not make any payments pursuant to the Support and Services Agreement in the year ended December 31, 2019 or the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020. We made payments pursuant to the Support and Services Agreement totaling $492,000 during the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020.

Sponsor Acquisition

In November 2019, Bumble Holdings entered into the Acquisition Agreement with Worldwide Vision Limited and the other parties thereto. Under the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, Worldwide Vision Limited would be merged with and into Buzz Merger Sub Ltd., a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Bumble Holdings (the “Merger”). Concurrently with the execution of the Acquisition Agreement, Bumble Holdings entered into a Founder Agreement with our Founder (the “Founder Agreement”). Under the terms of the Founder Agreement, our Founder agreed, among other things, to contribute all of the shares held by our Founder in Bumble Holding Limited, an indirect subsidiary of Worldwide Vision Limited (“Bumble Holding Limited”), to Bumble Holdings concurrently with the closing of the Merger in exchange for a combination of cash and certain equity interests in Bumble Holdings. The Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement and the Founder Agreement were consummated on January 29, 2020 (the “Sponsor Acquisition Closing”).

At the effective time of the Merger, (i) each issued and outstanding share of Buzz Merger Sub Ltd. was converted into a share of the surviving company of the Merger and (ii) each issued and outstanding share of Worldwide Vision Limited was converted into the right to receive an amount in cash calculated pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement. In connection with the Sponsor Acquisition Closing, Blackstone and Accel contributed $2.1 billion to Bumble Holdings, which amounts, in combination with the proceeds from the Initial Term Loan Facility, were used to fund (i) cash proceeds to the former shareholders of Worldwide Vision Limited in an aggregate amount of $2.3 billion, (ii) cash proceeds to our Founder in an amount of $125 million, (iii) a loan to an entity controlled by our Founder in an amount of $119.0 million, as described further below under “—Loan to our Founder,” (iv) certain transaction expenses and (v) the contribution of $87.0 million to the balance sheet of the surviving company of the Merger. Beehive Holdings III, LP, a Delaware limited partnership controlled by our Founder, additionally received 349,841,667 Class A units in Bumble Holdings pursuant to the terms of the Founder Agreement. We refer to such transactions as the “Sponsor Acquisition.”

The former shareholders of Worldwide Vision Limited and our Founder are entitled to certain contingent deferred consideration in connection with the Sponsor Acquisition. Under the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, if our Sponsor receives cash dividends, distributions or other payments from Bumble Holdings that in the aggregate equal 2.5 times our Sponsor’s aggregate investment in Bumble Holdings, Bumble Holdings will

 

204


Table of Contents

not be permitted to make any further dividend, distribution or other payment to its unitholders until it has paid an aggregate amount equal to $150 million pro rata to the former shareholders of Worldwide Vision Limited and our Founder.

Restrictive Covenant Agreement

In November 2019, in connection with the signing of the Acquisition Agreement and as a condition to the Sponsor Acquisition Closing, our Founder and Bumble Holdings entered into a Restrictive Covenant Agreement pursuant to which our Founder has agreed to certain restrictive covenants, including confidentiality of information, noncompetition and non-solicitation covenants, and a covenant not to acquire beneficial ownership or voting control, or provide any loan or financial assistance to, any person or entity that engages in a competitive business with our business (the “non-investment covenant”). The confidentiality covenant has an indefinite term, and the noncompetition covenant, the non-solicitation covenant and the non-investment covenant are effective until January 29, 2023.

Trademark Assignment and License

In January 2020, in connection with the closing of the Sponsor Acquisition, our Founder and Bumble Holding Limited entered into a Trademark Assignment and License pursuant to which (i) our Founder assigned ownership of the trademark MAKE THE FIRST MOVE (the “Mark”) to Bumble Holding Limited and (ii) Bumble Holding Limited licensed the Mark back to Founder on a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free and fully paid up basis for Founder’s use in certain circumstances.

Loan to our Founder

In January 2020, in connection with the closing of the Sponsor Acquisition, Bumble Holdings entered into a loan and security agreement with Beehive Holdings III, LP, a Delaware limited partnership controlled by our Founder, pursuant to which Bumble Holdings loaned Beehive Holdings III, LP $119.0 million. The loan accrues interest at a rate per annum equal to the long-term federal rate established pursuant to Section 1274 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code as in effect on November 8, 2019 (which was equal to 1.93% per annum), is secured by our Founder’s Class A units in Bumble Holdings and any net cash proceeds of such pledged units to the extent received by Beehive Holdings III, LP, and allows for repayment at any time. The loan may be repaid either in cash or distributed to our Founder in redemption of Class A units in Bumble Holdings with a fair market value equal to the outstanding balance or for a combination of cash and Class A units in Bumble Holdings. In connection with the Distribution Financing Transaction in October 2020, our Founder repaid $25.6 million of the loan. In January 2021, our Founder settled the outstanding balance of the loan plus accrued interest ($95.5 million) when Bumble Holdings distributed the loan in redemption of a portion of the Class A units held by Beehive Holdings III, LP (such Class A units, the “Loan Settlement Units”). No cash was rendered in this settlement. If the value of the Loan Settlement Units redeemed by Bumble Holdings, determined using the volume-weighted average price of the Class A common stock on Nasdaq during the regular trading session as reported by Bloomberg L.P. for the 30-day period beginning on the date of the closing of this offering (the “Applicable VWAP”), has exceeded the implied value of the Loan Settlement Units on the settlement date, Bumble Holdings must deliver or cause to be delivered to Beehive Holdings III, LP an amount of Common Units which are exchangeable for Class A common stock having a value based on the Applicable VWAP equal to such excess amount (such additional Common Units, the “Loan True Up Units”). In the event of such excess amount, the Loan True Up Units are intended to restore the interest of Beehive Holdings III, LP that would have been obtained had the value of the Loan Settlement Units been determined using the Applicable VWAP, as though the restored units had not been redeemed. If the Applicable VWAP were to equal $                 per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus, Beehive Holdings III, LP would be entitled to receive                  Loan True Up Units.

 

205


Table of Contents

Commercial Transactions with Sponsor and Co-Investor Portfolio Companies

Our Sponsor, our Co-Investor and their affiliates have ownership interests in a broad range of companies. We have entered and may in the future enter into commercial transactions in the ordinary course of our business with some of these companies, including the sale of goods and services and the purchase of goods and services. None of these transactions or arrangements has been or is expected to be material to us.

Statement of Policy Regarding Transactions with Related Persons

Prior to the completion of this offering, our board of directors will adopt a written statement of policy regarding transactions with related persons, which we refer to as our “related person policy.” Our related person policy requires that a “related person” (as defined in paragraph (a) of Item 404 of Regulation S-K) must promptly disclose to our general counsel any “related person transaction” (defined as any transaction that is anticipated would be reportable by us under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K in which we were or are to be a participant and the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and in which any related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest) and all material facts with respect thereto. Our general counsel will then promptly communicate that information to our board of directors. No related person transaction entered into following this offering will be executed without the approval or ratification of our board of directors or a duly authorized committee of our board of directors composed entirely of independent members of our board of directors.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Our bylaws provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our directors will not be liable for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.

There is no pending litigation or proceeding naming any of our directors or officers to which indemnification is being sought, and we are not aware of any pending or threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification by any director or officer.

 

206


Table of Contents

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

The following tables set forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of our Class A common stock and of Common Units by (1) each person known to us to beneficially own more than 5% of any class of the outstanding voting securities of Bumble Inc., (2) each of our directors, director nominees and named executive officers and (3) all of our directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group.

The percentage of beneficial ownership of shares of our Class A common stock and of Common Units outstanding before the offering set forth below is based on the number of shares of our Class A common stock and of Common Units to be issued and outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of this offering. The percentage of beneficial ownership of our Class A common stock and of Common Units after the offering set forth below is based on shares of our Class A common stock and of Common Units to be issued and outstanding immediately after the offering.

In general, each share of our Class A common stock entitles its holder to one vote on all matters to be voted on by stockholders generally. The holders of our Common Units will hold all of the issued and outstanding shares of our Class B common stock. The shares of Class B common stock will have no economic rights but will generally entitle each holder, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such holder, to a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of Common Units of Bumble Holdings held by such holder on all matters on which stockholders of Bumble Inc. are entitled to vote generally. The voting power afforded to holders of Common Units by their shares of Class B common stock will be automatically and correspondingly reduced as they sell Common Units to Bumble Inc. for cash as part of the Offering Transactions or subsequently exchange Common Units for shares of Class A common stock of Bumble Inc. pursuant to the exchange agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless they elect otherwise, each of our Principal Stockholders will be entitled to outsized voting rights as follows. Until the High Vote Termination Date, each share of Class A common stock held by a Principal Stockholder will entitle such Principal Stockholder to ten votes and each Principal Stockholder that holds Class B common stock will be entitled, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such Principal Stockholder, to a number of votes equal to 10 times the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by such Principal Stockholder. In addition, if, at any time, our Founder is neither an employee nor a director, any Class A common stock or Class B common stock held by our Founder will be entitled to one vote per share (in the case of the Class A common stock) or a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by our Founder (in the case of the Class B common stock), in each case on all matters on which stockholders of Bumble Inc. are entitled to vote generally. See “Description of Capital Stock—Common Stock.”

 

207


Table of Contents
    Class A Common Stock Beneficially Owned(1)     Common Units Beneficially Owned(1)     Combined Voting Power(2)  
    Number     Percentage     Number     Percentage     Percentage  

Name of Beneficial Owner

 

 

    Prior to the
Offering
Transactions
    After the
Offering
Transactions
Assuming
Underwriters’
Option is Not
Exercised
    After the
Offering
Transactions
Assuming
Underwriters’
Option is
Exercised in
Full
   

 

    Prior to the
Offering
Transactions
    After the
Offering
Transactions
Assuming
Underwriters’
Option is Not
Exercised
    After the
Offering
Transactions
Assuming
Underwriters’
Option is
Exercised in
Full
    Prior to the
Offering
Transactions
    After the
Offering
Transactions
Assuming
Underwriters’
Option is Not
Exercised
    After the
Offering
Transactions
Assuming
Underwriters’
Option is
Exercised in
Full
 

Parties to our Stockholders Agreement as a group

      —                      

Blackstone(3)

      —                      

Whitney Wolfe
Herd(4)

      —                      

Ann Mather(5)

                     

Christine L. Anderson

                     

R. Lynn Atchison(6)

                     

Sachin J. Bavishi

                     

Matthew S. Bromberg(7)

      —                      

Amy M. Griffin

      —                      

Jonathan C. Korngold

                     

Jennifer B. Morgan

                     

Elisa A. Steele(8)

      —                      

Pamela A. Thomas-Graham(9)

      —                      

Tariq M. Shaukat(10)

      —                      

Anuradha B. Subramanian(11)

      —                      

Idan Wallichman

      —                      

Directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group
(14 persons)(12)

      —                      

 

*

Represents less than 1%.

 

(1)

Subject to the terms of the exchange agreement, the Common Units are exchangeable for shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis after the completion of this offering. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Exchange Agreement.” Beneficial ownership of Common Units reflected in this table has not been also reflected as beneficial ownership of shares of our Class A common stock for which such units may be exchanged. In calculating the percentage of Common Units beneficially owned after the Offering Transactions, the Common Units held by Bumble Inc. are treated as outstanding.

 

(2)

Represents percentage of voting power of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock of Bumble Inc. voting together as a single class. See “Description of Capital Stock—Common Stock.”

 

(3)

Reflects             Common Units and one share of Class B common stock directly held by Blackstone Buzz Holdings L.P. and                 Common Units and one share of Class B common stock directly held by Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Fund—FD L.P. (together, the “Blackstone Funds”).

BTO Holdings Manager—NQ L.L.C. is the general partner of Blackstone Buzz Holdings L.P. Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Associates—NQ L.L.C. is the managing member of BTO Holdings Manager—NQ L.l.C. BTOA—NQ L.L.C. is the sole member of Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Associates—NQ L.L.C. Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Associates III—NQ L.P. is the general partner of Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Fund—FD L.P. BTO DE GP—NQ L.L.C. is the general partner of Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Fund—FD L.P.

 

208


Table of Contents

Blackstone Holdings II L.P. is the managing member of each of BTOA—NQ L.L.C. and BTO DE GP—NQ L.L.C. Blackstone Holdings I/II GP L.L.C. is the general partner of Blackstone Holdings II L.P. The Blackstone Group Inc. is the sole member of Blackstone Holdings I/II GP L.L.C. The sole holder of the Class C common stock of The Blackstone Group Inc. is Blackstone Group Management L.L.C. Blackstone Group Management L.L.C. is wholly-owned by Blackstone’s senior managing directors and controlled by its founder, Stephen A. Schwarzman.

Each of the Blackstone entities described in this footnote and Stephen A. Schwarzman may be deemed to beneficially own the securities directly or indirectly controlled by such Blackstone entities or him, but each disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities (other than the Blackstone Funds to the extent of their direct holdings). The address of Mr. Schwarzman and each of the other entities listed in this footnote is c/o The Blackstone Group Inc., 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154.

 

(4)

Reflects                 Common Units and one share of Class B common stock directly held by Beehive Holdings III, LP and                 shares of Class A common stock which would be received upon exchange of the vested Incentive Units directly held by Beehive Holdings II, LP.

Does not reflect any additional Common Units that Beehive Holdings III, LP may be entitled to receive 30 days following the closing of this offering related to the settlement of the loan to our Founder, as described under “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Sponsor Acquisition—Loan to our Founder.” If the value of the Loan Settlement Units redeemed by Bumble Holdings, determined using the Applicable VWAP of the Class A common stock, has exceeded the value of the Loan Settlement Units for purposes of repaying the loan, Bumble Holdings must deliver or cause to be delivered to Beehive Holdings III, LP an amount of the Loan True Up Units having a value based on the Applicable VWAP equal to such excess amount. If the Applicable VWAP were to equal $                 per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus, Beehive Holdings III, LP would be entitled to receive                  additional Common Units which are exchangeable for Class A common stock.

The general partner of Beehive Holdings II, LP is Beehive Holdings Management II, LLC. The general partner of Beehive Holdings III, LP is Beehive Holdings Management III, LLC. Whitney Wolfe Herd is the sole member of Beehive Holdings Management II, LLC and Beehive Holdings Management III, LLC. The address of Ms. Wolfe Herd and each of the other entities listed in this footnote is c/o Bumble Inc., 1105 West 41st Street, Austin, Texas 78756.

 

(5)

Includes                shares of Class A common stock which would be received upon exchange of the vested Incentive Units directly held by Ms. Mather.

 

(6)

Includes                shares of Class A common stock which would be received upon exchange of the vested Incentive Units directly held by Ms. Atchison.

 

(7)

Includes                shares of Class A common stock which would be received upon exchange of the vested Incentive Units directly held by Mr. Bromberg.

 

(8)

Includes                shares of Class A common stock which would be received upon exchange of the vested Incentive Units directly held by Ms. Steele.

 

(9)

Includes                shares of Class A common stock which would be received upon exchange of the vested Incentive Units directly held by Ms. Thomas-Graham.

 

(10)

Includes                shares of Class A common stock which would be received upon exchange of the vested Incentive Units directly held by Mr. Shaukat.

 

(11)

Includes                shares of Class A common stock which would be received upon exchange of the vested Incentive Units directly held by Ms. Subramanian.

 

(12)

Includes                shares of Class A common stock which would be received upon exchange of the vested Incentive Units directly held by our directors, director nominees and executive officers.

The foregoing table assumes an offering price of $        per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the front cover of this prospectus.

 

209


Table of Contents

For example, if the initial offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering is $        , which is the low point of the price range set forth on the front cover of this prospectus, the beneficial ownership of Class A common stock and the Common Units of the identified stockholders would be as follows:

 

    Class A Common Stock Beneficially Owned     Common Units Beneficially Owned     Combined Voting Power  
    Number     Percentage     Number     Percentage     Percentage  

Name of Beneficial
Owner

 

 

    Prior to the
Offering
Transactions
    After the
Offering
Transactions
Assuming
Underwriters’
Option is Not
Exercised
    After the
Offering
Transactions
Assuming
Underwriters’
Option is
Exercised in
Full
   

 

    Prior to the
Offering
Transactions
    After the
Offering
Transactions
Assuming
Underwriters’
Option is Not
Exercised
    After the
Offering
Transactions
Assuming
Underwriters’
Option is
Exercised in
Full
    Prior to the
Offering
Transactions
    After the
Offering
Transactions
Assuming
Underwriters’
Option is Not
Exercised
    After the
Offering
Transactions
Assuming
Underwriters’
Option is
Exercised in
Full
 

Parties to our Stockholders Agreement as a group

      —                      

Blackstone

      —                      

Whitney Wolfe Herd

      —                      

Ann Mather

                     

Christine L. Anderson

                     

R. Lynn Atchison

                     

Sachin J. Bavishi

                     

Matthew S. Bromberg

      —                      

Amy M. Griffin

      —                      

Jonathan C. Korngold

                     

Jennifer B. Morgan

                     

Elisa A. Steele

      —                      

Pamela A. Thomas-Graham

      —                      

Tariq M. Shaukat

      —                      

Anuradha B. Subramanian

      —                      

Idan Wallichman

      —                      

Directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group (14 persons)

      —                      

 

210


Table of Contents

Conversely, if the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering is $         , which is the high point of the price range set forth on the front cover of this prospectus, the beneficial ownership of Class A common stock and the Common Units of the identified holders would be as follows:

 

    Class A Common Stock Beneficially Owned     Common Units Beneficially Owned     Combined Voting Power  
    Number     Percentage     Number     Percentage     Percentage  

Name of Beneficial
Owner

 

 

    Prior to the
Offering
Transactions
    After the
Offering
Transactions
Assuming
Underwriters’
Option is Not
Exercised
    After the
Offering
Transactions
Assuming
Underwriters’
Option is
Exercised in
Full
   

 

    Prior to the
Offering
Transactions
    After the
Offering
Transactions
Assuming
Underwriters’
Option is Not
Exercised
    After the
Offering
Transactions
Assuming
Underwriters’
Option is
Exercised in
Full
    Prior to the
Offering
Transactions
    After the
Offering
Transactions
Assuming
Underwriters’
Option is Not
Exercised
    After the
Offering
Transactions
Assuming
Underwriters’
Option is
Exercised in
Full
 

Parties to our Stockholders Agreement as a group

      —                      

Blackstone

      —                      

Whitney Wolfe Herd

      —                      

Ann Mather

                     

Christine L. Anderson

                     

R. Lynn Atchison

                     

Sachin J. Bavishi

                     

Matthew S. Bromberg

      —                      

Amy M. Griffin

      —                      

Jonathan C. Korngold

                     

Jennifer B. Morgan

                     

Elisa A. Steele

      —                      

Pamela A. Thomas-Graham

      —                      

Tariq M. Shaukat

      —                      

Anuradha B. Subramanian

      —                      

Idan Wallichman

      —                      

Directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group (14 persons)

      —                      

Bumble Inc. intends to use approximately $                million (or $                million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) to purchase from our pre-IPO owners,                outstanding Common Units (or                outstanding Common Units if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), as described under “Organizational Structure—Offering Transactions.” Of this amount, the following table sets forth the amounts that will be received by our Principal Stockholders and their respective affiliated entities.

 

     Assuming Underwriters’
Option is Not Exercised
     Assuming Underwriters’
Option is Exercised in
Full
 
     Number of
Common
Units Sold
     Proceeds      Number of
Common
Units Sold
     Proceeds  

Entities affiliated with Blackstone

      $                       $                

 

211


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INDEBTEDNESS

The following section summarizes the terms of our material principal indebtedness.

Senior Secured Credit Facilities

Overview

Concurrently with the consummation of the Sponsor Acquisition, certain subsidiaries of Bumble Inc. entered into a credit agreement (as subsequently amended, the “Credit Agreement”) governing the Senior Secured Credit Facilities. In October 2020, we entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement in connection with the closing of Incremental Term Loan Facility. The Senior Secured Credit Facilities consist of:

 

   

the Initial Term Loan Facility in an original aggregate principal amount of $575.0 million;

 

   

the Incremental Term Loan Facility in an original aggregate principal amount of $275.0 million; and

 

   

the Revolving Credit Facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $50.0 million.

The borrower under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bumble Holdings, Buzz Finco L.L.C. (the “Borrower”). The Senior Secured Credit Facilities are guaranteed by substantially all of its wholly owned subsidiaries organized in the United States, England and Wales or Bermuda. The Revolving Credit Facility includes capacity available for issuing letters of credit and for borrowings on same-day notice, referred to as swing line loans.

The Senior Secured Credit Facilities provide that the Borrower has the right at any time to request additional term loan tranches and/or term loan increases, increases in the revolving commitments and/or additional revolving credit facilities up to the sum of (i) the greater of (a) $135.0 million and (b) an amount equal to 100.0% of pro forma consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four consecutive fiscal quarter period in respect of which financial statements are available, plus (ii) an amount equal to all voluntary prepayments, repurchases and redemptions of the term loans under our Credit Agreement and certain other incremental equivalent debt and permanent revolving credit commitment reductions under our Credit Agreement, in each case prior to or simultaneous with the date of any such incurrence (to the extent not funded with the proceeds of long-term debt other than revolving loans), plus (iii) an additional unlimited amount such that, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, (a) if such additional amounts are secured on a pari passu basis with the obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the consolidated first lien net leverage ratio of the Borrower and its restricted subsidiaries either (x) does not exceed 3.75 to 1.00 or (y) if such additional amounts are incurred in connection with a permitted acquisition or other similar investment not prohibited under the Credit Agreement, is no worse than the consolidated first lien net leverage ratio immediately prior to such transaction, (b) if such additional amounts are secured on a junior lien basis to the obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the consolidated secured net leverage ratio of the Borrower and its restricted subsidiaries either (x) does not exceed 4.75 to 1.00 or (y) if such additional amounts are incurred in connection with a permitted acquisition or other similar investment not prohibited under the Credit Agreement, is no worse than the consolidated secured net leverage ratio immediately prior to such transaction and (c) if such additional amounts are unsecured, either (I) the consolidated total net leverage ratio of the Borrower and its restricted subsidiaries either (x) does not exceed 5.25 to 1.00 or (y) if such additional amounts are incurred in connection with a permitted acquisition or other similar investment not prohibited under the Credit Agreement, is no worse than the consolidated total net leverage ratio immediately prior to such transaction or (II) the consolidated interest coverage ratio of the Borrower and its restricted subsidiaries is either (x) not less than 2.00 to 1.00 or (y) if such additional amounts are incurred in connection with a permitted acquisition or other similar investment not prohibited under the Credit Agreement, is no less than the consolidated total net leverage ratio immediately prior to such transaction. The lenders under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities are not under any obligation to provide any such incremental commitments or loans, which are uncommitted, and any such addition of or increase in commitments or loans is subject to obtaining commitments and certain customary conditions precedent set forth in the Senior Secured Credit Facilities.

 

212


Table of Contents

Interest Rate and Fees

Borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities bear interest at a rate equal to, at the Borrower’s option, either (i) LIBOR for the relevant interest period, adjusted for statutory reserve requirements (subject to a floor of 0.00% per annum), plus an applicable margin or (ii) a base rate equal to the highest of (a) the rate of interest in effect as last quoted by the Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the United States, (b) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50% and (c) adjusted LIBOR for an interest period of one month plus 1.00% (subject to a floor of 0.00% per annum), in each case, plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin for loans under the Revolving Credit Facility is subject to adjustment based upon the consolidated first lien net leverage ratio of the Borrower and its restricted subsidiaries and is subject to reduction after the consummation of this offering.

In addition to paying interest on the outstanding principal under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the Borrower is required to pay a commitment fee of 0.50% per annum (which is subject to a decrease to 0.375% per annum based upon the consolidated first lien net leverage ratio of the Borrower and its restricted subsidiaries) to the lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility in respect of the unutilized commitments thereunder. The Borrower must also pay customary letter of credit fees and an annual administrative agency fee.

Prepayments

Our Senior Secured Credit Facilities contain customary mandatory prepayments, including with respect to excess cash flow, asset sale proceeds and proceeds from certain incurrences of indebtedness; provided, however, that any voluntary prepayment, refinancing or repricing of the term loans under the Incremental Term Loan Facility in connection with certain repricing transactions that occur prior to the six-month anniversary of the closing of the Incremental Term Loan Facility shall be subject to a prepayment premium of 1.00% of the principal amount of such term loans so prepaid, refinanced or repriced.

We may voluntarily repay outstanding loans under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities at any time without premium or penalty, other than customary breakage costs with respect to LIBOR loans.

Amortization and Maturity

The Initial Term Loan Facility amortizes in equal quarterly installments in aggregate annual amounts equal to 1.00% of the principal amount of the Initial Term Loan Facility outstanding as of the date of the closing of the Initial Term Loan Facility, with the balance being payable at maturity on January 29, 2027. The Incremental Term Loan Facility amortizes in equal quarterly installments in aggregate annual amounts equal to 1.00% of the principal amount of the Incremental Term Loan Facility outstanding as of the date of the closing of the Incremental Term Loan Facility, with the balance being payable at maturity on January 29, 2027. Principal amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility are due and payable in full at maturity on January 29, 2025.

Guarantee and Security

All obligations of the Borrower under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and under any swap agreements and cash management arrangements that are entered into by the Borrower or any of its restricted subsidiaries and that, in either case, are provided by any agent or lender party to the Senior Secured Credit Facilities or any of their respective affiliates, are unconditionally guaranteed by all material wholly owned restricted subsidiaries of the Borrower organized in the United States, England and Wales and Bermuda and by the direct parent of the Borrower, with customary exceptions including, among other things, where providing such guarantees is not permitted by law, regulation or contract or would result in material adverse tax consequences.

All obligations of the Borrower under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and under any swap agreements and cash management arrangements that are entered into by the Borrower or any of its restricted subsidiaries and

 

213


Table of Contents

that, in either case, are provided by any lender or agent party to the Senior Secured Credit Facilities or any of their respective affiliates, and the guarantees of such obligations, are secured, subject to permitted liens and other exceptions, by substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and each guarantor, including but not limited to: (i) a perfected pledge of all of the capital stock issued by the Borrower and each direct wholly owned restricted subsidiary of the Borrower or any subsidiary guarantor organized in the United States, England and Wales or Bermuda (subject to certain exceptions) and up to 65% of the capital stock issued and outstanding by each direct wholly owned non-U.S. restricted subsidiary of the Borrower or any subsidiary guarantor that is a CFC or any FSHCO (subject to certain exceptions) and (ii) perfected security interests in and mortgages on substantially all tangible and intangible personal property and material fee-owned real property of the Borrower and the subsidiary guarantors (subject to certain exceptions and exclusions).

Certain Covenants and Events of Default

The Senior Secured Credit Facilities contain a number of covenants that, among other things, restrict, subject to certain exceptions, the Borrower and its subsidiaries’ ability to:

 

   

incur additional indebtedness and guarantee indebtedness;

 

   

create or incur liens;

 

   

engage in mergers or consolidations;

 

   

sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of assets;

 

   

make investments, acquisitions, loans or advances;

 

   

pay dividends and distributions or repurchase capital stock;

 

   

prepay, redeem, or repurchase any subordinated indebtedness;

 

   

enter into agreements which limit our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to incur liens on assets;

 

   

enter into amendments to certain subordinated indebtedness in a manner materially adverse to the lenders; and

 

   

change the passive holding company status of the direct parent of the Borrower.

In addition, with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, the Credit Agreement requires the Borrower to maintain, as of the last day of each four fiscal quarter period, a maximum consolidated first lien net leverage ratio of 5.75 to 1.00 only if, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, revolving loans under the Revolving Credit Facility (including swing line loans, but excluding letters of credit up to $15.0 million and other letters of credit that have been cash-collateralized or otherwise backstopped) are outstanding in an aggregate amount greater than 35% of the total commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility at such time. The financial maintenance covenant described in the foregoing sentence is subject to customary equity cure rights and may be amended or waived with the consent of the lenders holding a majority of the commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility. The Senior Secured Credit Facilities also contain, in addition to the negative covenants described above, certain customary affirmative covenants and events of default, including upon a change of control.

Our Senior Secured Credit Facilities also contain certain customary affirmative covenants and events of default for facilities of this type, including relating to a change of control. If an event of default occurs, the lenders under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities are entitled to take various actions, including the acceleration of amounts due under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and all actions permitted to be taken by secured creditors.

 

214


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

In connection with this offering, we will amend and restate our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws. The following is a description of the material terms of, and is qualified in its entirety by, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, each of which will be in effect upon the consummation of this offering, the forms of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Under “Description of Capital Stock,” “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and “our company” refer to Bumble Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries.

Our purpose is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL. Upon the consummation of this offering, our authorized capital stock will consist of                  shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share,                  shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and                  shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. No shares of preferred stock will be issued or outstanding immediately after the offering contemplated by this prospectus. Unless our board of directors determines otherwise, we will issue all shares of our capital stock in uncertificated form.

Common Stock

Class A Common Stock

In general, holders of shares of our Class A common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally, including the election or removal of directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless they elect otherwise, each of our Principal Stockholders will be entitled to outsized voting rights as follows. Until the High Vote Termination Date, each share of Class A common stock held by a Principal Stockholder (as defined in the stockholders agreement) will entitle such Principal Stockholder to ten votes. In addition, if, at any time, our Founder is neither an employee nor a director, any Class A common stock held by our Founder will be entitled to one vote per share on all matters on which stockholders of Bumble Inc. are entitled to vote generally.

The holders of our Class A common stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.

Holders of shares of our Class A common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any statutory or contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends and to the rights of the holders of one or more outstanding series of our preferred stock.

Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors, and subject to the rights of the holders of one or more outstanding series of preferred stock having liquidation preferences, the holders of shares of our Class A common stock will be entitled to receive pro rata our remaining assets available for distribution.

All shares of our Class A common stock that will be outstanding at the time of the completion of the offering will be fully paid and non-assessable. The Class A common stock will not be subject to further calls or assessments by us. Holders of shares of our Class A common stock do not have preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. There will be no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class A common stock. The rights, powers, preferences and privileges of holders of our Class A common stock will be subject to those of the holders of any shares of our preferred stock or any other series or class of stock we may authorize and issue in the future.

Class B Common Stock

Each holder of Class B common stock shall generally be entitled, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such holder, to one vote for each Common Unit held by such holder on all

 

215


Table of Contents

matters on which stockholders of Bumble Inc. are entitled to vote generally. The voting power afforded to holders of Common Units by their shares of Class B common stock will be automatically and correspondingly reduced or increased as the number of Common Units held by such holder of Class B common stock decreases or increases. For example, if a holder of Class B common stock holds 1,000 Common Units as of the record date for determining stockholders of Bumble Inc. that are entitled to vote on a particular matter, such holder will be entitled by virtue of such holder’s Class B common stock to 1,000 votes on such matter. If, however, such holder were to hold 500 Common Units as of the relevant record date, such holder would be entitled by virtue of such holder’s Class B common stock to 500 votes on such matter. If at any time the ratio at which Common Units are exchangeable for shares of Class A common stock of Bumble Inc. changes from one-for-one as described under “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Exchange Agreement,” the number of votes to which Class B common stockholders are entitled will be adjusted accordingly.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless they elect otherwise, each of our Principal Stockholders will be entitled to outsized voting rights as follows. Until the High Vote Termination Date, each Principal Stockholder that holds Class B common stock will be entitled, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such Principal Stockholder, to a number of votes equal to 10 times the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by such Principal Stockholder. In addition, if, at any time, our Founder is neither an employee nor a director, any Class B common stock held by our Founder will be entitled to a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by our Founder, on all matters on which stockholders of Bumble Inc. are entitled to vote generally.

Upon completion of the Offering Transactions, there will be                 Common Units outstanding (or                 Common Units if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). Bumble Inc. will hold                 Common Units (or                 Common Units if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders will hold                 Common Units.

Holders of shares of our Class B common stock will vote together with holders of our Class A common stock as a single class on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally, except as otherwise required by law. Delaware law entitles the holders of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock to vote separately as different classes in connection with any amendment to our certificate of incorporation that would increase or decrease the par value of the shares of such class or that would alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of such class so as to affect them adversely. As permitted by Delaware law, the amended and restated certificate of incorporation includes a provision which eliminates the class vote that the holders of Class A common stock would otherwise have with respect to an amendment to the certificate of incorporation increasing or decreasing the number of shares of Class A common stock the Company is entitled to issue and that the holders of Class B common stock would otherwise have with respect to an amendment to the certificate of incorporation increasing or decreasing the number of shares of Class B common stock the Company is entitled to issue. Thus, subject to any other voting requirements contained in the certificate of incorporation, any amendment to the certificate of incorporation increasing or decreasing the number of shares of either Class A common stock or Class B common stock that the Company is authorized to issue would require a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting power of all capital stock (including both the Class A common stock and the Class B common stock), voting together as a single class.

Holders of our Class B common stock do not have any right to receive dividends or to receive a distribution upon a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Bumble Inc. Shares of Class B common stock are not convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Class A common stock or any other security.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not provide for any restrictions on transfer of shares of Class B common stock.

 

216


Table of Contents

Preferred Stock

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to establish one or more series of preferred stock (including convertible preferred stock). Unless required by law or by any stock exchange, and subject to the terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the authorized shares of preferred stock will be available for issuance without further action by holders of our Class A or Class B common stock. Our board of directors is able to determine, with respect to any series of preferred stock, the powers (including voting powers), preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including, without limitation:

 

   

the designation of the series;

 

   

the number of shares of the series, which our board of directors may, except where otherwise provided in any preferred stock designation, increase (but not above the total number of authorized shares of the class) or decrease (but not below the number of shares then outstanding);

 

   

whether dividends, if any, will be cumulative or non-cumulative and the dividend rate of the series;

 

   

the dates at which dividends, if any, will be payable on shares of such series;

 

   

the redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;

 

   

the terms and amounts of any sinking fund provided for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;

 

   

the amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs or other event;

 

   

whether the shares of the series will be convertible into shares of any other class or series, or any other security, of us or any other entity, and, if so, the specification of the other class or series or other security, the conversion price or prices or rate or rates, any rate adjustments, the date or dates as of which the shares will be convertible and all other terms and conditions upon which the conversion may be made;

 

   

restrictions on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series of our capital stock; and

 

   

the voting rights, if any, of the holders of the series.

We could issue a series of preferred stock that could, depending on the terms of the series, impede or discourage an acquisition attempt or other transaction that some, or a majority, of the holders of our Class A common stock might believe to be in their best interests or in which the holders of our Class A common stock might receive a premium over the market price of the shares of our Class A common stock. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may adversely affect the rights of holders of our Class A common stock by restricting dividends on the Class A common stock, diluting the voting power of the Class A common stock or subordinating the rights of the Class A common stock to distributions upon a liquidation, dissolution or winding up or other event. As a result of these or other factors, the issuance of preferred stock could have an adverse impact on the market price of our Class A common stock.

Dividends

The DGCL permits a corporation to declare and pay dividends out of the corporation’s “surplus” or, if there is no “surplus,” out of its net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year. “Surplus” is defined as the excess of the net assets of the corporation over the amount determined to be the capital of the corporation. The capital of the corporation is typically calculated to be (and cannot be less than) the aggregate par value of all issued shares of capital stock. Net assets equals the fair value of the total assets minus total liabilities. The DGCL also provides that dividends may not be paid out of net profits if, after

 

217


Table of Contents

the payment of the dividend, the remaining capital would be less than the capital represented by the outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets. Declaration and payment of any dividend will be subject to the discretion of our board of directors.

Annual Stockholder Meetings

Our amended and restated bylaws provide that annual stockholder meetings will be held at a date, time and place, if any, as exclusively selected by our board of directors. To the extent permitted under applicable law, we may conduct meetings solely by means of remote communications, including by webcast.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws and Certain Provisions of Delaware Law

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws, and the DGCL contain provisions that are summarized in the following paragraphs and that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our board of directors. These provisions are intended to avoid costly takeover battles, reduce our vulnerability to a hostile or abusive change of control and enhance the ability of our board of directors to maximize stockholder value in connection with any unsolicited offer to acquire us. However, these provisions may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, deter or prevent a merger or acquisition of the Company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or other takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the prevailing market price for the shares of common stock held by stockholders.

Authorized but Unissued Capital Stock

Delaware law does not require stockholder approval for any issuance of shares that are authorized and available for issuance. However, the listing requirements of Nasdaq, which would apply so long as the shares of Class A common stock remain listed on Nasdaq, require stockholder approval of certain issuances equal to or exceeding 20% of the then outstanding voting power or the then outstanding number of shares of Class A common stock (we believe the position of Nasdaq is that the calculation in this latter case treats as outstanding shares issuable upon exchange of outstanding Common Units not held by Bumble Inc.). These additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings, to raise additional capital or to facilitate acquisitions.

Our board of directors may generally issue shares of one or more series of preferred stock on terms designed to discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of the Company or the removal of our management. Moreover, our authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock will be available for future issuances in one or more series without stockholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, to facilitate acquisitions and employee benefit plans.

One of the effects of the existence of authorized and unissued and unreserved Class A common stock or preferred stock may be to enable our board of directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, which issuance could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and thereby protect the continuity of our management and possibly deprive our stockholders of opportunities to sell their shares of Class A common stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices.

Voting Rights of Principal Stockholders

As described above in “—Common Stock,” our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that each share of our Class A common stock will generally have one vote per share and each share of our Class B common stock will generally entitle each holder, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common

 

218


Table of Contents

stock held by such holder, to a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of Common Units held by such holder on all matters on which stockholders of Bumble Inc. are entitled to vote generally. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless they elect otherwise, each of our Principal Stockholders will be entitled to outsized voting rights as follows. Until the High Vote Termination Date, each share of Class A common stock held by a Principal Stockholder will entitle such Principal Stockholder to ten votes and each Principal Stockholder that holds Class B common stock will be entitled, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such Principal Stockholder, to a number of votes equal to 10 times the aggregate number of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) of Bumble Holdings held by such Principal Stockholder. As a result, our Principal Stockholders will be able to control all matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, even if they own significantly less than 50% of the shares of our Class A common stock, assuming full exchange of Common Units. This concentrated control could discourage others from initiating a potential merger, takeover or other change of control transaction that other stockholders may view as beneficial.

Classified Board of Directors

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, subject to the right of holders of any series of preferred stock, our board of directors will be divided into three classes of directors, as nearly equal in number as possible, and with the directors serving staggered three-year terms, with only one class of directors being elected at each annual meeting of stockholders. As a result, approximately one-third of our board of directors will be elected each year. The classification of directors will have the effect of making it more difficult for stockholders to change the composition of our board of directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that, subject to any rights of holders of preferred stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors will be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the board of directors.

Business Combinations

We have opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL; however, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains similar provisions providing that we may not engage in certain “business combinations” with any “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

   

prior to such time, our board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

 

   

upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding certain shares; or

 

   

at or subsequent to that time, the business combination is approved by our board of directors and by the affirmative vote of holders of at least 6623% of our outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with that person’s affiliates and associates, owns, or within the previous three years owned, 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock. For purposes of this section only, “voting stock” has the meaning given to it in Section 203 of the DGCL.

Under certain circumstances, this provision will make it more difficult for a person who would be an “interested stockholder” to effect various business combinations with us for a three-year period. This provision may encourage companies interested in acquiring us to negotiate in advance with our board of directors because the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if our board of directors approves either the business

 

219


Table of Contents

combination or the transaction that results in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder. These provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our board of directors and may make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our Sponsor and its affiliates, and any of their respective direct or indirect transferees, and any group as to which such persons are a party, do not constitute “interested stockholders” for purposes of this provision.

Removal of Directors; Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships

Under the DGCL, unless otherwise provided in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, directors serving on a classified board may be removed by the stockholders only for cause. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the directors divided into classes may be removed with or without cause upon the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power of all outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class; provided, however, at any time when our Principal Stockholders beneficially own, in the aggregate, less than 30% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of our stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, directors may only be removed for cause, and only upon the affirmative vote of holders of at least 6623% of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class; provided, further, however, that specified directors designated pursuant to the stockholders agreement may not be removed without cause without the consent of the designating party. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, subject to the rights granted to one or more series of preferred stock then outstanding or the rights granted under the stockholders agreement, any newly-created directorship on the board of directors that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on our board of directors will be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, even if less than a quorum, by a sole remaining director or by the stockholders; provided, however, at any time when our Principal Stockholders beneficially own, in the aggregate, less than 30% of voting power of the stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any newly-created directorship on the board of directors that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancy occurring in the board of directors may only be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (and not by the stockholders).

No Cumulative Voting

Under Delaware law, the right to vote cumulatively does not exist unless the certificate of incorporation specifically authorizes cumulative voting. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not authorize cumulative voting. Therefore, stockholders holding a majority in voting power of the shares of our stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors will be able to elect all of our directors.

Special Stockholder Meetings

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that special meetings of our stockholders may be called at any time only by or at the direction of the board of directors, the chairman of our board or the chief executive officer; provided, however, that at any time when our Principal Stockholders beneficially own, in the aggregate, at least 30% in voting power of the stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, special meetings of our stockholders shall also be called by the board of directors or the chairman of the board of directors at the request of our Sponsor. Our amended and restated bylaws prohibit the conduct of any business at a special meeting other than as specified in the notice for such meeting. These provisions may have the effect of deterring, delaying or discouraging hostile takeovers, or changes in control or management of the Company.

Director Nominations and Stockholder Proposals

Our amended and restated bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of

 

220


Table of Contents

the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors. In order for any matter to be “properly brought” before a meeting, a stockholder will have to comply with advance notice requirements and provide us with certain information. Generally, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. Our amended and restated bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. These provisions will not apply to the parties to the stockholders agreement so long as the stockholders agreement remains in effect. Our amended and restated bylaws allow the chairman of the meeting at a meeting of the stockholders to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings which may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the rules and regulations are not followed. These provisions may also defer, delay or discourage a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to influence or obtain control of the Company.

Stockholder Action by Written Consent

Pursuant to Section 228 of the DGCL, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without a vote if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is or are signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of our stock entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, unless our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not permit our Class A common stockholders to act by consent in writing, unless such action is recommended by all directors then in office, at any time when our Principal Stockholders beneficially own, in the aggregate, less than 30% in voting power of our stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, but does permit our Class B common stockholders to act by consent in writing without requiring any such recommendation by the directors then in office.

Supermajority Provisions

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that the board of directors is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend, change, add to, rescind or repeal, in whole or in part, our bylaws without a stockholder vote in any matter not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. For as long as our Principal Stockholders beneficially own, in the aggregate, at least 30% in voting power of our stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any amendment, alteration, change, addition, or repeal of our bylaws by our stockholders requires the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of our stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on such amendment, alteration, rescission or repeal. At any time when our Principal Stockholders beneficially own, in the aggregate, less than 30% in voting power of our stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any amendment, alteration, rescission or repeal of our bylaws by our stockholders requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 6623% in voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.

The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, unless the certificate of incorporation requires a greater percentage. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that at any time when our Principal Stockholders beneficially own, in the aggregate, less than 30% in voting power of our stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, the following provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 6623% in voting power of all the then outstanding shares of our stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class:

 

   

the provision requiring a 6623% supermajority vote for stockholders to amend our amended and restated bylaws;

 

221


Table of Contents
   

the provisions providing for a classified board of directors (the election and term of our directors);

 

   

the provisions regarding resignation and removal of directors;

 

   

the provisions regarding competition and corporate opportunities;

 

   

the provisions regarding entering into business combinations with interested stockholders;

 

   

the provisions regarding stockholder action by written consent;

 

   

the provisions regarding calling special meetings of stockholders;

 

   

the provisions regarding filling vacancies on our board of directors and newly created directorships;

 

   

the provisions eliminating monetary damages for breaches of fiduciary duty by a director;

 

   

the provision regarding forum selection; and

 

   

the amendment provision requiring that the above provisions be amended only with a 6623% supermajority vote.

The combination of the classification of our board of directors, the lack of cumulative voting and the supermajority voting requirements will make it more difficult for our existing stockholders to replace our board of directors as well as for another party to obtain control of us by replacing our board of directors. Because our board of directors has the power to retain and discharge our officers, these provisions could also make it more difficult for existing stockholders or another party to effect a change in management.

These provisions may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying or preventing changes in control of us or our management, such as a merger, reorganization or tender offer. These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continued stability in the composition of our board of directors and its policies and to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened acquisition of the Company. These provisions are designed to reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited acquisition proposal. The provisions are also intended to discourage certain tactics that may be used in proxy fights. However, such provisions could have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers for our shares and, as a consequence, they also may inhibit fluctuations in the market price of our shares that could result from actual or rumored takeover attempts. Such provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in management.

Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal and Payment

Under the DGCL, with certain exceptions, our stockholders will have appraisal rights in connection with a merger or consolidation in which we are a constituent entity. Pursuant to the DGCL, stockholders who properly demand and perfect appraisal rights in connection with such merger or consolidation will have the right to receive payment of the fair value of their shares as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery, plus interest, if any, on the amount determined to be the fair value, from the effective time of the merger or consolidation through the date of payment of the judgment.

Stockholders’ Derivative Actions

Under the DGCL, any of our stockholders may bring an action in our name to procure a judgment in our favor, also known as a derivative action, provided that the stockholder bringing the action is a holder of our shares at the time of the transaction to which the action relates or such stockholder’s stock thereafter devolved by operation of law. To bring such an action, the stockholder must otherwise comply with Delaware law regarding derivative actions.

Exclusive Forum

Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

222


Table of Contents

Accordingly, both state and federal courts have jurisdiction to entertain such claims. To prevent having to litigate claims in multiple jurisdictions and the threat of inconsistent or contrary rulings by different courts, among other considerations, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; (ii) any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, stockholder or employee of the Company to the Company or our stockholders; (iii) any action asserting a claim against us arising under the DGCL, our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation further provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the federal district courts of the United States of America will be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the federal securities laws of the United States, including, in each case, the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. It is possible that a court could find our forum selection provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable and, accordingly, we could be required to litigate claims in multiple jurisdictions, incur additional costs or otherwise not receive the benefits that we expect our forum selection provisions to provide.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of our company shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. However, investors will not be deemed to have waived compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder as a result of our forum selection provisions.

Conflicts of Interest

Delaware law permits corporations to adopt provisions renouncing any interest or expectancy in certain opportunities that are presented to the corporation or its officers, directors or stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will, to the maximum extent permitted from time to time by Delaware law, renounce any interest or expectancy that we have in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, specified business opportunities that are from time to time presented to our officers, directors or stockholders or their respective affiliates, other than those officers, directors, stockholders or affiliates who are our or our subsidiaries’ employees. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, none of our Sponsor, our Co-Investor or any of their respective affiliates or any of our directors who are not employed by us (including any non-employee director who serves as one of our officers in both his or her director and officer capacities) or his or her affiliates will have any duty to refrain from (i) engaging in a corporate opportunity in the same or similar lines of business in which we or our affiliates now engage or propose to engage or (ii) otherwise competing with us or our affiliates. In addition, to the fullest extent permitted by law, in the event that our Sponsor, our Co-Investor or any non-employee director acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for itself, himself or herself or its, his or her affiliates or for us or our affiliates, such person will have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or business opportunity to us or any of our affiliates and they may take any such opportunity for themselves or offer it to another person or entity. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will not renounce our interest in any business opportunity that is expressly offered to a non-employee director solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Company. To the fullest extent permitted by law, no business opportunity will be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity for us unless we would be permitted to undertake the opportunity under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, we have sufficient financial resources to undertake the opportunity and the opportunity would be in line with our business.

 

223


Table of Contents

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

The DGCL authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors’ fiduciary duties, subject to certain exceptions. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation includes a provision that eliminates the personal liability of directors for monetary damages to the corporation or its stockholders for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL. The effect of these provisions is to eliminate the rights of us and our stockholders, through stockholders’ derivative suits on our behalf, to recover monetary damages from a director for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, including breaches resulting from grossly negligent behavior. However, exculpation does not apply to any director if the director has breached such director’s duty of loyalty, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized illegal dividends, redemptions or repurchases or derived an improper benefit from his or her actions as a director.

Our amended and restated bylaws generally provide that we must indemnify and advance expenses to our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL. We also are expressly authorized to carry directors’ and officers’ liability insurance providing indemnification for our directors, officers and certain employees for some liabilities. We believe that these indemnification and advancement provisions and insurance are useful to attract and retain qualified directors and executive officers.

The limitation of liability, indemnification and advancement provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

There is currently no pending material litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers or employees for which indemnification is sought.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for shares of our Class A common stock will be Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

Listing

We have applied to list our Class A common stock on Nasdaq under the symbol “BMBL.”

 

224


Table of Contents

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME AND ESTATE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS

The following is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares of our Class A common stock as of the date hereof. Except where noted, this summary deals only with Class A common stock that is held as a capital asset by a non-U.S. holder (as defined below).

A “non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of shares of our Class A common stock (other than an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is not, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, any of the following:

 

   

an individual citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

a corporation (or any other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

   

an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust if it (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

This summary is based upon provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and regulations, rulings and judicial decisions as of the date hereof. Those authorities may be changed, perhaps retroactively, so as to result in U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences different from those summarized below. This summary does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income and estate taxes and does not deal with foreign, state, local or other tax considerations that may be relevant to non-U.S. holders in light of their particular circumstances. In addition, it does not represent a detailed description of the U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences applicable to you if you are subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws (including if you are a U.S. expatriate, foreign pension fund, “controlled foreign corporation,” “passive foreign investment company” or a partnership or other pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes). We cannot assure you that a change in law will not alter significantly the tax considerations that we describe in this summary.

If a partnership (or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds shares of our Class A common stock, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership holding our Class A common stock, you should consult your tax advisors.

If you are considering the purchase of our Class A common stock, you should consult your own tax advisors concerning the particular U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences to you of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our Class A common stock, as well as the consequences to you arising under other U.S. federal tax laws and the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

Dividends

In the event that we make a distribution of cash or other property (other than certain pro rata distributions of our Class A common stock) in respect of shares of our Class A common stock, the distribution generally will be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent it is paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Any portion of a distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits generally will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital, causing a reduction in the adjusted tax basis of a non-U.S. holder’s Class A common stock, and to the extent the amount of the distribution exceeds a non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in shares of our Class A common stock, the excess will be treated as gain from the disposition of shares of our Class A common stock (the tax treatment of which is discussed below under “—Gain on Disposition of Class A Common Stock”).

 

225


Table of Contents

Dividends paid to a non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty, subject to the discussion of FATCA below under “—Additional Withholding Requirements.” However, dividends that are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the non-U.S. holder within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment) are not subject to the withholding tax, provided certain certification and disclosure requirements are satisfied. Instead, such dividends are subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis in the same manner as if the non-U.S. holder were a U.S. person as defined under the Code. Any such effectively connected dividends received by a foreign corporation may be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.

A non-U.S. holder who wishes to claim the benefit of an applicable treaty rate and avoid backup withholding, as discussed below, for dividends will be required (a) to provide the applicable withholding agent with a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable form) certifying under penalty of perjury that such holder is not a U.S. person as defined under the Code and is eligible for treaty benefits or (b) if our Class A common stock is held through certain foreign intermediaries, to satisfy the relevant certification requirements of applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. Special certification and other requirements apply to certain non-U.S. holders that are pass-through entities rather than corporations or individuals.

A non-U.S. holder eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. federal withholding tax pursuant to an income tax treaty may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS.

Gain on Disposition of Class A Common Stock

Subject to the discussion of backup withholding below, any gain realized by a non-U.S. holder on the sale or other disposition of our Class A common stock generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless:

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with a trade or business of the non-U.S. holder in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment of the non-U.S. holder);

 

   

the non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of that disposition, and certain other conditions are met; or

 

   

we are or have been a “U.S. real property holding corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes and certain other conditions are met.

A non-U.S. holder described in the first bullet point immediately above will be subject to tax on the gain derived from the sale or other disposition in the same manner as if the non-U.S. holder were a U.S. person as defined under the Code. In addition, if any non-U.S. holder described in the first bullet point immediately above is a foreign corporation, the gain realized by such non-U.S. holder may be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. An individual non-U.S. holder described in the second bullet point immediately above will be subject to a 30% (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty) tax on the gain derived from the sale or other disposition, which gain may be offset by U.S. source capital losses even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States.

Generally, a corporation is a “U.S. real property holding corporation” if the fair market value of its U.S. real property interests equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of its worldwide real property interests and its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business (all as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes). We believe we are not and do not anticipate becoming a “U.S. real property holding corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

226


Table of Contents

Federal Estate Tax

Class A common stock held by an individual non-U.S. holder at the time of death will be included in such holder’s gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes, unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Distributions paid to a non-U.S. holder and the amount of any tax withheld with respect to such distributions generally will be reported to the IRS. Copies of the information returns reporting such distributions and any withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty.

A non-U.S. holder will not be subject to backup withholding on dividends received if such holder certifies under penalty of perjury that it is a non-U.S. holder (and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such holder is a U.S. person as defined under the Code), or such holder otherwise establishes an exemption.

Information reporting and, depending on the circumstances, backup withholding will apply to the proceeds of a sale or other disposition of our Class A common stock made within the United States or conducted through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries, unless the beneficial owner certifies under penalty of perjury that it is a non-U.S. holder (and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the beneficial owner is a U.S. person as defined under the Code), or such owner otherwise establishes an exemption.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Additional Withholding Requirements

Under Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as FATCA), a 30% U.S. federal withholding tax may apply to any dividends paid on our Class A common stock to (i) a “foreign financial institution” (as specifically defined in the Code) which does not provide sufficient documentation, typically on IRS Form W-8BEN-E, evidencing either (x) an exemption from FATCA or (y) its compliance (or deemed compliance) with FATCA (which may alternatively be in the form of compliance with an intergovernmental agreement with the United States) in a manner which avoids withholding, or (ii) a “non-financial foreign entity” (as specifically defined in the Code) which does not provide sufficient documentation, typically on IRS Form W-8BEN-E, evidencing either (x) an exemption from FATCA or (y) adequate information regarding certain substantial U.S. beneficial owners of such entity (if any). Under proposed U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated by the Treasury Department on December 13, 2018, which state that taxpayers may rely on the proposed Treasury regulations until final Treasury regulations are issued, this withholding tax will not apply to the gross proceeds from the sale or disposition of our Class A common stock. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country may modify these requirements. If a dividend payment is both subject to withholding under FATCA and subject to the withholding tax discussed above under “—Dividends,” the withholding under FATCA may be credited against, and therefore reduce, such other withholding tax. You should consult your own tax advisors regarding these requirements and whether they may be relevant to your ownership and disposition of our Class A common stock.

 

227


Table of Contents

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for shares of our Class A common stock. We cannot predict the effect, if any, future sales of shares of Class A common stock, or the availability for future sale of shares of Class A common stock, will have on the market price of shares of our Class A common stock prevailing from time to time. The sale of substantial amounts of shares of our Class A common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could harm the prevailing market price of shares of our Class A common stock and could impair our future ability to raise capital through the sale of our equity or equity-related securities at a time and price that we deem appropriate. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to this Offering and Ownership of our Class A Common Stock—If we or our pre-IPO owners sell additional shares of our Class A common stock after this offering or are perceived by the public markets as intending to sell them, the market price of our Class A common stock could decline.”

Upon completion of this offering we will have a total of                shares of our Class A common stock outstanding (or                shares of Class A common stock if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). All of these shares of Class A common stock will have been sold in this offering and will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act by persons other than our “affiliates.” Under the Securities Act, an “affiliate” of an issuer is a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with that issuer. The                  shares of our Class A common stock held by the Pre-IPO Shareholders (or                  shares of Class A common stock if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) will be “restricted securities,” as defined in Rule 144 and may not be sold absent registration under the Securities Act or compliance with Rule 144 thereunder or in reliance on another exemption from registration.

In addition, subject to certain limitations and exceptions, pursuant to the terms of an exchange agreement we will enter into with the holders of our Common Units, holders of Common Units (including Common Units issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) may (subject to the terms of the exchange agreement) exchange Common Units for shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to customary conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications. Upon consummation of this offering, the Pre-IPO Common Unitholders will hold                 Common Units (or                 Common Units if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), all of which will be exchangeable for shares of our Class A common stock. Any shares we issue upon exchange of Common Units will be “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144 and may not be sold in the absence of registration under the Securities Act unless an exemption from registration is available, including the exemptions contained in Rule 144. Under applicable SEC guidance, we believe that for purposes of Rule 144 the holding period in such shares will generally include the holding period in the corresponding Common Units exchanged. Moreover, as a result of the registration rights agreement, all or a portion of these shares may be eligible for future sale without restriction, subject to the lock-up arrangements described below. See “—Registration Rights” and “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Registration Rights Agreement.”

Subject to certain limitations and exceptions, pursuant to the terms of the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings, the holders of                  vested Incentive Units, which have a weighted-average per unit participation threshold of $         per Incentive Unit, will be able to convert their Incentive Units for Common Units of Bumble Holdings, as described in “Organizational Structure—Reclassification and Amendment and Restatement of Limited Partnership Agreement of Bumble Holdings” and “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Bumble Holdings Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement.” Common Units received upon conversion will be exchangeable on a one-for-one basis for shares of Class A common stock of Bumble Inc. in accordance with the terms of the exchange agreement. Assuming such Incentive Units are fully vested, at the time of this offering,                 shares of Class A common stock would be issuable upon the exchange of             as-converted Incentive Units (assuming an offering price of $         per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus, and assuming such Incentive Units are fully vested and converted to Common Units) held by the Continuing Incentive Unitholders.

 

228


Table of Contents

In addition,                 shares of Class A common stock may be granted under our Omnibus Incentive Plan. In connection with the offering,                 shares of Class A common stock granted in respect of Class B Units held by Converting Class B Unitholders (assuming an offering price of $         per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus),                 options to purchase shares of Class A common stock (assuming an offering price of $         per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus) with an exercise price equal to the public offering price per share of Class A common stock and RSUs in respect of                 shares of Class A common stock (assuming an offering price of $         per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus) are expected to be granted under our Omnibus Incentive Plan. For a description of these grants under our Omnibus Incentive Plan, see “Management—Compensation Arrangements to be Adopted in Connection with this Offering—Omnibus Incentive Plan.” Additionally,                 shares of Class A common stock will be reserved for issuance under our ESPP. For a detailed description of the ESPP, see “Management—Compensation Arrangements to be Adopted in Connection with this Offering—Employee Stock Purchase Plan.” We intend to file one or more registration statements on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register shares of Class A common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Class A common stock issued under or covered by our Omnibus Incentive Plan and our ESPP. Any such Form S-8 registration statements will automatically become effective upon filing. Accordingly, shares of Class A common stock registered under such registration statements will be available for sale in the open market. We expect that the initial registration statement on Form S-8 will cover shares of Class A common stock.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue additional shares of Class A common stock and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Class A common stock for the consideration and on the terms and conditions established by our board of directors in its sole discretion. In accordance with the DGCL and the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, we may also issue preferred stock that has designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties that are different from, and may be senior to, those applicable to shares of Class A common stock. See “Description of Capital Stock.” Similarly, the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Bumble Holdings permits Bumble Holdings to issue an unlimited number of additional limited partnership interests of Bumble Holdings with designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties that are different from, and may be senior to, those applicable to the Common Units, and which may be exchangeable for shares of our Class A common stock.

Registration Rights

In connection with the Offering Transactions, we will enter into a registration rights agreement with our Principal Stockholders. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Registration Rights Agreement.”

Lock-Up Agreements

We, our officers, directors, Sponsor and our other pre-IPO owners representing substantially all of the Common Units prior to this offering have agreed, subject to certain exceptions, that we and they will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our Class A common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of our Class A common stock, enter into a transaction that would have the same effect, or enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of our Class A common stock, whether any of these transactions are to be settled by delivery of our Class A common stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter into any transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement, without, in each case, the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus. These agreements are subject to certain exceptions, as set forth in “Underwriting.”

 

229


Table of Contents

Rule 144

In general, under Rule 144, as currently in effect, a person who is not deemed to be our affiliate for purposes of Rule 144 or to have been one of our affiliates at any time during the three months preceding a sale and who has beneficially owned the shares of Class A common stock proposed to be sold for at least six months, including the holding period of any prior owner other than our affiliates, is entitled to sell those shares of Class A common stock without complying with the manner of sale, volume limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144, subject to compliance with the public information requirements of Rule 144. If such a person has beneficially owned the shares of Class A common stock proposed to be sold for at least one year, including the holding period of any prior owner other than our affiliates, then that person is entitled to sell those shares of Class A common stock without complying with any of the requirements of Rule 144. In general, six months after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, under Rule 144, as currently in effect, our affiliates or persons selling shares of Class A common stock on behalf of our affiliates are entitled to sell, within any three-month period, a number of shares of Class A common stock that does not exceed the greater of (1) 1% of the number of shares of Class A common stock then outstanding and (2) the average weekly trading volume of the shares of Class A common stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to that sale. Sales under Rule 144 by our affiliates or persons selling shares of Class A common stock on behalf of our affiliates are also subject to certain manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.

Any shares we issue upon exchange of Common Units will be “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144 and may not be sold in the absence of registration under the Securities Act unless an exemption from registration is available, including the exemptions contained in Rule 144. Under applicable SEC guidance, we believe that for purposes of Rule 144 the holding period in such shares will generally include the holding period in the corresponding Common Units exchanged.

 

230


Table of Contents

UNDERWRITING

The Company and the underwriters named below have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the shares being offered. Subject to certain conditions, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the number of shares indicated in the following table. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. are the representatives of the underwriters.

 

Underwriters

   Number of Shares  

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

                           

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

  

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

  
  

 

 

 

Total:

  

The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the shares being offered, if any are taken, other than the shares covered by the option described below unless and until this option is exercised.

The underwriters have an option to buy up to an additional                shares from the Company to cover sales by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than the total number set forth in the table above. They may exercise that option for 30 days. If any shares are purchased pursuant to this option, the underwriters will severally purchase shares in approximately the same proportion as set forth in the table above.

The following table shows the per share and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters by the Company. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase                additional shares.

Paid by the Company

 

     No Exercise      Full Exercise  

Per Share

   $                  $              

Total

   $        $    

Shares sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Any shares sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount of up to $                per share from the initial public offering price. After the initial offering of the shares, the representatives may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The offering of the shares by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.

The Company and its officers, directors, and holders of substantially all of our outstanding Common Units immediately prior to this offering have agreed with the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions, not to dispose of or hedge any share of Class A common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Class A common stock during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through the date 180 days after the date of this prospectus, except with the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

We have applied to list the shares on Nasdaq under the symbol “BMBL.”

Prior to the offering, there has been no public market for the shares. The initial public offering price has been negotiated among the Company and the representatives. Among the factors to be considered in determining the initial public offering price of the shares, in addition to prevailing market conditions, will be the Company’s historical performance, estimates of the business potential and earnings prospects of the Company, an assessment of the Company’s management and the consideration of the above factors in relation to market valuation of companies in related businesses.

 

231


Table of Contents

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell shares in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in the offering, and a short position represents the amount of such sales that have not been covered by subsequent purchases. A “covered short position” is a short position that is not greater than the amount of additional shares for which the underwriters’ option described above may be exercised. The underwriters may cover any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional shares or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to cover the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase additional shares pursuant to the option described above. “Naked” short sales are any short sales that create a short position greater than the amount of additional shares for which the option described above may be exercised. The underwriters must cover any such naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of shares made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the completion of the offering.

The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased shares sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

Purchases to cover a short position and stabilizing transactions, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Company’s stock, and together with the imposition of the penalty bid, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the shares. As a result, the price of the shares may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time. These transactions may be effected on Nasdaq, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

The Company estimates that its share of the total expenses of the offering, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $                 . The Company has also agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain FINRA-related expenses incurred by them in connection with the offering in an amount up to $                .

The Company has agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on websites maintained by one or more underwriters, or selling group members, if any, participating in this offering. The representatives may agree to allocate a number of our shares to underwriters for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the representatives to underwriters that may make internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations.

Other Relationships

The underwriters 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 the underwriters and their respective affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, a variety of these services to the issuer and to persons and entities with relationships with the issuer, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

 

232


Table of Contents

In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates, officers, directors and employees may purchase, sell or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and trading activities may involve or relate to assets, securities and/or instruments of the issuer (directly, as collateral securing other obligations or otherwise) and/or persons and entities with relationships with the issuer. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such assets, securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they should acquire, long and/or short positions in such assets, securities and instruments. Certain of the underwriters may offer and sell the shares through one or more of their respective affiliates or other registered broker-dealers or selling agents. An affiliate of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. acts as administrative agent under our Term Loan Facility and Revolving Credit Facility. Certain of the underwriters or their affiliates are also lenders and/or arrangers under our Term Loan Facility and Revolving Credit Facility.

Directed Share Program

At our request, the underwriters have reserved for sale at the initial public offering price up to         % of the Class A common stock being offered for sale, to certain individuals associated with the Company. We will offer these shares to the extent permitted under applicable regulations in the United States and in various countries. Pursuant to the underwriting agreement, the sales will be made by the representatives through a directed share program. The number of shares of Class A common stock available for sale to the general public will be reduced to the extent that such persons purchase such reserved shares. Any reserved shares not so purchased will be offered by the underwriters to the general public on the same basis as the other shares of Class A common stock offered hereby. Each person buying shares of Class A common stock through the directed share program will be subject to a 180-day lock-up period with respect to such shares. We have agreed to indemnify the representatives in connection with the directed share program, including for the failure of any participant to pay for its shares of Class A common stock. Other than the underwriting discount described on the front cover of this prospectus, the underwriters will not be entitled to any commission with respect to shares of Class A common stock sold pursuant to the directed share program.

Selling Restrictions

European Economic Area and United Kingdom

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom (each a “Relevant State”), no shares have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offering to the public in that Relevant State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the shares which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation, except that it may make an offer to the public in that Relevant State of any shares at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation:

 

  (a)

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under the Prospectus Regulation;

 

  (b)

to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of representatives for any such offer; or

 

  (c)

in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation,

provided that no such offer of the shares shall require the Issuer or any Manager to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to the shares in any Relevant State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of

 

233


Table of Contents

the offer and any shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any shares, and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, this prospectus supplement is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, and any investment or investment activity to which this prospectus supplement relates is available only to, and will be engaged in only with, persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Prospectus Regulation) (i) having professional experience in matters relating to investments who fall within the definition of “investment professionals” in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”); or (ii) who are high net worth entities falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). Persons who are not relevant persons should not take any action on the basis of this prospectus supplement and should not act or rely on it.

Canada

The securities may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions, and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the securities must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Hong Kong

The shares have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than (a) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance; or (b) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance. No advertisement, invitation or document relating to the shares has been or may be issued or has been or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to shares which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made under that Ordinance.

Singapore

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or

 

234


Table of Contents

invitation for subscription or purchase, of the shares may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the shares be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore, or the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to compliance with conditions set forth in the SFA.

Where our shares are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 by a relevant person which is:

 

  (a)

a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

 

  (b)

a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor,

shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the shares pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

 

  (1)

to an institutional investor (for corporations, under Section 274 of the SFA) or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;

 

  (2)

where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

 

  (3)

where the transfer is by operation of law;

 

  (4)

as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or

 

  (5)

as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore.

Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to Section 309B of the SFA, we have determined, and hereby notify all relevant persons (as defined in the CMP Regulations 2018), that the shares are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the CMP Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

Japan

The shares have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948, as amended) and, accordingly, will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan, or for the benefit of any Japanese Person or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to any Japanese Person, except in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines promulgated by relevant Japanese governmental or regulatory authorities in effect at the relevant time. For the purposes of this paragraph, “Japanese Person” shall mean any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan.

 

235


Table of Contents

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the shares of Class A common stock will be passed upon for us by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Washington, D.C. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New York, New York. An investment vehicle comprised of selected partners of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, members of their families, related persons and others owns interests representing less than 1% of the capital commitments of funds affiliated with The Blackstone Group Inc.

CHANGE IN AUDITOR

On October 26, 2020, the Board approved the dismissal of Ernst & Young LLP (EY-UK), the United Kingdom member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited (EYG), as our independent registered public accounting firm, effective upon completion of their audits of the consolidated financial statements of Worldwide Vision Limited (the Predecessor) as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the issuance of their report thereon. Management communicated the Board’s decision to EY-UK on October 26, 2020.

The reports of EY-UK on the consolidated financial statements of the Predecessor as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainties, audit scope or accounting principles.

During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 and the subsequent period through October 30, 2020, there were no disagreements (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K) between the Predecessor or Buzz Holdings L.P. and EY-UK on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of EY-UK, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in its report on the Predecessor’s consolidated financial statements for such years.

During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 and the subsequent interim period through October 30, 2020, there were no “reportable events” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K) except for a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting related to a lack of defined processes and controls over information technology.

We provided EY-UK with a copy of the foregoing disclosure and requested that EY-UK furnish us with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether or not it agrees with the statements made herein, each as required by applicable SEC rules. A copy of EY-UK’s letter is attached hereto as Exhibit 16.1.

On October 26, 2020, the Board approved the engagement of Ernst & Young LLP (EY-US), the United States member firm of EYG, as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 and the subsequent period through October 30, 2020, neither we, nor anyone on our behalf consulted with EY-US, on behalf of us, regarding the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction (either completed or proposed), the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on our financial statements, or any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement, as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K, or a reportable event, as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K. The Board’s decision was due solely to the corporate reorganization whereby Buzz Holdings L.P. became incorporated in Delaware, United States, reflecting its migration to become a U.S. based company.

 

236


Table of Contents

EXPERTS

The financial statement of Bumble Inc. (the Company) as of October 5, 2020, appearing in this prospectus and registration statement has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP (EY-US), the United States member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited (EYG), independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon appearing elsewhere herein, and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The consolidated financial statements of Worldwide Vision Limited (the Predecessor) as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, were audited by Ernst & Young LLP (United Kingdom) (EY-UK), a member firm of EYG and independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon appearing elsewhere herein, and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

During 2018, EY-UK assisted the Predecessor in the calculation of its consolidated and statutory financial statement income tax provisions prepared under the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) relating to the year ended December 31, 2017. These income tax provision services are inconsistent with the independence rules of the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and PCAOB. The services related to 2017, a period not subject to EY-UK’s audit under the PCAOB standards. In addition, the tax provision assistance services were provided under IFRS, a different basis of accounting from U.S. GAAP, which was used by the Predecessor in preparing its consolidated financial statements subject to EY-UK’s audit under PCAOB standards. The professionals who provided the income tax provision services were not part of the audit engagement teams for the Predecessor or the Company. Fees paid to EY-UK for these services approximated $35,000.

Bumble Inc. is controlled by investment funds of The Blackstone Group Inc. (Blackstone). During 2020 and 2021, certain professionals of EYG member firms who are covered persons with respect to the audit of the Company under PCAOB standards held shares in Blackstone or its affiliates. Ownership of shares in Blackstone or its affiliates are prohibited under the SEC and PCAOB independence rules for covered persons. The shares were disposed, or the covered person was removed from the engagement, promptly upon notification of these matters and were not material to the respective professionals’ net worth.

These matters had no impact on the consolidated financial statements or operations of the Company, nor EY-UK or EY-US’s related audit procedures or judgments. These professionals did not work on the audits of the Predecessor or the Company.

After careful consideration of the facts and circumstances and the applicable independence rules, EY-UK and EY-US have concluded that (i) the aforementioned matters did not and do not impair its ability to exercise objective and impartial judgment in connection with its audits of the consolidated financial statements of the Predecessor or the Company; and (ii) a reasonable investor with knowledge of all relevant facts and circumstances would reach the same conclusion. Management and those charged with governance of the Company concur with EY-UK and EY-US’s conclusions.

 

237


Table of Contents

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Class A common stock offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, filed as part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and its exhibits and schedules, portions of which have been omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information about us and shares of our Class A common stock, we refer you to the registration statement and to its exhibits and schedules. Statements in this prospectus about the contents of any contract, agreement or other document are not necessarily complete and in each instance we refer you to the copy or form of such contract, agreement or document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each statement being qualified in all respects by such reference. You may inspect these reports and other information without charge at a website maintained by the SEC. The address of this site is http://www.sec.gov.

We maintain an internet site at http://www.bumble.com. The information on, or accessible from, our website is not part of this prospectus by reference or otherwise.

Upon completion of this offering, we will become subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and will be required to file reports and other information with the SEC. You will be able to inspect copies of these materials without charge at the SEC’s website. We intend to make available to our Class A common stockholders annual reports containing consolidated financial statements audited by an independent registered public accounting firm.

 

238


Table of Contents

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Audited Balance Sheet of Bumble Inc.

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-2  

Balance Sheet as of October 5, 2020

     F-3  

Notes to Balance Sheet

     F-4  

Audited Consolidated Financial Statements of Worldwide Vision Limited

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-5  

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018

     F-6  

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December  31, 2019 and 2018

     F-7  

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018

     F-8  

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018

     F-9  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December  31, 2019 and 2018

     F-10  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-11  

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Buzz Holdings L.P.

  

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September  30, 2020 (Unaudited, Successor) and December 31, 2019 (Predecessor)

     F-30  

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the period from January 29 through September 30, 2020 (Successor), the period from January 1 through January 28, 2020 (Predecessor) and the nine months ended September 30, 2019 (Predecessor)

     F-31  

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Operations for the period from January 29 through September 30, 2020 (Successor), the period from January 1 through January 28, 2020 (Predecessor) and the nine months ended September 30, 2019 (Predecessor)

     F-32  

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the period from January 1 through January 28, 2020 (Predecessor) and the nine months ended September 30, 2019 (Predecessor)

     F-33  

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the period from January 29 through September 30, 2020 (Successor)

     F-34  

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the period from January 29 through September 30, 2020 (Successor), the period from January 1 through January 28, 2020 (Predecessor) and the nine months ended September 30, 2019 (Predecessor)

     F-35  

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-36  

 

F-1


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholder of Bumble Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statement

We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Bumble Inc. (the “Corporation”) as of October 5, 2020 and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statement”). In our opinion, the financial statement presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Bumble Inc. at October 5, 2020, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Basis for Opinion

The financial statement is the responsibility of the Corporation’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Corporation’s financial statement based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement is free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Corporation is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statement, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statement. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

We have served as the Corporation’s auditor since 2020.

Austin, TX

October 30, 2020

 

 

F-2


Table of Contents

Bumble Inc.

Balance Sheet

 

     October 5,
2020
 

Assets

  

Current Assets

  

Cash

   $ 1  
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 1  
  

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies

  

Stockholder’s Equity

  

Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 1,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding

   $ —  

Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 1,000 shares authorized, 100 shares issued and outstanding

     1  
  

 

 

 

Total Stockholder’s Equity

   $ 1  
  

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this balance sheet.

 

F-3


Table of Contents

Bumble Inc.

Notes to Balance Sheet

Note 1—Organization

Bumble Inc. (the “Corporation”) was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on October 5, 2020. The Corporation’s fiscal year end is December 31. The Corporation was formed with the intent that the Corporation will be included in a reorganization into a holding corporation structure. It is anticipated that the Corporation will become a holding corporation and its sole material asset is expected to be an equity interest in Buzz Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Bumble Holdings”).

Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Accounting—The Balance Sheet has been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Separate statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholder’s equity and cash flows have not been presented in the financial statements because there have been no activities in this entity and because the single transaction is fully disclosed below.

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates, among other things, the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.

Note 3—Stockholders’ Equity

The Corporation is authorized to issue 1,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class A common stock”), and 1,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class B common stock”). Under the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation in effect as of October 5, 2020, all shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock are identical. In exchange for $1.00, the Corporation has issued 100 shares of Class B common stock, all of which were held by Bumble Holdings as of October 5, 2020.

Note 4—Subsequent Events

Subsequent events have been evaluated through October 30, 2020, the date this financial statement was issued.

Note 5—Subsequent Events (unaudited)

For purposes of this filing, the Corporation has evaluated the effects of subsequent events through January 15, 2021.

 

F-4


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Buzz Holdings L.P.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Worldwide Vision Limited and subsidiaries (the “Predecessor Company”) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive operations, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Predecessor Company at December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2019, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Adoption of ASU No. 2016-02

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Predecessor Company changed its method of

accounting for Leases in 2019 due to the adoption of ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), and related amendments.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Predecessor Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Predecessor Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Predecessor Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Predecessor Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

We have served as the Predecessor Company’s auditor since 2010.

Cambridge, UK

October 30, 2020

 

F-5


Table of Contents

Worldwide Vision Limited

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

     December 31,  
             2019                     2018          
     (in thousands, except par value
amounts)
 

ASSETS

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 57,449     $ 33,289  

Accounts receivable

     34,234       28,263  

Loans to related companies

     42,043       —    

Other current assets

     36,106       35,335  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     169,832       96,887  

Right-of-use assets

     16,291       —    

Lease receivable

     1,011       —    

Property and equipment, net

     14,033       11,903  

Intangible assets, net

     1,241       383  

Deferred tax assets, net

     7,055       7,269  

Other noncurrent assets

     835       287  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 210,298     $ 116,729  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Accounts payable

   $ 8,066     $ 8,318  

Deferred revenue

     24,749       23,389  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     88,649       46,093  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     121,464       77,800  

Other liabilities

     59,152       74,148  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ 180,616     $ 151,948  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)

    

Shareholders’ Equity:

    

Issued share capital ($0.0001 par value; 126,424 and 126,451 shares authorized; 108,431 and 108,389 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively)

     11       11  

Additional paid-in capital

     3,449       1,185  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     644       492  

Treasury stock (6,940 and 6,940 shares at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively)

     (3,788     (3,788

Retained earnings (Accumulated deficit)

     23,352       (24,794
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Worldwide Vision Limited shareholders’ equity (deficit)

     23,668       (26,894

Noncontrolling interests

     6,014       (8,325
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity (deficit)

     29,682       (35,219
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity (deficit)

   $ 210,298     $ 116,729  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-6


Table of Contents

Worldwide Vision Limited

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
             2019                     2018          
     (in thousands, except per share data)  

Revenue

   $ 488,940     $ 360,105  

Operating costs and expenses:

    

Cost of revenue (exclusive of items shown separately below)

     139,767       110,259  

Selling and marketing expense

     142,902       93,605  

General and administrative expense

     67,079       128,981  

Product development expense

     39,205       37,517  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     6,734       5,957  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating costs and expenses

     395,687       376,319  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

     93,253       (16,214

Other expense, net

     (1,271     (4,424
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings (loss), before tax

     91,982       (20,638

Income tax provision

     (6,138     (3,031
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

     85,844       (23,669
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests

     19,698       (2,150
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Worldwide Vision Limited shareholders

   $ 66,146     $ (21,519
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) per share attributable to Worldwide Vision Limited shareholders

    

Basic earnings (loss) per share

   $ 0.65     $ (0.21

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

   $ 0.65     $ (0.21

Dividend declared per share

   $ 0.18     $ 0.30  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-7


Table of Contents

Worldwide Vision Limited

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Operations

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
           2019                  2018        
     (in thousands)  

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 85,844      $ (23,669

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

     

Change in foreign currency translation adjustment

     152        (171
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

     152        (171
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

     85,996        (23,840

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests

     19,698        (2,150
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Worldwide Vision Limited shareholders

   $ 66,298      $ (21,690
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-8


Table of Contents

Worldwide Vision Limited

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

 

    Issued Capital
($0.0001 Par
Value)
    Treasury Stock     Additional
Paid-in

Capital
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Retained
Earnings
(Accumulated
Deficit)
    Total
Worldwide
Vision Limited
Shareholders’
Equity (Deficit)
    Noncontrolling
Interests
    Total
Shareholders’
Equity (Deficit)
 
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  
          (in thousands)  

Balance as of January 1, 2018

    108,389     $ 11       6,940     $ (3,788   $ 930     $ 663     $ 26,725     $ 24,541     $ (450   $ 24,091  

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2018

    —         —         —         —         —         —         (21,519     (21,519     (2,150     (23,669

Stock-based compensation expense

    —         —         —         —         255       —         —         255       —         255  

Dividends paid

    —         —         —         —         —         —         (30,000     (30,000     (5,725     (35,725

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

    —         —         —         —         —         (171     —         (171     —         (171
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2018

    108,389     $ 11       6,940     $ (3,788   $ 1,185     $ 492     $ (24,794   $ (26,894   $ (8,325   $ (35,219
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings for the year ended December 31, 2019

    —         —         —         —         —         —         66,146       66,146       19,698       85,844  

Stock-based compensation expense

    —         —         —         —         2,160       —         —         2,160       —         2,160  

Dividends paid

    —         —         —         —         —         —         (18,000     (18,000     (5,359     (23,359

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

    —         —         —         —         —         152       —         152       —         152  

Share issuance

    42       —         —         —         104       —         —         104       —         104  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2019

    108,431     $ 11       6,940     $ (3,788   $ 3,449     $ 644     $ 23,352     $ 23,668     $ 6,014     $ 29,682  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-9


Table of Contents

Worldwide Vision Limited

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
           2019                 2018        
     (in thousands)  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 85,844     $ (23,669

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     6,734       5,957  

Non-cash lease expense

     952       —    

Deferred income tax

     201       (2,004

Stock-based compensation expense

     2,160       255  

Net foreign exchange difference

     600       716  

R&D tax credit

     (2,374     (1,353

Other, net

     201       (34

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     (5,971     68  

Other current assets

     (21,144     (23,697

Deferred revenue

     1,360       9,958  

Accounts payable

     (252     1,131  

Legal liabilities

     (1,811     75,987  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     34,523       28,451  

Other liabilities

     369       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     101,392       71,766  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Capital expenditures

     (9,674     (8,047

Other, net

     (1,722     (347
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (11,396     (8,394
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Issuance of loans

     (41,965     —    

Proceeds from issuance of shares

     104       —    

Dividends paid

     (23,359     (37,225

Other, net

     24       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (65,196     (37,225
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (640     (351
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     24,160       25,796  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year

     33,289       7,493  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year

   $ 57,449     $ 33,289  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-10


Table of Contents

Worldwide Vision Limited

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1—Organization and Basis of Presentation

Company Overview

The Company’s main operations are providing online dating and social networking platforms and is a provider of subscription and credit-based dating products servicing North America, Europe and various other countries around the world. The Company provide these services through websites and applications that are owned and operated by the Company.

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

The Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, all entities that are wholly-owned by the Company and all entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates, among other things, the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company was acquired subsequent to the balance sheet date; see Note 16.

All references to the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us” in this report are to Worldwide Vision Limited.

Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses. The Company’s significant estimates relate to income taxes, valuation of long-lived assets, the useful lives of property and equipment and intangible assets, legal contingencies and stock-based compensation.

These estimates are based on management’s best estimates and judgment. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Estimates, judgments and assumptions are continuously evaluated and are based on management’s experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Uncertainty about these assumptions, judgments and estimates could result in outcomes that require a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets or liabilities affected in future periods.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue from services in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). Under ASC 606, the Company recognizes revenue when or as the Company’s performance obligations are satisfied by transferring control of the promised services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those services.

To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the Company performs the following five steps as prescribed by ASC 606:

 

  (i)

identify the contract(s) with a customer;

 

  (ii)

identify the performance obligations in the contract;

 

F-11


Table of Contents
  (iii)

determine the transaction price;

 

  (iv)

allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and

 

  (v)

recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies performance obligations.

The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that it will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and determine those that are performance obligations and assess whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.

Revenue is primarily derived in the form of recurring subscriptions and in-app purchases. Subscription revenue is presented net of taxes, refunds and credit card chargebacks. This revenue is initially deferred and is recognized using the straight-line method over the term of the applicable subscription period. Revenue from lifetime subscriptions is deferred and recognized over the estimated expected period of the subscriber relationship, which is currently estimated to be twelve months. Revenue from the purchase of in-app features is recognized based on usage. Unused in-app purchase fees expire and are recognized as revenue after six months. The Company also earns revenue from online advertising and partnerships. Online advertising revenue is recognized when an advertisement is displayed. Revenue from partnerships is recognized according to the contractual terms of the partnership.

As permitted under the practical expedient available under ASC 606, the Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less, and (ii) contracts for which the Company recognizes revenue at the amount which we have the right to invoice for services performed.

During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, there were no customers representing greater than 10% of the Company’s total revenue.

For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company’s revenue across apps was as follows (in thousands):

 

     For the year ended
December 31,
 
     2019      2018  

Bumble App

   $ 275,545      $ 162,391  

Badoo App and Other

     213,395        197,714  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Revenue

   $ 488,940      $ 360,105  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Assets Recognized from the Costs to Obtain a Contract with a Customer

The Company has determined that certain costs paid to third party aggregators, primarily mobile app store fees, meet the requirements to be capitalized as a cost of obtaining a contract. These costs are capitalized and amortized over the period of contract performance, typically over the term of the applicable subscription period.

Deferred Revenue

Deferred revenue consists of advance payments that are received or are contractually due in advance of the Company’s performance. The Company’s deferred revenue is reported on a contract by contract basis at the end of each reporting period. The Company classifies deferred revenue as current when the term of the applicable

 

F-12


Table of Contents

subscription period or expected completion of our performance obligation is one year or less. The deferred revenue balance is $24.7 million and $23.4 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized $23.4 million and $13.4 million of revenue that was included in the deferred revenue balance at the beginning of each period.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are recorded net of an allowance for credit losses, potential chargebacks and refunds issued to users. The amount of this allowance is primarily based upon historical experience. The Company maintains an allowance for expected credit losses to provide for the estimated amount of accounts receivable that will not be collected. The Company determines if an allowance is needed by considering a number of factors, including the Company’s previous loss history, the length of time accounts receivable are past due, the specific customer’s ability to pay its obligation to the Company, reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions, and the current economic condition of the general economy. No allowance for credit losses was recorded as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, as all accounts receivable were considered collectible.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk, consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. Cash and cash equivalents are principally maintained with major financial institutions, which management assesses to be of high credit quality, in order to limit exposure of our investments. We have not experienced any losses on these deposits.

The Company’s accounts receivable balances are predominantly with third-party aggregators and these are subject to normal credit risks which management believes to be not significant. At December 31, 2019, three third party aggregators accounted for approximately 48%, 12% and 10%, respectively, of the Company’s gross accounts receivable. At December 31, 2018, two third party aggregators accounted for approximately 48% and 11% of the Company’s gross accounts receivable.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed in the period in which the services are first delivered to the Company. Where media space is purchased in advance, expense is deferred until the advertising service has been received by the Company. Advertising costs represent online marketing, including fees paid to search engines and social media sites, brand marketing such as out of home and television advertising, field marketing and partner-related payments to those who direct traffic to the Company’s platforms. Advertising expense is $130.4 million and $84.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method, and deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying values of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. A valuation allowance is provided if it is determined that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company records interest, net of any applicable related income tax benefit, on potential income tax contingencies as a component of income tax provision.

The Company evaluates and accounts for uncertain tax positions using a two-step approach. Recognition (step one) occurs when the Company concludes that a tax position, based solely on its technical merits, is more-likely-than-not to be sustainable upon examination. Measurement (step two) determines the amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of

 

F-13


Table of Contents

all relevant information. Derecognition of a tax position that was previously recognized would occur when the Company subsequently determines that a tax position no longer meets the more likely-than-not threshold of being sustained.

Foreign Currencies

The Company’s consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars, which is the Company’s functional currency. The financial position and operating results of foreign entities whose primary economic environment is based on their local currency are consolidated using the local currency as the functional currency. These local currency assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange as of the balance sheet date, and local currency revenue and expenses of these operations are translated at average rates of exchange during the period. Translation gains and losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive income as a component of shareholders’ equity. Transaction gains and losses resulting from assets and liabilities denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in “Other expense, net” in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, a loss of $1.2 million and $4.5 million was recorded, respectively.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in banks, cash on hand, cash in electronic money accounts and overnight deposits.

Property and Equipment, net

Property and equipment, net is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment, if any. Cost of maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the lives of the respective assets are expensed as incurred.

Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, as follows:

 

Leasehold improvements

          5 years or remaining lease term

Furniture and fixtures

          4 years

Computer equipment

          3 years

The Company incurs costs to develop software to be used solely to meet internal needs and applications used to deliver the Company’s services. These software development costs meet the criteria for capitalization once the preliminary project stage is complete and it is probable that the project will be completed, and the software will be used to perform the function intended. Development costs that meet the criteria for capitalization were not material to date.

Intangible Assets, net

Intangible assets are stated at cost less accumulated amortization and accumulated impairment, if any. Amortization is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the definite-lived intangible assets, as follows:

 

Trademark

          10 years

Domain

          3 years

Long-lived Assets and Intangible Assets with Definite Lives

Long-lived assets, which consist of property and equipment, right-of-use assets and intangible assets with definite lives, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If the

 

F-14


Table of Contents

carrying value is deemed not to be recoverable, an impairment loss is recorded equal to the amount by which the carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds its fair value. The remaining estimated useful lives of property and equipment and definite-lived intangible assets are routinely reviewed and, if the estimate is revised, the remaining unamortized balance is amortized or depreciated over the revised estimated useful life.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company follows ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, for financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis. The Company uses the fair value hierarchy to categorize its financial instruments measured at fair value based on the available inputs to the valuation and the degree to which they are observable or not observable in the market.

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

 

   

Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

   

Level 2—Assets and liabilities valued based on observable market data for similar instruments, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities.

 

   

Level 3—Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data and require the Company to develop its own assumptions, based on the best information available.

Leases

Company as a lessee

Under ASC 842, Leases, the Company determines whether an arrangement is or contains a lease at contract inception. Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, which are disclosed on the consolidated balance sheets, are recognized at the commencement date of the lease based on the present value of the lease payments over the lease term using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate on the lease commencement date. If the lease contains an option to extend the lease term, the renewal option is considered in the lease term if it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise the option. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Short-term leases, defined as leases with an initial term of twelve months or less, are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheets.

Company as a lessor

Amounts due from lessees under finance leases are recorded as receivables at the amount of the Company’s lease receivable. Finance lease income is allocated to accounting periods so as to reflect a constant periodic rate of return on the Company’s lease receivable. Rental income from operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

Stock-based Compensation

Stock-based compensation is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is generally expensed over the requisite service period. See “Note 11—Stock-based Compensation” for a discussion of the Company’s stock-based compensation plans.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASC 842”) using the modified retrospective transition approach by applying the new standard to all leases existing at the date of initial application. The new standard provides a number of optional practical expedients in transition. The Company elected the “package of practical expedients,” which permits the Company not to reassess under the new standard its prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. Results and disclosure requirements for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2019 are presented under ASC 842, while prior period amounts have not been adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with historical accounting under ASC 840.

 

F-15


Table of Contents

The adoption of ASC 842 resulted in the recognition of right-of-use assets and related lease liabilities of $17.3 million and $16.2 million, respectively as of January 1, 2019.

See “Note 3—Leases” for additional information on the adoption of ASC 842.

On January 1, 2019, the Company early adopted ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326), which requires the measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets not held at fair value. ASU 2016-13 replaces the previous incurred loss impairment model with a forward-looking expected credit loss model. The adoption did not materially affect the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which simplifies the accounting for income taxes, eliminates certain exceptions within ASC 740, Income Taxes, and clarifies certain aspects of the current guidance to promote consistency among reporting entities. The provisions of ASU 2019-12 are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020 with early adoption permitted. Most amendments within ASU No. 2019-12 are required to be applied on a prospective basis, while certain amendments must be applied on a retrospective or modified retrospective basis. The Company expects to early adopt ASU No. 2019-12 effective January 1, 2020 on a modified retrospective basis for those amendments that are not applied on a prospective basis. The adoption of ASU No. 2019-12 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Earnings (Loss) per Share

Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) attributable to Worldwide Vision Limited by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) attributable to Worldwide Vision Limited by the weighted-average shares outstanding during the period after adjusting for the impact of securities that would have a dilutive effect on earnings (loss) per share. See “Note 10—Earnings (Loss) per Share” for additional information on dilutive securities.

Note 3—Leases

Company as a lessee

The Company has operating leases for various properties. Lease terms are negotiated on an individual basis and contain a wide range of different terms and conditions. Leases of properties generally have lease terms between one and five years.

There were no leases with residual value guarantees or leases not yet commenced to which the Company is committed. The Company combines the lease and non-lease components of lease payments in determining right-of-use assets and related lease liabilities. As permitted under ASC 842, leases with an initial term of twelve-months or less that do not include an option to purchase the underlying asset are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheets and are expensed on a straight-line basis over the lease term, resulting in expenses of $0.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Components of lease cost are as follows (in thousands):

 

Lease cost    December 31,
2019
 

Operating lease cost

   $ 5,704  

Expense relating to short-term leases

     467  

Income from subleasing right-of-use assets

     (559
  

 

 

 

Total lease cost

   $ 5,612  
  

 

 

 

 

F-16


Table of Contents

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases is as follows (in thousands):

 

     December 31, 2019  

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities

   $ 4,753  

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities

     2,960  

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases is as follows (in thousands, except lease term and discount rate):

 

     December 31, 2019  

Assets:

  

Right-of-use assets

   $ 16,291  
  

 

 

 

Liabilities:

  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

   $ 6,224  

Other liabilities

     9,797  
  

 

 

 

Total operating lease liabilities

   $ 16,021  
  

 

 

 

Weighted average remaining operating lease term (years)

     3.6  

Weighted average operating lease discount rate

     6.7

The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate. As the Company enters into operating leases in multiple jurisdictions and denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, judgment is used to determine the Company’s incremental borrowing rate including (1) conversion of its subordinated borrowing rate (using published yield curves) to an unsubordinated and collateralized rate, (2) adjusting the rate to align with the term of each lease, and (3) adjusting the rate to incorporate the effects of the currency in which the lease is denominated.

Maturities on lease liabilities as of December 31, 2019, are as follows (in thousands):

 

Years Ended December 31,

  

2020

   $ 6,451  

2021

     5,059  

2022

     3,181  

2023

     3,243  

2024

     —    

Thereafter

     —    
  

 

 

 

Total lease payments

     17,934  

Less: imputed interest

     1,913  
  

 

 

 

Total lease liabilities

   $ 16,021  
  

 

 

 

Operating lease expense for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $5.9 million. The following table presents our future minimum payments for all operating leases as of December 31, 2018 (in thousands):

 

Years Ended December 31,

  

2019

   $ 4,880  

2020

     5,949  

2021

     4,646  

2022

     2,798  

2023

     2,852  

Thereafter

     —    
  

 

 

 

Total future minimum lease payments

   $ 21,125  
  

 

 

 

 

F-17


Table of Contents

Company as a lessor

The Company leases a property which it acquired in 2019. The Company has classified the lease as a sales-type lease as it is reasonably certain that the lessee will exercise its option to purchase the property at the end of the lease. The lease receivable was recognized during 2019 at a loss of $0.3 million.

The following table sets out a maturity analysis of lease receivables, showing the undiscounted lease payments to be received after the reporting date (in thousands):

 

Years Ended December 31,

  

2020

   $ 43  

2021

     43  

2022

     43  

2023

     43  

2024

     1,161  

Thereafter

      
  

 

 

 

Total undiscounted lease payment receivable

     1,333  

Less: Unearned interest income

     (322
  

 

 

 

Total lease receivable

   $ 1,011  
  

 

 

 

Sublease considerations

The Company is also a sublessor on two of its operating leases that expire through 2023. The Company recorded $0.6 million in sublease income in 2019 as part of total lease cost.

Note 4—Income Taxes

U.S. and foreign earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests are as follows (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2019      2018  

U.S.

   $ 1,607      $ 1,082  

Foreign

     90,375        (21,720
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 91,982      $ (20,638
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The components of the income tax provision are as follows (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2019      2018  

Current income tax provision:

     

Federal

   $ 309      $ 407  

State

     152        —    

Foreign

     5,476        4,628  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Current income tax provision

   $ 5,937      $ 5,035  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred income tax provision:

     

Federal

   $ 183      $ 211  

State

     —          —    

Foreign

     18        (2,215
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred income tax provision

     201        (2,004
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income tax provision

   $ 6,138      $ 3,031  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

F-18


Table of Contents

The tax effects of cumulative temporary differences that give rise to significant deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are presented below (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2019      2018  

Deferred tax assets:

     

Depreciation and amortization

   $ 7,173      $ 6,308  

Net operating loss

     10,974        1,420  

Litigation reserve

     —          10,131  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred tax assets

     18,147        17,859  

Less: Valuation allowance

     (10,974      (10,407
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance

   $ 7,173      $ 7,452  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

     

Other

   $ (118    $ (183
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred tax liabilities

     (118      (183
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax assets, net

   $ 7,055      $ 7,269  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

At December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had U.S. and foreign net operating losses (“NOLs”) of $66.3 million and $8.3 million, respectively. The NOLs can be carried forward indefinitely.

The Company has recorded litigation reserves in 2018 for its Malta subsidiary at a 35% tax rate. A related deferred tax asset is recorded at a 5% net rate which reflects the net distributed rate, as the Malta tax regime allows for a tax rebate to be filed by the parent entity of a subsidiary subject to tax in Malta. This deferred tax position reverses in 2019 when the Malta subsidiary deducts the litigation expenses on its income tax return, which then reduces the parent entity’s tax rebate. The balance of deferred tax position at the end of 2019 is zero.

The Company assesses the realizability of deferred tax assets based on all available evidence including, to the extent applicable, the nature, frequency and severity of prior cumulative losses, forecasts of future taxable income, available tax planning strategies and historical experience. At December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had a valuation allowance of $11.0 million and $10.4 million, respectively, related to the portion of gross deferred tax assets for which it is more likely than not that the tax benefit will not be realized.

The Company has not provided for $0.4 million of deferred taxes on $2.5 million of international cash earnings that are indefinitely reinvested outside of the U.S. and other foreign jurisdictions. The Company reassesses its intention to remit or permanently reinvest the cash earnings each reporting period.

The Company’s primary taxpayer is domiciled in Malta. As such, the statutory rate is the Malta corporate tax rate of 35%. A reconciliation of the income tax provision to the amounts computed by applying the Malta statutory income tax rate to earnings before income taxes is shown as follows (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2019     2018  

Income tax provision at the Malta statutory rate of 35%

     35     (35 )% 

Nondeductible expenses

     8     52

Nontaxable income

     (3 )%      (35 )% 

Tax rebate

     (32 )%      (82 )% 

Tax rate differential

     (3 )%      68

Valuation allowance

     0     53

Other

     2     (6 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income tax provision

     7     15
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-19


Table of Contents

The Company has no uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. No interest or penalties were recognized in the consolidated statements of operations or consolidated balance sheets. The Company has elected to record future penalties and interest within income tax provision. The Company does not anticipate that any unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months.

The Company is not currently under audit in the area of income tax in any jurisdiction. The audit statute is generally open for years beginning after 2015 for U.S. federal and state jurisdictions and 2013 for foreign jurisdictions.

Note 5—Property and Equipment, net

A summary of the Company’s property and equipment, net is as follows (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2019      2018  

Leasehold improvements

   $ 9,891      $ 7,926  

Furniture and fixtures

     2,148        1,756  

Computer equipment

     24,113        39,061  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total property and equipment, gross

   $ 36,152      $ 48,743  

Accumulated depreciation

     (22,119      (36,840
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total property and equipment, net

   $ 14,033      $ 11,903  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation expense related to property and equipment, net for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $6.7 million and $5.9 million, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2019, $20.8 million of fully depreciated computer equipment was written off. For the year ended December 31, 2018, there was no fully depreciated computer equipment written off.

Note 6—Intangible Assets, net

A summary of the Company’s intangible assets, net is as follows (in thousands):

 

     December 31, 2019  
     Gross Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
     Net Carrying
Amount
     Weighted-Average
Remaining Useful
Life (Years)
 

Trademarks

   $ 1,416      $ (203    $ 1,213        8.8  

Domain name

     143        (115      28        1.2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total intangible assets, net

   $ 1,559      $ (318    $ 1,241        8.6  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

     December 31, 2018  
     Gross Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
     Net Carrying
Amount
     Weighted-Average
Remaining Useful
Life (Years)
 

Trademarks

   $ 633      $ (296    $ 337        6.5  

Domain name

     72        (26      46        2.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total intangible assets, net

   $ 705      $ (322    $ 383        6.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Amortization expense related to intangible assets, net for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

 

F-20


Table of Contents

At December 31, 2019, amortization of intangible assets with definite lives is estimated to be as follows (in thousands):

 

2020

   $ 166  

2021

     142  

2022

     141  

2023

     140  

2024 and thereafter

     652  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,241  
  

 

 

 

Note 7—Other Financial Data

Consolidated Balance Sheets Information

Other current assets are comprised of the following balances (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2019      2018  

Capitalized aggregator fees

   $ 4,726      $ 4,765  

Prepayments

     3,336        7,692  

Income tax receivable

     23,641        18,988  

Other receivables

     4,403        3,890  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other current assets

   $ 36,106      $ 35,335  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities are comprised of the following balances (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2019      2018  

Legal liabilities

   $ 25,099      $ 1,839  

Accrued expenses

     22,540        16,769  

Lease liabilities

     6,224        —    

Income tax payable

     25,543        21,413  

Other payables

     9,243        6,072  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities

   $ 88,649      $ 46,093  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other non-current liabilities are comprised of the following balances (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2019      2018  

Legal liabilities

   $ 48,800      $ 73,899  

Lease liabilities

     9,797        —    

Other payables

     555        249  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other liabilities

   $ 59,152      $ 74,148  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows Information

Supplemental cash flow information is as follows (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2019      2018  

Taxes paid

   $ (3,996    $ (2,178

 

F-21


Table of Contents

Note 8—Fair Value Measurements

The following tables present the Company’s financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):

 

     December 31, 2019  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total Fair Value
Measurements
 

Assets:

           

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 57,449      $ —        $ —        $ 57,449  

Equity investments

     —          —          835        835  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 57,449      $ —        $ 835      $ 58,284  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     December 31, 2018  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total Fair Value
Measurements
 

Assets:

           

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 33,289      $ —        $ —        $ 33,289  

Equity investments

     —          —          187        187  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 33,289      $ —        $ 187      $ 33,476  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loans to related companies are held at amortized cost. Additionally, debt instruments, consisting of convertible loans granted to unquoted companies are held at amortized cost and had a balance of $0 million and $0.2 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The debt instruments are included in “Other current assets” and “Other noncurrent assets” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The carrying value of Accounts receivable, Accounts payable, Income tax payable, Accrued expenses and Other payables approximate their fair values due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.

There were no transfers between levels during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

Note 9—Shareholders’ Equity

Description of Issued Capital

The rights of holders of common shares and growth shares are identical, except for voting rights and dividend rights. Holders of growth shares do not confer voting rights except for changes in equity and dividend rights except to the extent they have vested and the dividend hurdle payable to common shareholders has been passed.

Issuance of shares by the Company were as follows (in thousands):

 

     Growth
Shares
     Amount      Common
Shares
     Amount      Total
Issued
Capital
     Amount  

Balance at January 1, 2018

     8,131      $ 1        100,258      $ 10        108,389      $ 11  

Shares issued

     —          —          —          —          —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2018

     8,131      $ 1        100,258      $ 10        108,389      $ 11  

Shares issued

     —          —          42        —          42        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

     8,131      $ 1        100,300      $ 10        108,431      $ 11  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Treasury Shares

Treasury shares consist of common shares and growth shares bought back by the Company. No growth shares were bought back by the Company during 2019 and 2018. The number of growth shares held as treasury shares

 

F-22


Table of Contents

owned by the Company was 6,633 and 6,633 at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The number of common shares held as treasury shares owned by the Company was 307 and 307 at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Noncontrolling Interests

The Company’s noncontrolling interests represent a reserve for minority interests’ share of accumulated profits and losses of Bumble Holding Limited and subsidiaries, Huggle App (UK) Limited and Lumen App Limited.

Distributions

The following table summarizes the Company’s distributions for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands except per share data):

 

     December 31,  
     2019      2018  

Cash dividend on common shares declared

   $ 23,359      $ 35,725  

Dividends per share

     

Bumble Holding Limited

   $ 12.30      $ 13.14  

Worldwide Vision Limited

     0.18        0.30  

Cash dividend on common shares paid

   $ 23,359      $ 37,225  

Dividends per share

     

Bumble Holding Limited

   $ 12.30      $ 13.14  

Worldwide Vision Limited

     0.18        0.32  

The directors of Bumble Holding Limited have approved and paid dividends of $5.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 and $5.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 to its shareholders that are outside the Company. No dividends were outstanding at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

Note 10—Earnings (Loss) per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of the Company’s basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per share.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2019     2018  
     Basic     Diluted     Basic     Diluted  

Numerator:

        

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 85,844     $ 85,844     $ (23,669   $ (23,669

Net loss (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (19,698     (19,698     2,150       2,150  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Worldwide Vision Limited shareholders

   $ 66,146     $ 66,146     $ (21,519   $ (21,519
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Denominator:

        

Weighted average basic shares outstanding

     101,777       101,777       101,748       101,748  

Dilutive securities

     —         242       —         254  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Denominator for earnings (loss) per share-weighted average shares

     101,777       102,019       101,748       102,002  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) per share

   $ 0.65     $ 0.65     $ (0.21   $ (0.21
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-23


Table of Contents

Note 11—Stock-based Compensation

Total stock-based compensation expense was as follows (in thousands):

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
         2019              2018      

General and administrative expenses

   $ 1,229      $ 148  

Product development expense

     510        107  

Selling and marketing expense

     421        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total stock-based compensation expense

   $ 2,160      $ 255  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Share Options

The Company operates a share option plan (the “Options Plan”) which permits the granting of share options to eligible employees of the Company, including key management personnel and consultants. Share options generally vest over four years (“Time-Vesting Options”) or vest upon the achievement of certain performance conditions (“Performance-Vesting Options”) and have an exercise period generally ranging from five to ten years. Shares are capped by the authorized share capital size for the award of share options and, as of December 31, 2019, options to purchase approximately 2.4 million shares were outstanding under the Options Plan. Compensation expense related to Performance-Vesting Options is recognized to the extent that the performance conditions, such as revenue growth, are probable of being achieved. At December 31, 2019, the performance conditions were considered probable of being achieved.

The fair value of each option is estimated on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo model, which incorporates various assumptions noted in the following table. Use of a valuation model requires management to make certain assumptions with respect to selected model inputs. Expected volatility was calculated based on the historical volatility of a set of peer companies of the Company. The average expected life is based on the contractual term of the option and expected employee exercise and post-vesting employment termination behavior. The expected annual dividend per share is based on the Company’s expected dividend rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term equal to the expected life assumed at the date of grant. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur.

The weighted-average assumptions the Company used in the Monte Carlo model for 2019 are as follows (there were no share options granted during 2018):

 

     2019  

Dividend yield (%)

     2  

Expected volatility (%)

     45  

Risk-free interest rate (%)

     1.9  

Expected life of options (years)

     2-10  

Weighted average share price ($)

     20.62  

A summary of option activity is as follows (there were no share options granted during 2018):

 

     Share options      Weighted-average
exercise price
     Weighted-average
remaining
contractual term
 

Outstanding at January 1, 2019

     525,415      $ 10.00        7.0  

Granted

     1,950,000      $ 20.00     

Exercised

     (41,665    $ 2.49     

Forfeited

     —          —       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2019

     2,433,750      $ 18.14        8.8  

Options exercisable

     671,250      $ 14.00        7.4  

 

F-24


Table of Contents

The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted during the year ended December 31, 2019 was $5.30, and the total intrinsic value of options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2019 was $0.8 million. $0.1 million of cash was received from the exercise of share options during the year ended December 31, 2019, and the total income tax benefit recognized in the statement of operations for share options was $0.2 million. The tax benefit from share options exercised was $0.0 million.

Restricted Stock Units

The Company operates a growth share plan (the “Growth Share Plan”) which permits the granting of restricted stock units to eligible employees and directors. Restricted stock units were granted by the Company during the period 2011 to 2016 to various employees, including key management personnel. The restricted stock units were fully paid by the employee at the date of issuance. The restricted stock units vest over time, generally over four years. The restricted stock units participate in dividends once gross dividend payments to common shareholders have exceeded $150 million and in an exit event, which would include an initial public offering, a liquidation of the Company or other change of control transactions. No restricted stock units were granted during the years ended December 31, 2019 or 2018. The expense arising from restricted stock units was not material for the periods presented.

Phantom Stock

Between 2015 and 2018, Bumble Holdings Limited issued phantom stock to employees and non-employees to provide a bonus to be paid upon an exit event of Bumble Holdings Limited, with the bonus amount to vary based on the exit value. Certain of the awards were payable in the event of an exit of Bumble Holdings Limited only, while one award was payable in the event of an exit event within the group. As the payment is contingent upon the achievement of a liquidity event, no compensation expense was recognized in connection with these awards during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. The phantom stock awards were settled subsequent to December 31, 2019 in connection with the Acquisition as described in “Note 16—Subsequent Events,” for a total of $30.8 million.

Note 12—Benefit Plans

Long-Term Incentive Plan

The Company established a long-term cash incentive plan (the “LTIP”) on June 1, 2018 with an estimated performance measurement period of three to four years. Performance will be measured based on the Company’s performance against the following pre-established targets: (i) the target monthly average users; (ii) revenue, and (iii) profits. The Company recorded expense for the LTIP of $3.2 million and $2.8 million in the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, the Company had accrued a total of $0.5 million and $2.7 million, respectively, for the LTIP.

Defined Contribution Plan

The Company also has or participates in various benefit plans, principally defined contribution plans. The Company’s contributions for these plans for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 are $1.7 million and $1.4 million, respectively.

 

F-25


Table of Contents

Note 13—Related Party Transactions

In the ordinary course of operations, the Company enters into transactions with related parties, including Rimberg International Corp. (the “Parent Company”), as discussed below. The following table summarizes balances with related parties (in thousands):

 

            December 31,  

Related party relationship

  Type of transaction   Financial Statement Line   2019     2018  

Director

  Purchases from related parties   General and administrative
expense
  $ 26     $ 27  

Director

  Purchases from related parties   Product development
expense and General and
administrative expense
    766       926  

Other

  Purchases from related parties   Selling and marketing
expense
    40       105  

Parent Company

  Loan granted—current   Loans to related
companies
    40,068       —    

Director

  Loan granted—current   Loans to related
companies
    1,975       —    

Director

  Amounts owed to related parties   Accounts payable     (49     (7

Other

  Amounts owed to related parties   Accounts payable     —         (43

Director

  Dividends paid to
Whitney Wolfe Herd
  Dividends paid     4,919       5,500  

Director

  Dividends paid   Dividends paid     2,736       4,560  

Parent Company

  Dividends paid to Parent
Company
  Dividends paid     9,864       16,440  

Transactions with the Parent Company

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued a loan of $40.0 million to the Parent Company at an interest rate of 1%, repayable three years after the signed agreement or through voluntary prepayment at any time without incurring a penalty.

Transactions with the Directors

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued a loan of $2.0 million to EyelinkMedia Limited (a company owned by a director), at an interest rate of 3.25%, repayable within 60 days of a demand sent by the lender or by the first anniversary of the loan.

Directors’ Interests in the Growth Share and Share Options Plans

Shares held by Directors under the Growth Share Plan and share option plans have the following vesting dates and exercise prices:

 

                   December 31,  
                   2019      2018  
Date of grant    Vested date      Exercise
price $
     Number
outstanding
     Number
outstanding
 

2011

     2014        1.71        225,000        225,000  

2012

     2017        —          4,020        —    

2013

     2018        3.00        15,000        —    

2016

     2020        10.00        200,000        200,000  

2019

     Performance based        20.00        400,000        —    
        

 

 

    

 

 

 
           844,020        425,000  
        

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

F-26


Table of Contents

Note 14—Segment and Geographic Information

The Company operates as a single operating segment. The Company’s chief operating decision maker (the “CODM”) is the CEO, who reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis, accompanied by disaggregated information about the Company’s revenue, for purposes of making operating decisions, assessing financial performance and allocating resources.

Revenue by major geographic region is based upon the location of the customers who receive the Company’s services.

The information below summarizes revenue by geographic area, based on customer location, for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):

 

     For the years ended December 31,  
             2019                      2018          

North America

   $ 257,716      $ 166,419  

Rest of the world

     231,224        193,686  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 488,940      $ 360,105  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The United States is the only country with revenues of 10% or more of the Company’s total revenue.

The information below summarizes property and equipment, net by geographic area (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2019      2018  

United Kingdom

   $ 5,205      $ 4,238  

Czech Republic

     4,181        4,159  

United States

     3,843        2,943  

Rest of the world

     804        563  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 14,033      $ 11,903  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

United Kingdom, Czech Republic, and United States are the only countries with property and equipment of 10% or more of the Company’s total property and equipment, net.

Note 15—Commitments and Contingencies

The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its officers and directors for certain events or occurrences. The Company maintains a directors and officers insurance policy to provide coverage in the event of a claim against an officer of director. Historically, the Company has not been obligated to make any payments for indemnification obligations, and no liabilities have been recorded for these obligations on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.

The Company is involved in certain lawsuits, claims and proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company records a liability for these when it is believed to be probable that the Company has incurred a loss and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The Company regularly evaluates current information to determine whether it should adjust a recorded liability or record a new one. If the Company determines that there is a reasonable possibility that a loss may be incurred and the loss or range of loss can be estimated, the possible loss is disclosed in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements to the extent material.

 

F-27


Table of Contents

Litigation

On April 30, 2018, Match Group Inc (“Match”) filed a lawsuit in the Western district of Texas against Bumble Trading Inc. and Bumble Holding Limited (together “Bumble”) for: (i) infringement of utility patents and a design patent, (ii) trademark infringement, (iii) trademark-related unfair competition (iv) trade dress infringement and (v) trade secret misappropriation. Bumble filed counterclaims against Match and IAC alleging (1) fraud, (2) Negligent Misrepresentation, (3) Unfair Competition, (4) Promissory Estoppel, and (5) Interference with Prospective Business Relations. Match subsequently added Badoo Limited, Badoo Trading Limited, Badoo Software Limited and Badoo Technologies Limited to the lawsuit. Match and Bumble have reached an agreement to settle such lawsuit between the two companies. The Company recorded an accrual for the loss contingency in relation to this litigation.

On May 29, 2018, a plaintiff filed a class action complaint against Bumble Trading Inc. alleging that Bumble’s “women message first” feature discriminates against men and is therefore unlawful under California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act (the “Unruh Act”) and Cal. Bus & Prof. Code Section 17200. The parties held a mediation on June 23, 2020 and signed a settlement agreement on November 20, 2020, subject to preliminary approval by the court. The Company recorded an accrual for the loss contingency in relation to this litigation.

On November 13, 2018 a class action lawsuit was filed against Bumble Trading Inc. in the Northern District of California. There are two elements to the lawsuit: New York Dating Services Law and California Auto-Renewal Law. The parties held a mediation on April 2, 2020 ultimately resulting in the plaintiffs and Bumble accepting the mediator’s settlement proposal. The settlement received preliminary approval by the court on July 15, 2020 and final approval was granted on December 18, 2020. The settlement will be fully effective as of January 18, 2021. The Company recorded an accrual for the loss contingency in relation to this litigation.

On August 26, 2020, the Company received an insurance reimbursement of $9.3 million related to the class action lawsuit, which will be recognized in the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020.

At December 31, 2019 and 2018, management has assessed that provisions of $73.9 million and $75.7 million, respectively, are a reasonable estimate of any probable future obligation, including legal costs incurred to date and expected to be incurred up to completion, for the three litigations. Legal expenses are included in “General and administrative expense” in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

Other

The Company settled a claim for an immaterial sum with a former consultant whose right to payment in

connection with the Acquisition had not been sufficiently documented in the Company’s books and records. An estimate cannot be made for any potential, future claims.

Note 16—Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through October 30, 2020, which is the date the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued. Except as noted below, the Company has concluded that no events or transactions have occurred that may require disclosure in the accompanying financial statements.

COVID-19

The Coronavirus pandemic (“COVID-19”), which was reported to have originated in the Hubei province in China around December 2019, but did not spread globally until the first quarter of 2020, may have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations. Given the uncertainty around the extent and timing of the potential future spread or mitigation of COVID-19 and around the imposition or relaxation of protective measures, management cannot reasonably estimate the impact to the Company’s future results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition.

Acquisition

On January 29, 2020 Worldwide Vision Limited and its subsidiaries were acquired by a group of investment funds managed by The Blackstone Group Inc. (the “Acquisition”). The Company will account for this transaction

 

F-28


Table of Contents

as a business combination. As of October 30, 2020, the Company has not completed its final valuation of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, and as such, a final purchase price allocation will be performed once the Company has completed its final valuation of the tangible and intangible assets and liabilities that existed at the completion of the Acquisition.

Cessation of Trade

On January 29, 2020, Worldwide Vision Limited was merged via a solvent transfer of trade and assets into Buzz Merger Sub Limited, which carried forward and continued to operate the Worldwide Vision Limited trade as of that date. As a result, on January 29, 2020, the Company ceased to exist and Buzz Merger Sub Limited was subsequently renamed Worldwide Vision Limited.

On September 9, 2020, Worldwide Vision Limited (formerly Buzz Merger Sub Limited) was merged via a solvent transfer of trade and assets into Buzz Finco LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a subsidiary of Buzz Holdings LP, which carries forward and continues to operate the Worldwide Vision Limited trade as of that date. As a result, on September 9, 2020, the company ceased to exist with Buzz Finco LLC surviving such merger.

Dividend Recapitalization

In October 2020, the Company executed a dividend recapitalization whereby the Company issued a $275.0 million loan to provide a shareholder distribution and pay fees and expenses.

 

 

F-29


Table of Contents

Buzz Holdings L.P.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except par value amounts)

 

     Successor                  Predecessor  
     (Unaudited)                     
     September 30,
2020
                 December 31,
2019
 

ASSETS

         

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 176,353          $ 57,449  

Accounts receivable

     62,028            34,234  

Loans to related companies

     —              42,043  

Other current assets

     58,869            36,106  
  

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total current assets

     297,250            169,832  

Right-of-use assets

     12,252            16,291  

Lease receivable

     1,010            1,011  

Property and equipment, net

     14,350            14,033  

Goodwill

     1,465,045            —    

Intangible assets, net

     1,743,963            1,241  

Deferred tax assets, net

     —              7,055  

Other noncurrent assets

     1,382            835  
  

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 3,535,252          $ 210,298  
  

 

 

        

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND BUZZ HOLDINGS L.P. OWNERS’ / WORLDWIDE VISION LIMITED SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

         

Accounts payable

   $ 14,092          $ 8,066  

Deferred revenue

     29,790            24,749  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     173,503            88,649  

Current portion of long-term debt, net

     3,585            —    
  

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     220,970            121,464  

Long-term debt, net

     553,853            —    

Deferred tax liabilities

     429,898            —    

Other liabilities

     45,707            59,152  
  

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ 1,250,428          $ 180,616  

Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)

         

Buzz Holdings L.P. owners’ / Worldwide Vision Limited shareholders’ equity:

         

Limited Partners’ interest (2,453,785 Class A units and 141,561 Class B units issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2020)

     2,258,341            —    

Issued share capital ($0.0001 par value; 126,424 shares authorized; 108,431 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019)

     —              11  

Additional paid-in capital

     —              3,449  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     26,583            644  

Treasury stock (6,940 shares as of December 31, 2019)

     —              (3,788

Retained earnings

     —              23,352  
  

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Buzz Holdings L.P. owners’ / Worldwide Vision Limited shareholders’ equity

     2,284,924            23,668  

Noncontrolling interests

     (100          6,014  
  

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total owners’ / shareholders’ equity

     2,284,824            29,682  
  

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total liabilities and owners’ / shareholders’ equity

   $ 3,535,252          $ 210,298  
  

 

 

        

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-30


Table of Contents

Buzz Holdings L.P.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except per unit data)

 

     Successor                  Predecessor  
     Period from
January 29,
through
September 30,
2020
                 Period from
January 1,
through
January 28,
2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
 

Revenue

   $ 376,587            $ 39,990     $ 362,639  

Operating costs and expenses:

             

Cost of revenue (exclusive of items shown separately below)

     102,017              10,790       105,054  

Selling and marketing expense

     104,511              11,157       102,341  

General and administrative expense

     128,120              44,907       47,373  

Product development expense

     29,915              4,087       29,010  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     65,771              408       4,903  
  

 

 

          

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating costs and expenses

     430,334              71,349       288,681  
  

 

 

          

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating (loss) income

     (53,747            (31,359     73,958  

Interest (expense) income

     (14,704            50       46  

Other income (expense), net

     3,474              (882     516  
  

 

 

          

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) earnings before tax

     (64,977            (32,191     74,520  

Income tax provision

     (19,143            (365     (5,888
  

 

 

          

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) earnings

     (84,120            (32,556     68,632  
  

 

 

          

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (100            1,917       14,587  
  

 

 

          

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) earnings attributable to Buzz Holdings L.P. owners / Worldwide Vision Limited shareholders

   $ (84,020          $ (34,473   $ 54,045  
  

 

 

          

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per unit attributable to Buzz Holdings L.P. owners

             

Basic loss per unit

   $ (0.03           

Diluted loss per unit

   $ (0.03           

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-31


Table of Contents

Buzz Holdings L.P.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Operations

(in thousands)

 

     Successor                  Predecessor  
     Period from
January 29,
through
September 30,
2020
                 Period from
January 1,
through
January 28,
2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
 

Net (loss) earnings

   $ (84,120          $ (32,556   $ 68,632  

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

             

Change in foreign currency translation adjustment

     26,583              (774     336  
  

 

 

          

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

     26,583              (774     336  
  

 

 

          

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive (loss) income

     (57,537            (33,330     68,968  

Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (100            1,917       14,587  
  

 

 

          

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Buzz Holdings L.P. owners / Worldwide Vision Limited shareholders

   $ (57,437          $ (35,247   $ 54,381  
  

 

 

          

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-32


Table of Contents

Buzz Holdings L.P.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

(Predecessor)

 

    

 

Issued Share Capital

   

 

Treasury Stock

    Additional
Paid-in

Capital
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
    (Accumulated
Deficit)
Retained
Earnings
    Total
Predecessor
Shareholders’
Equity
    Noncontrolling
Interests
    Total
Shareholders’
Equity
 
       Units         Amount         Shares         Amount    
     (in thousands)  

Balance as of January 1, 2019

     108,389     $ 11       6,940     $ (3,788   $ 1,185     $ 492     $ (24,794   $ (26,894   $ (8,325   $ (35,219

Net earnings

     —         —         —         —         —         —         54,045       54,045       14,587       68,632  

Stock-based compensation expense

     —         —         —         —         1,080       —         —         1,080       —         1,080  

Dividends paid

     —         —         —         —         —         —         (18,000     (18,000     (5,359     (23,359

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

     —         —         —         —         —         336       —         336       —         336  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2019

     108,389     $ 11       6,940     $ (3,788   $ 2,265     $ 828     $ 11,251     $ 10,567     $ 903     $ 11,470  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of January 1, 2020

     108,431     $ 11       6,940     $ (3,788   $ 3,449     $ 644     $ 23,352     $ 23,668     $ 6,014     $ 29,682  

Net (loss) earnings

     —         —         —         —         —         —         (34,473     (34,473     1,917       (32,556

Stock-based compensation expense

     —         —         —         —         336       —         —         336       —         336  

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

     —         —         —         —         —         (774     —         (774     —         (774
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of January 28, 2020

     108,431     $ 11       6,940     $ (3,788   $ 3,785     $ (130   $ (11,121   $ (11,243   $ 7,931     $ (3,312
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-33


Table of Contents

Buzz Holdings L.P.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

(Successor)

 

    

 

Limited Partners’ Interest

     Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
     Total Buzz
Holdings L.P.
Owners’ Equity
    Noncontrolling
Interests
    Total Owners’
Equity
 
         Units              Amount      
     (in thousands)  

Balance as of January 29, 2020

     —        $ —        $ —        $ —       $ —       $ —    

Net loss

     —          —          —          (84,020     (100     (84,120

Stock-based compensation expense

     —          —          —          7,575       —         7,575  

Issuance of Limited Partners’ Interest

     2,453,785        2,334,786        —       

 

 

 

2,334,786

 

 

    —         2,334,786  
           

 

 

     

Limited Partners’ Interest as of September 30, 2020

              2,258,341      

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

     —          —          26,583        26,583       —         26,583  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2020

     2,453,785      $ 2,334,786      $ 26,583      $ 2,284,924     $ (100   $ 2,284,824  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-34


Table of Contents

Buzz Holdings L.P.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

 

     Successor           Predecessor  
     Period from
January 29,
through
September 30,
2020
          Period from
January 1,
through
January 28,
2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

          

Net (loss) earnings

   $ (84,120       $ (32,556   $      68,632  

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

          

Depreciation and amortization

     65,771           408       4,903  

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

     19,100           —         —    

Non-cash lease expense

     (551         (226     286  

Deferred income tax

     22,046           26       —    

Stock-based compensation expense

     13,118           4,156       1,080  

Net foreign exchange difference

     4,981           (198     —    

Research and development tax credit

     (904         —         (1,781

Other, net

     3,435           31       (20

Changes in assets and liabilities:

          

Accounts receivable

     (9,196         (17,599     (21,163

Other current assets

     (23,688         (2,175     3,658  

Accounts payable

     (6,679         12,984       1,304  

Deferred revenue

     20,690           289       1,073  

Legal liabilities

     (13,125         (521     (1,543

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     (11,671         32,075       14,166  

Other liabilities

     1,834           —         —    
  

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     1,041           (3,306 )       70,595  
  

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

          

Capital expenditures

     (5,779         (1,045 )      (6,337

Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired

     (2,801,262         —         —    

Other, net

     (447         16       (1,747
  

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (2,807,488         (1,029 )      (8,084
  

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

          

Proceeds from repayments of loans to related companies

     41,929           —         —    

Debt issuance costs

     (16,281         —         —    

Limited Partners’ interest

     2,334,786           —         —    

Proceeds from term loan

     575,000           —         —    

Repayment of term loan

     (2,875         —         —    

Dividends paid

     —             —         (23,359
  

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     2,932,559           —         (23,359
  

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (3,686         813       511  
  

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     122,426           (3,522 )      39,663  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period

     53,927           57,449       33,289  
  

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period

   $ 176,353         $ 53,927     $ 72,952  
  

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-35


Table of Contents

Buzz Holdings L.P.

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1—Organization and Basis of Presentation

Company Overview

Buzz Holdings L.P.’s main operations are providing online dating and social networking platforms through subscription and credit-based dating products servicing North America, Europe and various other countries around the world. Buzz Holdings L.P. provides these services through websites and applications that it owns and operates.

Buzz Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Company”), was formed primarily as a vehicle to finance the acquisition (the “Sponsor Acquisition”) of a majority stake in Worldwide Vision Limited by a group of investment funds managed by The Blackstone Group Inc. (“Blackstone”). As Buzz Holdings L.P. did not have any previous operations, Worldwide Vision Limited, a Bermuda exempted limited company, is viewed as the predecessor to the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. Accordingly, these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include certain historical consolidated financial and other data for Worldwide Vision Limited for periods prior to the completion of the business combination. On January 29, 2020, Worldwide Vision Limited was merged via a solvent transfer of trade and assets into Buzz Merger Sub Limited, a subsidiary of the Company, which carries forward and continues to operate the Worldwide Vision Limited trade as of that date. As a result, on January 29, 2020, Worldwide Vision Limited ceased to exist and Buzz Merger Sub Limited was subsequently renamed Worldwide Vision Limited.

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are presented with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and do not include all disclosures normally required in annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, all entities that are wholly-owned by the Company and all entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. In the Company’s opinion, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been included and have been prepared on a similar basis to the Predecessor’s annual consolidated financial statements. All such adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. These condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and, accordingly, should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes that are included elsewhere in this prospectus.

As a result of the Sponsor Acquisition as further discussed in Note 4—Business Combination, periods prior to January 28, 2020 reflect the financial statements of Worldwide Vision Limited prior to the business combination (referred to herein as the “Predecessor”). Periods subsequent to January 28, 2020 reflect the financial statements of the Company after the business combination (referred to herein as the “Successor”). The Company’s assets and liabilities were adjusted to fair value on the closing date of the business combination. Due to the change in the basis of accounting, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the Predecessor and the Successor are not necessarily comparable. Where applicable, a black line separates the Successor and Predecessor periods to highlight the lack of comparability.

All references to the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us” in this report are to Buzz Holdings L.P.

Note 2—Summary of Selected Significant Accounting Policies

Included below are selected significant accounting policies that were added or modified during the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020 as a result of new transactions entered into or the adoption of new accounting policies. Refer to Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, within the annual consolidated financial statements presented in this prospectus for the full list of our significant accounting policies.

 

F-36


Table of Contents

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses. The Company’s significant estimates relate to income taxes, the fair value and useful lives of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Sponsor Acquisition, the recoverability of long-lived assets and goodwill, legal contingencies, contingent consideration and stock-based compensation.

These estimates are based on management’s best estimates and judgment. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Estimates, judgments and assumptions are continuously evaluated and are based on management’s experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Uncertainty about these assumptions, judgments and estimates could result in outcomes that require a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets or liabilities affected in future periods.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue from services in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). Under ASC 606, the Company recognizes revenue when or as the Company’s performance obligations are satisfied by transferring control of the promised services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the Company performs the following five steps as prescribed by ASC 606:

 

  (i)

identify the contract(s) with a customer;

 

  (ii)

identify the performance obligations in the contract;

 

  (iii)

determine the transaction price;

 

  (iv)

allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and

 

  (v)

recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies performance obligations.

The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that it will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and determine those that are performance obligations and assess whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.

Revenue is primarily derived in the form of recurring subscriptions and in-app purchases. Subscription revenue is presented net of taxes, refunds and credit card chargebacks. This revenue is initially deferred and is recognized using the straight-line method over the term of the applicable subscription period. Revenue from lifetime subscriptions is deferred and recognized over the estimated expected period of the subscriber relationship, which is currently estimated to be twelve months. Revenue from the purchase of in-app features is recognized based on usage. Unused in-app purchase fees expire and are recognized as revenue after six months. The Company also earns revenue from online advertising and partnerships. Online advertising revenue is recognized when an advertisement is displayed. Revenue from partnerships is recognized according to the contractual terms of the partnership.

As permitted under the practical expedient available under ASC 606, the Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less, and (ii) contracts for which the Company recognizes revenue at the amount which we have the right to invoice for services performed.

 

F-37


Table of Contents

During the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 and the nine months ended September 30, 2019, there were no customers representing greater than 10% of total revenue.

For the periods presented, revenue across apps was as follows (in thousands):

 

     Successor              Predecessor  
     Period from
January 29,
through
September 30,
2020
                  Period from
January 1,
through
January 28,
2020
     Nine Months
Ended

September 30,
2019
 

Bumble App

   $ 231,454           $ 23,256      $ 203,403  

Badoo App and Other

     145,133             16,734        159,236  
  

 

 

         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Revenue

   $ 376,587           $ 39,990      $ 362,639  
  

 

 

         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Assets Recognized from the Costs to Obtain a Contract with a Customer

The Company has determined that certain costs paid to third party aggregators, primarily mobile app store fees, meet the requirements to be capitalized as a cost of obtaining a contract. These costs are capitalized and amortized over the period of contract performance, typically over the term of the applicable subscription period.

Deferred Revenue

Deferred revenue consists of advance payments that are received or are contractually due in advance of the Company’s performance. The Company’s deferred revenue is reported on a contract by contract basis at the end of each reporting period. The Company classifies deferred revenue as current when the term of the applicable subscription period or expected completion of our performance obligation is one year or less. The deferred revenue balance is $29.8 million and $24.7 million at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. During the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 and the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company recognized revenue of $9.3 million, $10.6 million and $23.0 million, respectively, that was included in the deferred revenue balance at the beginning of each period.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are recorded net of an allowance for credit losses, potential chargebacks and refunds issued to users. The amount of this allowance is primarily based upon historical experience. The Company maintains an allowance for expected credit losses to provide for the estimated amount of accounts receivable that will not be collected. The Company determines if an allowance is needed by considering a number of factors, including the Company’s previous loss history, the length of time accounts receivable are past due, the specific customer’s ability to pay its obligation to the Company, reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions, and the current economic condition of the general economy. No allowance for credit losses was recorded as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, as all accounts receivable were considered collectible.

Business Combination

The purchase price of the Sponsor Acquisition is allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values at the date of acquisition, including identifiable intangible assets. Any excess of the amount paid over the estimated fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired is allocated to goodwill. These fair value determinations require judgment and involve the use of significant estimates and assumptions, including assumptions with respect to future cash inflows and outflows, discount rates, asset lives and market multiples, among other items.

 

F-38


Table of Contents

In connection with the Sponsor Acquisition, the Company has entered into a contingent earn-out arrangement that is determined to be part of the purchase consideration. The Company classified the arrangement as a liability at the time of the Sponsor Acquisition, as it will be settled in cash, and reflected the change in the liability at its current fair value for each subsequent reporting period thereafter until settled. The changes in the remeasured fair value of the contingent earn-out liability during each reporting period is recognized in “General and administrative expense” in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. See “Note 4—Business Combination” for additional information.

Property and Equipment, net

Property and equipment, net is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment, if any. Cost of maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the lives of the respective assets are expensed as incurred.

Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, as follows:

 

Leasehold improvements

     —        5 years or remaining lease term

Furniture and fixtures

     —        4 years

Computer equipment

     —        3 years

We incur costs to develop software to be used solely to meet internal needs and applications used to deliver our services. These software development costs meet the criteria for capitalization once the preliminary project stage is complete and it is probable that the project will be completed, and the software will be used to perform the function intended. Development costs that meet the criteria for capitalization were not material to date.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, net

Intangible assets are stated at cost less accumulated amortization and accumulated impairment, if any. Amortization is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the definite-lived intangible assets, as follows:

 

User base

     —        2.5 years                                    

White label contracts

     —        8 years

Trademark

     —        10 years

Domain

     —        3 years

Developed technology

     —        5 years

Our brand names are indefinite-lived intangible assets and not amortized.

Intangible assets with definite lives are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If the carrying value is deemed not to be recoverable, an impairment loss is recorded equal to the amount by which the carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds its fair value. The remaining estimated useful lives of definite-lived intangible assets are routinely reviewed and, if the estimate is revised, the remaining unamortized balance is amortized over the revised estimated useful life.

The Company assesses goodwill on its one reporting unit and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit or the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset below its carrying value.

When the Company elects to perform a qualitative assessment and concludes it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, no further assessment of that reporting unit’s

 

F-39


Table of Contents

goodwill is necessary; otherwise, a quantitative assessment is performed and the fair value of the reporting unit is determined. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value an impairment loss equal to the excess is recorded.

Derivatives

The Company uses interest rate derivative instruments to manage the risk related to fluctuating cash flows from interest rate changes on its debt. These instruments are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes and are recorded in “Other liabilities,” with changes in fair value recognized in “Other income (expense), net.”

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense is recognized over the requisite service period for Time-Vesting Awards and, for Exit-Vesting Awards, beginning when the performance condition is probable of achievement. The compensation expense of the Company’s stock-based compensation programs subsequent to the Sponsor Acquisition is calculated by estimating the fair value of the awards on the date of grant. We determine the grant date fair value using a Monte Carlo model. As the Company’s equity is not publicly traded, there is no history of market prices for the Company’s equity. Thus, estimating grant date fair value requires the Company to make assumptions, including the value of the Company’s equity, expected time to liquidity, and expected volatility.

Earnings (Loss) per Unit

Basic earnings (loss) per unit is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company by the weighted average number of common units outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per unit is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company by the weighted-average units outstanding during the period after adjusting for the impact of securities that would have a dilutive effect on earnings (loss) per unit.

All net earnings (loss) for the Predecessor period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 were entirely allocable to Predecessor shareholders and non-controlling interest. Additionally, due to the impact of the Sponsor Acquisition, the Company’s capital structure for the Predecessor and Successor periods is not comparable. As a result, the presentation of earnings (loss) per share for the periods prior to such transaction is not meaningful and only earnings (loss) per unit for periods subsequent to the Sponsor Acquisition are presented herein.

See “Note 10—Loss per Unit” for additional information on dilutive securities.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which simplifies the accounting for income taxes, eliminates certain exceptions within ASC 740, Income Taxes, and clarifies certain aspects of the current guidance to promote consistency among reporting entities. The provisions of ASU No. 2019-12 are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020 with early adoption permitted. Most amendments within ASU No. 2019-12 are required to be applied on a prospective basis, while certain amendments must be applied on a retrospective or modified retrospective basis. The Predecessor early adopted ASU No. 2019-12 effective January 1, 2020 on a modified retrospective basis for those amendments that are not applied on a prospective basis. The adoption of ASU No. 2019-12 did not have a material impact on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional expedients and exceptions for

 

F-40


Table of Contents

applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions that reference the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. This guidance is optional for a limited period of time through December 31, 2022. The Company is evaluating the impact of the ASU as it relates to arrangements that reference LIBOR.

In August 2020, FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt-Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging-Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. Under ASU No. 2020-06, the embedded conversion features are no longer separated from the host contract for convertible instruments with conversion features that are not required to be accounted for as derivatives under Topic 815, or that do not result in substantial premiums accounted for as paid-in capital. Consequently, a convertible debt instrument will be accounted for as a single liability measured at its amortized cost, as long as no other features require bifurcation and recognition as derivatives. The new guidance also requires the if-converted method to be applied for all convertible instruments. ASU No. 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, with early adoption permitted. Adoption of the standard requires using either a modified retrospective or a full retrospective approach. We have not yet adopted this standard and are currently evaluating its impact on our consolidated financial statements, including accounting policies, processes, and systems.

Note 3—Income Taxes

The Company operates in multiple foreign jurisdictions and has foreign tax obligations due to its worldwide footprint. Under ASC 740, when a company is subject to tax in multiple jurisdictions, one overall (i.e., worldwide) estimated annual effective tax rate (“ETR”) is developed and applied to consolidated ordinary income/(loss) for the year-to-date period. For purposes of the estimated annual ETR calculation, tax provisions are calculated based on the laws and regulations of each jurisdiction. On a quarterly basis, the Company estimates its annual effective tax rate to be applied to ordinary income and records the tax impact of any discrete items separately in the relevant period. In addition, any change in valuation allowance that results from a change in judgment of the realizability of deferred tax assets is recorded in the quarter in which the change in judgment occurs.

The Company’s income tax expense for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020 was $19.1 million, representing an effective tax rate of (29.5)%. The income tax expense and the effective tax rate for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 were $0.4 million and (1.1)%, respectively. The Company’s income tax expense and effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 were $5.9 million and 7.9%, respectively. In the Successor period ended September 30, 2020, a tax rate change in the United Kingdom, in which the deferred tax rate increased from 17% to 19%, was recorded discretely, resulting in a $22.1 million deferred income tax expense. The Company’s effective tax rate can vary significantly on a quarterly basis as a result of significant, infrequent, or extraordinary items, if applicable, which are required to be recognized separately in the quarter in which they occur.

Note 4—Business Combination

On January 29, 2020, the Company, and its wholly owned indirect subsidiary, Buzz Merger Sub, executed an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Worldwide Vision Limited whereby the Company agreed to purchase all of the outstanding equity interest of Worldwide Vision Limited, for a purchase price of approximately $2.9 billion, as detailed below. The Sponsor Acquisition is accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting which requires, among other things, that the assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recognized at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date (based on Level 3 measurements). The contingent earn-out liability is discussed in Note 8—Fair Value Measurements. Additional information existing as of the acquisition date but unknown to us may become known during the remainder of the measurement period, not to exceed 12 months from the acquisition date, which may result in changes to the purchase price allocation.

 

F-41


Table of Contents

The following tables summarize the purchase consideration and the provisional purchase price allocation to estimated fair values of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed (in thousands):

 

Cash paid to former owners of Worldwide Vision Limited

   $ 2,239,827  

Issued ownership interest in the Company

     349,992  

Cash paid to related party

     125,000  

Settlement of amounts owed to Worldwide Vision Limited by former owners

     42,075  

Buyout of minority shareholders of a subsidiary

     44,750  

Consideration related to holdback settlement

     36,418  

Fair value of contingent earn-out liability

     12,900  
  

 

 

 

Total purchase consideration

   $ 2,850,962  
  

 

 

 

 

Provisional purchase price allocation

   $ 2,850,962  

Less fair value of net assets acquired:

  

Cash and cash equivalents

     53,927  

Other current assets

     127,464  

Property and equipment

     14,241  

Intangible assets

     1,785,000  

Other noncurrent assets

     17,826  

Deferred revenue

     (9,600

Other current liabilities

     (143,293

Deferred income taxes

     (398,688

Other long-term liabilities

     (51,878
  

 

 

 

Net assets acquired

     1,394,999  
  

 

 

 

Goodwill

   $ 1,455,963  
  

 

 

 

Goodwill is primarily attributable to assembled workforce, expected synergies and other factors. Goodwill is not expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.

The fair values of the identifiable intangible assets acquired at the date of Sponsor Acquisition are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Acquisition Date
Fair Value
     Weighted-
Average

Useful Life
(Years)
 

Brands

   $  1,430,000        Indefinite  

Developed technology

     220,000        5  

User base

     105,000        2.5  

White label contracts

     30,000        8  
  

 

 

    

Total identifiable intangible assets acquired

   $ 1,785,000     
  

 

 

    

The Company has white label contracts, whereby the Company’s platform technology is licensed to other dating apps and websites. These contracts provide on-going revenue and value to the Company.

The fair values of our brands and developed technology were determined using relief of royalty methodology. The fair values of our user base and white label contracts were determined using excess earnings methodology. The valuations of intangible assets incorporate significant unobservable inputs and require significant judgment and estimates, including the amount and timing of future cash flows.

 

F-42


Table of Contents

The Company recognized approximately $48.2 million of transaction costs in the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020. Transaction costs incurred by the Predecessor associated with the Sponsor Acquisition were approximately $40.3 million and were included as an assumed liability by the Company at closing. These costs are recorded in “General and administrative expense” in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations for the Successor period and for the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020.

The following pro forma financial information is based on the historical financial statements of the Company and presents the Company’s results as if the business combination had occurred as of January 1, 2019 (in thousands):

 

     Pro Forma
Unaudited Nine Months Ended
 
     September 30, 2020      September 30, 2019  

Revenue

   $ 412,717      $  356,537  

Net loss

   $ (47,940    $ (87,511

The pro forma financial information is not indicative of the results of operations that the Company would have attained had the business combination occurred as of January 1, 2019, nor is the pro forma financial information indicative of the results of operations that may occur in the future.

The unaudited pro forma information includes adjustments to reflect the $40.3 million of Predecessor transaction costs and the $48.2 million of Successor transaction costs as if they were incurred in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. It also reflects additional interest expense, including amortization of financing fees, associated with the debt raised to fund the business combination, and the additional amortization of intangibles associated with the business combination.

Concurrent with and related to the Sponsor Acquisition, the Company sold one of its apps for a total consideration of $25.2 million.

Note 5—Property and Equipment, net

A summary of the Company’s property and equipment, net is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Successor     Predecessor  
     September 30,
2020
    December 31,
2019
 

Computer equipment

   $ 13,260     $ 24,113  

Leasehold improvements

     4,888       9,891  

Furniture and fixtures

     774       2,148  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total property and equipment, gross

     18,922       36,152  

Accumulated depreciation

     (4,572     (22,119
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total property and equipment, net

   $ 14,350     $ 14,033  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Depreciation expense related to property and equipment, net for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $5.3 million, $0.4 million and $4.8 million, respectively.

 

F-43


Table of Contents

Note 6—Goodwill and Intangible Assets, net

Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the periods presented is as follows:

 

Balance as of December 31, 2019

   $ —    

Goodwill recognized in connection with the Sponsor Acquisition on January 29, 2020

     1,455,963  

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     9,082  
  

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2020

   $ 1,465,045  
  

 

 

 

Intangible Assets, net

A summary of the Company’s intangible assets, net is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Successor  
     September 30, 2020  
     Gross Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
     Net Carrying
Amount
     Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Useful Life
(Years)
 

Brands

   $ 1,436,132      $ —        $ 1,436,132        Indefinite  

Developed technology

     232,919        (31,176      201,743        4.3  

User base

     107,167        (28,578      78,589        1.8  

White label contracts

     30,000        (2,501      27,499        7.3  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total intangible assets, net

   $ 1,806,218      $ (62,255    $ 1,743,963     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

     Predecessor  
     December 31, 2019  
     Gross Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
     Net Carrying
Amount
     Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Useful Life
(Years)
 

Trademarks

   $ 1,416      $ (203    $ 1,213        8.8  

Domain name

     143        (115      28        1.2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total intangible assets, net

   $ 1,559      $ (318    $ 1,241     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Amortization expense related to intangible assets, net for the period from January 29, 2020 to September 30, 2020, the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $60.5 million, $0.0 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

As of September 30, 2020, amortization of intangible assets with definite lives is estimated to be as follows (in thousands):

 

Remainder of 2020

   $ 23,300  

2021

     93,201  

2022

     75,339  

2023

     50,334  

2024 and thereafter

     65,778  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 307,952  
  

 

 

 

 

F-44


Table of Contents

Note 7—Other Financial Data

Consolidated Balance Sheets Information

Other current assets are comprised of the following balances (in thousands):

 

     Successor     Predecessor  
     September 30,
2020
    December 31,
2019
 

Capitalized aggregator fees

   $ 5,853     $ 4,726  

Prepayments

     6,148       3,336  

Income tax receivable

     26,153       23,641  

Acquisition-related escrow

     14,043       —    

Other receivables

     6,672       4,403  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other current assets

   $ 58,869     $ 36,106  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities are comprised of the following balances (in thousands):

 

     Successor     Predecessor  
     September 30,
2020
    December 31,
2019
 

Legal liabilities

   $ 60,393     $ 25,099  

Accrued expenses

     67,185       22,540  

Lease liabilities

     5,316       6,224  

Income tax payable

     26,227       25,543  

Other payables

     14,382       9,243  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities

   $ 173,503     $ 88,649  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other non-current liabilities are comprised of the following balances (in thousands):

 

     Successor     Predecessor  
     September 30,
2020
    December 31,
2019
 

Legal liabilities

   $ —       $ 48,800  

Lease liabilities

     6,049       9,797  

Contingent earn-out liability

     32,000       —    

Stock-based compensation liabilities

     5,543       —    

Other liabilities

     2,115       555  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other liabilities

   $ 45,707     $ 59,152  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Note 8—Fair Value Measurements

The Company follows ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, for financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis. The Company uses the fair value hierarchy to categorize its financial instruments measured at fair value based on the available inputs to the valuation and the degree to which they are observable or not observable in the market.

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

 

   

Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

F-45


Table of Contents
   

Level 2—Assets and liabilities valued based on observable market data for similar instruments, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities.

 

   

Level 3—Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data and require the Company to develop its own assumptions, based on the best information available.

The following tables present the Company’s financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):

 

     Successor  
     September 30, 2020  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total Fair Value
Measurements
 

Assets:

           

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 176,353      $ —        $ —        $ 176,353  

Equity investments

     —          —          1,382        1,382  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 176,353      $ —        $ 1,382      $ 177,735  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

           

Contingent earn-out liability

   $ —        $ —        $ 32,000      $ 32,000  

Derivative liability

     —          1,828        —          1,828  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ —        $ 1,828      $ 32,000      $ 33,828  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Predecessor  
     December 31, 2019  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total Fair Value
Measurements
 

Assets:

           

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 57,449      $ —        $ —        $ 57,449  

Equity investments

     —          —          835        835  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 57,449      $ —        $ 835      $ 58,284  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

There were no transfers between levels between December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2020.

The carrying value of Accounts receivable, Accounts payable, Income tax payable, Accrued expenses and Other payables approximate their fair values due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.

The Company’s contingent earn-out liability that is measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) totaled $12.9 million as of January 29, 2020 and $32.0 million as of September 30, 2020, with the total fair value movement of $19.1 million included in “General and administrative expense.”

Contingent Earn-out Liability

As of September 30, 2020, there is a contingent consideration arrangement, consisting of an earn-out payment to former shareholders of Worldwide Vision Limited of up to $150 million. The Company determined the fair value of the contingent earn-out liability by using a probability-weighted analysis to determine the amount of the liabilities, and, if the arrangement is long-term in nature, applying a discount rate that captures the risks associated with the obligation. The number of scenarios in the probability-weighted analyses can vary; generally, more scenarios are prepared for longer duration and more complex arrangements. As of September 30, 2020, the fair value of the contingent earn-out liability reflects a discount rate of 9.5%. As of December 31, 2019, there were no contingent consideration arrangements.

 

F-46


Table of Contents

The fair value of the contingent earn-out liability is sensitive to changes in the forecasts of earnings and/or the relevant operating metrics and changes in discount rates. The Company remeasures the fair value of the contingent earn-out liability each reporting period, and changes are recognized in “General and administrative expense” in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. The contingent earn-out liability as of September 30, 2020 is included in “Other liabilities” in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Note 9—Debt

Total debt is comprised of the following (in thousands):

 

     Successor     Predecessor  
     September 30,
2020
    December 31,
2019
 

Term Loan due January 29, 2027

   $ 572,125     $ —    

Less: unamortized debt issuance costs

     14,687       —    

Less: current portion of debt, net

     3,585       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total long-term debt, net

   $ 553,853     $ —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Credit Agreement

On January 29, 2020, the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Buzz Bidco LLC, Buzz Merger Sub, and Buzz Finco LLC (collectively, the “Borrowers”) entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement permitted the Company to borrow up to $625.0 million through a seven-year $575.0 million term loan (“Term Loan”), as well as a five-year revolving credit facility of $50.0 million and $25.0 million available through letters of credit. In connection with the Credit Agreement, the Company incurred and paid debt issuance costs of $16.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

Based on the calculation of the applicable consolidated total leverage ratio, the applicable margin for borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility is between 1.25% to 1.75%, in addition to a base rate. The applicable margin for borrowings under the Term Loan is between 2.25% and 2.75%, in addition to a base rate. The interest rate in effect for the Term Loan as of September 30, 2020 was 2.95%. The Term Loans will mature on January 29, 2027 and principal amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility will be due and payable in full at maturity on January 29, 2025. As of September 30, 2020, and at all times during the period, the Company was in compliance with its financial debt covenants.

As the loan is issued with a floating rate of interest, the Company believes that the fair value of its obligation is approximated by the principal amount of the loan at September 30, 2020. The carrying value of the Term Loan includes the outstanding principal amount, less unamortized debt issuance costs. Therefore, the Company assumes the carrying value of the debt, before any transaction costs, would closely approximate the fair value of the loan obligation with the assumptions above.

Future maturities of long-term debt as of September 30, 2020, were as follows (in thousands):

 

Remainder of 2020

   $ 1,438  

2021

     5,750  

2022

     5,750  

2023

     5,750  

2024 and thereafter

     553,437  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 572,125  
  

 

 

 

 

F-47


Table of Contents

Note 10—Loss per Unit

The following table sets forth the computation of the Company’s basic and diluted net loss per unit:

 

     Successor  
     Period from January 29,
through September 30, 2020
 
     Basic      Diluted  

Numerator:

     

Net loss

   $ (84,120    $ (84,120

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (100      (100

Net loss attributable to Buzz Holdings L.P. owners

   $ (84,020    $ (84,020

Denominator:

     

Weighted average units outstanding

     2,454,009        2,454,009  

Dilutive securities

     —          65,456  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Denominator for loss per unit-weighted average units

     2,454,009        2,519,465  

Loss per unit

   $ (0.03    $ (0.03

Note 11—Stock-based Compensation

Total stock-based compensation cost was as follows (in thousands):

 

     Successor             Predecessor  
     Period from
January 29,
through September 30,
2020
                   Period from
January 1, through
January 28, 2020
     Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2019
 

Cost of revenue

   $ 174              $ —        $ —    

General and administrative expense

     9,093                3,997        660  

Product development expense

     3,046                84        241  

Selling and marketing expense

     805                75        179  
  

 

 

            

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total stock-based compensation expense

   $ 13,118              $ 4,156      $ 1,080  
  

 

 

            

 

 

    

 

 

 

Predecessor Plans

For the period from January 1, 2019 to September 30, 2019

Prior to the Acquisition, the Predecessor operated a share option plan and a growth share plan, and Bumble Holding Limited, a subsidiary of the Predecessor, had issued phantom stock. The growth share plan and phantom share plans did not have material activity in the period from January 1, 2019 to September 30, 2019.

The Predecessor operated a share option plan (the “Options Plan”) which permits the granting of share options to eligible employees, including key management personnel and consultants. Share options generally vest over four years (“Time-Vesting Options”) or vest upon the achievement of certain performance conditions (“Performance-Vesting Options”) and have an exercise period generally ranging from five to ten years. Compensation expense related to Performance-Vesting Options is recognized to the extent that the performance conditions, such as revenue growth, are probable of being achieved. As of September 30, 2019, the performance conditions were considered probable of being achieved. The fair value of each option is estimated on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo model.

 

F-48


Table of Contents

The weighted-average assumptions the Predecessor used in the Monte Carlo model for 2019 are as follows:

 

Dividend yield (%)

     2  

Expected volatility (%)

     45  

Risk-free interest rate (%)

     1.9  

Expected life of options (years)

     2-10  

Weighted average share price ($)

     20.62  

The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted in the period from January 1, 2019 to September 30, 2019 was $5.30.

For the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020

The Predecessor’s stock-based compensation plans were terminated and the phantom stock awards issued by Bumble Holdings Limited were settled in connection with the Acquisition, including $3.8 million that was recognized as stock-based compensation expense in “General and administrative expense” in the period from January 1, 2020 to January 28, 2020.

Successor Plans

The Company currently has three active plans under which awards have been granted to various employees of the Company, including key management personnel, based on their management grade.

In connection with the Acquisition, the Company and Buzz Management Aggregator L.P., an interest holder in the Company, adopted two new Incentive Plans for its employees’ performance and retention purposes, namely the Employee Incentive Plan (“Non-US Plan”) and the Equity Incentive Plan (“US Plan”). The participants of the Non-US Plan and US Plan are selected employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company and Buzz Management Aggregator L.P. also adopted one incentive plan for Whitney Wolfe Herd (the “Founder Plan”). Awards granted under the Founder Plan and US Plan are in the form of Class B Units in the Company and Class B Units in Buzz Management Aggregator L.P, respectively (collectively, the “Class B Units”). Under the Non-US Plan, participants receive phantom awards of Class B Units in Buzz Management Aggregator L.P. (the “Phantom Class B Units”) that are settled in cash equal to the notional value of the Buzz Management Aggregator Class B Units at the settlement date.

The Class B Units under the Founder Plan and US Plan and the Phantom Class B Units under the Non-US Plan comprise:

 

   

Time-Vesting Class B Units and Time-Vesting Phantom Class B Units (60% of the Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units granted) that generally vest over a five-year service period and for which expense is recognized under a graded expense attribution model; and

 

   

Exit-Vesting Class B Units and Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units (40% of the Class B Units and Phantom Class B Units granted). Vesting for these awards is based on a liquidity event in which affiliates of The Blackstone Group Inc. receive cash proceeds in respect of its Class A units in the Company prior to the termination of the participant. Further, the portion of the Exit-Vesting Class B Units and Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units that vest is based on certain Multiple on Invested Capital (“MOIC”) and internal rate of return (“IRR”) hurdles associated with a liquidity event. The MOIC and IRR hurdles impact the fair value of the awards. As the vesting of these units is contingent upon a specified liquidity event, which is not considered probable as of September 30, 2020, no expense is required to be recorded prior to the occurrence of a liquidity event that meets the specified MOIC and IRR hurdles.

Time-Vesting Class B Units and Exit-Vesting Class B Units

Expense for the Time-Vesting Class B Units and Exit-Vesting Class B Units is based on the grant date fair value of the Class B Units. The grant date fair value is measured using a Monte Carlo model, which incorporates

 

F-49


Table of Contents

various assumptions noted in the following table. Use of a valuation model requires management to make certain assumptions with respect to selected model inputs. Expected volatility was calculated based on the observed equity volatility for comparable companies. The expected time to liquidity event is based on management’s estimate of time to an expected liquidity event. The dividend yield was based on the Company’s expected dividend rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur.

The weighted-average assumptions the Company used in the Monte Carlo model for 2020 are as follows:

 

Dividend yield (%)

     0  

Expected volatility (%)

     55-60  

Risk-free interest rate (%)

     0.21-1.41  

Expected time to liquidity event (years)

     4-5  

The table below summarizes information about the Time-Vesting Class B Units and Exit-Vesting Class B Units granted during the Successor period from January 29, 2020 through September 30, 2020.

 

    Time-Vesting Class B Units     Exit-Vesting Class B Units  
    Number of
awards
    Weighted-average
grant date fair
value
    Number of
awards
    Weighted-average
grant date fair
value
 

Unvested as of January 29, 2020

    —       $ —         —       $ —    

Granted

    86,475,255       0.52       57,650,188       0.40  

Vested

    —         —         —         —    

Forfeited

    (1,538,613     0.37       (1,025,742     0.29  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unvested as of September 30, 2020

    84,936,642     $ 0.53       56,624,446     $ 0.40  

Time-Vesting Phantom Class B Units and Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units

Both the Time-Vesting Phantom Class B Units and Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units under the Non-US Plan are settled in cash and are therefore liability classified. The actual amount of cash will be determined by the number of Non-US Phantom Class B Plan Units multiplied by the notional value of the Buzz Aggregator Class B Units at the time of settlement. The liability associated with Time-Vesting Phantom Class B Units will be remeasured quarterly based on the fair value of the Time-Vesting Class B Units, and the liability associated with the Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units will be remeasured quarterly based on the fair value of the Exit-Vesting Class B Units. Weighted-average valuation inputs in 2020 for the Time-Vesting Class B Units and Exit-Vesting Class B Units are specified above. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur.

The table below summarizes information about the liability-classified Time-Vesting Phantom Class B Units and Exit-Vesting Phantom Class B Units granted during the Successor period from January 29, 2020 through September 30, 2020.

 

    Time-Vesting Phantom
Class B Units
    Exit-Vesting Phantom
Class B Units
 
    Number of
awards
    Weighted-average
grant date fair
value
    Number of
awards
    Weighted-average
grant date fair
value
 

Unvested as of January 29, 2020

    —       $ —         —       $ —    

Granted

    40,379,975       0.36       26,919,989       0.28  

Vested

    —         —         —         —    

Forfeited

    (1,839,095     0.39       (1,226,064     0.28  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unvested as of September 30, 2020

    38,540,880     $  0.36       25,693,925     $  0.28  

As of September 30, 2020, the Company had $103.8 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to the Class B Units and the Phantom Class B Units. The unrecognized stock-based compensation

 

F-50


Table of Contents

expense related to Time-Vesting Awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 4 years. No stock-based compensation expense for the Exit-Vesting Awards will be recognized until the performance condition is considered probable.

Note 12—Related Party Transactions

In the ordinary course of operations, the Company enters into transactions with related parties, as discussed below. The following table summarizes balances with related parties (in thousands):

 

            Successor           Predecessor  

Related party relationship

  Type of transaction   Financial
statement line
  September 30,
2020
          December 31,
2019
 

Parent Company of the Predecessor

  Loan granted—current   Loans to related
companies
  $ —           $  40,068  

Director

  Loan granted—current   Loans to related
companies
    —             1,975  

Director

  Amounts owed to related
parties
  Accounts

payable

    —             (49

Other

  Amounts due from related
parties
  Accounts
receivable
    39           —    

 

             Successor           Predecessor  

Related party
relationship

  Type of transaction    Financial
statement line
  Period from
January 29,
through
September 30,
2020
          Period from
January 1,
through
January 28,
2020
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2019
 

Company owned by a director

  Income from related
parties
   General and
administrative expense
  $ —           $ 3     $ 19  

Other

  Revenue    Revenue     154           —         —    

Director

  Purchases from related
parties
   Product development
expense and General and
administrative expense
    —             369       628  

Other

  Cost recharges    General and
administrative expense
    492           —         —    

Other

  Purchases from related
parties
   Selling and marketing
expense
    —             —         39  

Other

  Purchases from related
parties
   Selling and marketing
expense
    322           —         —    

Director

  Dividends paid to
Whitney Wolfe Herd
   Dividends paid     —             —         4,919  

Director

  Dividends paid    Dividends paid     —             —         2,736  

Parent Company

  Dividends paid    Dividends paid     —             —         9,864  

On January 29, 2020, the Company recognized a $119.0 million loan to an entity controlled by our Founder, which was recorded as a reduction of “Limited Partners’ interest” in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. At September 30, 2020, $119.0 million remains outstanding.

Note 13—Segment and Geographic Information

The Company operates as a single operating segment. The Company’s chief operating decision maker (the “CODM”) is the CEO, who reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis, accompanied by disaggregated information about the Company’s revenue, for purposes of making operating decisions, assessing financial performance and allocating resources.

 

F-51


Table of Contents

Revenue by major geographic region is based upon the location of the customers who receive the Company’s services. The information below summarizes revenue by geographic area, based on customer location (in thousands):

 

     Successor                 Predecessor  
     Period from
January 29,
through
September 30,
2020
                Period from
January 1,
through
January 28,
2020
     Nine Months
Ended September 30,
2019
 

North America

   $ 210,313         $ 21,014      $ 191,139  

Rest of the world

     166,274           18,976        171,500  
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 376,587         $ 39,990      $ 362,639  
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

The United States is the only country with revenues of 10% or more of the Company’s total revenue.

Note 14—Commitments and Contingencies

The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its officers and directors for certain events or occurrences. The Company maintains a directors and officers insurance policy to provide coverage in the event of a claim against an officer or director. Historically, the Company has not been obligated to make any payments for indemnification obligations, and no liabilities have been recorded for these obligations on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2020 (unaudited) or December 31, 2019.

The Company is involved in certain lawsuits, claims and proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company records a liability for these when it is believed to be probable that the Company has incurred a loss and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The Company regularly evaluates current information to determine whether it should adjust a recorded liability or record a new one. If the Company determines that there is a reasonable possibility that a loss may be incurred and the loss or range of loss can be estimated, the possible loss is disclosed in the accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements to the extent material.

Litigation

On April 30, 2018, Match Group Inc (“Match”) filed a lawsuit in the Western district of Texas against Bumble Trading Inc. and Bumble Holding Limited (together “Bumble”) for: (i) infringement of utility patents and a design patent, (ii) trademark infringement, (iii) trademark-related unfair competition (iv) trade dress infringement and (v) trade secret misappropriation. Bumble filed counterclaims against Match and IAC alleging (1) fraud, (2) Negligent Misrepresentation, (3) Unfair Competition, (4) Promissory Estoppel, and (5) Interference with Prospective Business Relations. Match subsequently added Badoo Limited, Badoo Trading Limited, Badoo Software Limited and Badoo Technologies Limited to the lawsuit. Match and Bumble have settled such lawsuit between the two companies. The Company recorded an accrual for the loss contingency in relation to this litigation.

On May 29, 2018, a plaintiff filed a class action complaint against Bumble Trading Inc. alleging that Bumble’s “women message first” feature discriminates against men and is therefore unlawful under California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act (the “Unruh Act”) and Cal. Bus & Prof. Code Section 17200. The parties held a mediation on June 23, 2020 and signed a settlement agreement on November 20, 2020, subject to preliminary approval by the court. The Company recorded an accrual for the loss contingency in relation to this litigation.

On November 13, 2018 a class action lawsuit was filed against Bumble Trading Inc. in the Northern District of California. There are two elements to the lawsuit: New York Dating Services Law and California Auto-Renewal

 

F-52


Table of Contents

Law. The parties held a mediation on April 2, 2020 ultimately resulting in the plaintiffs and Bumble accepting the mediator’s settlement proposal. The settlement received preliminary approval by the court on July 15, 2020 and final approval was granted on December 18, 2020. The settlement will be fully effective as of January 18, 2021. The Company recorded an accrual for the loss contingency in relation to this litigation.

On August 26, 2020, the Company received an insurance reimbursement of $9.3 million related to the putative class action lawsuit, which is included in “Other income (expense), net” in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations.

From time to time, the Company is subject to patent litigations asserted by non-practicing entities. As of September 30, 2020, two such matters were in early stages. The Company continues to assess its position and estimates the possible loss from such matters to be in the range of $1 million to $4 million. The Company has recorded an accrual for loss contingencies in relation to these litigations.

As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, management has assessed that provisions of $60.4 million and $73.9 million, respectively, are a reasonable estimate of any probable future obligation, including legal costs incurred to date and expected to be incurred up to completion, for the Company’s litigations. Legal expenses are included in “General and administrative expense” in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations.

Note 15—Subsequent Events

For the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2020 and for the nine-month period then ended, the Company has evaluated subsequent events through December 11, 2020, which is the date the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were available to be issued. Except as noted below, the Company has concluded that no events or transactions have occurred that may require disclosure in the accompanying financial statements.

Distribution Financing Transaction

On October 19, 2020, the Company entered into the First Amendment to the Credit Agreement, which provides for incremental borrowing of an aggregate principal amount of $275.0 million. The cash proceeds from the incremental borrowing as well as cash on hand was used to declare a special distribution of $360.0 million, of which approximately $334.3 million was paid by the Company on October 28, 2020 and $25.6 million of which was used to partially repay the loan to our Founder, and to pay related fees and expenses in connection therewith.

Consideration Related to Holdback Settlement

On October 7, 2020, the Company paid and settled the consideration related to the holdback settlement for $36.4 million.

Founder Loan

In January 2021, our Founder settled the outstanding balance of the loan plus accrued interest ($95.5 million) when Bumble Holdings distributed the loan in redemption of a portion of the Class A units held by Beehive Holdings III, LP (such Class A units, the “Loan Settlement Units”). No cash was rendered in this settlement. If the value of the Loan Settlement Units redeemed by Bumble Holdings, determined using the volume-weighted average price of the Class A common stock on Nasdaq during the regular trading session as reported by Bloomberg L.P. for the 30-day period beginning on the date of the closing of this offering (the “Applicable VWAP”), has exceeded the implied value of the Loan Settlement Units on the settlement date, Bumble Holdings must deliver or cause to be delivered to Beehive Holdings III, LP an amount of Common Units which are exchangeable for Class A common stock having a value based on the Applicable VWAP equal to such excess

 

F-53


Table of Contents

amount (such additional Common Units, the “Loan True Up Units”). In the event of any such excess amount, the Loan True Up Units are intended to restore the interest of Beehive Holdings III, LP that would have been obtained had the value of the Loan Settlement Units been determined using the Applicable VWAP, as though the restored units had not been redeemed.

Litigation

Subsequent to September 30, 2020, the Company became subject to two patent litigations asserted by non-practicing entities. Subsequently, one of these patent litigations was withdrawn. The remaining patent litigation is in early stages and the Company is still assessing its position. A range of potential loss cannot be estimated at this time.

For purposes of this filing, the Company has evaluated the effects of subsequent events through January 15, 2021.

 

F-54


Table of Contents

LOGO


Table of Contents

LOGO

bumble


Table of Contents

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 13. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

The following table sets forth the expenses payable by the Registrant expected to be incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the shares of Class A common stock being registered hereby (other than underwriting discounts and commissions). All of such expenses are estimates, other than the filing and listing fees payable to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. and Nasdaq.

 

Filing Fee—Securities and Exchange Commission

   $ 10,910  

Fee—Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

     15,500  

Listing Fee—Nasdaq

     *  

Fees of Transfer Agent

     *  

Fees and Expenses of Counsel

     *  

Fees and Expenses of Accountants

     *  

Printing Expenses

     *  

Miscellaneous Expenses

     *  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ *  
  

 

 

 

 

*

To be provided by amendment.

ITEM 14. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, allows a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation will not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached the duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase or redemption in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for this limitation of liability.

Section 145 of the DGCL, or Section 145, provides, among other things, that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was, is or is threatened to be made, party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was illegal. A Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who were or are a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests, provided further that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer, director, employee or agent is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or

 

II-1


Table of Contents

otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him or her against the expenses such officer or director has actually and reasonably incurred.

Section 145 also provides that the expenses incurred by a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or a person serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise in defending any action, suit or proceeding may be paid in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding, subject, in the case of current officers and directors, to the corporation’s receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such officer or director to repay the amount so advanced if it shall be ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified.

Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify him or her under Section 145.

Our amended and restated bylaws provide that we must indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL and must also pay expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition upon delivery of an undertaking, by or on behalf of an indemnified person, to repay all amounts so advanced if it should be determined ultimately that such person is not entitled to be indemnified under our amended and restated bylaws or otherwise.

The indemnification rights set forth above shall not be exclusive of any other right which an indemnified person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our amended and restated bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

We expect to maintain standard policies of insurance that provide coverage (1) to our directors and officers against loss arising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act and (2) to us with respect to indemnification payments that we may make to such directors and officers.

We intend to enter into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers. These agreements will require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), may be permitted to directors or executive officers, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy and is therefore unenforceable.

The proposed form of Underwriting Agreement to be filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Registration Statement provides for indemnification to our directors and officers by the underwriters against certain liabilities.

ITEM 15. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES.

On October 5, 2020, the Registrant issued 100 shares of the Registrant’s Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, to Buzz Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, for $1.00. The issuance of such shares of Class B common stock was not registered under the Securities Act, because the shares were offered and sold in a transaction by the issuer not involving any public offering exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

 

II-2


Table of Contents

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

(a) Exhibits. See the Exhibit Index immediately preceding the signature pages hereto, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

(b) Financial Statement Schedules. Financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not required, not applicable, or not present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedule.

ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS

 

(1)

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriter at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

 

(2)

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

(3)

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that,

 

  (A)

For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 

  (B)

For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  (C)

For the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, if the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

 

  (D)

For the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are

 

II-3


Table of Contents
  offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

  (i)

Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

  (ii)

Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

  (iii)

The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

  (iv)

Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

II-4


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

  1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement*
  2.1    Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 8, 2019, by and among Buzz Holdings L.P., Buzz Merger Sub Ltd, Worldwide Vision Limited and Buzz SR Limited, as the seller representative
  3.1    Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant*
  3.2    Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant*
  5.1    Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP*
10.1    Form of Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Buzz Holdings L.P.*
10.2    Form of Tax Receivable Agreement*
10.3    Form of Exchange Agreement*
10.4    Form of Registration Rights Agreement*
10.5    Form of Stockholders Agreement*
10.6    Form of Indemnification Agreement*
10.7    Support and Services Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2020, by and among Buzz Holdings L.P., Buzz Merger Sub Ltd. and Blackstone Buzz Holdings L.P.
10.8    Form of Bumble Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan*†
10.9    Employment Agreement, dated January 29, 2020, by and between Buzz Holdings, L.P. and Whitney Wolfe Herd†
10.10    Employment Agreement, entered into as of July 12, 2020, by and between Bumble Trading LLC and Tariq Shaukat†
10.11    Employment Agreement, dated August 14, 2020, by and Between Bumble Trading LLC and Anuradha Subramanian†
10.12    Service Agreement, dated October 11, 2016, between Badoo Limited and Idan Wallichman†
10.13    Idan Wallichman agreement with Andrey Ogandzhanyants, dated October 5, 2017†
10.14    Letter Agreement, dated October 2019, between Worldwide Vision Limited and Idan Wallichman†
10.15    Letter Agreement, dated December 11, 2019, between Buzz Holdings L.P. and Idan Wallichman†
10.16    Letter Agreement, dated July 2, 2020, between Badoo Limited and Idan Wallichman†
10.17    Credit Agreement, dated as of January  29, 2020, by and among Buzz Bidco L.L.C., Worldwide Vision Limited (f/k/a Buzz Merger Sub Ltd.), Buzz Finco L.L.C., the guarantors party thereto from time to time, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, collateral agent and swingline lender, and the lenders and L/C issuers party thereto from time to time
10.18    Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of October  19, 2020, by and among Buzz Bidco L.L.C., Buzz Finco L.L.C., the guarantors party thereto, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, collateral agent and swingline lender and the lenders party thereto
10.19    Security Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2020, by and among the grantors identified therein and Citibank, N.A., as collateral agent
10.20    Founder Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2019, by and between Buzz Holdings L.P. and Whitney Wolfe Herd

 

II-5


Table of Contents

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

10.21    First Amendment to Founder Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2020, by and between Buzz Holdings L.P. and Whitney Wolfe Herd
10.22    Trademark Assignment and License, dated as of January 29, 2020, by and between Whitney Wolfe Herd and Bumble Holding Limited
10.23    Restrictive Covenant Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2019, between Buzz Holdings L.P. and Whitney Wolfe Herd
10.24    Amended and Restated Incentive Unit Subscription Agreement, dated June 19, 2020, between Beehive Holdings II, LP and Buzz Holdings L.P.†
10.25    Incentive Unit Award Agreement, dated August 8, 2020, between Tariq Shaukat, Buzz Holdings L.P. and Buzz Management Aggregator L.P.†
10.26    Incentive Unit Award Agreement, dated September 21, 2020, between Anu Subramanian, Buzz Holdings L.P. and Buzz Management Aggregator L.P.*†
10.27    Form of Incentive Unit Award Agreement (Director Form)†
10.28    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Agreement (Phantom Class B Unitholders – Executive Form) Under the Bumble Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan*†
10.29    Form of Option Grant Notice and Option Agreement (Phantom Class B Unitholders – Executive Form) Under the Bumble Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan*†
10.30    Subscription Agreement between Tariq Shaukat and Buzz Management Aggregator L.P.†
10.31    Form of Bumble Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan*†
16.1    Letter of Ernst & Young LLP dated October 30, 2020
21.1    Subsidiaries of the Registrant
23.1    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, as to Bumble Inc.
23.2    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, as to Worldwide Vision Limited
23.3    Consent of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.1)*
23.4    Consent of Amy M. Griffin to be named as a director nominee
23.5    Consent of Jennifer B. Morgan to be named as a director nominee
24.1    Power of Attorney (included in signature pages of this Registration Statement)

 

*

To be filed by amendment.

Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

II-6


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Austin, State of Texas, on the 15th day of January, 2021.

 

BUMBLE INC.
By:      

/s/ Whitney Wolfe Herd

 

Name:  

Title:

 

Whitney Wolfe Herd

Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Whitney Wolfe Herd, Tariq M. Shaukat, Anuradha B. Subramanian and Laura Franco, and each of them, any of whom may act without joinder of the other, the individual’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the person and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this Registration Statement and any or all amendments, including post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, including a prospectus or an amended prospectus therein and any Registration Statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act, and all other documents in connection therewith to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact as agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement and Power of Attorney have been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 15th day of January, 2021.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ Whitney Wolfe Herd

Whitney Wolfe Herd

  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(principal executive officer)

/s/ Ann Mather

Ann Mather

   Chair of the Board of Directors

/s/ Christine L. Anderson

Christine L. Anderson

   Director

/s/ R. Lynn Atchison

R. Lynn Atchison

   Director

/s/ Sachin J. Bavishi

Sachin J. Bavishi

   Director

/s/ Matthew S. Bromberg

Matthew S. Bromberg

   Director

 

II-7


Table of Contents

Signature

  

Title

/s/ Jonathan C. Korngold

Jonathan C. Korngold

   Director

/s/ Elisa A. Steele

Elisa A. Steele

   Director

/s/ Pamela A. Thomas-Graham

Pamela A. Thomas-Graham

   Director

/s/ Anuradha B. Subramanian

Anuradha B. Subramanian

  

Chief Financial Officer

(principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)

 

II-8

Exhibit 2.1

 

 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

BY AND AMONG

BUZZ HOLDINGS L.P.,

BUZZ MERGER SUB LTD.,

WORLDWIDE VISION LIMITED

AND

BUZZ SR LIMITED,

as the Seller Representative

November 8, 2019

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

     2  

Section 1.1

 

Defined Terms

     2  

Section 1.2

 

Certain References

     2  

Section 1.3

 

Rules of Construction

     2  

Section 1.4

 

Knowledge Group

     3  

Section 1.5

 

Preparation of Agreement

     3  

ARTICLE II THE MERGER

     3  

Section 2.1

 

The Merger

     3  

Section 2.2

 

Memorandum of Association, Bye-laws, Directors and Officers

     4  

Section 2.3

 

Effect on Capital; Treatment of Company Shares and Treatment of Options

     4  

Section 2.4

 

Calculation of Closing Merger Consideration

     7  

Section 2.5

 

Closing; Estimated Closing Statement; Pre-Closing Deliveries

     8  

Section 2.6

 

Closing Transactions; Closing Payments

     10  

Section 2.7

 

Closing Deliveries

     11  

Section 2.8

 

Paying Agent; Payments to Sellers; Exchange Procedures

     12  

Section 2.9

 

Escrow Account

     16  

Section 2.10

 

Closing Statement; Final Calculation of Closing Merger Consideration

     16  

Section 2.11

 

Withholding

     20  

Section 2.12

 

Dissenting Shares

     20  

Section 2.13

 

Forfeited Growth Shares and Options

     21  

Section 2.14    

 

Deferred Consideration

     21  

Section 2.15

 

Third-Party Expenses

     24  

ARTICLE III WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

     25  

Section 3.1

 

Organization, Existence and Good Standing

     25  

Section 3.2

 

Power and Authority

     25  

Section 3.3

 

Enforceability

     26  

Section 3.4

 

Consents; Non-contravention

     26  

Section 3.5

 

Capitalization

     27  

Section 3.6

 

Subsidiaries

     28  

Section 3.7

 

Financial Statements

     28  

Section 3.8

 

Undisclosed Liabilities

     29  

Section 3.9

 

Taxes

     30  

Section 3.10

 

Conduct of Business

     31  

Section 3.11

 

Material Contracts

     33  

Section 3.12

 

Permits

     35  

Section 3.13

 

Litigation

     35  

Section 3.14

 

Compliance with Laws

     35  

Section 3.15

 

Real Property

     36  

Section 3.16

 

Environmental Matters

     37  

Section 3.17

 

Intellectual Property

     37  

Section 3.18

 

Data Protection; Privacy

     38  

Section 3.19

 

Employee Benefits

     39  

Section 3.20

 

Employee Relations

     41  

Section 3.21

 

Related Parties Transactions

     42  

Section 3.22

 

Sufficiency

     42  

Section 3.23

 

Certain Pre-Signing Transactions

     42  

Section 3.24

 

Material Business Relationships

     43  

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

Section 3.25

 

Insurance

     44  

Section 3.26

 

Brokers

     44  

Section 3.27

 

Requisite Shareholder Approval

     44  

Section 3.28

 

No Other Warranties or Representations

     44  

ARTICLE IV WARRANTIES OF PARENT

     45  

Section 4.1

 

Organization, Existence and Good Standing

     45  

Section 4.2

 

Power and Authority

     45  

Section 4.3

 

Enforceability

     45  

Section 4.4

 

Consents; Non-contravention

     45  

Section 4.5

 

Brokers

     46  

Section 4.6

 

Purpose

     46  

Section 4.7

 

Funding

     46  

Section 4.8

 

Limited Guarantees

     47  

Section 4.9

 

Litigation

     48  

Section 4.10

 

Solvency

     48  

Section 4.11

 

Non-Reliance

     48  

Section 4.12    

 

No Other Warranties or Representations

     48  

ARTICLE V COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

     48  

Section 5.1

 

Access; Notification

     48  

Section 5.2

 

Third Party Consents

     49  

Section 5.3

 

Operation of the Business

     49  

Section 5.4

 

Exclusivity

     53  

Section 5.5

 

Shareholder Consent; Letter of Transmittal

     54  

Section 5.6

 

Confidentiality

     54  

Section 5.7

 

Quack Acquisition Agreement and Quack IP License

     55  

Section 5.8

 

Pre-Closing Restructuring

     56  

Section 5.9

 

Appropriate Action; Consents; Filings

     56  

Section 5.10

 

Minority Interests

     57  

Section 5.11

 

Tax Cooperation

     57  

Section 5.12

 

Trademark Opposition

     57  

ARTICLE VI COVENANTS OF PARENT

     58  

Section 6.1

 

Confidentiality Agreement

     58  

Section 6.2

 

Indemnification of Officers and Directors of the Company

     58  

Section 6.3

 

Employee Matters

     59  

Section 6.4

 

Rollover Agreements.

     60  

Section 6.5

 

R&W Insurance Policy

     60  

ARTICLE VII JOINT COVENANTS

     61  

Section 7.1

 

Government Approvals; Antitrust Filings

     61  

Section 7.2

 

Financing; Financing Cooperation

     62  

Section 7.3

 

Further Assurances

     65  

ARTICLE VIII CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

     66  

Section 8.1

 

Conditions to the Company’s Obligations

     66  

Section 8.2

 

Conditions to Parent’s and Merger Sub’s Obligations

     66  

Section 8.3

 

Joint Conditions to the Parties’ Obligations

     67  

 

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

ARTICLE IX NO SURVIVAL

     67  

Section 9.1

 

No Survival

     67  

ARTICLE X INDEMNIFICATION

     68  

Section 10.1

 

Indemnification by Sellers

     68  

Section 10.2

 

Certain Limitations

     69  

Section 10.3

 

Indemnification Claim Procedure (Generally)

     70  

Section 10.4

 

Indemnification Claim Procedures (Match Litigation)

     72  

Section 10.5

 

Treatment of Indemnification Payments

     73  

Section 10.6

 

Match Indemnification Holdback Amount Release

     73  

ARTICLE XI TERMINATION

     74  

Section 11.1

 

Right to Terminate

     74  

Section 11.2

 

Remedies Upon Termination

     75  

Section 11.3

 

Termination Fee

     76  

ARTICLE XII SELLER REPRESENTATIVE

     77  

Section 12.1

 

Appointment of the Seller Representative

     77  

Section 12.2

 

Authority of the Seller Representative

     78  

Section 12.3

 

Reliance

     79  

Section 12.4

 

Actions by Sellers

     79  

Section 12.5

 

Indemnification of the Seller Representative

     80  

Section 12.6

 

Certain Warranties

     80  

Section 12.7

 

Seller Representative’s Authority

     80  

ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS

     81  

Section 13.1

 

Expenses

     81  

Section 13.2

 

Publicity

     81  

Section 13.3

 

Notices

     82  

Section 13.4

 

Entire Agreement; Schedules

     85  

Section 13.5

 

Non-Waiver

     85  

Section 13.6

 

Counterparts

     85  

Section 13.7

 

Delivery by Electronic Transmission

     85  

Section 13.8

 

Severability

     85  

Section 13.9

 

Applicable Law

     86  

Section 13.10    

 

Binding Effect; Benefit

     86  

Section 13.11

 

Assignment

     86  

Section 13.12

 

Third Party Rights

     87  

Section 13.13

 

Amendments

     87  

Section 13.14

 

Waiver of Trial by Jury

     87  

Section 13.15

 

Consent to Jurisdiction

     87  

Section 13.16

 

Specific Performance

     88  

Section 13.17

 

Waiver of Conflicts Regarding Representation; Non-Assertion of Attorney-Client Privilege

     89  

Section 13.18

 

Governmental Reporting

     90  

Section 13.19

 

Headings

     91  

Section 13.20

 

Non-recourse

     91  

 

iii


TABLE OF SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

 

Annex A   Defined Terms
Annex B   Restrictive Covenant Agreements
Annex C   Quack Acquisition Agreement
Annex D   Quack IP License
Annex E   Rimberg Promissory Note
Annex F   Pre-Closing Restructuring
Annex G   Accounting Principles
Exhibit A   Form of Escrow Agreement
Exhibit B         Form of Written Consent for Shareholder Approval
Exhibit C   Form of Bermuda Merger Agreement
Exhibit D   Form of Letter of Transmittal
Exhibit E   Form of Quack Promissory Note

 

iv


AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”) is dated as of November 8, 2019 by and among Buzz Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Parent”), Buzz Merger Sub Ltd., an exempted limited company incorporated under the Laws of Bermuda and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), Worldwide Vision Limited, an exempted limited company incorporated under the Laws of Bermuda (the “Company”), and Buzz SR Limited, an English private limited company, solely in its capacity as the representative of the Sellers (the “Seller Representative”). Each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company, and, solely in its capacity as and solely to the extent applicable, the Seller Representative, shall be referred herein from time to time as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

A. The respective boards of directors of Merger Sub and the Company have each determined that the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement and the Bermuda Merger Agreement and in accordance with the Bermuda Companies Act, is advisable and in the best interests of their respective shareholders.

B. The respective boards of directors of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company have approved and declared advisable, and, in the case of Merger Sub and the Company, recommended for approval by its respective shareholders, this Agreement, the Bermuda Merger Agreement and the Merger, and each of the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and Parent, as the sole shareholder of Merger Sub, will immediately following execution of this Agreement approve this Agreement, the Bermuda Merger Agreement, the Merger and each of the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

C. Parent, Merger Sub and the Company desire to make certain warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and also prescribe various conditions to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby.

D. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, in order to induce Parent and Merger Sub to enter into this Agreement, certain of the Sellers have executed and delivered (x) a restrictive covenant agreement with Parent (any such agreement, a “Restrictive Covenant Agreement”) and (y) a support agreement with Parent (any such agreement, a “Support Agreement”).

E. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, in order to induce Parent and Merger Sub to enter into this Agreement, the Quack Acquiror, the Company and Parent have executed and delivered to Parent and the Merger Sub the Quack Acquisition Agreement and the Quack IP License, each of which shall be effective as of the Closing.

F. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, in order to induce the Company to enter into this Agreement, Blackstone Capital Partners VII NQ L.P., Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Fund III – NQ L.P., BTAS NQ Holdings L.L.C., Strategic Partners VIII Investments L.P., Blackstone Growth L.P., Blackstone Strategic Opportunity Fund L.P., Blackstone Diversified Alternatives Issuer L.L.C., Blackstone Harrington Partners L.P., Blackstone Private Strategies IDF Series Interests of SALI Multi-Series Fund, L.P. and Accel Growth Fund V, L.P. (the “Equity Investors”) have each (i) executed and delivered (A) a limited guarantee for the benefit of the Company (each, a “Guaranty” and, collectively, the “Guarantees”), pursuant to which the Equity Investors are guaranteeing certain obligations of Parent hereunder; and (B) the Equity Commitment Letters relating to the Equity Financing being undertaken by the Parent, and (ii) procured the execution and delivery of the Debt Commitment Letters relating to the Debt Financing being undertaken by the Parent.

 

1


G. WWH has entered into a Rollover Agreement (such Rollover Agreement, the “Founder Rollover Agreement”) on or prior to the date hereof with Parent (collectively, and together with other holders who enter into similar agreements before Closing, the “Rollover Participants”).

AGREEMENTS

In consideration of the mutual warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement, and for other good and valid consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

Section 1.1 Defined Terms. Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the definitions set forth in the body of the Agreement. Any capitalized term used in this Agreement and not defined in the body of this Agreement has the meaning assigned to such term in Annex A.

Section 1.2 Certain References. Any reference in this Agreement to a statute refers to the statute, any amendments or successor legislation, and all regulations promulgated thereunder, as in effect at the relevant time. When reference is made to any Party to this Agreement or any other agreement or document, such reference includes such Party’s successors and permitted assigns. References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person. References to any agreement or Contract are to that agreement or Contract as amended, modified, restated, or supplemented as of the date of this Agreement or, thereafter from time to time in accordance with the terms of such agreement or Contract and not in violation of this Agreement.

Section 1.3 Rules of Construction. Words in the singular shall be held to include the plural and vice versa. Words of one gender shall be held to include the other genders as the context requires. The terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereto” and “herewith” and words of similar import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. All article, section, paragraph, annex, exhibit and schedule references are to the articles, sections, paragraphs, annexes, exhibits and schedules of this Agreement unless otherwise specified. The word “including” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall mean “including, without limitation” unless otherwise specified. Unless the context otherwise requires, the words “neither,” “nor,” “any,” “either” and “or” shall not be exclusive. References to “indemnify” and to “indemnifying” any Person against any Damages, liabilities or losses by reference to any matter, event or circumstance includes indemnifying and keeping that Person indemnified against all Damages, losses or liabilities (as applicable) from time to time made, suffered or incurred as a consequence of or which would not have arisen but for that matter, event or circumstance; provided that no Party will be liable to compensate any indirect or consequential loss, loss of profit or income, or any form of punitive or multiplied damages, except for Damages arising out of a third party claim.

All references herein to “dollars” or “$” are to United States dollars. Any accounting term used in this Agreement shall have, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, the meaning customarily given such term in accordance with IFRS and all financial computations hereunder will be computed, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, in accordance with IFRS. All references herein to any period of days shall mean the relevant number of calendar days unless otherwise specified. When calculating the period of time within which or following which any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the reference date in calculating such period shall be excluded and, if the last day of such period is not a Business Day, then the period in question shall end on the next successive Business Day. The phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other matter extends,

 

2


and such phrase shall not simply mean “if”. Any reference to “ordinary course of business” or any other similar phrase shall be deemed to mean “the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice in the twelve (12) months prior to the date of this Agreement”. Any reference in this Agreement to “writing” or comparable expressions includes a reference to electronic means of readable communication (including e-mail communications, but excluding facsimile transmission). Where the term “made available” is used in this Agreement, it means, with respect to any document or information to Parent, that the same has been (a) continuously accessible to Parent prior to the date of this Agreement by means of the Data Room or (b) otherwise delivered or provided to Parent or its representatives electronically via email by or on behalf of the Company or its representatives prior to the date of this Agreement. Any references to time shall refer to the prevailing City of London time unless otherwise expressly specified.

Section 1.4 Knowledge Group. Whenever any warranty in this Agreement is qualified by the knowledge of the Company, such warranty shall be deemed to be limited to the actual knowledge, after reasonable inquiry of such Person’s direct reports, of the individuals listed on Section 1.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedules. Whenever any warranty in this Agreement is qualified by the knowledge of Parent, such warranty shall be deemed to be limited to the actual knowledge, after reasonable inquiry of such Person’s direct reports at Parent, of the individuals set forth on Schedule 1.4, being the executive officers of Parent.

Section 1.5 Preparation of Agreement. The Parties acknowledge and agree that each has negotiated and reviewed the terms of this Agreement, represented and assisted by such legal and tax counsel and other advisors as they desired, and has contributed to its revisions. Accordingly, each Party hereby irrevocably waives the application of any Law, Order, holding, or rule of construction providing that ambiguities in an agreement, Contract or other document will be construed against the Party drafting such agreement, Contract or other document.

ARTICLE II

THE MERGER

Section 2.1 The Merger.

(a) On the terms and subject to the conditions contained in this Agreement and the Bermuda Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, the Company shall merge with and into Merger Sub (the “Merger”) pursuant to Section 104H of the Bermuda Companies Act, whereupon the separate existence of the Company shall cease, and Merger Sub shall be the surviving company (Merger Sub, in such capacity, is sometimes referred to herein as the “Surviving Company”) and as an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent.

(b) On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Bermuda Merger Agreement, on or prior to the Closing Date, Parent, Merger Sub, and the Company will (i) execute and deliver (or cause the execution and delivery of) the Bermuda Merger Agreement, (ii) cause an application for registration of the Surviving Company (the “Merger Application”) to be executed and delivered to the Registrar of the Companies in Bermuda (the “Registrar”) as provided under and in accordance with Section 108 of the Bermuda Companies Act (and to be accompanied by the documents required by Sections 108(2) and 108(3) of the Bermuda Companies Act), and (iii) cause to be included in the Merger Application a request that the Registrar issue the certificate of merger with respect to the Merger (the “Certificate of Merger”) on the Closing Date as set forth in the Merger Application. The Merger will become effective upon the issuance of the Certificate of Merger by the Registrar or such other date as the Certificate of Merger shall provide (such time, the “Effective Time”).

 

3


(c) At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger will be as provided in this Agreement, the Bermuda Merger Agreement, the Certificate of Merger and the applicable provisions of the Bermuda Companies Act. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time all (i) of the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub will vest in the Surviving Company and (ii) debts, liabilities and duties of the Company and Merger Sub will become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Company.

Section 2.2 Memorandum of Association, Bye-laws, Directors and Officers.

(a) At the Effective Time, the memorandum of association and bye-laws of the Surviving Company shall be in the form of the memorandum of association and bye-laws of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time (except that the name of the Surviving Company shall be “Worldwide Vision Limited” and the title of the bye-laws shall read “Bye-Laws of Worldwide Vision Limited”) until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or pursuant to applicable Law.

(b) From and after the Effective Time, until the earlier of their respective resignation or removal or their respective successors are duly elected or appointed in accordance with applicable Law, (i) the directors of Merger Sub in office immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the directors of the Surviving Company, and (ii) the officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Company.

Section 2.3 Effect on Capital; Treatment of Company Shares and Treatment of Options. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or any of their respective shareholders, including the holders of any of the following securities, the following will occur:

(a) Shares of Merger Sub. Each common share of Merger Sub, $0.01 par value per share, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be automatically converted into and become one validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable common share of the Surviving Company, and, subject to Section 2.3(b), such common shares of the Surviving Company issued upon that conversion will constitute all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Surviving Company immediately following the Effective Time.

(b) Cancellation of Certain Excluded Shares. Any Company Shares held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (as treasury shares or otherwise), or owned by Parent or Merger Sub or any of their respective Subsidiaries (including any Rollover Equity), in each case, immediately prior to the Effective Time (each, an “Excluded Share”) shall, by virtue of the Merger, automatically be cancelled, extinguished and cease to exist without any conversion thereof and no payment shall be made with respect thereto; provided, however, any Company Shares owned by any of the Company’s Subsidiaries shall not be cancelled or extinguished but shall instead remain outstanding as shares of the Surviving Company and no payment shall be made with respect thereto.

(c) Conversion of Company Common Shares. Subject to Section 2.11, each Company Common Share (excluding Excluded Shares) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, by virtue of the Merger, automatically be cancelled, extinguished, cease to exist and be converted into the right to receive, at the times and in the manner set forth herein, and without any interest thereon, an amount in cash equal to (i) the amount of the Estimated Closing Merger Consideration that is allocable to such Company Common Share as set forth in the Distribution Waterfall Schedule (net of any amount deducted in accordance with each Seller’s Pro Rata Share pursuant to Section 2.9), plus (ii) the amount, if any, of such Company Common Share’s Pro Rata Share of any Post-Closing Payments that becomes payable in respect of such Company Common Share pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;

 

4


provided, however, that, in each case without double counting, (A) the amount paid to the Quack Related Shareholder pursuant to this Section 2.3(c) shall be reduced by an amount equal to the amount then outstanding, if any, of the Quack Shareholder Debt Amount owed by Eyelinkmedia Holding Limited to the Company, (B) the amount paid to Rimberg pursuant to this Section 2.3(c) shall be reduced by an amount equal to the amount then outstanding, if any, of the Rimberg Shareholder Debt Amount at the time of such payment, and (C) the amount paid pursuant to this Section 2.3(c) to any holder of Company Common Shares that is a Shareholder Debt Issuer shall be reduced by an amount equal to the amount then outstanding, if any, of the portion of the Shareholder Debt Amount owed by such Shareholder Debt Issuer (or their applicable Affiliate) to the Company, and in each case this will constitute full and final settlement of the relevant Quack Shareholder Debt Amount, Rimberg Shareholder Debt Amount and Shareholder Debt Amount (as applicable). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if the proceeds payable under this Agreement to the holder of the Rimberg Shareholder Debt Amount or the Quack Shareholder Debt Amount, as applicable, are not sufficient to extinguish in full the then outstanding amount, if any, of the Rimberg Shareholder Debt Amount or the Quack Shareholder Debt Amount, as applicable, the proceeds payable under this Agreement to Andrey Ogandzhanyants and his Affiliates, permitted assignees or transferees, without duplication, shall be reduced by an amount equal to the amount then outstanding, if any, of the Rimberg Shareholder Debt Amount or the Quack Shareholder Debt Amount, as applicable.

(d) Treatment of Growth Shares.

(i) Vested Growth Shares. Except as otherwise agreed between the applicable beneficial holder and Parent, subject to Section 2.11, each Vested Growth Share shall, by virtue of the Merger, automatically be cancelled, extinguished, cease to exist and be converted into the right to receive, at the times and in the manner set forth herein, and without any interest thereon, an amount in cash equal to (i) the amount of the Estimated Closing Merger Consideration that is allocable to such Vested Growth Share as set forth in the Distribution Waterfall Schedule (net of any amount deducted in accordance with each Seller’s Pro Rata Share pursuant to Section 2.9) (“Closing Growth Share Consideration”), plus (ii) the amount, if any, of such Vested Growth Share’s Pro Rata Share of any Post-Closing Payment that becomes payable in respect of such Vested Growth Share pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that the amount paid to any holder of Vested Growth Shares that is a Shareholder Debt Issuer shall be reduced by an amount equal to the amount then outstanding, if any (including after application of any reduction pursuant to Section 2.3(c)), of the portion of the Shareholder Debt Amount owed by such Shareholder Debt Issuer (or their applicable Affiliate) to the Company, and in each case this will constitute full and final settlement of the relevant Quack Shareholder Debt Amount, Rimberg Shareholder Debt Amount and Shareholder Debt Amount (as applicable).

(ii) Unvested Growth Shares. Except as otherwise agreed between the applicable beneficial holder and Parent, subject to Section 2.11, each Growth Share that is not a Vested Growth Share (each, an “Unvested Growth Share”) shall, by virtue of the Merger, automatically be cancelled, extinguished, cease to exist and be converted into the right to receive only, at the times and in the manner set forth herein, and without any interest thereon, an amount in cash equal to (A) the amount of the Estimated Closing Merger Consideration that is allocable to such Unvested Growth Share (or portion thereof) as set forth in the Distribution Waterfall Schedule (net of any amount deducted in accordance with each Seller’s Pro Rata Share pursuant to Section 2.9) (“Closing Unvested Growth Share Consideration”), plus (B) to the extent any amount is payable in respect of such Unvested Growth Share at (A), the amount, if any, of such Shareholder’s Pro Rata Share (or portion thereof) of any Post-Closing Payment that becomes payable with respect to such Unvested Growth Share pursuant to this Agreement, which amounts will vest and become payable (at the times and in the manner set forth herein) to such Shareholder by the Surviving Company on the applicable vesting date for such Unvested Growth Share (such vesting date, a “Growth

 

5


Share Vesting Event”); provided that payments of any such amounts will be made on a quarterly basis, based on the calendar quarter in which the applicable Growth Share Vesting Event occurs; provided, further, that, with respect to any payment described in clause (B) above, if the date any such Post-Closing Payment becomes payable is later than the applicable Growth Share Vesting Event, then such Post-Closing Payment shall only become payable to such holder on the date such Post-Closing Payment becomes payable and any such payment will be made on a quarterly basis, based on the calendar quarter in which the applicable Post-Closing Payment becomes payable, without any interest for the period from the Effective Time until the applicable payment date. For the purposes of this Section 2.3(d)(ii), the term “applicable vesting date” means the date that the applicable Unvested Growth Share otherwise would have vested in accordance with its terms and conditions.

(e) Treatment of Options.

(i) Vested Options. Except as otherwise agreed between the applicable holder and Parent, subject to Section 2.11, to the extent not previously exercised, each Vested Option or portion thereof outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time that is an In-the-Money Option shall, by virtue of the Merger, automatically cease to be outstanding and shall be converted into and exchanged for, at the Effective Time, the right to receive, at the times and in the manner set forth herein, and without any interest thereon, an amount in cash equal to (A) the Spread Value of such Vested Option (or portion thereof) (net of any amount deducted in accordance with each Seller’s Pro Rata Share pursuant to Section 2.9) (the “Closing Option Consideration”) plus (B) the amount, if any, of such Vested Option’s (or portion thereof) Pro Rata Share of any Post-Closing Payment that becomes payable with respect to such Vested Option pursuant to this Agreement.

(ii) Unvested Options. Except as otherwise agreed between the applicable holder and Parent, subject to Section 2.11, each Option (or portion thereof) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time that is an In-the-Money Option and is not a Vested Option (each such Option, an “Unvested Option”) shall, without any further action on the part of the Optionholder, be cancelled and automatically converted into the right to receive only, at the times and in the manner set forth herein, and without any interest thereon, an amount in cash equal to (A) the Spread Value of such Unvested Option (or portion thereof) (net of any amount deducted in accordance with each Seller’s Pro Rata Share pursuant to Section 2.9) (the “Unvested Option Closing Consideration”) plus (B) to the extent any amount is payable in respect of such Unvested Option at (A), the amount, if any, of any of such Optionholders’ Pro Rata Share of any Post-Closing Payments that become payable with respect to such Unvested Option pursuant to this Agreement, which amounts will vest and become payable (at the times and in the manner set forth herein) to such Optionholder by the Surviving Company on the applicable vesting date for such Unvested Option (such vesting date, an “Option Vesting Event”); provided that payment of any such amounts will be made on a quarterly basis based on the calendar quarter in which the Option Vesting Event occurs; provided, further, that, with respect to any payment described in clause (B) above, if the date any such Post-Closing Payment becomes payable is later than the applicable Option Vesting Event, then such Post-Closing Payment shall only become payable to such Optionholder on the date such Post-Closing Payment becomes payable and any such payment will be made on a quarterly basis, based on the calendar quarter in which the applicable Post-Closing Payment becomes payable, in each case, subject to the applicable Optionholder’s continued employment or service through the applicable vesting date in respect of such Unvested Option, without any interest for the period from the Effective Time until the applicable payment date. Other than as described in this Section 2.3(e)(ii), the terms and conditions applicable to such underlying Unvested Option are unmodified. For the purposes of this Section 2.3(e)(ii), the term “applicable vesting date” means the date that the applicable Unvested Option otherwise would have vested in accordance with its terms and conditions.

 

6


(iii) Underwater Options. For the avoidance of doubt, all other Options not described in Section 2.3(e)(i) that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, by virtue of the Merger, automatically be cancelled and terminated at the Effective Time without payment therefor and, to such extent, shall have no further force or effect (each, a “Terminated Option”).

(f) Actions by the Company. At or prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall adopt resolutions and take such other actions as are necessary to (i) implement the above provisions of this Section 2.3, including the termination and cancellation of Options and Growth Shares as described above, (ii) to the extent prepayment is not permitted under such agreements, accelerate in full the Quack Promissory Notes and the Rimberg Promissory Note in order to consummate the netting described in Section 2.3(c) with respect to the amounts otherwise payable to the Quack Related Shareholder and/or Rimberg, as applicable and (iii) to the extent not prepayable, accelerate in full each Shareholder Debt Instrument in order to consummate the netting described in Section 2.3(d) with respect to the amounts otherwise payable to the Shareholder Debt Issuers. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company shall take all actions reasonably necessary to ensure that, as of the Effective Time, the Company is not bound by or otherwise has any ongoing Liability with respect to any Options, Growth Shares, restricted share units (including any performance-based restricted share units), stock appreciation rights, units, Equity Rights, or other right, awards or arrangements (excluding the Rollover Equity) that would entitle any Person after the Effective Time to (i) beneficially own any Company Shares (or any derivative securities thereof) (other than Parent) or (ii) receive any payments in respect thereof, except (A) in respect of the Shadow Equity Plan, and (B) for the payments expressly provided in this Agreement.

(g) Distribution Waterfall Schedule and Pro Rata Share Schedule. The Parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (i) each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Parent Related Parties shall be entitled to rely without further or independent verification on the Distribution Waterfall Schedule and the Pro Rata Share Schedule as setting forth a true, complete and accurate listing of all items set forth in and amounts payable pursuant to the Organizational Documents of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including the Company Bye-Laws and any other agreements of the Company and its Affiliates applicable to the distribution of the consideration) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) in no event will Parent, Merger Sub or any Parent Related Party have any responsibility or liability for the amounts paid or payable from the Paying Agent Fund or otherwise in accordance with the Distribution Waterfall Schedule and the Pro Rata Share Schedule.

(h) Treatment of WWH. At the Closing, Parent shall (i) pay, or cause to be paid, to WWH, an amount in cash equal to the WWH Closing Date Cash Consideration in respect of the WWH Cash Out Shares and (ii) deliver to WWH a number of Parent Capital Interests in respect of the WWH Rollover Shares equal to the WWH Closing Date Rollover Consideration divided by the Per Unit Parent Capital Interest Price (as defined in the Founder Rollover Agreement). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any amounts payable to WWH shall not be paid to the Paying Agent or the Company and shall instead be paid directly to WWH by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by WWH. The Company will ensure that the amounts to be paid to WWH are set forth in the Estimated Closing Statement.

Section 2.4 Calculation of Closing Merger Consideration. The aggregate consideration to which the Sellers shall be entitled at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated as follows (the “Closing Merger Consideration”):

(a) the Base Purchase Price; plus

(b) the Net Cash Amount; plus

 

7


(c) the amount, if any, by which the Net Working Capital is greater than the Target Net Working Capital; or minus

(d) the amount, if any, by which the Net Working Capital is less than the Target Net Working Capital; minus

(e) the aggregate amount of Transaction Expenses that are unpaid as of the Closing (the “Transaction Expense Amount”); plus

(f) the Aggregate Option Exercise Price; plus

(g) the Quack Shareholder Debt Amount (unless included as an asset in the Closing Statement within Net Cash Amount or Net Working Capital, in which case this clause (g) shall be disregarded and not added to the Closing Merger Consideration); plus

(h) the Rimberg Shareholder Debt Amount; plus

(i) the Shareholder Debt Amount; less

(j) the Match Indemnification Holdback Amount; less

(k) the Match Indemnification Liability; less

(l) the WWH Closing Date Aggregate Consideration.

Section 2.5 Closing; Estimated Closing Statement; Pre-Closing Deliveries.

(a) Closing. The transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be consummated (the “Closing”) at the offices of Baker & McKenzie LLP located at 100 New Bridge Street, London EC4V 6JA, United Kingdom, or by teleconference or through electronic exchange of transaction documents by electronic mail, in either case at 9:00 a.m., prevailing New York time, on the tenth (10th) Business Day after the satisfaction or, if permissible, waiver, of the conditions set forth in Article VIII (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions at the Closing), or on such other date, or at such other time or place, as shall be mutually agreed upon in writing by the Company and Parent; provided that the Closing shall not occur before January 29, 2020 without the prior written consent of Parent (which may not be provided on less than 10 Business Days’ notice). The date on which the Closing occurs in accordance with the preceding sentence is referred to in this Agreement as the “Closing Date”.

(b) Estimated Closing Statement.

(i) Not less than five (5) Business Days prior to the anticipated Closing Date, the Company shall deliver to Parent and WWH a statement (the “Estimated Closing Statement”) setting forth the Company’s good faith calculation of the Closing Merger Consideration (such estimate, the “Estimated Closing Merger Consideration”), together with the Company’s good faith estimates of each component thereof (including the Net Cash Amount, Net Working Capital, Transaction Expense Amount, the Aggregate Option Exercise Price, the Quack Shareholder Debt Amount, the Rimberg Shareholder Debt Amount and the Shareholder Debt Amount), based upon the most recent readily available financial information and records of the Company, (y) the amounts to be paid to WWH pursuant to Section 2.3(h), and (z) to the extent available at such time, Transaction Invoices with respect to the estimated Transaction Expense Amount, together with such supporting documentation used by the Company in calculating such amount as Parent may reasonably request (provided, that failure to provide

 

8


any such supporting information shall not invalidate delivery of the Estimated Closing Statement), and together with the Distribution Waterfall Schedule and the Pro Rata Share Schedule (both collectively, the “Allocation Schedules”), which shall each set forth as of the Closing Date, any such allocations (I) prior to any Rollover and (II) after any Rollover, (A) the name of each Seller; (B) the number of Company Shares (including Company Common Shares and Vested Growth Shares) held by such Seller (designated by type, class and/or series, as applicable) and whether such shares of Company Shares are vested or unvested (including an indication as to those that vest in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement); (C) the number of Company Shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Options held by such holder (including those Vested Options that vest in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) and the aggregate exercise price and the Spread Value of such Vested Options; (D) the number of Company Shares issuable upon the exercise of Unvested Options held by such Seller and the aggregate exercise price, vesting schedule and the Spread Value for such Options; (E) the number of Company Common Shares that would have been issuable upon the exercise of Terminated Options held by such Seller, the aggregate exercise price and vesting schedule of such Terminated Options; (F) with respect to the Distribution Waterfall Schedule, the applicable portion of the Estimated Closing Merger Consideration to be paid to each Seller at the Closing in respect of the Company Equity held by such Seller as of immediately prior to the Effective Time; and (G) with respect to the Pro Rata Share Schedule, (1) the amount of such Seller’s Pro Rata Share of the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Amount, (2) the amount of such Seller’s Pro Rata Share of the Match Indemnification Holdback Amount (which shall also be deemed to be the Seller’s Pro Rata Share of the Match Indemnification Escrow Account) (3) the amount of such Seller’s Pro Rata Share of the Expense Fund, (4) such Seller’s Pro Rata Share of any Excess Amount, and (5) such Seller’s Pro Rata Share of any Earn-Out Payment. The Estimated Closing Statement shall be prepared according to the same methodologies and Accounting Principles as applicable to the Closing Statement, as described in Section 2.10. For the avoidance of doubt, the aggregate payments to be made at Closing pursuant to the Distribution Waterfall Schedule shall in no event be more than an amount equal to the payments required to be made to the Sellers under this Agreement at the Closing, and the aggregate amounts of the Estimated Closing Merger Consideration allocated to the Sellers prior to any Rollover pursuant to the Distribution Waterfall Schedule shall equal the Estimated Closing Merger Consideration allocated to each such Seller in accordance with Section 2.3(c), Section 2.3(d) and/or Section 2.3(e).

(ii) The Parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (i) each of Parent, Merger Sub, the Surviving Company, the Parent Related Parties, the Escrow Agent and the Paying Agent shall be entitled to rely without further independent verification on the Allocation Schedules as setting forth a true, complete and accurate listing of all items set forth in and amounts payable pursuant to the Organizational Documents of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including the Company Bye-Laws and any other agreements of the Company and its Affiliates applicable to the distribution of the consideration) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) subject to Parent’s performance of its obligations at Section 2.6(g), Section 2.8 and Section 2.9 in no event will Parent, Merger Sub or any Parent Related Party have, and subject to performance of their respective obligations under the Escrow Agreement and any paying agent agreement entered into in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in no event will the Escrow Agent or the Paying Agent have, any responsibility or liability for the amounts paid or payable from the Paying Agent Fund or otherwise in accordance with the Allocation Schedules.

(iii) Following their preparation and submission, Parent and WWH shall each be entitled to review the Estimated Closing Statement and the Allocation Schedules prior to the Closing and submit comments thereon to the Company and the Company shall consider in good faith (to the extent reasonably practicable in the time available prior to Closing) any such comments and may (but is not required to) revise the Estimated Closing Statement and/or the Allocation Schedules, as the case may be, prior to the Effective Time to reflect such comments; provided that, (i) to the extent that Parent and the Company (and in respect of any change to the amounts to be paid to WWH pursuant to Section 2.3(h),

 

9


WWH) mutually agree on any revisions, the Company shall update the Estimated Closing Statement and the Allocation Schedules to reflect such agreement (which updated versions shall then be considered the Estimated Closing Statement and the Allocation Schedules for all purposes hereunder), and (ii) in no case shall Closing be or be required to be delayed as a result of or in connection with the receipt of any comments from, or discussions or disagreements by the Company with, the Parent or WWH. The amounts payable at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated as set forth in the Estimated Closing Statement and Allocation Schedules delivered by the Company to Parent and WWH (and, if applicable, as modified to reflect any revisions mutually agreed upon by Parent and the Company (and, if applicable, WWH) prior to Closing pursuant hereto). For the avoidance of doubt, no proposed revisions provided by Parent or WWH, or any such resolved disagreements or updates or revisions to the Estimated Closing Statement or Allocation Schedules or any of its contents in accordance herewith, nor any consummation of the Closing regardless of any unresolved disagreements or disputes with respect to the Estimated Closing Statement or Allocation Schedules or any of their contents, shall constitute acceptance by Parent of the Estimated Closing Statement or Allocation Schedules for the purposes of any post-Closing adjustment to the Estimated Closing Merger Consideration under this Agreement.

(c) Pre-Closing Deliveries.

(i) At least six (6) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Parent shall deliver to the Company a statement (the “Rollover Statement”) setting forth (A) the names of each Rollover Participant and (B) the required Rolled Company Share Value with respect to each Rollover Participant.

(ii) The Company shall execute and/or deliver to Parent at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date the Company’s good faith estimate of the amount of all other Third-Party Expenses and Transaction Expenses of the Company and the amount thereof payable to each payee thereof and the wire transfer instructions for the payment of such estimated Transaction Expenses (other than those described in clauses (ii), (iv) and (v) of the definition of “Transaction Expenses”) and to the extent available to the Company at such time, any Transaction Invoices together with validly completed and duly executed IRS Form W-9s or applicable IRS Form W-8 for each such payee thereof (and any similar or corollary form under non-U.S. Law); provided, the requirement to deliver such invoices or such IRS forms shall be a condition to the requirement to pay the applicable Transaction Expense, but shall not be a condition to Closing.

Section 2.6 Closing Transactions; Closing Payments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Parties shall consummate the following transactions at the Closing:

(a) each Party shall take all actions required to be taken by such Party described in Section 2.1(b);

(b) in accordance with Section 2.9(a), Parent shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Escrow Agent the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Amount to the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Account, by wire transfer of immediately available funds;

(c) in accordance with Section 2.9(b), Parent shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Seller Representative the Expense Fund Amount by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Expense Fund;

(d) Parent shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, an amount in cash to the Persons owed the Transaction Expenses the amount thereof so owed (to the extent of the reduction in the Estimated Closing Merger Consideration with respect thereto) and in accordance with the wire transfer instructions set forth in the Transaction Invoices (as applicable); provided that (i) any portion thereof attributable to payments of

 

10


the type described in clause (iv) or clause (v) of the definition of Transaction Expenses shall be paid to the Surviving Company or one of its Subsidiaries for distribution (on or before its then next regularly scheduled payroll run that is at least ten (10) Business Days after the Closing Date) through its payroll system to the applicable payee (less applicable Tax withholding) and (ii) any portion thereof attributable to payments of the type described in clause (v) of the definition of Transaction Expenses shall be paid to the Surviving Company or one of its Subsidiaries for distribution to the applicable Governmental Entity prior to when owed thereto;

(e) Parent shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, an amount in cash to the Persons owed the Third-Party Expenses the amount thereof so owed and in accordance with the wire transfer instructions set forth in the Transaction Invoices (as applicable);

(f) Parent shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Company cash in an amount equal to the aggregate Closing Option Consideration of all Vested Options set forth on the Distribution Waterfall Schedule, calculated in accordance with Section 2.3(e)(i)(A), by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account(s) designated by the Company by written notice to Parent at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date; and

(g) Parent shall deliver or cause to be delivered the cash required to be delivered to the Paying Agent in accordance with Section 2.8 by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account(s) designated by the Paying Agent.

Section 2.7 Closing Deliveries.

(a) Closing Deliveries by Parent and Merger Sub. Subject to the delivery of the items set forth in Section 2.7(b), at the Closing, Parent or Merger Sub, as applicable, shall cause the execution and/or delivery to the Company (or such other Person as indicated below) of all of the following:

(i) one or more signature pages to the Escrow Agreement, duly executed and delivered by each of Parent and the Escrow Agent;

(ii) a certificate executed by an authorized signatory of Parent to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 8.1(a) and Section 8.1(b) have been satisfied; and

(iii) a certificate of the secretary or assistant secretary of the Company certifying as true, correct and complete the following: (A) a copy of the resolutions of the Parent’s board of directors authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Bermuda Merger Agreement and any other documents delivered by the Parent hereunder, and (B) a copy of the resolutions of the Merger Sub board of directors authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Bermuda Merger Agreement and any other documents delivered by the Merger Sub hereunder.

(b) Closing Deliveries by the Company. Subject to the delivery of the items set forth in Section 2.7(a), at the Closing the Company or Seller Representative, as applicable, shall cause the execution and/or delivery to Parent of all of the following:

(i) one or more signature pages to the Escrow Agreement, duly executed and delivered by Seller Representative;

(ii) the Quack Acquisition Agreement duly executed and delivered by the parties thereto;

(iii) the Quack IP License duly executed and delivered by the parties thereto;

 

11


(iv) the Quack Promissory Note, duly executed and delivered by Eyelinkmedia Holding Limited;

(v) the IRS Form 8832s prepared in accordance with Annex F as set forth on Schedule 2.7(b) (collectively, the “Pre-Closing Restructuring Documents”), duly executed and delivered by the parties thereto;

(vi) a certificate of the secretary or assistant secretary of the Company certifying as true, correct and complete the following: (A) the Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum of Association and the Company Bye-Laws; (B) a copy of the resolutions of the Company’s board of directors authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Bermuda Merger Agreement and any other documents delivered by the Company hereunder and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Finam Transactions, and (C) the written consent evidencing the Shareholder Approval;

(vii) a certificate executed by an authorized signatory of the Company to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 8.2(a) and Section 8.2(b) have been satisfied;

(viii) a validly executed certificate from Bumble Holding pursuant to Section 6.04 of Notice 2018-29;

(ix) a validly executed certificate from Bumble Holding pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.1445-11T(d)(2)(i); and

(x) evidence of the termination, without any continuing obligation or Liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, of the Contracts listed on Section 2.7(b)(x) of the Company Disclosure Schedules.

Section 2.8 Paying Agent; Payments to Sellers; Exchange Procedures.

(a) Engagement of Paying Agent; Paying Agent Fund. Prior to the Closing, Parent shall engage a third party bank or trust to act as paying agent as may be selected by Parent prior to Closing and reasonably acceptable to the Company (such paying agent, the “Paying Agent”), to make the payments and perform the actions contemplated to be made by the Paying Agent pursuant to this Agreement. At the Closing, Parent shall deposit an aggregate amount in cash equal to (i) the amount payable in respect of all Company Common Shares and Vested Growth Shares (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, amounts that may become payable in respect of Unvested Growth Shares which are addressed in Section 2.3(d)(ii)) pursuant to Section 2.3(c)(i) and Section 2.3(d)(i) respectively, less (save to the extent already deducted or excluded pursuant to Section 2.3(c)(i) or Section 2.3(d)(i)) (ii) (A) with respect to only the amount payable in respect of the Company Common Shares, the aggregate Estimated Closing Merger Consideration attributable to the Rollover Equity in the form of Company Common Shares as of Closing (the “Rolled Company Share Value”) as set forth on the Rollover Statement, (B) the Quack Shareholder Debt Amount, (C) the Rimberg Shareholder Debt Amount, and (D) the Shareholder Debt Amount, for the benefit of the holders of such Company Common Shares or Vested Growth Shares, as applicable, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Paying Agent by written notice to Parent at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date. Any cash so deposited, together with additional amounts deposited with the Paying Agent pursuant to the last sentence of Section 2.9(b), Section 2.10, Section 2.13 or Section 2.14, together with any interest or other earnings thereon, shall hereinafter be referred to as the “Paying Agent Fund.” In the event that the cash amount in the Paying Agent Fund shall be insufficient to make the payments contemplated to be made by the Paying Agent pursuant to this Section 2.8 (other than any payment as a result of additional amounts deposited with the Paying Agent as described in the immediately preceding sentence), Parent shall promptly deposit or cause to be deposited additional funds with the Paying Agent in an amount that is sufficient to remedy such deficiency.

 

12


(b) Receipt of Exchange Documents. Each holder of Company Common Shares or Vested Growth Shares outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Excluded Shares) may deliver to the Paying Agent at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date a duly executed and properly completed Letter of Transmittal, together with such holder’s certificate(s), if applicable, representing Company Common Shares or Vested Growth Shares owned by such holder (if applicable, each such certificate, a “Company Share Certificate” and, together with the Letter of Transmittal and any other documentation or evidence reasonably required by the Paying Agent or Parent in order to surrender and exchange such Company Shares (whether represented by a Company Share Certificate or held in book-entry form) in accordance with the terms hereof, collectively, the “Exchange Documents”). For the avoidance of doubt any holder of Company Common Shares or Vested Growth Shares in book-entry form shall not be required to deliver a Company Share Certificate to the Paying Agent or the Surviving Company together with such holder’s Letter of Transmittal in order to receive the payments such holder is entitled to in accordance herewith.

(c) Payments to Holders of Company Common Shares and Vested Growth Shares at Closing. Following the Effective Time, the Paying Agent shall pay each holder of Company Common Shares and Vested Growth Shares an amount of cash equal to the amount of cash to which such holder is entitled pursuant to pursuant to Section 2.3(c)(i) and Section 2.3(d)(i), respectively, which amount (without any interest thereon and less applicable Tax withholding made pursuant to Section 2.11) shall be paid by wire transfer to the account(s) designated on such holder’s Letter of Transmittal within the later of (A) the Closing Date (to the extent reasonably practicable), if such holder’s properly executed and completed Exchange Documents are received in the timeframe required by Section 2.8(b) and (B) five (5) Business Days after the date on which the Paying Agent receives such holder’s duly executed and properly completed Exchange Documents. For the avoidance of doubt, for any Shareholder that is a Rollover Participant, the amount payable to such Rollover Participant pursuant to this Section 2.8(c) shall be reduced by the Rolled Company Share Value of such Rollover Participant (save to the extent not already deducted or excluded pursuant to Section 2.3(c)(i) and Section 2.3(d)(i)).

(d) Closing and Post-Closing Payments to Optionholders.

(i) Vested Options. Parent will take all actions reasonably necessary so that at or as soon as administratively practicable after the Effective Time, (A) the Surviving Company (or its applicable employing Subsidiary) shall pay or cause to be paid to each holder of Vested Options an amount in cash equal to the amount of Closing Option Consideration to which such Optionholder is entitled by virtue thereof (less applicable Tax withholding) as determined in accordance with Section 2.3(e)(i)(A), which amount shall be paid through the Surviving Company’s or its applicable Subsidiary’s payroll or accounts payable system as soon as is reasonably practicable and not later than ten (10) Business Days following the date of Closing, and (B) as soon as administratively practicable after the receipt by the Surviving Company (or its applicable employing Subsidiary or Parent) of such Optionholder’s Pro Rata Share of any amounts payable to such Optionholder from or on behalf of Parent, the Escrow Agent and/or the Seller Representative pursuant to the last sentence of Section 2.9(b), Section 2.10, Section 2.13 or Section 2.14, as the case may be, the Surviving Company (or its applicable employing Subsidiary) shall pay or cause to be paid to each such Optionholder such amount (less applicable Tax withholding) through the Surviving Company’s or its applicable Subsidiary’s payroll or accounts payable system.

 

13


(ii) Unvested Options. Parent will take all actions reasonably necessary so that (A) on a quarterly basis, based on the calendar quarter in which an Option Vesting Event occurs, the Surviving Company (or its applicable employing Subsidiary) shall pay or cause to be paid to each holder of Unvested Options an amount in cash equal to the amount of Unvested Option Closing Consideration to which such Optionholder is entitled by virtue of such Option Vesting Event (less applicable Tax withholding) as determined in accordance with Section 2.3(e)(ii)(A), which amount shall be paid through the Surviving Company’s or its applicable Subsidiary’s payroll or accounts payable system, and (B) on a quarterly basis, based on the calendar quarter of the later of (x) an Option Vesting Event and (y) receipt by the Surviving Company (or its applicable employing Subsidiary or Parent) of such Optionholder’s Pro Rata Share of any amounts payable to such holder of Unvested Options from or on behalf of Parent, the Escrow Agent and/or the Seller Representative pursuant to the last sentence of Section 2.9(b), Section 2.10, Section 2.13 or Section 2.14, the Surviving Company (or its applicable employing Subsidiary) shall pay or cause to be paid to each such Optionholder such amount (less applicable Tax withholding) through the Surviving Company’s or its applicable Subsidiary’s payroll or accounts payable system.

(e) Post-Closing Payments.

(i) Company Common Shares; Vested Growth Shares. Promptly (and in any event within five (5) Business Days) after the receipt by the Paying Agent of amounts payable to the Shareholders (other than holders of Unvested Growth Shares) from or on behalf of Parent, the Escrow Agent and/or the Seller Representative pursuant to the last sentence of Section 2.9(b), Section 2.10, Section 2.13 or Section 2.14, as applicable, the Paying Agent shall pay to each holder of Company Common Shares and Vested Growth Shares, by wire transfer to the account(s) designated on such holder’s Letter of Transmittal, such holder’s Pro Rata Share of such amount; provided that such Shareholder has, at least five (5) Business Days prior to the time for such payment, delivered the duly executed and properly completed Exchange Documents; provided, further, that a Shareholder may submit any duly executed and properly completed Exchange Documents following such time, and Paying Agent shall make (or cause to be made) the payment described in this sentence thereto as promptly as practicable thereafter (and in no event later than five (5) Business Days after receipt thereof).

(ii) Unvested Growth Shares. Parent will take all actions reasonably necessary so that (A) on a quarterly basis, based on the calendar quarter in which a Growth Share Vesting Event occurs, the Surviving Company (or its applicable designated Subsidiary) shall pay or cause to be paid to each holder of Unvested Growth Shares an amount in cash equal to the amount of Closing Unvested Growth Share Consideration to which such Shareholder is entitled by virtue of such Growth Share Vesting Event (less applicable Tax withholding) as determined in accordance with Section 2.3(d)(ii)(A), and (B) on a quarterly basis, based on the calendar quarter of the later of (x) a Growth Share Vesting Event and (y) receipt by the Surviving Company (or its applicable designated Subsidiary or Parent) of such Shareholder’s Pro Rata Share of any amounts payable to such holder of Unvested Growth Shares from or on behalf of Parent, the Escrow Agent and/or the Seller Representative pursuant to the last sentence of Section 2.9(b), Section 2.10, Section 2.13 or Section 2.14, as applicable, the Surviving Company (or its applicable designated Subsidiary) shall pay or cause to be paid to each such holder of Unvested Growth Shares such amount (less applicable Tax withholding).

(f) Payments to Other Persons. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the payments under this Section 2.8 are to be made to a Person other than the Person in whose name the Company Share Certificate (if applicable) or book-entry share, as applicable, is registered with the Company, then such payments may be paid to such other Person, so long as (i) the surrendered Company Share Certificate (if applicable) or, with respect to any Company Shares held in book-entry form, such other Person’s Letter of Transmittal, as applicable, is accompanied by all documents reasonably required by Parent, the Company or the Paying Agent, as applicable, to evidence and effect such transfer and (ii) the Person requesting such payment (A) pays any applicable transfer Taxes or (B) establishes to the reasonable satisfaction of Parent, the Company and the Paying Agent that any and all such transfer Taxes have already been paid or are not applicable. Further, without limiting Section 2.11, if the Paying Agent (or if Parent is making any payment

 

14


under this Section 2.8, Parent) has not received a completed and executed IRS Form W-9 or applicable IRS Form W-8 (and any similar or corollary form under non-U.S. Law) from any payee hereunder at least three (3) days prior to the applicable payment, then applicable Tax withholding may be withheld from such payment.

(g) Lost Company Share Certificates and Warrants. Notwithstanding anything to contrary herein, if any Company Share Certificate that was issued and outstanding shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, in lieu of the delivery thereof as described above, the Person claiming such Company Share Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed may provide an affidavit of that fact in form reasonably acceptable to Parent and, if requested by Parent, execute and deliver a customary indemnity agreement to provide indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Company Share Certificate, and such deliver(ies) shall be deemed to satisfy the requirement to deliver the Company Share Certificate under Section 2.8(b), as applicable, to which they relate for all purposes of this Agreement.

(h) Close of Transfer Books. All cash paid hereunder shall be deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the Company Shares and Options. From and after the Effective Time, the transfer books of the Company shall be closed and there shall be no further registration of transfers on the transfer books of the Surviving Company of any Company Shares or Options that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than with respect to Excluded Shares, if any, that remain outstanding pursuant to Section 2.3(b)).

(i) Effect of Failure to Deliver Exchange Documents. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event a Shareholder does not deliver fully completed and executed Exchange Documents, such failure shall not alter, limit or delay the Closing or the conversion of such Company Shares as provided in Section 2.3, with such documentation, after the Effective Time, representing only the right to receive such amounts once duly delivered; provided, however, that such Shareholder shall not be entitled to receive the payments or other consideration contemplated by Section 2.3 unless and until such Shareholder delivers to Parent (or the Paying Agent on its behalf) fully completed and executed Exchange Documents (or applicable affidavits and, if required hereby, indemnity with respect thereto).

(j) Unpaid Amounts. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any portion of the Paying Agent Fund which remains undistributed to the Sellers on the date that is twelve (12) months after the Effective Time (and any Post-Closing Payments which are otherwise to be distributed to any Seller from and after such time) shall, in each case, be delivered to Songsir or its nominee (in each case, to such account as notified by Songsir from time to time). In such event, any Sellers that have not previously complied with this Section 2.8 shall thereafter look only to the Songsir for payment of any such portions thereof as such Seller is entitled under this Agreement (without any interest thereon). To the extent permitted by applicable Law, none of Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or the Surviving Company shall be liable to any Person in respect of any portion of the consideration payable pursuant to Section 2.3 properly delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law. If any Exchange Documents shall not have been delivered and surrendered immediately prior to the date that such unclaimed funds would otherwise become subject to any abandoned property, escheat or similar Law unclaimed funds payable with respect to such underlying Company Shares shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of Surviving Company, free and clear of all claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.

(k) WWH Post-Closing Payment. Notwithstanding anything to contrary contained in this Agreement, in the event any amounts become payable to any Seller or the Company pursuant to Section 2.14, Section 10.6(b) or Section 11.3, Parent shall pay, or cause to be paid, to WWH, an amount in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account designated by WWH, WWH’s Pro Rata Share of such amount.

 

15


Section 2.9 Escrow Account; Expense Fund.

(a) Escrow Account. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Article II, concurrent with the Effective Time and in accordance with Section 2.6(b), Parent shall deduct from the Estimated Closing Merger Consideration due to the Sellers (in accordance with each Seller’s Pro Rata Share) and deposit an aggregate cash amount equal to Twenty Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) (the “Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Amount”) in immediately available funds into an escrow account (the “Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Account”) with Citibank, N.A. or such other third party escrow agent as may be selected by Parent prior to Closing and reasonably acceptable to the Company (together with its successors and permitted assigns, the “Escrow Agent”) to be established and maintained pursuant to the terms and conditions of the escrow agreement substantially in the form and on the terms attached hereto as Exhibit A (as amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, the “Escrow Agreement”), it being acknowledged and agreed that such amounts are being held to secure Parent’s rights to any Shortfall Amount pursuant to Section 2.10.

(b) Expense Fund. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Article II, concurrent with the Effective Time and in accordance with Section 2.6(c), Parent shall deduct from the Estimated Closing Merger Consideration due to the Sellers (in accordance with each such Seller’s Pro Rata Share) an aggregate cash amount equal to $1,000,000 (the “Expense Fund Amount”) and deliver such amount to the Seller Representative, on behalf of the Sellers, at the Closing by wire transfer of immediately available funds, to be held by the Seller Representative as agent and for the benefit of the Sellers in a separate client account (the amounts held therein, the “Expense Fund”). The Expense Fund shall be used solely (i) for the purposes of paying directly or reimbursing the Seller Representative for any Seller Representative Expenses incurred pursuant to this Agreement or the Escrow Agreement (in each case, in its capacity as such) and (ii) to fund any indemnification obligations owed to the Seller Representative pursuant to Section 12.5. The Seller Representative is not providing any investment supervision, recommendations or advice and shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss of principal of the Expense Fund other than as a result of its gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Seller Representative is not acting as a withholding agent or in any similar capacity in connection with the Expense Fund, and has no tax reporting or income distribution obligations hereunder. The Sellers will not receive any interest on the Expense Fund and assign to the Seller Representative any such interest. The Seller Representative may contribute funds to the Expense Fund from any consideration otherwise distributable to the Sellers. As soon as reasonably determined by the Seller Representative that the Expense Fund is no longer required to be withheld, and in any event not later than the date on which all funds are released from the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Account, the Seller Representative shall distribute the then remaining amount of the Expense Fund (the “Residual Expense Fund Amount”) as follows: (A) the aggregate portion payable to the Shareholders (other than holders of Unvested Growth Shares) in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares shall be paid to the Paying Agent (or, if twelve months or more shall have elapsed since the Effective Time as of the date of such distribution by the Seller Representative, then such amounts shall be paid to Songsir) for further distribution thereto in accordance with, and subject to, Section 2.8(e) and (B) the aggregate portion payable to the holders of Options and Unvested Growth Shares in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares shall be paid to the Surviving Company for further distribution to such Optionholders and holders of Unvested Growth Shares in accordance with, and subject to, Section 2.8(d) and Section 2.8(e)(ii), as applicable.

Section 2.10 Closing Statement; Final Calculation of Closing Merger Consideration.

(a) Delivery of Closing Statement. Parent shall prepare and deliver to the Seller Representative no event later than seventy-five (75) days after the Closing Date a statement (the “Closing Statement”) comprising Parent’s good faith calculation of the components of the Closing Merger Consideration as set forth in Section 2.4 and the calculation of the Closing Merger Consideration based

 

16


thereon. The Closing Statement shall be accompanied with an allocation of the Closing Merger Consideration among the Sellers. The Closing Statement and components thereof, including Net Working Capital, Transaction Expenses, the Quack Shareholder Debt Amount, the Rimberg Shareholder Debt Amount, the Shareholder Debt Amount, and the Net Cash Amount (and components of each such item), shall be calculated with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with the accounting principles and procedures set forth in Annex G (the “Accounting Principles”).

(b) Disputes Regarding the Closing Statement. The Seller Representative shall have from the time the Closing Statement is delivered to it until 5:00 p.m. on the date sixty (60) days after the date of such delivery (the “Dispute Period”) to dispute in writing any amounts or items reflected in the Closing Statement (the “Dispute”). The Seller Representative and its advisors and representatives shall have reasonable access during regular business hours to such documents, books, records, work papers, facilities, personnel and other information (including in electronic format, if available) and employees of the Surviving Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case, to the extent relevant to the preparation of the Closing Statement and as the Seller Representative, its advisors and representatives may reasonably require to complete its review of the Closing Statement and the components thereof, subject, if required by the accountants of the Surviving Company or its Subsidiaries, to the prompt execution of a customary (in form and content) access letter. If the Seller Representative does not deliver to Parent within the Dispute Period a written notice of the Dispute that sets forth in reasonable detail, to the extent of the information provided to the Seller Representative, its advisors and representatives, the elements and amounts with which the Seller Representative disagrees and, to the extent practicable, proposed adjustments to such amounts (a “Dispute Notice”), the Closing Statement (and the Closing Merger Consideration and the components thereof) shall be deemed to have been accepted and agreed to by the Seller Representative in the form in which it was delivered by Parent and shall be final and binding upon the Parties. If Seller Representative delivers a Dispute Notice to Parent within the Dispute Period, Parent and the Seller Representative shall attempt in good faith to resolve the Dispute and agree in writing upon the final content of the disputed Closing Statement within thirty (30) days after delivery of such Dispute Notice; provided any items not disputed in the Dispute Notice shall be final and binding on the Parties for all purposes of this Agreement.

(c) Independent Expert. If Parent and the Seller Representative are unable to resolve each element of the Dispute within the thirty (30)-day period after Parent’s receipt of a Dispute Notice, either Parent or the Seller Representative may, by written notice to the other, require Parent and Seller Representative to jointly engage the UK practice of one of Alvarez and Marsal or FTI Consulting to resolve the Dispute and determine the final Closing Merger Consideration (the “Independent Expert”); provided that in the absence of agreement as to the identity of the Independent Expert within 10 days of delivery of the written notice referred to above, the Independent Expert shall be chosen by mutual agreement of the proposed Independent Experts of each of Parent and the Seller Representative of a mutually acceptable international boutique specialty firm with an active practice area in the UK focused on post-merger and acquisitions purchase price dispute resolution or an independent firm of accountants in the UK (other than Deloitte, EY, PwC and KPMG) of international repute. The Independent Expert’s function shall be to resolve each element of the Dispute that has not been resolved by Parent and the Seller Representative (or deemed resolved hereunder), to revise the Closing Statement to reflect only such resolutions and to calculate the Closing Merger Consideration based on the elements and amounts reflected on the revised Closing Statement. The Independent Expert shall act as an expert and not as an arbitrator, but shall be entitled to privileges and immunities of arbitrators. In connection with the resolution of the final Closing Merger Consideration, the Independent Expert shall allow Parent and the Seller Representative to present in writing their then current respective positions regarding the elements and amounts of the Closing Statement in dispute; provided that (i) any such submissions of the Parent or Seller Representative shall only be provided by the Independent Expert to the other party on the earlier of (A) the receipt of both parties’ submissions or (B) the expiry of the deadline set by the Independent Expert for such submissions, and (ii) each party shall

 

17


be given an opportunity to respond in writing to the written submission of the other party. The Independent Expert may, at its discretion, conduct a conference concerning the matters submitted to it under this Section 2.10, at which conference Parent and the Seller Representative shall have the right to present additional documents, materials and other information and to have present their respective advisors, counsel and accountants. In connection with the resolution of the final Closing Merger Consideration, there shall be no other hearings or oral examinations, testimony, depositions, discovery or other similar proceedings. Each of Parent and the Seller Representative shall make available to the other Party and the Independent Expert, as the case may be, such documents, books, records, work papers, facilities, personnel and other information as the Seller Representative or the Independent Expert may reasonably require to review the Closing Statement and to resolve the final Closing Merger Consideration, subject, if required by the accountants of the Surviving Company or its Subsidiaries, to the execution of a customary access letter.

(d) Decisions by the Independent Expert. The Independent Expert shall be instructed (and each of the Parties shall use all reasonable endeavors to cause the Independent Expert) to render its decision under this Section 2.10 in writing to Parent and the Seller Representative, together with a revised Closing Statement reflecting its decision and a revised calculation of the Closing Merger Consideration, as promptly as possible, and in any event within sixty (60) days after the date of its appointment. In resolving the Dispute and determining the final Closing Merger Consideration, the Independent Expert shall be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, shall be limited to (i) fixing mathematical errors that are readily apparent, and (ii) determining whether the items in dispute were determined in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and may not revise any element of the Closing Statement that is not in Dispute and contested by the Parties and submitted to such Independent Expert for resolution in accordance with this Section 2.10 or assign a value to any disputed element of the Closing Statement greater than the greatest value for such item claimed by either Party or less than the smallest value for such item claimed by either Party in each case between the Dispute Notice and the Closing Statement delivered by Parent pursuant to Section 2.10(a). The Independent Expert’s decision shall be based solely on the written and other submissions of the Parent and the Seller Representative and not on an independent review. Each of the Independent Expert’s decision, the revised Closing Statement and the revised calculation of the Closing Merger Consideration shall, absent fraud or manifest error, be final and binding upon the Parties, and judgment may be entered on the award. The proportion of fees and expenses of the Independent Expert to be paid by the Seller Representative (on behalf of the Sellers), on the one hand, and Parent, on the other hand, shall be allocated based on the degree to which the Independent Expert has accepted the positions of the other Party (measured based upon the total value of disputed items in dispute under this Section 2.10 by such Party and resolved in favor of such other Party). Prior to the Independent Expert’s final determination of the Closing Merger Consideration hereunder, (A) Parent, on the one hand, and the Seller Representative, on the other hand, shall each pay 50% of any retainer paid to the Independent Expert, and (B) during the engagement of the Independent Expert, the Independent Expert will bill 50% of the total charges to each of Parent, on the one hand, and Seller Representative, on the other hand. In connection with the Independent Expert’s determination of the final Closing Merger Consideration hereunder, the Independent Expert shall also determine, pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.10(d) and taking into account all fees and expenses already paid by each of Parent and the Seller Representative, as of the date of such determination, the allocation of its fees and expenses between Parent and the Seller Representative, which such determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the parties hereto.

(e) Excess Amount. If the Closing Merger Consideration, as finally determined in accordance with the adjustments and procedures set forth in this Section 2.10 (such amount, the “Final Closing Merger Consideration”), exceeds or is equal to the Estimated Closing Merger Consideration (such amount, the “Excess Amount”), then (i) Parent shall promptly (but in any event within five (5) Business Days thereof) pay, or cause to be paid, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, an aggregate amount equal to the lesser of (A) such Excess Amount and (B) an amount equal to the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow

 

18


Amount, for the benefit of the Sellers in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares as described in the following sentence, and (ii) in addition, the Seller Representative and Parent shall promptly (but in any event within five (5) Business Days thereof), instruct the Escrow Agent to deliver the total amount then remaining in the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Account for the benefit of the Sellers in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares as described in the following sentence. Such amounts described in the preceding sentence shall be distributed as follows: (1) the aggregate amount payable to the Shareholders (other than holders of Unvested Growth Shares) in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares shall be paid to the Paying Agent (or, if twelve months or more shall have elapsed since the Effective Time as of the date of such distribution by the Seller Representative, then such amounts shall be paid to Songsir or its nominee) for further distribution thereto in accordance with, and subject to, Section 2.8(e)(i) and (2) the aggregate amount payable to the holders of Options and Unvested Growth Shares in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares shall be paid to the Surviving Company for further distribution to such Optionholders and holders of Unvested Growth Shares in accordance with, and subject to, Section 2.8(d) and Section 2.8(e)(ii), as applicable.

(f) Shortfall Amount. If the Estimated Closing Merger Consideration exceeds the Final Closing Merger Consideration (such amount, the “Shortfall Amount”), then (i) the Seller Representative and Parent shall promptly (but in any event within five (5) Business Days thereof) instruct the Escrow Agent to pay to Parent out of the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Account such Shortfall Amount (up to the total amount then held in the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Account) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by Parent and otherwise in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Escrow Agreement and (ii) if the funds held in the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Account are greater than the Shortfall Amount (such net amount, the “Residual Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Amount”), then the Seller Representative and Parent shall promptly (but in any event within five (5) Business Days thereof) direct the Escrow Agent to distribute such amount for the benefit of the Sellers in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares as described in the following sentence. The amounts described in clause (ii) of the preceding sentence shall be distributed as follows: (A) the aggregate amount payable to the Shareholders (other than holders of Unvested Growth Shares) in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares shall be paid to the Paying Agent (or, if twelve months or more shall have elapsed since the Effective Time as of the date of such distribution by the Seller Representative, then such amounts shall be paid to Songsir or its nominee) for further distribution thereto in accordance with, and subject to, Section 2.8(e)(i) and (B) the aggregate amount payable to the holders of Options and Unvested Growth Shares in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares shall be paid to the Surviving Company for further distribution to such Optionholders and holders of Unvested Growth Shares in accordance with, and subject to, Section 2.8(d) and Section 2.8(e)(ii), as applicable.

(g) Tax Treatment. All payments pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall be treated by the Parties for applicable Tax purposes as adjustments to the Closing Merger Consideration, unless otherwise required by Law. For the avoidance of doubt, the payments provided in this Section 2.10 shall not result in any adjustment to the amount of Rollover Equity.

(h) Tax Allocation. The transactions contemplated by this Agreement will require an allocation of the consideration payable under such Agreement for Tax purposes. It is agreed that solely for US federal income Tax purposes, (i) the aggregate consideration allocated to the assets held directly or indirectly by Bumble Holding (the “Bumble Assets”) shall be calculated as the sum of (I) the liabilities of Bumble Holding and its Subsidiaries as of Closing and (II) the amount of Cash payable to WWH on the Closing Date plus the fair market value of any contingent amounts payable to WWH after the Closing Date plus the value of any Parent Capital Interests issued to WWH under the Rollover Agreement (“WWH Consideration”) divided by 20% and (ii) the aggregate consideration allocated to the assets held directly or indirectly by the Company (other than its interest in Bumble Holding) shall be calculated as the excess

 

19


of (A) the sum of (I) the amount of consideration payable to the shareholders of the Company at Closing pursuant to the Merger, (II) the fair market value as of Closing of any contingent amounts payable to such shareholders after Closing, and (III) the amount of liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than Bumble Holding) as of the Closing over (B) the amount allocated to the Bumble Assets in clause (i). Any adjustment made to the consideration payable pursuant to this Agreement shall be allocated in a manner consistent with the methodology set forth in this paragraph. For the avoidance of doubt, such Tax Allocation shall not be binding for any purpose on the Shareholders (other than WWH).

(i) Sole Recourse. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, recovery of the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Amount from the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Account shall be Parent’s sole and exclusive remedy for any Shortfall Amount absent fraud on the part of the Company, any Seller, or any of their respective Affiliates or any of their respective representatives.

Section 2.11 Withholding. Parent, the Company, the Escrow Agent and Paying Agent and any of their Affiliates (each, a “Payer”) shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payments hereunder such amounts as are required to be deducted or withheld therefrom pursuant to the Code or any applicable provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law. Any amounts so withheld shall be timely paid to the appropriate Governmental Entity and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made. Any payment to the Paying Agent or the Seller Representative for further distribution to the Sellers by Parent or, following the Closing, by the Surviving Company under this Agreement shall be considered a payment by such Payer to the Sellers among them in accordance with their respective appropriate entitlement thereto. The Payer shall use all reasonable endeavors to promptly notify the Seller Representative of its intention to deduct or withhold such amounts prior to deducting or withholding any such amounts, and each of the Payers and their respective Affiliates, as applicable, shall reasonably cooperate in good faith with Seller Representative to minimize any such deductions or withholding to the extent permitted by applicable Law.

Section 2.12 Dissenting Shares.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement and to the extent permitted by applicable law, each Dissenting Share of a Dissenting Shareholder who has perfected and not withdrawn or waived their right to appraisal in respect of such Dissenting Shares under Section 106(6) of the Bermuda Companies Act shall not be converted into the right to receive, nor otherwise be entitled to receive, the amounts or payments to which such holder would otherwise be entitled in respect of such shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (pursuant to this Section 2.12 or otherwise), and such Dissenting Shareholders shall instead only be entitled to payment from the Company with respect thereto in accordance with the fair value of such Dissenting Shareholder’s Dissenting Shares as appraised by the Supreme Court of Bermuda under Section 106(6) of the Bermuda Companies Act, and any such payment shall be made within thirty (30) days after such appraised fair value is finally determined pursuant to such appraisal procedures under the Bermuda Companies Act. At the Effective Time, all Dissenting Shares shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and each holder of Dissenting Shares shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the fair value of such Dissenting Shares as appraised by the Supreme Court of Bermuda under Section 106(6) of the Bermuda Companies Act.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any holder of Dissenting Shares fails to perfect, effectively withdraws or otherwise loses or waives his, her or its rights to appraisal and payment under Section 106(6) of the Bermuda Companies Act (each, an “Appraisal Withdrawal”), then, as of the later of the Effective Time and the occurrence of such event, the right of such holder to be paid the fair value of such holder’s Dissenting Shares under Section 106(6) of the Bermuda Companies Act shall cease and such holder’s Company Shares shall automatically convert into the right to receive, as and when such amounts

 

20


would otherwise be payable under this Agreement, the payments described in Section 2.3(c) or Section 2.3(d) with respect thereto (in each case, without interest thereon) to which such holder is entitled in respect of such shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, with payment thereof subject to such Person’s delivery of a properly completed and duly executed Exchange Documents in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

(c) The Company shall deliver to Parent prompt written notice, but in any event within two (2) Business Days of receipt or knowledge of the Company, of (i) any demands for appraisal of Dissenting Shares, Appraisal Withdrawals, and any other written instruments, notices, petitions or other written communication received by the Company or any of its Affiliates in connection with the matters of this Section 2.12 and (ii) any applications to the Supreme Court of Bermuda for appraisal of the fair value of the Dissenting Shares. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the Company shall provide Parent the right to direct and control (or, if not so permitted by applicable Law, then the Company shall provide Parent the right to participate in) all settlement negotiations and proceedings with respect to any demands for appraisal under the Bermuda Companies Act. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent, voluntarily make and payment with respect to, offer to settle, or settle any such demands or applications, or waive any failure to timely deliver a written demand for appraisal or timely take any other action to exercise appraisal rights in accordance with the Bermuda Companies Act, or agree to do any of the foregoing.

Section 2.13 Forfeited Growth Shares and Options. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any amounts that would otherwise be payable in respect of any Unvested Growth Shares or Unvested Options pursuant to Section 2.3(d)(ii) or Section 2.3(e)(ii) that terminate, expire or are otherwise forfeited without vesting shall revert, or otherwise be paid, to the Sellers pursuant to Section 2.8. Payments to the Sellers under this Section 2.13 (to the extent not made at Closing in respect of any forfeit of Growth Shares or Unvested Options which takes place at and as a result of the Merger) shall be made on the third (3rd) Business Day following the last day of each calendar quarter beginning at the end of the first full calendar quarter following the Closing Date and shall be made in respect of any forfeited Unvested Growth Shares or Unvested Options that were forfeited during the applicable calendar quarter.

Section 2.14 Deferred Consideration.

(a) To the extent that from time to time the Qualifying Parent Equityholders have received in aggregate Realized Cash Proceeds equal to the Threshold Amount:

(i) Parent shall not, and shall cause the Company and its Subsidiaries not to, make any dividend, distribution or other payment to (or on behalf of, or for the benefit of) any Qualifying Parent Equityholder that would constitute Realized Cash Proceeds unless and until the Sellers have received the Maximum Earn-Out Payment in accordance with this Section 2.14; and

(ii) until the Sellers have received the Maximum Earn-Out Payment in accordance with this Section 2.14, Parent shall pay, or cause to be paid, an amount in cash equal to 100% of any amounts that would be incremental Realized Cash Proceeds in excess of the Threshold Amount (any such payments not to exceed individually or in the aggregate the Maximum Earn-Out Payment, an “Earn-Out Payment”) to the Sellers in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Share of such Earn-Out Payment and the terms and conditions of Section 2.3 and Section 2.8.

(b) No Earn-Out Payment shall be made unless and until there has been Realized Cash Proceeds equal to the Threshold Amount. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in no event will the aggregate amount of Earn-Out Payments made by Parent or its designee under this Agreement exceed an aggregate amount equal to the Maximum Earn-Out Payment.

 

21


(c) Until such time as the obligations of the Parties under this Section 2.14 shall cease pursuant to Section 2.14(h), not later than (i) twenty (20) Business Days prior to any receipt by a Qualifying Parent Equityholder of Realized Cash Proceeds (where such receipt would result in aggregate Realized Cash Proceeds exceeding the Threshold Amount), if the transaction resulting in such receipt is publicly disclosed, at such time, or (ii) if not so disclosed, at the Closing of the transaction resulting in such receipt, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), Parent shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Seller Representative a written notice (an “Earn-Out Notice”) setting forth the following with respect to such Qualifying Parent Equityholder receiving Realized Cash Proceeds and all Qualifying Parent Equityholders as at such time (A) a calculation of the aggregate amount of Realized Cash Proceeds of such Qualifying Parent Equityholder and all Qualifying Parent Equityholders; (B) the amount of such Qualifying Parent Equityholder’s and all Qualifying Parent Equityholders receipt(s) of Realized Cash Proceeds; (C) the amount of the Qualifying Parent Equityholders’ Cumulative Investment; and (D) the Earn-Out Payment, if any, payable in respect thereof, in each case, calculated in a manner consistent with the terms of this Agreement and accompanied by reasonable supporting detail with respect to the calculation of such amounts.

(d) Parent will ensure that any transaction that would involve the realization of Realized Cash Proceeds by Qualifying Parent Equityholders in excess of the Threshold Amount is structured and effected so as to provide that on closing of such transaction (if not before), the full amount of any proceeds payable to (or on behalf of, or for the benefit of) any Qualifying Parent Equityholders is paid to the Sellers in a manner contemplated by Section 2.14(a).

(e) The Seller Representative and its advisors and representatives shall have reasonable access during regular business hours to such documents, books, records, work papers, facilities, personnel and other information (including in electronic format, if available) and employees of the Surviving Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case, to the extent used or involved in the preparation of an Earn-Out Notice, and as the Seller Representative, its advisors and representatives may reasonably require to complete its review of such Earn-Out Notice and the components thereof (in such a manner so as not to unreasonably interfere with the conduct of the business of the Surviving Company or its Subsidiaries), subject, if required by the accountants of the Surviving Company or its Subsidiaries, to the prompt execution of a customary (in form and content) access letter.

(f) Within 30 days following delivery by the Surviving Company of an Earn-Out Notice (the “Earn-Out Objection Period”), the Seller Representative shall either inform the Surviving Company in writing that such Earn-Out Notice is acceptable, or deliver written notice (the “Earn-Out Dispute Notice”) to the Surviving Company notifying the Surviving Company that the Seller Representative disagrees with the calculations set forth in such Earn-Out Notice and setting forth the Seller Representative’s calculation of the disputed amounts and, a description in reasonable detail of the grounds for each such disagreement (each such item or amount as to which the Seller Representative disagrees and set forth in the Earn-Out Dispute Notice, an “Earn-Out Item of Disagreement”). Except for those Earn-Out Items of Disagreement set forth in an Earn-Out Dispute Notice delivered during the Earn-Out Objection Period, the Seller Representative shall be deemed to have agreed with all other items and amounts set forth in such Earn-Out Notice, which items and amounts shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all of the parties hereto. In the event an Earn-Out Dispute Notice is delivered to the Surviving Company, the Surviving Company and the Seller Representative shall attempt in good faith to resolve such dispute, and any mutual agreement resulting from such good faith attempt shall be final, conclusive and binding on the parties.

 

22


(g) If the Surviving Company and the Seller Representative, notwithstanding such good faith attempt, fail to resolve such dispute within 15 calendar days after the Seller Representative delivers the Earn-Out Dispute Notice, then the Surviving Company and the Seller Representative jointly shall engage the Independent Expert to resolve any Earn-Out Items of Disagreement that remain unresolved in accordance with the standards set forth in this Section. The Surviving Company and the Seller Representative shall use all reasonable endeavors to cause the Independent Expert to render a written decision resolving the matters submitted to the Independent Expert within 30 calendar days of the making of such submission and each of the Surviving Company and the Seller Representative shall, and shall cause its representatives to, cooperate with the Independent Expert so as to enable it to make its determination as quickly and as accurately as practicable. The Surviving Company and the Seller Representative agree that the engagement of the Independent Expert shall provide that neither party shall have any ex parte communications with the Independent Expert. The Surviving Company and the Seller Representative shall direct the Independent Expert to decide all remaining Earn-Out Items of Disagreement solely based on the terms and standards set forth in this Agreement and the written submissions of the Surviving Company and the Seller Representative and their respective representatives, and shall not be based on independent review, and each of the Surviving Company and the Seller Representative shall have the opportunity to respond in writing to the other’s written submission. The Independent Expert shall only address Earn-Out Items of Disagreement and shall not adjust any amounts or items that are not in dispute by the parties hereto; provided that the amount of any Earn-Out Items of Disagreement and the Earn-Out Payment as so determined by the Independent Expert shall not be greater than the greatest value for such item claimed by either party or smaller than the smallest value for such item claimed by either party. Prior to the Independent Expert’s final determination under this Section 2.14(g), (A) Parent, on the one hand, and the Seller Representative, on the other hand, shall each pay 50% of any retainer paid to the Independent Expert, and (B) during the engagement of the Independent Expert, the Independent Expert will bill 50% of the total charges to each of Parent, on the one hand, and Seller Representative, on the other hand. In connection with the Independent Expert’s final determination under this Section 2.14(g), the Independent Expert shall also determine, pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.14(g) and taking into account all fees and expenses already paid by each of Parent and the Seller Representative, as of the date of such determination, the allocation of its fees and expenses between Parent and the Seller Representative, which such determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the parties hereto. All determinations made by the Independent Expert will be final, conclusive and binding on the parties hereto.

(h) The obligations of the Parties under this Section 2.14 shall cease and be of no further force and effect from and after the earliest to occur of (i) the date on which no Qualifying Parent Equityholder, directly or indirectly, owns beneficially or of record any Parent Securities (but subject to satisfaction of any obligations arising at or prior to such time, including any obligation to pay any Earn-Out Payment) and (ii) the date as of which an aggregate amount equal to the Maximum Earn-Out Payment has been paid hereunder.

(i) The Parties (including the Seller Representative on behalf of itself in its capacity as a Seller and on behalf of the other Sellers) acknowledge and agree that in connection with the Earn-Out Payment and subject to the final sentence of this Section 2.14(i), (i) the Surviving Company and its post-Closing Affiliates (including Parent) shall have the right to operate its and their respective businesses, in the sole discretion of the Surviving Company and its Affiliates and make all decisions with respect to the Surviving Company and its and its Affiliates’ businesses (including decisions with respect to the commercial viability of a product, development budgets and costs and potential market for products) in the sole discretion of the Surviving Company and its Affiliates; (ii) the Surviving Company and its post-Closing Affiliates (including Parent) shall have no obligation to operate the Surviving Company and its businesses in order to achieve or maximize any amount of Realized Cash Proceeds, the Threshold Amount, or any Earn-Out Payment; (iii) any Earn-Out Payments and the receipt by the Qualifying Parent Equityholders of any Realized Cash

 

23


Proceeds are speculative and are subject to numerous factors outside the control of the Surviving Company, Parent and their respective Affiliates; (iv) there is no assurance that the Sellers will receive any Earn-Out Payments; (v) none of the Surviving Company, Parent, nor any of the Parent Related Parties owe a fiduciary duty or express or implied duty to the Sellers or the Seller Representative (and any such fiduciary duty is irrevocably waived); (vi) the contingent right of the Sellers to receive any Earn-Out Payment is not an investment in the Surviving Company, Parent or any of its Affiliates and such rights in this Section 2.14 shall not entitle any Seller or the Seller Representative to any rights as an equityholder of the Surviving Company, Parent or any of its Affiliates; (vii) the parties intend the express provisions of this Agreement to govern all of their rights and obligations, if any, with respect to the Earn-Out Payments contemplated by this Section 2.14; (viii) nothing herein will prohibit the Surviving Company, Parent, or their respective Affiliates from engaging in any business or opportunity either with or without the Surviving Company or its Affiliates or acquiring, entering into joint ventures, investing in, or otherwise cooperating with other Persons, including Persons that may have interests adverse to or otherwise compete, directly or indirectly, with the Surviving Company and its Subsidiaries; (ix) neither the Surviving Company nor any of its Affiliates is under any obligation to continue any aspect of the Surviving Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ businesses or to operate the Surviving Company, its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses consistent with past practice; (x) none of the Sellers or the Seller Representative (on behalf of itself or any Seller) shall have any right to claim or assert any lost Earn-Out Payment or other damages pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, including this Section 2.14 as a result of any conduct, decisions or other actions or inactions of the Surviving Company, Parent or their respective Affiliates (other than a claim for breach of the payment obligations under this Section 2.14 to the extent any Earn-Out Payment is payable hereunder and not paid when due and payable); (xi) nothing shall prohibit, prevent or otherwise restrict the Surviving Company or any of its Affiliates from incurring any Lien with respect to the Surviving Company or its Affiliates, any equity interest therein or any asset thereof or otherwise restrict the secured party in whose favor such Lien is granted from enforcing its rights in respect of such Lien. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or otherwise, the sole and exclusive remedy (whether at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise) against the Surviving Company, Parent, or any Qualifying Parent Equityholder or any of the Parent Related Parties for payment of any of the Earn-Out Payments is to seek the payment from the Parent or the Company in accordance with this Section 2.14. Parent agrees that it shall not take any action the principal purpose or intent of which is to circumvent or reduce the payments contemplated by this Section 2.14.

(j) The rights of the Sellers under this Section 2.14 are personal to each Seller and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or otherwise, no rights or interests of any Seller under this Section 2.14, including any rights to receive any Earn-Out Payment due pursuant hereto, may be sold, assigned, transferred, in whole or in part by any Seller (other than by operation of Law or the Laws of descent) to any Person and any attempted sale, assignment or transfer shall be null and void ab initio.

(k) All payments pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall be treated by the Parties for applicable Tax purposes as adjustments to the Total Merger Consideration, unless otherwise required by Law.

Section 2.15 Third-Party Expenses.

(a) If any Transaction Invoice in respect of Third-Party Expenses is not delivered at or prior to the Closing, the Seller Representative shall procure that such Transaction Invoice is delivered to Parent promptly following Closing, and in any case by no later than twenty (20) Business Days following Closing, and Parent shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, in cash to the Persons owed such Third-Party Expenses the amount thereof so owed in accordance with the wire transfer instructions set forth in the relevant Transaction Invoice. Each such payment shall be made within one (1) Business Day of payment of any Excess Amount in accordance with Section 2.10(e) or receipt of any Shortfall Amount in accordance with Section 2.10(f), as applicable.

 

24


(b) The Company has agreed to pay (without obligation of reimbursement) for and on behalf of Morico Continental Corp., Rimberg and Andrey Ogandzhanyants the fees, costs and expenses of Baker & McKenzie LLP, Carey Olsen Bermuda Limited and Deloitte LLP, in each case, to the extent incurred from and after August 7, 2019 through and including the Effective Time.

ARTICLE III

WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

The Company hereby makes the warranties to Parent that are set forth in this Article III. To the extent described in Section 13.4(b), all warranties of the Company are made subject to and modified by the exceptions noted in the disclosure schedules delivered by the Company to Parent concurrently herewith and identified as the “Company Disclosure Schedule.”

Section 3.1 Organization, Existence and Good Standing. The Company is an exempted limited company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of Bermuda. Each of the Company’s Subsidiaries has been duly organized, validly exists and is in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, formation or organization, as applicable. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing (where applicable), under the Laws of all jurisdictions where the ownership, operation or leasing of its properties, rights or assets or conduct of its business requires such licensing or qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed or to be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made available to Parent complete and accurate copies of the Organizational Documents of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in breach of such Person’s Organizational Documents where such breach would be material.

Section 3.2 Power and Authority.

(a) The Company has full power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is or will become a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or will become a party and the consummation by the Company or such Subsidiary of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and such Transaction Documents, as applicable, have been duly and validly approved by all requisite corporate, limited liability company, partnership or other action, other than receipt of the Shareholder Approval. No other proceedings are necessary on the part of the Company, the board of directors of the Company, or any of the Subsidiaries of the Company, or the Sellers to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or will be a party and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated herein or therein, other than receipt of the Shareholder Approval.

(b) The board of directors of the Company has (i) determined that the terms of this Agreement, the Bermuda Merger Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party are fair to and in the best interests of the Company and the Shareholders, (ii) determined that the consideration payable in respect of the Company Shares pursuant to Section 2.3(c) constitutes fair value for such Company Shares in accordance with the Bermuda Companies Act, (iii) approved the Merger, with the Merger Sub as the surviving Company of such Merger, so that immediately following the Merger, the Merger Sub will be a wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent and (iv) resolved to recommend that the Shareholders approve and adopt this Agreement, the Bermuda Merger Agreement and the Merger. The Shareholder Approval is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of the Company’s share capital (in their capacity as Shareholders) necessary to approve and adopt this Agreement, the Bermuda Merger Agreement and the Merger under applicable Law or governing documents or Contract to which the Company is a party or otherwise bound, and such vote shall be taken in the form of a written consent contemplated by Section 5.5.

 

25


(c) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has full power and authority to own, operate or lease all of its respective properties, rights and assets owned, operated or leased by it and to carry on its business as it is now conducted, except where such failure to own, operate or lease would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.3 Enforceability. This Agreement and each other Transaction Document to be entered into as of the date hereof has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company (or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to the extent a party thereto), and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company (or its Subsidiary, or Affiliates as applicable), enforceable against such Person in accordance with its terms, except to the extent enforcement may be affected by Laws relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and creditors’ rights and by the availability of injunctive relief, specific performance and other equitable remedies. At the Closing, the other Transaction Documents to be executed and delivered by the Company (or its applicable Subsidiaries or Affiliates) as of the date thereof will be duly executed and delivered by duly authorized officers or other duly authorized signatories of the Company (and, with respect to its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, by duly authorized officers or other duly authorized signatories thereof, as applicable), and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company (or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to the extent a party thereto), enforceable in accordance with their terms, except to the extent enforcement may be affected by Laws relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and creditors’ rights and by the availability of injunctive relief, specific performance and other equitable remedies.

Section 3.4 Consents; Non-contravention. Except for (i) filings and approvals or expiration or termination of applicable waiting periods under the Hart-Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “HSR Act”), (ii) the filings and approvals or expiration or termination of applicable waiting periods under the other Specified Antitrust Laws (and the post-Closing filings under the Antitrust Laws of Argentina and Egypt), and (iii) consents, no objections, approvals from, or notification to, the BMA, neither the Company, any Affiliate of the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries needs to give any notice to, make any filing with or obtain any authorization, consent, Order, Permit or approval of any Governmental Entity in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents or the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence or in Section 3.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedules, neither the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein do or will (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both): (a) conflict with, violate or result in a breach or default of any provision of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ Organizational Documents; (b) conflict with, violate or result in a material breach of any Law or Order to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their assets, rights, properties or businesses is subject or otherwise bound; (c) conflict with, result in a material breach of, constitute a material default or an event creating rights of acceleration, termination, modification or cancellation or a loss of material rights under or require that any authorization, consent or approval be obtained with respect to any material Contract, Permit, indenture, mortgage, debenture, note or other instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, subject or otherwise bound; or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any material Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of the material assets or businesses of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

26


Section 3.5 Capitalization.

(a) A true, accurate and complete description of the authorized, issued and outstanding share capital and Equity Rights (including any shares reserved for issuance, but other than any Equity Rights expressly contemplated by the Rollover) of the Company as of the date hereof is set forth on Section 3.5(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, including all Company Common Shares, Vested Growth Shares, and Vested Options. Except as expressly set forth on Section 3.5(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, there are no securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries reserved or available for issuance and there are no preemptive or similar rights on the part of any holder of any class of securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. All of the issued Company Shares have been duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and issued free of and not in violation of preemptive or similar rights and offered and issued in compliance with applicable securities Laws. All of the issued and outstanding Company Shares are owned of record by Shareholders in the amounts set forth on Section 3.5(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules as of the date of this Agreement. No Company Shares are owned by any Subsidiary of the Company. Section 3.5(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules also sets forth an indication as to (i) which Company Shares set forth thereon are Vested Growth Shares on the date hereof and the vesting schedule and vesting conditions with respect thereto (including conditions of acceleration of the vesting (if any)), (ii) the price per share paid to acquire such Company Shares (if any) and (iii) the repurchase rights of the Company with respect thereto (with a separate indication if the repurchase price thereof exceeds the original price per share paid with respect thereto as set forth on Section 3.5(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules).

(b) All of the issued Options have been duly authorized, validly issued and were offered and issued free of and not in violation of preemptive or similar rights and offered and issued in compliance with applicable securities Laws. All of the issued and outstanding Options are held or owned of record, as applicable, by the holders in the amounts set forth on Section 3.5(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules as of the date of this Agreement and, except with respect to (i) the forfeiture of Options on the terms thereof upon the termination of employment or service of the individual holding such Options and (ii) the exercise of Options, as of immediately prior to the Closing. All of the Options are for Company Common Shares. Section 3.5(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth an indication as to which of the Options are Vested Options and which are Unvested Options as of the date of this Agreement, the country of employment or service of the Optionholder to the extent that Optionholder is employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries, the date of grant, the vesting commencement date, the vesting schedule and vesting conditions thereof, conditions of acceleration of the vesting schedule (if any), the number of Company Common Shares subject to each such Option, and the exercise price for each of the Options. Since January 1, 2012, with respect to any Option intended to be exempt from Section 409A of the Code, the Company has relied on the safe harbor provisions of Section 409A of the Code such that each Option has an exercise price per share equal to or greater than the fair market value (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) of a Company Common Share on the date of grant of such Option. Except as set forth on Section 3.5(a) or Section 3.5(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules (or as may result from the Rollover), there are no outstanding equity, securities, or Equity Rights with respect to the Company.

(c) The Company does not have any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or cause to be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired any equity, securities or Equity Rights. There is no Indebtedness providing holders thereof the right to vote (or which are convertible into, exchangeable for, or evidencing the right to subscribe for or acquire securities having the right to vote) with the equity holders of the Company on any matter. The Company Shares are not subject to, and have not been issued in violation of, any purchase option, warrant, call, right of first refusal or offer, preemptive, subscription or similar rights, and no Person has any right of first offer, right of first refusal or preemptive right in connection with any offer, sale or issuance of any Equity Rights of the Company. Except as set forth on Section 3.5(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, there are no voting trusts, voting agreements, proxies, shareholder agreements or other Contracts that may affect the voting or transfer of the Company Shares or any other Equity Rights of the Company to which it is a party or bound. There are no declared or accrued but unpaid dividends or distributions with respect to the Company Shares or other Equity Rights in the Company.

 

27


(d) Except as set forth on Section 3.5(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, there is no material Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of the type set forth in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (ix), (xii) and to the extent related thereto, (xvi) of the definition of Indebtedness.

Section 3.6 Subsidiaries.

(a) Section 3.6(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth (i) each of the Company’s Subsidiaries, (ii) each such Subsidiaries’ respective jurisdiction of incorporation, formation or organization, as applicable, and (iii) a list of the names of each record and beneficial owner of all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other Equity Rights of each such Subsidiary and set forth opposite the name of each such owner, the number, class and series of shares of capital stock or Equity Rights. Such Equity Rights (including capital stock, limited liability company interests, securities or other equity interests of any kind) of the Subsidiaries of the Company are held by the record and beneficial owners thereof, all as set forth on Section 3.6(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, in each case, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens). All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock, limited liability company interests, securities or other equity interests of each Subsidiary of the Company have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable (where applicable) and free of and not in violation of preemptive or similar rights, and were offered and issued in compliance with applicable securities Laws. Except as set forth on Section 3.6(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns, directly or indirectly, or has any Contract relating to the acquisition of, any security or other Equity Right of any Person or is otherwise subject to any obligation or requirement to provide capital contributions to or invest any other Person.

(b) Except as set forth on Section 3.6(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, there are no outstanding equity or Equity Rights with respect to any Subsidiary of the Company (other than any Equity Rights expressly contemplated by the Rollover). No Subsidiary of the Company has any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or cause to be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired any equity or Equity Rights. There is no Indebtedness providing holders thereof the right to vote (or which are convertible into, exchangeable for, or evidencing the right to subscribe for or acquire securities having the right to vote) with the equity holders of any Subsidiary of the Company on any matter. The equity interests of the Subsidiaries of the Company are not subject to, and have not been issued in violation of, any purchase option, warrant, call, right of first refusal or offer, preemptive, subscription or similar rights, and no Person has any right of first offer, right of first refusal or preemptive right in connection with any offer, sale or issuance of any Equity Rights any Subsidiary of the Company. There are no voting trusts, voting agreements, proxies, shareholder agreements or other Contracts that restrict or otherwise affect the voting or transfer of any equity of any Subsidiary of the Company to which any of them is a party or bound. There are no declared or accrued but unpaid dividends or distributions with respect to any equity or other Equity Rights in any Subsidiary of the Company. No Person is entitled to any additional payment or compensation with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Rights of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company that was repurchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary thereof prior to the Closing.

Section 3.7 Financial Statements.

(a) True, correct and complete copies of the consolidated audited financial statements including statements of profit or loss, other comprehensive income, financial position, changes in equity, and cash flows (together with any notes thereto) of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of and for the years

 

28


ended December 31, 2016, December 31, 2017 (as restated in the prior year comparatives in the December 31, 2018 audited financial statements) and December 31, 2018 (the “Financial Statements”), have been provided to Parent and are set forth on Section 3.7(a)(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedules. True, correct and complete copies of the unaudited, consolidated statements of profit or loss and financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of and for the seven (7)-month period ended on July 31, 2019 (such financial statements, the “Interim Financial Statements”) have also been provided to Parent and are set forth on Section 3.7(a)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Schedules. The Financial Statements give a true and fair view of the consolidated financial position and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and of the consolidated results of operations, cash flows and statement of changes in equity of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the periods covered by such statements, and have been prepared in accordance with IFRS consistently applied through the periods covered thereby (except as disclosed therein), and have been prepared in accordance with IFRS and based on the books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Financial Statements have been prepared on a consistent basis with the consolidated financial statements for the previous financial year, except as described therein. The Interim Financial Statements have been prepared in good faith from the books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries and, having regard for the fact that they are not audited or prepared to the same standard as a set of annual audited financial statements, (i) have been prepared using accounting policies which are materially consistent with those used in the Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2018, and (ii) reasonably reflect the consolidated profit of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the period to which they relate and the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at July 31, 2019.

(b) The Company and its Subsidiaries maintain systems of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS in all material respects. Since January 1, 2016, there has not been any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries, who have a significant role in the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ internal controls over financial reporting.

(c) The books, records and other financial reports of the Company and its Subsidiaries relating to the operations of the Business have been maintained in material compliance with applicable Laws. In addition, the books of account, minute books and other books and records of and relating to each of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been maintained in material compliance with applicable Laws.

(d) All accounts and notes receivable of the Company and its Subsidiaries represent sales actually made in the ordinary course of business or valid claims as to which full performance has been rendered by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. No counter claims, defenses, offsetting claims or adjustments with respect to the accounts or notes receivable of the Company or its Subsidiaries are pending or to the Company’s knowledge threatened. All of the accounts and notes receivable of the Company and its Subsidiaries relate solely to sales of goods or services to customers of the Company or its Subsidiaries, none of whom are Shareholders, Optionholders, or Affiliates of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

Section 3.8 Undisclosed Liabilities(a) . Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any Liability that would be required to be recorded on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries or other financial statement (or the notes thereto) prepared in accordance with IFRS (other than IFRS 16), other than: (a) Liabilities specifically reflected in and adequately reserved against on the Financial Statements and the Interim Financial Statements (or, in each case, the notes thereto); (b) Liabilities incurred by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries subsequent to the date of the Interim Financial Statements in the ordinary course of the business consistent with past practices (none of which is a Liability resulting from a breach of Contract, tort, infringement or misappropriation); (c) Liabilities incurred under the Transaction Documents; (d) Transaction Expenses or Third-Party Expenses; and (e) other undisclosed liabilities which would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the consolidated Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

29


Section 3.9 Taxes.

(a) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has timely filed (taking into account valid extensions) all income Tax Returns and all other material Tax Returns that were required to be filed by any of them, and each such Tax Return is true, correct and complete in all material respects. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has timely paid (or have withheld and timely paid or have had timely paid on their behalf) all income Taxes and all other material Taxes (for the avoidance of doubt, including estimated Taxes) required to be paid by it, whether or not shown as due and owing on all Tax Returns, that were required to be paid on or prior to the Closing Date. There are no Liens for Taxes other than Permitted Liens upon any asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The Company has provided or made available to Parent true, correct and complete copies of all Tax Returns filed by the Company and its Subsidiaries for all Tax periods since December 31, 2016.

(b) The unpaid Taxes of the Company and its Subsidiaries did not, as of the date of the Interim Financial Statements, exceed the reserve for Tax liability (rather than any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth on the face of the Interim Financial Statements (rather than in any notes thereto).

(c) No disputes, audits, examinations, investigations or other administrative proceedings or court proceedings are presently pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened with regard to any Tax Returns filed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise respecting Taxes. To the knowledge of the Company, there are no outstanding requests, agreements, consents or waivers to extend the statutory period of limitations applicable to the assessment or collection of any Taxes or deficiencies against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and no written request for any such waiver or extension is currently pending. All deficiencies for Taxes asserted or assessed in writing against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been fully and timely (within any applicable extension periods) paid or settled.

(d) All material Taxes required to be withheld or collected and remitted by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor or other Person have been properly and timely withheld or collected, and all such Taxes either have been duly and timely paid to the proper Governmental Entity. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with all information reporting and backup withholding requirements under all applicable Laws in connection with amounts paid or owing to any Person.

(e) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any tax indemnity agreement, tax receivables agreement, tax sharing agreement, tax allocation agreement or any similar arrangement that obligates it to make any payment with respect to Taxes of any other Person (other than commercial agreements or arrangements not primarily related to Taxes entered into in the ordinary course of business).

(f) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is or was a member of any affiliated group within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code (or any similar group defined under a similar provision of state, local, or foreign Law), or (ii) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign Law), as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.

(g) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has participated in a listed transaction within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b)(2) (or any other similar transaction under non-U.S. Law) or (ii) has engaged in any transaction to which Sections 355 or 361 of the Code applies within the two (2) year period ending as of the date of this Agreement.

 

30


(h) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been notified in writing by any Governmental Entity that it is or may be subject to taxation by, or required to file Tax Returns in, a jurisdiction where it does not file Tax Returns, which claim has not been fully resolved.

(i) No power of attorney granted by either the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to Taxes is currently in force.

(j) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a partner in a partnership (or an equity holder in any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. income Tax purposes).

(k) Section 3.9(k) of the Company Disclosure Schedules set forth the entity classification of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries for U.S. federal income tax purposes prior to the completion of the Pre-Closing Restructuring (disregarding the effects of the Pre-Closing Restructuring).

(l) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has made an entity classification election under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3(c)(1) within the last 60 months.

(m) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has a permanent establishment (within the meaning of an applicable Tax treaty) or otherwise has an office or fixed place of business in, or is tax resident in, in a country other than the country in which it is incorporated or organized.

(n) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable transfer pricing laws and regulations, including the execution and maintenance of contemporaneous documentation substantiating the transfer pricing practices and methodology and conducting intercompany transactions at arm’s length.

(o) No Subsidiary of the Company organized in the United States is a “United States real property holding corporation” within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code.

(p) Any UK equity holders of the Company paid Unrestricted Market Value (UMV) for any shares of the Company acquired by them, or they paid tax on UMV for any shares of the Company they acquired for less than UMV.

Section 3.10 Conduct of Business. (i) Between December 31, 2018 and the date of this Agreement, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries thereof has conducted its business, in all material respects, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices, and (ii) since December 31, 2018, there has been no Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth on Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Schedules, since December 31, 2018, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has:

(a) paid, declared, set aside, adopted or set a record date for or otherwise set aside or committed to make, any dividends or other distributions on its share capital, limited liability company interests, securities or other equity interests or Equity Rights or otherwise make any payments to the Company’s shareholders in their capacity as such (other than (i) distributions from the Subsidiaries of the Company to the Company or (ii) cash dividends or cash distributions by the Company to the Shareholders (and solely for the purposes of Section 5.3, so long as such dividends or distributions are paid in full prior to the Measurement Time)), or purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired any of its share capital, limited liability company interests, securities or other equity interests or Equity Rights of any kind;

 

31


(b) (i) sold, assigned, licensed, leased, abandoned, allowed to lapse, transferred, or otherwise disposed of, or subjected to any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) any of its assets, rights or property (including Intellectual Property), except for sales of non-exclusive licenses of the Intellectual Property owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries or the disposition of obsolete equipment, in each case otherwise than in the ordinary course of business or (ii) acquired any classes of assets, rights or property (including Intellectual Property) in any case for a purchase price in excess of $1,000,000, where such acquisitions would exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate;

(c) suffered any material loss, or any interruption in use, of any of its material assets or property that is not fully covered by insurance (excepting any applicable deductible or retention), whether on account of fire, flood, riot, strike, act of God or otherwise;

(d) (i) settled, compromised or released any rights, or agreed to settle, compromise, or release any rights, with respect to any claim or Proceeding, other than settlements or compromises of claims or Proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business involving solely money damages which are not in excess of $1,000,000 individually and in excess $5,000,000 in the aggregate and only if all such amounts are paid in full prior to the Closing, or (ii) entered into any consent decree or settlement agreement with any Governmental Entity;

(e) (i) created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed any Indebtedness or made any pledge of any of its assets, rights or properties or otherwise permitted any of its assets, rights or properties to become subject to any Lien (other than Permitted Liens), other than in the ordinary course of business under (x) existing lines of credit or (y) intercompany Indebtedness between the Company and a Subsidiary thereof, (ii) made any loans, investments or advances to any Person or purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired or offered to acquire any Equity Rights of any Person, other than intercompany loans between the Company and a Subsidiary and routine advances of business expenses to employees or directors, in each case, in the ordinary course of business, or (iii) cancelled any third party indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(f) made any change to its accounting or auditing methods or practices, except as required by IFRS;

(g) except in each case in the ordinary course of business or which has not resulted in a Material Adverse Effect (i) made, revoked or changed any entity classification election or other material Tax election, changed an annual accounting period in respect of Taxes or adopted or changed any material accounting method in respect of Taxes, (ii) amended any material Tax Return, (iii) entered into any closing agreement, settled or compromised any claim, assessment or proceeding in respect of a material amount of Taxes, or surrendered any right to claim a refund of Taxes, (iv) consented to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any material Tax claim or assessment except as may be required by applicable Law, (v) initiated any voluntary disclosure to any Governmental Entity in respect of a material amount of Taxes or entered into any contractual obligation (or received or requested any ruling) in respect of a material amount of Taxes with any Governmental Entity, or (vi) taken or omitted to take any other similar action or omission relating to the filing of any material Tax Return or the payment of any material Tax;

(h) made or committed to make any capital expenditure in an amount that exceeds $1,000,000 individually, where such individual capital expenditures would exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate, or delayed or failed to make any budgeted capital expenditure research and development expenditure, or budgeted marketing expenditure where such delay or failure would result in the relevant fiscal year budget being underspent by more than ten per cent. (10%), in each case based on the fiscal year 2019 budget (which shall apply to fiscal year 2020 for purposes of this Section 3.10(h)); or

 

32


(i) entered into any Contract (or other legally binding commitment or agreement or otherwise resolved) to do any of the foregoing.

Section 3.11 Material Contracts.

(a) Section 3.11(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules contains a complete and accurate list of the following Contracts as of the date hereof (other than with regard to Benefit Plans set forth on Section 3.19(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules), including any amendments, modifications and supplements thereto, to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or to which their respective assets, rights, property or business are bound or subject to (each Contract required to be listed on Section 3.11(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, whether or not actually listed thereon, a “Material Contract”):

(i) Contracts with the Material Advertisers, Material Aggregators and Material Suppliers;

(ii) Contracts the Company reasonably anticipates will involve payments by or to the Company and its Subsidiaries in the current fiscal year in excess of $1,000,000 individually, other than Contracts with Material Advertisers, Material Aggregators and Material Suppliers;

(iii) leases or subleases, either as lessee or sublessee or lessor or sublessor, of personal property, where the lease or sublease provides for an annual rent in excess of $1,000,000 and has an unexpired term as of the date hereof in excess of one (1) year;

(iv) Contracts that restrict or purport to restrict the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to compete with any other Person or to engage in any business activity or line of business, other than in the ordinary course;

(v) Contracts (A) granting to the counter-party any rights of first refusal or first offer, most favored customer pricing, or any material Contract providing for the grant of exclusive sales, distribution, marketing, franchising consignment or other exclusive rights, rights of first negotiation or similar rights and/or terms to any Person; or (B) requiring the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to purchase all or substantially all of a particular service, product or material from a supplier or containing a minimum purchase or supply commitment, in the case of the foregoing clause (B), only where the contract price for such Contract is in excess of $1,000,000 per annum individually or where such individual contracts would exceed $5,000,000 per annum in the aggregate;

(vi) material Contracts relating to Intellectual Property or IT Systems, excluding (i) commercially available, off-the-shelf, non-exclusive software licenses to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which involve payments in the current fiscal year of less than $1,000,000 and (ii) non-exclusive licenses granted by the Company or such of its Subsidiaries to customers in the ordinary course of business;

(vii) leases or sublease or material license of any Leased Real Property;

(viii) Contracts evidencing or securing Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $1,000,000 (other than intercompany loans involving wholly-owned Subsidiaries);

(ix) Contracts relating to any interest rate, currency, commodity derivatives, swap or hedging transaction;

 

33


(x) Contracts (other than any non-disclosure agreements entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) relating to the acquisition or disposition (whether directly or indirectly, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of, or merger with, any business or Person or division thereof, in each case, (i) within the last three (3) years or (ii) that contain any surviving payment or indemnification obligations with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates;

(xi) Contracts involving a partnership, strategic alliance, joint venture or the sharing of revenues, profits, losses, costs or liabilities (other than (i) Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business with billing aggregators respecting the allocation of user revenue, (ii) marketing or advertising agreements; or (iii) Contracts entered into between the Company and its Subsidiaries, or between any of the Subsidiaries) and any shareholder or limited liability company agreements;

(xii) Contracts with any Governmental Entity (other than Permits);

(xiii) Contracts containing continuing obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries relating to any resolution or settlement of any actual or threatened Proceeding (including, without limitation, any Proceeding to which a Governmental Entity is a party) for an amount in excess of $1,000,000;

(xiv) Contracts requiring any capital lease, capital commitment or capital expenditures (including any series of related expenditures) in excess of $1,000,000 per annum;

(xv) Contracts for the employment of, or receipt of any services from, any employee or consultant on a full-time or part-time basis providing for an annual base salary in excess of $150,000, and Contracts providing for severance, termination, retention, change in control or similar payment to any employee;

(xvi) Contracts under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has an outstanding advance or loan to any other Person (including a Subsidiary of the Company, exclusive of intercompany payables or receivables arising in the ordinary course of business and for which there is no underlying written Contract), excluding (i) advances of business expenses to employees or directors in the ordinary course of business, and (ii) loans to employees for travel season tickets, relocation or otherwise, in each case (for clause (ii)) not exceeding £10,000;

(xvii) Contracts for or relating to each datacenter facility used by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries to conduct a material part of their respective businesses; and

(xviii) Contracts with a Related Party.

(b) Each Material Contract is valid, binding and in full force and effect with respect to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company (as the case may be) and, to the knowledge of the Company, the other parties thereto. Each Material Contract is enforceable against the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company (as the case may be) and, to the knowledge of the Company, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except to the extent enforcement may be affected by laws relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and creditors’ rights and by the availability of injunctive relief, specific performance and other equitable remedies. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notification that is in material breach or default in the performance of any of their respective obligations under any Material Contract and, to the knowledge of the Company, no other party to any Material Contract is in material breach or default thereunder. No event exists which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a material breach, default or event of default on the part of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any Material Contract or, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto. Except in the ordinary course of business, there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened audit or Proceeding of or regarding the Company’s or any Subsidiaries’

 

34


compliance with any Material Contract by any other party to such Material Contract. The Company has made available to Parent a true, correct and complete copy of each written Material Contract; provided that Material Contracts that are solely statements of work, purchase orders or invoices for the purchase or sale of products or services entered into in the ordinary course of business shall not be required to have been made available to Parent solely to the extent they do not deviate in any substantive respect from the standard forms for such counterparty made available to Parent prior to the date hereof.

Section 3.12 Permits. All Permits that are required in order for the Company or its Subsidiaries to conduct its business as presently or contemplated to be conducted are in the possession of the Company, are in full force and effect and are being complied with, except for such Permits the failure of which to be in possession or be in compliance with would not have a material effect, individually or in the aggregate, on the Company and its Subsidiaries. Since December 31, 2016, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written or, to the knowledge of the Company, oral notice from any Governmental Entity regarding (a) any actual or possible violation of any Permit, or any failure to comply in any respect with any term or requirement of any Permit or (b) any actual or possible revocation, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation, non-renewal, termination or modification of any Permit, in each case other than as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to be material to the Company.

Section 3.13 Litigation. There are no, and since December 31, 2016, there have not been any, Proceedings of any kind or nature pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective directors or officers, businesses, assets, rights or properties (including Intellectual Property), except Proceedings that (a) have not been material individually or in the aggregate and (b) if adversely determined would reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor their respective directors or officers is a party to, or bound by, any Order, or any directed or involuntary disclosure to any Governmental Entity, the enforcement of which or compliance with which would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially interfere with or delay the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or would, individually or in the aggregate, materially affect, impede or restrain the operation of the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.14 Compliance with Laws.

(a) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is, and since December 31, 2016, has been, in compliance with all applicable Laws and Orders, except where the failure to comply would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a material effect on the Company or its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of material violation of any Law or Order by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries since December 31, 2016 and, to the knowledge of the Company, no investigation by any Governmental Entity is pending with respect to any actual or alleged material violation of Law by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any officer, director or management employee of any of them in their capacities as such.

(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of their employees, officers or directors, agents, or other Person acting for or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (i) has been or is designated on any list of any Governmental Entity as Persons whose property must be blocked or with whom Persons cannot transact business, including the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”), or any similar list of sanctioned persons issued by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or any other relevant Governmental Entity administering sanctions, including the U.S. Department of State, (ii) is a national or

 

35


citizen of, organized under the laws of or resident or operating in any country or territory which is itself the subject of country-wide or territory-wide sanctions, including, but not limited to, as of the date of this Agreement, Iran, Cuba, Syria, Crimea, and North Korea, (iii) is a Person owned or controlled by any Persons described in clauses (i) and/or (ii) of this sentence (Persons described in clauses (i), (ii) and/or (iii) collectively, “Sanctioned Persons”), (iv) has been convicted of or charged with violating Anti-Money Laundering Laws, or (v) is under investigation by any Governmental Entity for suspected violations of Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

(c) Except to the extent that noncompliance would not be material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance, and since December 31, 2016 has been in compliance, with all applicable Laws relating to the import and export of goods, Software, services and technology.

(d) Since December 31, 2016, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any predecessors or former Subsidiaries of the Company, nor to the Company’s knowledge, any of their directors, officers or employees agents, representatives, consultants, or other Persons, acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of any of the foregoing (individually and collectively) has at any time, directly or indirectly, (i) offered, paid, promised to pay, or authorized the payment of any money, or offered, given, promised to give, authorized the giving of, received or solicited anything of value, including but not limited to cash, checks, wire transfers, tangible and intangible gifts, favors, services, entertainment and travel expenses or other payments to any governmental official, including any officer, employee, or representative of any Governmental Entity, or to any candidate for political office, political party or official thereof, or other Persons, in violation of any applicable Law, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act of 2010, any applicable Laws prohibiting commercial bribery, or any other applicable anti-corruption Laws, including all national and international laws enacted to implement the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Officials in International Business Transactions, or (ii) made any bribe, kickback or illegal political contribution, or (iii) improperly given, offered, promised or authorized the giving of money or anything of value, to any government official or employee (including officials, officers, directors or employees of Governmental Entities), political party or campaign official, candidate for foreign political office, official or employee of a public international organization, or any other person acting on behalf of any of the foregoing (each, a “Government Official”), for the purpose of (x) improperly influencing an act or decision of such Government Official or improperly inducing such Government Official to use his or her influence or position to affect any act or decision of a Governmental Entity, (y) obtaining an improper business advantage, or (z) improperly obtaining or retaining business.

Section 3.15 Real Property.

(a) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns, and none of them has ever owned, any real property. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is obligated under any Contract to purchase any real property or interest therein.

(b) Section 3.15(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules identifies by street address a complete and accurate list of all real property leased, by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company (“Leased Real Property”) and there is no other real property subleased, licensed to or used by the Company or a subsidiary of the Company that is material to the Business. The Company or a Subsidiary of the Company has good and valid leasehold interests in all Leased Real Property, free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted Liens. All Leased Real Property is leased to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company (as the case may be) pursuant to written leases (the “Leases”), and all such Leases are valid, binding and in full force and effect. No material default by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has occurred under the Leases and, to the knowledge of the Company, no material default by the other contracting parties thereto has occurred thereunder, and the possession and quiet enjoyment by the Company and its Subsidiaries of the Leased Real Property has not been disturbed.

 

36


(c) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be material to the Business: (i) there are no condemnation or eminent domain proceedings or compulsory purchase pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened that would interfere with the present use of any Leased Real Property, (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has leased, subleased, licensed or permitted use of any Leased Real Property to any Person or entered into any Contract or obligation with respect thereto; (iii) no event has occurred or condition exists that constitutes, or after notice or the lapse of time or both would constitute, a material breach or a material default under any of the Leases and (iv) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of termination with respect to any of the Leases.

(d) Each of the datacenter facilities serving the Business is set forth Section 3.15(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedules.

Section 3.16 Environmental Matters.

(a) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in material compliance with all, and has not materially violated any, applicable Environmental Laws, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any material Liability under any Environmental Law.

(b) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries possesses, and is in compliance with, all Permits that are required to be held by it under applicable Environmental Law in order to operate as it currently operations, except where the failure to possess, or noncompliance with, any such Permits would not have a material effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received or could be adversely affected by any pending Environmental Claim, including any Environmental Claim for investigatory, remedial or corrective obligations relating to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or the Leased Real Property, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no Environmental Claims have been threatened against any of them. There is no pending or threatened Order under any Environmental Law to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any assets, rights or properties owned or used by such Person, is, or would be, subject.

(d) Hazardous Materials are not present (and, to the Company’s knowledge, since December 31, 2016 have not been present) at or affecting any real property currently or previously owned or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or at any other location for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may be liable, under circumstances or in a condition that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) The Company has made available to Parent a copy of all material reports of any environmental assessments (including Phase I or Phase II environmental site assessments), audits, and any other environmental studies or reviews relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, to the extent any such report is in the Company’s possession or control.

Section 3.17 Intellectual Property.

(a) Section 3.17(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth a complete and accurate list of all material Intellectual Property registrations and applications owned by the Company and/or its Subsidiaries.

 

37


(b) The Company or its Subsidiaries are the exclusive owner of all of their material proprietary Intellectual Property, free and clear of any and all Liens except for Permitted Liens, and all persons who created, invented or developed any such Intellectual Property have assigned to the Company all of their rights therein that do not vest initially in the Company or its Subsidiaries by operation of law. Each item on Section 3.17(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules is unexpired and subsisting, and, if registered or issued, to the Company’s knowledge, valid and enforceable.

(c) The conduct of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ business as conducted since December 31, 2016, and as currently conducted, have not and do not materially infringe, misappropriate or otherwise materially violate the Intellectual Property of any Person, and to the Company’s knowledge, no Person is materially infringing the Intellectual Property of the Company or its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth on Section 3.17(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, there are no material Proceedings pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened (including “cease and desist” letters or requests to take a patent license) against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries relating to Intellectual Property.

(d) The IT Systems used by the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are sufficient in all material respects to operate their businesses as currently conducted; (ii) are fully functional and maintained properly in all material respects; and (iii) are free from (and are designed to prevent the insertion of) material harmful code, viruses, worms, time bombs, key locks, malware and other corruptants.

(e) No material Software owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries that has been licensed, made available, conveyed or distributed to third parties is subject to any open source or similar license that requires the disclosure, licensing, availability or distribution of any source code or otherwise imposes any material limitation, restriction or condition on any source code under such circumstances, other than for any licenses of Software between the Company and its Subsidiaries, or between the Subsidiaries. No material source code of the Company or its Subsidiaries has been provided to any escrow agent or other Person or is subject to any current or contingent obligation to be provided to any escrow agent or other Person. The source code for any material proprietary Software of the Company or its Subsidiaries is stored in a secured facility controlled by the Company, with restricted access.

(f) The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken all reasonable endeavors to protect their Confidential Information and trade secrets and to protect and maintain the security, integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and backup of the IT Systems used in their businesses (and all data, including personal data, stored therein or processed thereby), and there have been no material breaches, violations or outages of or unauthorized access to same, other than those that have been remedied without material cost, liability of the duty to notify any Person.

(g) No funding from any Governmental Entity, including any university or college, was used in the development of any part of the Intellectual Property owned by the Company and/or its Subsidiaries.

Section 3.18 Data Protection; Privacy. The Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are, and since December 31, 2016 have been, in compliance in all material respects with all Privacy Requirements and (ii) take, and since December 31, 2016 have taken all reasonable endeavors (including implementing and monitoring compliance with technical, administrative and physical security measures), to protect Personally Identifiable Information against loss, damage, and unauthorized access, use, modification, or other misuse, and no material instance of the foregoing has occurred. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice or other communication, from any Governmental Entity or other Person regarding any actual or possible material violation of any applicable law. There is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened Proceeding against the Company or its Subsidiaries alleging any violation of any Privacy Requirement. Section 3.18 of the Company Disclosure Schedules lists all of the publicly posted privacy policies of the Company and its Subsidiaries in effect since December 31, 2016.

 

38


Section 3.19 Employee Benefits.

(a) Section 3.19(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and complete list of all material Benefit Plans. The Company has made available to Parent, with respect to each such material Benefit Plan (to the extent applicable thereto), copies of (i) the plan document as currently in effect or, if such material Benefit Plan is not in writing, a written description of such Benefit Plan, (ii) the most recent annual report (Form 5500 series) filed with respect to such Benefit Plan, (iii) all material Contracts relating to such Benefit Plan, including all trust agreements, administrative services agreements, group annuity contracts and insurance contracts, (iv) if such Benefit Plan is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, the most recent IRS determination, opinion or advisory letter issued with respect to such Benefit Plan, (v) in relation to each Company UK Pension Plan, the Company has made available to Parent all material documentation which provides material details of the benefits payable under each Company UK Pension Plan.

(b) As of the date of this Agreement, no contributions notice or financial support directly has been made by the UK Pensions Regulator or warning notice issued against or involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or any Person connected or associated (as defined in Section 38(10) of the Pensions Act 2004) with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), nor has the UK Pensions Regulator indicated to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parent that it is considering making such an order nor, to the knowledge of the Company, are there any facts or circumstances that would be likely to lead the UK Pensions Regulator to make or consider making such an order.

(c) Each Company UK Pension Plan complies in all material respects with their respective terms and applicable Laws and other relevant requirements of the appropriate Governmental Entity.

(d) To the extent that any contributions are or were required to be paid by the Company under each Company UK Pension Plan, they have been timely paid in accordance with the applicable Benefit Plan and Law. Each Benefit Plan has been maintained and administered in accordance with its terms and in compliance with applicable Laws, including ERISA and the Code. None of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any other Person has engaged in a non-exempt prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, with respect to a Benefit Plan, as a result of which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries would incur a Tax under Section 4975 of the Code or a penalty under Section 502(i) of ERISA. All contributions required to be made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to the Benefit Plans with respect to all periods prior to the Closing Date have been (or will be) made or provided for prior to the Closing.

(e) Each Benefit Plan sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code (i) is the subject of an unrevoked favorable determination letter from the IRS with respect to such Benefit Plan’s qualified status under the Code, and to the knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred that would reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualification or (ii) is a prototype or volume submitter plan entitled, under applicable IRS guidance, to rely on a favorable opinion or advisory letter issued by the IRS to the sponsor of such prototype or volume submitter plan. To the knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualification under Section 401(a) of the Code of any such Benefit Plan.

(f) None of the Benefit Plans sponsored, maintained, contributed to, or been obligated to contribute to by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate is (and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any ERISA Affiliate has any Liability with respect to), and none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate has ever sponsored, maintained, contributed to or been obligated to contribute to or had any Liability with respect to (i) a “defined benefit plan” (as defined

 

39


in Section 3(35) of ERISA and Section 414(j) of the Code) or (ii) a “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Sections 3(37) and 4001(a)(3) of ERISA). None of the Benefit Plans is a “multiple employer plan” (meaning a plan sponsored by more than one employer within the meaning of Sections 4063 and 4064 of ERISA or Section 413(c) of ERISA) or a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as defined in ERISA Section 3(40)). With respect to the Benefit Plans, all required contributions, premiums or payments of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate have been made or properly accrued in accordance with IFRS, as applicable, the terms of the Benefit Plan and applicable Law. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, and there are no circumstances under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate would reasonably expect to incur, any Liability under Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code. Neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries nor any ERISA Affiliate has maintained a Benefit Plan providing medical or life insurance benefits to employees after retirement or other separation of service except (A) to the extent required by applicable Law, including Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title 1 of ERISA, Section 4980B of the Code and similar state Law, (B) coverage through the end of the month of retirement or other separation of service, and (C) life insurance benefits attributable to deaths occurring at or prior to retirement or other separation of service. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has had incurred or expects to incur (whether or not assessed), or is otherwise subject to, any Liability pursuant to Section 4980H of the Code.

(g) Except as specifically contemplated by Section 2.2, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (either alone or in connection with any other event), could (i) result in any payment from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries becoming due, or increase the amount of any compensation due from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case to any current or former employee, director, or individual service provider of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) entitle any current or former employee, director or individual service provider of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to severance pay or any payment contingent upon a change in control or ownership of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) increase or enhance any benefits payable under any Benefit Plan, (iv) directly or indirectly cause the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to transfer or set aside any assets to fund any benefits under any Benefit Plan or otherwise give rise to any material liability under any Benefit Plan, (v) limit or restrict the right to merge, terminate or amend any Benefit Plan on or after the Closing, (vi) result in the acceleration of the time of payment, vesting or funding of any benefits under any Benefit Plan or (vii) reasonably be expected to give rise to any “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code. No participant in any Benefit Plan is entitled to any gross-up, make-whole or other additional payment from the Company or any other Person in respect of any Tax (including Taxes imposed under Section 4999 or 409A of the Code) or interest or penalty related thereto.

(h) There are no material Proceedings (other than routine claims for benefits) pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to (or against the assets of) any Benefit Plan. No Benefit Plan is currently, or in the past three (3) years has been, under investigation, audit or review by any Governmental Entity. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in material Liability to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, each Foreign Benefit Plan (i) has been established, maintained and administered in all material respects in compliance with its terms and compliance with all applicable Laws, (ii) that is required to be registered, has been registered and has been maintained in good standing with the applicable Governmental Entity and (iii) that is intended or required to be funded and/or book reserved, is funded and/or book reserved, as appropriate, in accordance with applicable Law.

(i) Each Benefit Plan that constitutes in any part a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” (as defined under Section 409A(d)(1) of the Code) subject to Section 409A of the Code has been operated and administered in accordance with a good faith, reasonable interpretation of, and has been in operational compliance with, and is in documentary compliance with, Section 409A of the Code and its purpose.

 

40


Section 3.20 Employee Relations.

(a) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are, and since December 31, 2016, have been, in material compliance with all applicable employment Laws relating to discrimination or harassment in employment; terms and conditions of employment; termination of employment; wages; hours; overtime classification, consultants and independent contractors; occupational safety and health; employee whistle-blowing; employee privacy; background checks regarding employees and applicants; collective bargaining; unemployment insurance; the collection and payment of withholding and/or social security taxes and any similar tax.

(b) Except as set forth on Section 3.20(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, there are, and since December 31, 2016, have been no pending or threatened in writing (i) Proceedings, or (ii) investigations or audits by any Governmental Entity against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and relating to discrimination or harassment in employment; terms and conditions of employment; termination of employment; wages; overtime classification; hours; classification of consultants and independent contractors; occupational safety and health; employee whistle-blowing; immigration and employment eligibility verification; employee privacy or background checks.

(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is or has been a party to, or bound by, any labor agreement, collective bargaining agreement, works council agreement or any other labor-related agreement or arrangement with any labor union, trade union or labor organization (collectively, a “Collective Bargaining Agreement”). There are no Collective Bargaining Agreements that pertain to any of the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. (i) No labor union, trade union, labor organization, works council or group of employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has made a pending demand for recognition or certification, and (ii) there are no representation or certification proceedings or petitions seeking a representation proceeding presently pending or threatened in writing. To the knowledge of the Company, there are no organizing activities with respect to the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Since December 31, 2016, there have been no actual, or threatened in writing, arbitrations, labor disputes, material grievances, strikes, lockouts, slowdowns or work stoppages against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(d) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or otherwise bound by, a consent decree with or by any Governmental Entity relating to employees or employment practices. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received since December 31, 2016 any written notice of intent by any Governmental Entity responsible for the enforcement of labor or employment Laws to conduct an investigation or initiate a Proceeding relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(e) Every employee of the Company and its Subsidiaries has all work permits, immigration permits, visas, or other authorizations required by applicable Law.

(f) The Company has provided a representative sample of the terms of engagement applicable to the persons who supply services to the Company in the capacity of an independent contractor. Each person who is a current or former service provider of the Company and its Subsidiaries has at all times since December 31, 2016 been properly classified: (i) as either an employee or independent contractor under applicable Law; and (ii) for employees, overtime exempt or non-exempt under applicable Law.

(g) Since December 31, 2016, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has effectuated (i) a “plant closing” (as defined in the WARN Act) affecting any site of employment or one or more facilities or operating units within any site of employment or facility of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) a “mass layoff” (as defined in the WARN Act) affecting any site of employment or facility of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

41


(h) To the knowledge of the Company, no employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nor any independent contractor with whom the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has contracted, is in material violation of any employment Contract, consulting Contract, non-disclosure agreement, non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement or proprietary information agreement relating to employment with, or provision of services to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or to confidential or proprietary information, Intellectual Property, competition or related matters. Since December 31, 2016, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice alleging that any such violation has occurred.

(i) There are no, and since December 31, 2016, there have not been, any Proceedings pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened, against any current or former director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case, involving allegations of harassment or discrimination by any officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth on Section 3.20(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, since December 31, 2016, no member of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been a party to a settlement agreement with a current or former officer, employee or independent contractor of any member of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries resolving allegations of sexual harassment by either (i) an officer of any member of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) an employee of any member of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

Section 3.21 Related Parties Transactions. Except as set forth in Section 3.21 of the Company Disclosure Schedules, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (a) has entered into any agreement, Contract, arrangement, loan or other business relationship or transaction with, or involving the making of any payment or transfer of assets to, any Related Party (other than solely between the Company and its Subsidiaries), other than employment agreements, employee compensation and travel arrangements in the ordinary course of business or Benefit Plans or (b) is owed or owes any amount to or from any Related Party (including intercompany obligations, but excluding employee compensation and other ordinary incidents of employment). No property or asset or interest in any property or asset (including designs or Software) that relates to and is or will be necessary or useful in the present or currently contemplated future operation of the Business is presently owned by or leased or licensed by or to any Related Party. There are no claims or threatened claims by or against any of the Company and its Subsidiaries involving any Related Party. Except as set forth in Section 3.21 of the Company Disclosure Schedules, no Related Party has any direct or indirect ownership or other material interest in, or serves as an officer or director or in another similar capacity of, any Person with which any of the Company and its Subsidiaries has a business relationship.

Section 3.22 Sufficiency. Immediately after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Quack Acquisition Agreement, the assets (whether tangible or intangible), properties (whether real or personal), rights, interests, and claims owned or leased by the Company and its Subsidiaries will (i) constitute all of the assets (whether tangible or intangible), properties (whether real or personal), rights, interests, and claims used or held for use in, or necessary for the conduct, use and operation of, the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ businesses as currently being conducted and has been conducted for the previous twelve (12)-month period prior to the date of this Agreement and (ii) be sufficient for the Company and its Subsidiaries to conduct their respective businesses after the Closing in substantially the same manner as is currently being conducted and has been conducted for the previous twelve (12)-month period prior to the date of this Agreement.

Section 3.23 Certain Pre-Signing Transactions.

(a) There are no side letters, other agreements, contingencies or conditions precedent to the obligations of any party to the Quack Acquisition Agreement and the Quack IP License, except as set forth or described in the Quack Acquisition Agreement and the Quack IP License, and to which a complete (and, to the extent executed on or prior to the date hereof, fully executed) copy of which has been made available to Parent.

 

42


(b) The Company has delivered to Parent a complete, correct and fully executed copy of each Finam Transaction Document. Each Finam Transaction Document is in full force and effect and is valid and binding on the parties thereto (except to the extent enforcement may be affected by Laws relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and creditors’ rights and by the availability of injunctive relief, specific performance and other equitable remedies). All obligations of the Company to be performed under the Finam Transaction Documents have been duly performed and the Finam Transactions have been consummated in compliance with all Laws and the Organizational Documents of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries. The Rimberg Promissory Note can pursuant to its terms be accelerated or prepaid at the Closing and netted from the proceeds payable to the maker thereof described in Section 2.3(c). No event has occurred that, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute a default, event of default or breach on the part of the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, Rimberg under the terms and conditions of the Rimberg Promissory Note, other than any such default, breach or failure that has been cured in a timely manner.

(c) Section 3.23(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true, correct and complete list of each promissory note and/or loan issued or made to the Company by an employee or individual member of management of the Company (each a “Shareholder Debt Instrument”), the amount outstanding as of the date hereof under each such Shareholder Debt Instrument, the outstanding principal amount thereunder, the stated maturity date thereof, and the holder of each such Shareholder Debt Instrument. Each such Shareholder Debt Instrument can pursuant to its terms be accelerated at the Closing and netted from the proceeds payable to the maker thereof as described in Section 2.3(d). No event has occurred that, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or breach on the part of the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any Shareholder Debt Issuer under the terms and conditions of its applicable Shareholder Debt Instrument, other than any such default, breach or failure that has been cured in a timely manner.

Section 3.24 Material Business Relationships. Section 3.24 of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth an accurate list of (a) the top three (3) advertiser customers of the Company and its Subsidiaries, determined based on revenue received or receivable from such advertisers (the “Material Advertisers”), (b) the top ten (10) billing aggregators of the Company and its Subsidiaries, determined based on user revenue received or receivable from such aggregators (the “Material Aggregators”) and (c) the top ten (10) vendors, suppliers or other service providers (excluding billing aggregators and lessors, sublessors and licensors of Leased Real Property) of the Company and its Subsidiaries (the “Material Suppliers”), determined based on amounts paid or payable to such vendors, suppliers and other service providers, as applicable, during the seven (7) month period ended July 31, 2019. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice or other communication from any such Material Advertiser, Material Aggregator or Material Supplier to the effect that, and the Company does not have any knowledge that, any such Material Advertiser, Material Aggregator or Material Supplier will or intends to cancel, suspend, terminate or otherwise materially and adversely modify its relationship with the Company or such Subsidiary. No material dispute currently exists with respect to any such Material Advertiser, Material Aggregator or Material Supplier, nor has there been any material dispute with respect to any such Material Advertiser, Material Aggregator or Material Supplier during the seven (7) month period ended July 31, 2019 or since such date.

 

43


Section 3.25 Insurance.

(a) Section 3.25(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true, complete and correct list of all insurance policies maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as of the date hereof. All of the insurance policies of the Company and its Subsidiaries are in full force and effect, and the Company and its Subsidiaries are not in material breach or default with respect to its obligations under any of such insurance policies and there does not exist any event which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute such breach or default, except for such failure to be in full force and effect and for such breaches and defaults that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) The Company or its Subsidiary, as applicable, has timely filed all claims for which it is seeking payment or other coverage under any of such insurance policies, and as of the date of this Agreement there exists no material potential claims that have not been timely reported to the related insurers within the time frame required by or under such insurance policies. Since December 31, 2016, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has made any claim against an insurance policy as to which the insurer is denying (or has denied) coverage or defending the claim under a reservation of rights. Section 3.25(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules lists all claims of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any such insurance policies which are pending as of the date of this Agreement.

Section 3.26 Brokers. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any of their Affiliates has employed or entered into any Contract with any Person who is entitled to a broker’s commission, finder’s fee, investment banker’s fee, expense reimbursement or similar fee or payment from Parent, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for arranging the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, for introducing the Parties to each other or as a result of the execution of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 3.27 Requisite Shareholder Approval. The vote in favor of the Bermuda Merger Agreement requires: (a) subject to any valid modification of such requirements under the Company Bye-laws, if a meeting of the Shareholders of the Company is duly convened and held, no less than a majority vote of three-fourths of all Company Shares present or represented by proxy and voting on such matter at such meeting and the quorum necessary for such meeting is at least two persons holding or representing by proxy more than one-third of the issued Company Shares; or (b) if pursuant to a written resolution of the Shareholders in accordance with Bye-law 39 of the Company Bye-Laws, the written resolution is passed when it is signed by the Shareholders who at the date that notice of the resolution is given represent the majority of votes required by clause (a) above.

Section 3.28 No Other Warranties or Representations. Except for the warranties contained in this Article III (including the related portions of the Disclosure Schedule) and the Transaction Documents, the Company has not made, and does not make, any other warranties or any representations, written or oral, statutory, express or implied, in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company hereby disclaims any other express or implied warranties and all express or implied representations, whether written or oral. Except as set forth in this Article III (including the related portions of the Disclosure Schedule), the Transaction Documents and any certificates delivered hereto or thereto, the Company is not, directly or indirectly, making any representations or warranties regarding the pro-forma financial information, financial projections or other forward-looking statements of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, IT IS THE EXPLICIT INTENT OF EACH PARTY THAT THE COMPANY IS NOT MAKING ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY WHATSOEVER, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OTHER THAN THOSE WARRANTIES EXPRESSLY GIVEN IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE COMPANY DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES AND THE TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS.

 

44


ARTICLE IV

WARRANTIES OF PARENT

Parent hereby makes the warranties to the Company that are set forth in this Article IV.

Section 4.1 Organization, Existence and Good Standing. Parent is a Delaware limited partnership and Merger Sub is an exempted limited company incorporated under the Laws of Bermuda, and each is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation. Parent and Merger Sub are each duly qualified or licensed to do business, and are in good standing, under the Laws of all other jurisdictions where the ownership, operation or leasing of its properties, rights or assets or conduct of its business requires such licensing or qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or impair the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents.

Section 4.2 Power and Authority. Each of Parent and Merger Sub has all requisite power and authority to own, operate, lease and encumber its properties and carry on its business as now conducted. The certificate of limited partnership or, where applicable, other formation documents of each of Parent and Merger Sub is in full force and effect, and no dissolution, revocation or forfeiture proceedings regarding Parent or Merger Sub have been commenced. Parent and Merger Sub each have all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to be executed or delivered by them, as applicable, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party by Parent and Merger Sub and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which Parent and Merger Sub are a party have been duly and validly approved by each of Parent’s and Merger Sub’s boards of directors. No other proceedings (including limited partnership proceedings) are necessary on the part of Parent or Merger Sub to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which Parent or Merger Sub is or is contemplated to be a party and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated herein and therein other than the approval of this Agreement, the Bermuda Merger Agreement and the Merger by Parent as the sole shareholder of Merger Sub.

Section 4.3 Enforceability. This Agreement and each Transaction Document to which Parent or Merger Sub is a party as of the date hereof has been duly authorized and executed and delivered by duly authorized officers or other duly authorized signatories of each of Parent and Merger Sub, as applicable, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Parent and/or Merger Sub, as applicable, enforceable against Parent and Merger Sub, as applicable, in accordance with its terms, except to the extent enforcement may be affected by Laws relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and creditors’ rights and by the availability of injunctive relief, specific performance and other equitable remedies. At the Closing, the Transaction Documents to be executed and delivered by each of Parent or Merger Sub will be duly executed and delivered by duly authorized officers or other duly authorized signatories of Parent or Merger Sub, as applicable, and will constitute valid and binding obligations of Parent or Merger Sub, as applicable, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except to the extent enforcement may be affected by Laws relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and creditors’ rights and by the availability of injunctive relief, specific performance and other equitable remedies.

Section 4.4 Consents; Non-contravention. Except for (i) filings and approvals or expiration or termination of applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act, (ii) the filings and approvals or expiration or termination of applicable waiting periods under the other Specified Antitrust Laws (and the post-Closing filings under the Antitrust Laws of Argentina and Egypt), and (iii) consents, no objections, approvals from, or notification to, the BMA, and assuming the accuracy of the warranties set forth in Section 3.4, neither Parent nor Merger Sub needs to give any notice to, make any filing with or obtain any authorization, consent, Order or approval of any Person in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which Parent or Merger Sub are or are intended to

 

45


be a party, as the case may be, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein, except as would not reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or impair the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents to which Parent or Merger Sub are or are intended to be a party, as the case may be. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, neither the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which Parent or Merger Sub are or are intended to be a party, as the case may be, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein: (a) will violate any provision of the Organizational Documents of Parent or Merger Sub; (b) will violate any Law or Order to which Parent or Merger Sub or any of Parent’s or Merger Sub’s assets or businesses is subject or otherwise bound; or (c) will result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of the material assets or businesses of Parent or Merger Sub, except, with respect to clauses (b) and (c), as would not reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or impair the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents to which Parent or Merger Sub are or are intended to be a party, as the case may be.

Section 4.5 Brokers. Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any Contract or arrangement with any Person which would entitle such Person to a broker’s commission, finder’s fee, investment banker’s fee or similar payment for which the Sellers or Company would be responsible for in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including for introducing the Parties to each other or as a result of the execution of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 4.6 Purpose. Merger Sub is a newly organized corporation, formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Merger Sub has not engaged in any business activities or conducted any operations other than in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Merger Sub is a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent.

Section 4.7 Funding.

(a) Parent has delivered to the Company true, complete, correct and fully executed copy of the equity commitment letters (the “Equity Commitment Letters”) from the Equity Investors pursuant to which the Equity Investors have committed to provide cash equity to Parent in the respective aggregate amount, and subject to the terms and conditions, set forth in their respective Equity Commitment Letter (the “Equity Financing”). Parent has delivered to the Company a complete, correct and fully executed copy of the debt commitment letter (including all fee letters, exhibits, schedules, term sheets and annexes thereto and other ancillary documents; provided that the fee letters shall be customarily redacted to omit fee amounts, certain “flex” provisions, pricing caps and other economic terms (none of which redactions would adversely affect conditionality of the funding or amount of the financing to be provided thereunder)) (the “Debt Commitment Letter” and together with the Equity Commitment Letters, the “Commitment Letters”)), pursuant to which, and subject to the terms and conditions of which, the Debt Financing Sources party thereto have committed to provide the amounts set forth therein to Parent for the purpose of funding the transactions contemplated hereby (the “Debt Financing” and together with the Equity Financing, the “Financing”).

(b) As of the date hereof, each Equity Commitment Letter is in full force and effect and is a valid and binding obligation of Parent and the Equity Investors party thereto (except to the extent enforcement may be affected by Laws relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and creditors’ rights and by the availability of injunctive relief, specific performance and other equitable remedies). As of the date hereof, the Debt Commitment Letter is in full force and effect and is a valid and binding obligation of Parent and, to the knowledge of Parent, the Debt Financing Sources party thereto (except to the extent enforcement may be affected by Laws relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and

 

46


creditors’ rights and by the availability of injunctive relief, specific performance and other equitable remedies). None of the Commitment Letters (or any of the fee letters related thereto) have been amended or modified in any respect prior to, or as of, the date of this Agreement and, as of the date of this Agreement, (i) no such amendment or modification is contemplated other than customary amendments to the Debt Commitment Letter solely to add additional lenders, agents, arrangers, bookrunners or managers thereunder and (ii) none of the respective commitments contained in the Commitment Letters have been withdrawn, rescinded or terminated. As of the date hereof, no event has occurred that, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute a default, breach or failure to satisfy a condition precedent on the part of Parent or any of its Affiliates or, to the knowledge of Parent, any other party thereto, in each case, under the terms and conditions of the Equity Commitment Letters or the Debt Commitment Letter, and, assuming (i) the accuracy of the warranties set forth in Article III, (ii) the performance by the Company and its Subsidiaries of their obligations contained in this Agreement and (iii) the conditions set forth in Section 8.2 and Section 8.3 are satisfied at Closing, Parent has no reason to believe that any of the conditions to the Equity Financing contemplated by the Equity Commitment Letters or the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter will not be satisfied on a timely basis and the Financing will not be available at Closing in accordance with the terms of the Commitment Letters. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no side letters, other agreements, contingencies or conditions precedent to the obligations of counterparties to the Equity Commitment Letters to provide the Equity Financing or that would permit such counterparties to reduce the total amount of the Equity Financing, except as set forth or described in the Equity Commitment Letters. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no (A) conditions precedent, “flex” provisions or other contingencies related to the funding of the full amounts of the Debt Financing, other than as set forth in the Debt Commitment Letter (including the fee letter related thereto), and (B) side letters, other agreements, contingencies or conditions precedent to the obligations of the Debt Financing Sources to provide the Debt Financing or that would permit such counterparties to reduce the total amount of the Debt Financing, except as set forth or described in the Debt Commitment Letters. Assuming (A) the accuracy of the warranties set forth in Article III, (B) the performance in all material respects by the Company and its Subsidiaries of their obligations contained in this Agreement and (C) the conditions set forth in Section 8.2 and Section 8.3 are satisfied at Closing, the aggregate proceeds of the Equity Financing and the Debt Financing will be sufficient to enable Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby to be consummated on the Closing Date, including to pay in cash all amounts required to be paid by them in cash on the Closing Date pursuant to Article II in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and to pay their respective related fees and expenses. The Parent or its Affiliates have fully paid or caused to be paid any and all commitment fees and any other amounts required by any of the Financing Commitment Letters to be paid on or before the date of this Agreement. The Equity Commitment Letter expressly provides, and will continue to expressly provide, that the Company is an intended third-party beneficiary thereof. Subject to Section 13.16(c), in no event shall the receipt by, or the availability of any funds or financing to, the Parent or any of its Affiliates or any other financing be a condition to the Parent’s and Merger Sub’s obligation to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 4.8 Limited Guarantees. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Parent has delivered to the Company the Guarantees executed by the Equity Investors. As of the date hereof, each Guaranty is in full force and effect and is a valid and binding obligation of the Equity Investors signatory thereto, enforceable against such Equity Investor in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity). The execution, delivery and performance by the guarantors of the Guarantees has been duly and validly authorized by all necessary partnership or other similar action of each guarantor. As of the date hereof no event has occurred or circumstance exists which, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would or would reasonably be expected to constitute or result in a breach or default on the part of the Equity Investors under the Guarantees.

 

47


Section 4.9 Litigation As of the date hereof, there is no suit, claim, action or proceeding to which Parent or Merger Sub is a party pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened in writing against Parent or Merger Sub that would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or impair the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. As of the date hereof, none of Parent or Merger Sub is subject to any outstanding order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 4.10 Solvency. Assuming the accuracy of the warranties set forth in Article III (for such purposes, such warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects without giving effect to any “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect”, “Company’s Knowledge” or “Knowledge of the Company” qualifiers) and the conditions to Closing set forth in Section 8.2 and Section 8.3 are satisfied at Closing, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Surviving Company and its Subsidiaries will: (a) be able to pay their respective debts (including a reasonable estimate of the amount of all contingent liabilities) as they become due, (b) own property that has a fair saleable value greater than the amounts required to pay their respective debts (including a reasonable estimate of the amount of all contingent liabilities) and (c) have adequate capital to carry on their respective businesses. No transfer of property is being made and no obligation is being incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors of the Surviving Company or its Subsidiaries.

Section 4.11 Non-Reliance. Save as set out in Article III, the other Transaction Documents and any certificates delivered hereto or thereto, none of Parent, Merger Sub nor any of their Affiliates have relied on, or been induced to enter into this Agreement by, any information (written or oral), statements or warranties or representations of any description made, supplied or given by or on behalf of the Company, the Seller Representative or any Seller or any of their respective officers, agents, employees or advisers in relation to the assets and liabilities of the Company or its Subsidiaries, their value or amount, or the businesses or affairs of the Company or its Subsidiaries or otherwise.

Section 4.12 No Other Warranties or Representations. Except for the warranties contained in this Article IV and the other Transaction Documents, neither Parent nor Merger Sub has made or makes any other warranties or any representations, written or oral, statutory, express or implied, in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

ARTICLE V

COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

Section 5.1 Access; Notification

(a) During the Interim Period, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, (i) give to Parent and its officers, employees, agents, attorneys, consultants, accountants, and other representatives (and Parent’s financing sources and their representatives) reasonable access during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice to all of the properties, books, insurance policies, records and directors, management and personnel of the Company and its Subsidiaries and shall furnish to Parent (and any such Persons as Parent shall designate to the Company) such information as Parent (or such Persons) may at any time, and from time to time, reasonably request, subject, if required by the accountants or legal advisors of, or relating to, the Company or its Subsidiaries, to the prior execution of a customary access letter, and further provided that all such access shall be coordinated through the Company or its designated representatives in accordance with such reasonable procedures as they may establish and (ii) consult with Parent with respect to the matters set forth on Section 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedules. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to (or to cause any Subsidiary to)

 

48


disclose any information, afford any access or furnish any information to Parent to the extent that the Company believes in good faith doing so would (a) violate applicable Law, (b) violate any obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to confidentiality to any third party or otherwise breach, contravene or violate any then effective Contract to which the Company or any Subsidiary is party, (c) result in a competitor of the Company or any Subsidiary receiving information that is competitively sensitive or (d) waive any attorney-client or other legal privilege; provided, however, that if information is not disclosed to Parent or its representatives as a result of the application of this sentence, then the Company shall use all reasonable endeavors to disclose such information in a way that would not result in the applicability of any of the events set out in (a) to (d) (including by seeking consents, where appropriate).

(b) At Closing, the Seller Representative shall, and shall cause its respective Affiliates to, deliver and transfer to the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their respective designees, all statutory books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries (and their respective businesses) (whether in hard copy or electronic format, and wherever located) that are in the possession or control of Seller Representative or a Seller (or their respective Affiliates, excluding the Company and its Subsidiaries), and are not otherwise in the possession or control of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including indirectly through their appointed representatives and advisors) as of the Closing.

(c) During the Interim Period, the Company shall (i) as promptly as practicable (but in no event later than twenty (20) Business Days following the end of each calendar month) deliver to Parent any monthly business, operating and financial reports of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such calendar month (with the first such reports and other financial information to be delivered for the month ended November 2019 and such first report to include such information for September 2019 and October 2019 in addition to November 2019), in each case, as are compiled and prepared in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, and (ii) as promptly as practicable (but in no event, with respect to each fiscal quarter, later than forty-five (45) days following the end of such fiscal quarter) deliver to Parent a copy of the unaudited consolidated statement of profit or loss of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and the related unaudited consolidated statements of financial position as of the end of such fiscal quarter for the three month period then ended, (with the first such quarterly financial statements to be delivered for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2019), in each case, prepared on a basis consistent with past practice.

Section 5.2 Third Party Consents. Without limiting Section 7.1 or Section 5.9, during the Interim Period, the Company shall (and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to) use all reasonable endeavors to obtain the third party consents, approvals or waivers regarding the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under or with respect to (a) the contracts, agreements, leases, Permits and other instruments set forth on Section 3.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedules that are marked with an asterisk or otherwise identified by Parent at least ten (20) Business Days prior to the Closing Date ; provided, however, that (i) neither the Company nor Parent shall be required to make any payment to any third party in order to obtain any consent (unless, in the case of the Company, Parent agrees to reimburse the Company for any such payment) and (ii) in no event shall the Company or any of its Subsidiaries offer or grant any material accommodation (financial or otherwise) to any third party in connection with obtaining any third party consent (other than, at its sole discretion, payments made solely in cash that would be eligible to be included in the Closing Cash Amount prior to the Measurement Time) without consent of Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

Section 5.3 Operation of the Business.

(a) During the Interim Period, the Company shall and shall cause its Subsidiaries to (x) carry on the Business, in all material respects, in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices, except as otherwise required by this Agreement or applicable Law and (y) use all reasonable endeavors to maintain the business organization, operations and goodwill of, and to preserve the present relationships

 

49


with, its and its Subsidiaries’ executive officers and other employees and material customers, Material Advertisers, Material Suppliers, and Material Aggregators and other material business partners. Without limiting the foregoing, during the Interim Period, the Company shall not take, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to refrain from taking, (A) any action that would be required to be disclosed on Sections 3.10(a), (b), (d), (e), (f), (g) (without regard to any “Material Adverse Effect” or “other than in the ordinary course of business” qualifications in such clause (g)) or (h) of the Company Disclosure SchedulesSECTION 1.1(g)) if such action were taken since December 31, 2018 and prior to the execution of this Agreement and (B) any of the following actions, without the prior written consent of Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), save as set forth on Section 5.3 of the Company Disclosure Schedules:

(i) enter into any labor or Collective Bargaining Agreement or any contract or arrangement with any trade union or labor union;

(ii) commence any Proceeding other than in the ordinary course of business;

(iii) fail to make any estimated or other Tax payments required by applicable Law when due (without taking into account any deductions or other Tax Assets associated with consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents) save for any non-payment in respect of amounts that are disputed in good faith, or incur any Tax outside the ordinary course of business;

(iv) institute any general layoff of employees or implement any early retirement plan or announce the planning of such a program or otherwise conduct any “plant closing” or “mass layoff” which would trigger any notification or other requirements under the WARN Act;

(v) amend or voluntarily fail to continue in full force and effect without material modification all existing policies or binders of insurance or, other than scheduled renewals or otherwise in the ordinary course of business, enter into new insurance policies;

(vi) purchase or acquire any real property or rights therein in excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate;

(vii) except as expressly required by the terms of this Agreement, change cash management practices in any material respects (including any policies regarding extensions of credit, prepayments, pricing, sales, collections, billing, receivables, rebates, or refunds), in bad faith with the purpose of (A) accelerating to pre-Closing periods invoicing or collection of accounts receivable from billing aggregators, advertisers or others that would have otherwise been expected to occur post-Closing; or (B) delaying payment or satisfaction of accounts payable beyond its regular due date or the date when the same would have otherwise been paid or satisfied, as applicable;

(viii) acquire by merging or consolidating with or otherwise, or by acquiring, directly or indirectly, any equity interest in or material portion of the assets of, any business or Person or division thereof; provided, however, that this Section 5.3(a)(viii) shall not prohibit the Bumble Fund from acquiring by merger or consolidating with or otherwise, or acquiring, directly or indirectly, any equity interest in or material portion of the assets of, any business or Person or division thereof as a result of investments disclosed to Parent prior to the date hereof;

(ix) enter into any joint venture, partnership, strategic alliance or similar arrangement with a value in excess of $10,000,000, other than any joint venture, partnership, strategic alliance or similar arrangement involving the Bumble Fund disclosed to Parent prior to the date hereof;

 

50


(x) adopt a plan or agreement of, or resolutions providing for or authorizing, any complete or partial liquidation or dissolution (except for a solvent liquidation of a dormant Subsidiary), merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization under local or foreign Law;

(xi) amend (or waive any provision of) any Organizational Documents of the Company or its Subsidiaries;

(xii) make any change in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries’ authorized share capital or change, modify, issue, transfer, subject to a Lien, sell or pledge, or authorize the issuance, sale or pledge of, additional equity interests or Equity Rights (including Company Shares or Options), except for (i) issuances of Company Shares as may result from the exercise of Vested Options outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, and (ii) issuances of shares in a Subsidiary to its parent company;

(xiii) pay or agree to pay, grant, increase, fund or accelerate the vesting or payment of any pension, retirement allowance or other employee benefit not contemplated by any Benefit Plan to any director, officer or employee, whether past or present, in excess of $300,000, other than as required by applicable Law or Contract in effect on the date hereof;

(xiv) (A) increase the compensation or benefits (including severance benefits) payable or provided to any employees, officers, directors or other individual service providers of the Company and its Subsidiaries, other than increases made in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice with respect to any employee whose target annual cash compensation does not exceed $300,000; (B) take any action to amend or waive any performance or vesting criteria or accelerate the vesting, exercisability, funding or payment or benefit under any Benefit Plan, including under Unvested Options or Unvested Growth Shares; (C) grant or provide any additional rights to, or enter into any agreement providing for, severance, retention, change-in-control or termination pay or other termination benefit to any employees, officers, directors or other individual service providers of the Company and its Subsidiaries, otherwise than in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, all of which arrangements shall be treated as Transaction Expenses hereunder (where consistent with such definition); (D) create, enter into or adopt any new Benefit Plan or amend, terminate or otherwise make any material change to any existing Benefit Plan (including all sales commission and similar plans) (or any plan, agreement or arrangement that would be a Benefit Plan if in effect on the date hereof) in each case where such activity would be reasonably expected to result in a Liability to the Company and its Subsidiaries in excess of $300,000 per annum; (E) fail to make any contributions to any Benefit Plan when due (except as would not result in a material Liability to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries); or (F) hire any officer or other employee whose target annual cash compensation exceeds $300,000, or terminate the employment of any current officer or other employee whose target annual cash compensation exceeds $300,000, other than for “cause”;

(xv) make any material adverse change to any privacy policy or the operation or security of any material IT Systems, other than as required by Law;

(xvi) (A) other than in the ordinary course of business, enter into any Contract that would be a Material Contract (if in existence on the date of this Agreement), (B) waive, release or assign any material right, claim or remedy under any Material Contract, or (C) amend, voluntarily cancel, voluntarily fail to renew or otherwise prematurely terminate any Material Contract, other than in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that if Parent fails to respond to the Company’s written request for approval of any such action (which response may include a request for additional information) within three Business Days of receipt of any such request, Parent shall be deemed to have given its written consent to such action, and further provided that this clause (xvi) shall not apply in respect of any Contract that would be a Material Contract only pursuant to Section 3.11(a)(viii), to the extent that such Contract is terminated prior to the Measurement Time);

 

51


(xvii) enter into any new line of business;

(xviii) enter into, modify or amend, any Contract, or engage in any dealings or transaction, with any Related Party, other than Contracts with employees or consultants in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or any Contract terminated prior to the Measurement Time;

(xix) settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any Order with respect to the Match Litigation, in each case save (A) in respect of any settlement of the Match Litigation where (x) such settlement provides only for the payment of monetary damages (and does not impose any conditions or restrictions on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of the future operations of their respective business), and (y) there is no admission of Liability on the part of, and no finding or admission of any violation of any Law or any violation of the rights of any Person by, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) in respect of consent to the entry of an Order, where the Company has requested consent from Parent, a delay in Parent’s response will prejudice the Company with respect to such Order and Parent has not provided or refused such consent within 24 hours of the request being made;

(xx) acquire an interest in any U.S. entity (including, for the avoidance of doubt, forming any new entity that is a U.S. entity), other than any such entity treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes; or

(xxi) agree or commit to do any of the foregoing.

(b) Nothing in this Section 5.3 shall prevent or restrict the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from:

(i) taking any action or omitting to take any action to the extent required by applicable Law or required by a regulatory authority of competent jurisdiction;

(ii) taking any action to the extent required by an emergency situation which impacts the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, where the Company has requested consent to such action from the Parent and such consent has not been provided or refused within 2 (two) Business Days;

(iii) taking any action to the extent required by this Agreement or any other Transaction Document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, entering into any of the Transaction Documents, the consummation of the Pre-Closing Restructuring, the Finam Transactions and any other transactions contemplated by the Finam Transaction Documents, the Quack Acquisition Agreement or the Rollover Agreements, in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and any applicable Transaction Documents); or

(iv) taking any action with HMRC in respect of the ongoing VAT audit disclosed on Section 3.9(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedules , including the settlement of such audit, provided that the Company shall provide reasonably prompt notice to the Parent of any material developments regarding such audit and, and shall reasonably consult with the Parent regarding any material decisions to be taken in respect of such audit and shall take into account the reasonable comments of the Parent to the extent that the Tax liability is reasonably expected to result in an increase of the Tax Liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, for the Pre-Closing Tax Period.

(c) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall give Parent, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries prior to Closing, and, prior to the Closing, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over their respective businesses and operations.

 

52


(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) between the Measurement Time and the Closing, none of the Company or its Subsidiaries shall take any action (or omit to take any action) with the purpose of modifying the Net Cash Amount or Net Working Capital (in each case as if such amounts were measured as of immediately prior to the Closing rather than as of the Measurement Time) in order to increase the Closing Merger Consideration payable to the Sellers and (ii) during the two (2) week period prior to the Closing Date, the Company and/or its Subsidiaries shall not put any Cash on short-term deposit.

(e) From the date of this Agreement until Closing, neither the Parent nor any of its Affiliates shall, pursuant to this Agreement, be entitled to:

(i) receive detailed commercially sensitive information about the Business other than the information included in the Data Room or pursuant to reasonably necessary and appropriate “clean team” arrangements which comply with applicable Laws; or

(ii) without the prior consent of Company, which the Company shall not unreasonably withhold, condition or delay, contact any known suppliers to, or known customers of the Business in connection with or with respect to this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. For the avoidance of doubt nothing in this clause Section 5.3(d) shall prevent the Parent or any of its Affiliates from contacting any person in the ordinary course of its business or for any reason unconnected with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(f) During the Interim Period the Company shall use all reasonable endeavours to procure resignations, effective as of the Effective Time, of such directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries as notified to the Company in writing not later than 20 Business Days prior to Closing.

Section 5.4 Exclusivity. During the Interim Period, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that it will not, and will instruct and cause its Subsidiaries and its and their officers, employees and directors to not, and shall direct its and their investment bankers, financial advisors, attorneys and other agents and authorized representatives (“Representatives”) not to, and Seller Representative hereby covenants and agrees that it will not, and will cause its Affiliates and will direct its Representatives not to, directly or indirectly: (a) initiate, solicit or knowingly encourage, or knowingly facilitate, any inquiries or the making of any proposal relating to, any Competing Transaction, (b) initiate, enter into or continue discussions or negotiate with any Person with respect to any Competing Transaction, (c) knowingly endorse or knowingly agree to endorse any Competing Transaction or knowingly provide any information or materials to any Person in connection with any Competing Transaction or (d) enter into (or agree to enter into) any agreement in principle, letter of intent, understanding, term sheet, merger agreement, acquisition agreement, option agreement or other instrument relating to, or consummate, any Competing Transaction. Promptly following the receipt by the Company or any of its directors, officers or management-level employees (including any receipt by such Persons from any of the Company’s other Representatives) of any inquiry, proposal, request for information, or other communication relating to a Competing Transaction (and in any event within 48 hours thereafter), the Company will notify Parent in writing of such receipt. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Competing Transaction” means any of the following: (i) any acquisition, merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, joint venture, partnership, or similar transaction (or series of transactions) involving ten percent (10%) or more of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (as determined on a book-value basis (including Indebtedness secured solely by such assets)), in a single transaction or series of related transactions; (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of ten percent (10%) or more of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (as determined on a book-value basis (including Indebtedness secured solely by such assets)), in a single transaction or series of related transactions; (iii) any transaction contemplating either the issuance by the Company or any of its

 

53


Subsidiaries of ten percent (10%) or more of any class of its capital stock, or the acquisition (directly or indirectly) by any Person of ten percent (10%) or more of any class of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries share capital; or (iv) any similar transaction, in each case, other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents (including, but not limited to, the Finam Transactions and the Quack Restructuring). The Company shall, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, and shall direct their respective Representatives to, and the Seller Representative shall (and shall cause its Affiliates and their respective representatives to), immediately (A) cease any existing discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to a Competing Transaction and (B) terminate access for any Person (other than Parent, Merger Sub, their Affiliates and their respective advisors and representatives) to any data room in connection with any Competing Transaction (or potential Competing Transaction). It is understood and agreed that any violation of the foregoing provisions by (x) any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries Representatives, shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 5.4 by the Company, and (y) any of the Seller Representative’s Affiliates or its or their representatives, shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 5.4 by the Seller Representative.

Section 5.5 Shareholder Consent; Letter of Transmittal

(a) Immediately following the execution and delivery of this Agreement (but in any event within forty-eight (48) hours after the date hereof) the Company shall deliver to Parent a copy of the written resolution, which shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, evidencing the adoption of this Agreement, the Bermuda Merger Agreement and the approval of the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby (collectively, the “Shareholder Approval Matters”) by the Shareholders holding Company Shares. Notwithstanding the requisite affirmative vote required for the Shareholder Approval Matters under the Bermuda Companies Act or the Company’s Organizational Documents (including the Bye-Laws and the Shareholder Agreement), such written resolution shall (i) be delivered to all Shareholders entitled to vote on the Shareholder Approval Matters together with a copy of this Agreement and the Bermuda Merger Agreement, and (ii) shall be executed by Shareholders entitled to vote on such matters holding not less than ninety-five percent (95%) of the outstanding Company Common Shares and ninety-five percent (95%) of the holders of issued and outstanding Growth Shares (the “Shareholder Approval”). On or prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall use all reasonable endeavors to cause the necessary parties to the Shareholder Agreement to, take such actions necessary to terminate the Shareholders Agreement in its entirety as of the Effective Time.

(b) As soon as reasonably practicable after the date hereof, the Parties shall cause the Paying Agent to send each Shareholder a Letter of Transmittal, together with any other applicable Exchange Documents (including, if applicable, IRS Form W-8 or IRS Form W-9) and instructions for the completion and return of such Exchange Documents so sent. In the event an Optionholder exercises a Vested Option subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the Effective Time or in the event any Company Shares are transferred subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall promptly upon notice of such exercise or transfer deliver a Letter of Transmittal to such exercising holder or transferee, as applicable, together with any other applicable Exchange Documents (including, if applicable, IRS Form W-8 or IRS Form W-9) and instructions for the completion and return of such Exchange Documents so sent.

Section 5.6 Confidentiality. Each Seller (including, if applicable, the Seller Representative), by virtue of approval of the Merger and this Agreement or by accepting any consideration payable to such Seller hereunder, (a) acknowledges that, through his, her or its ownership of and relationship with and involvement in the operation of the Company and its Subsidiaries or duties and rights under this Agreement or any Transaction Document (as applicable), he, she or it has gained Confidential Information concerning the Company, its Subsidiaries and their businesses and may gain additional Confidential Information concerning the Company, its Subsidiaries and their businesses pursuant to this

 

54


Agreement, (b) acknowledges that disclosing this Confidential Information to third parties from and after the Closing would be detrimental to Parent and the Company, its Subsidiaries and their businesses and could place Parent and the Company, its Subsidiaries and their businesses at a competitive disadvantage and (c) agrees that, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, he, she or it shall, for a period of two years from and after the Closing, hold and shall cause its representatives and Affiliates to hold (and be responsible for any breach by its representatives or Affiliates of this Section 5.6), in strict confidence and not, directly or indirectly, disclose (except, in each case, as may be necessary to enforce or comply with its rights under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document (as applicable) or, with respect to employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries, the performance of their duties as such) without the prior written consent of Parent, any and all Confidential Information (including Confidential Information provided to Seller Representative or any of its representatives after the Closing pursuant to this Agreement); provided that this Section 5.6 shall not prevent disclosure of such information (1) to such Person’s representatives who have a need to know such information for tax or financial reporting reasons and are informed of their obligation to hold such information confidential to the same extent as is applicable to the disclosing Person under this Section 5.6 (provided, that the disclosing Person shall be responsible for the breach of any of the terms of this Section 5.6 by such Persons as if they were such Seller), (2) as is requested or required to be disclosed by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, administrative body or governmental body, or by subpoena, summons or legal process (including complying with any oral or written questions, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, civil investigative demand or similar process to which such Seller or any of its Affiliates is subject) or otherwise in connection with any legal proceedings for the enforcement by any Party of its rights under this Agreement or any Transaction Document, or (3) in the case of any Seller that is also a manager, director or officer of the Surviving Company or its Affiliates, in the performance of their duties for or on behalf of such Person. The foregoing restrictions and obligations under this Section 5.6 shall not apply to: (A) any Confidential Information that is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure, directly or indirectly, by a breach of this Section 5.6, (B) any information obtained by such Person following the Closing on a non-confidential basis from a third party not acting on behalf of Parent or the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, and of which such Person has no reason to believe is violating any obligation of confidentiality to Parent or the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (C) any information required by Law, rule or regulation, or by any listing agreement with any national securities exchange to be disclosed by such Person (provided that, in such event, to the extent practicable and permitted under applicable Laws such disclosing Person shall give Parent prior written notice and reasonably cooperate, at Parent’s expense, to obtain confidential treatment or other appropriate protection and, if confidential treatment is not obtained, disclose only such information as is, required by Law to be so disclosed), or (D) any information that is independently developed by or for the Seller or any of its Affiliates without the use of any Confidential Information. The provisions contained in this Section 5.6 shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any confidentiality or similar agreements entered into for the benefit of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or Parent or any of Parent’s Affiliates) by any Seller and nothing herein shall be deemed to supersede, amend or alter the obligations of any Seller thereunder (those being separately agreed to for different consideration) and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms.

Section 5.7 Quack Acquisition Agreement and Quack IP License. The Company and the Seller Representative shall cause to be executed and effected as soon as reasonably practicable following the date hereof but effective immediately prior to the Measurement Time the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Quack Acquisition Agreement, the Quack IP License and the Quack Promissory Note, including by taking all actions necessary to ensure the execution and delivery of (A) the Quack Acquisition Agreement, the Quack IP License and the Quack Promissory Note by Eyelinkmedia Holding Limited to the Company, (B) all agreements, instruments, documents, certificates and contracts contemplated by such agreement to be executed at, and in connection with, the consummation of the

 

55


transactions contemplated by the Quack Acquisition Agreement and the Quack IP License. The Company shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, take all reasonable steps to maintain in full force and effect the Quack Acquisition Agreement and the Quack IP License in accordance with the respective terms thereof following execution thereof. The Company shall give Parent prompt written notice upon receipt by it or any of its Affiliates of any written notice or other communication from any Person with respect to (1) any failure to comply with the material terms of the Quack Acquisition Agreement and the Quack IP License by any party thereto or (2) any actual or threatened termination or repudiation (whether in whole or in part) of the Quack Acquisition Agreement and the Quack IP License. Without the prior written consent of Parent, the Company shall not permit any amendment, restatement, supplement or modification to be made to, or any waiver of any provision or remedy under, the Quack Acquisition Agreement and the Quack IP License, or release or consent to the termination of the obligations of the other parties to the Quack Acquisition Agreement and the Quack IP License, in each case, assuming such documents were executed as of the date hereof.

Section 5.8 Pre-Closing Restructuring.

(a) Parent shall prepare and deliver to the Company promptly, and by no later than 20 Business Days after the date of this Agreement initial drafts of all IRS Form 8832 elections outlined in Annex F. The Company and Parent shall take all reasonable steps to agree to final versions of such IRS Form 8832 elections promptly and in any case by the date that is 5 Business Days prior to Closing. At or prior to Closing, the Company shall, and shall cause its applicable Subsidiaries to, validly execute and file such IRS Form 8832 elections in accordance with the sequencing and effective dates set forth therein (the “Pre-Closing Restructuring”). Such IRS Form 8832s shall not be filed until after the Closing with the exception of the IRS Form 8832 pertaining to Bumble Holdings Limited which shall, following execution, be filed on the day prior to the Closing Date.

(b) From and after the Effective Time, Parent shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company and Sellers against any and all Damages suffered or incurred by the Company or Sellers to the extent arising out of, as a result of, in connection with or relating to the Pre-Closing Restructuring; provided that this indemnity shall not apply to any income Taxes incurred by WWH in connection with the Pre-Closing Restructuring.

(c) The provisions of Section 10.2(d), Section 10.2(e), and Section 10.2(f) shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Section 5.9 Appropriate Action; Consents; Filings.

(a) Save in respect of any filings or processes pursuant to Antitrust Laws, each party hereto shall: (i) give the other parties prompt notice of the making or commencement of any request, inquiry, investigation, action or legal proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity with respect to the Merger; (ii) keep the other parties reasonably informed as to the status of any such request, inquiry, investigation, action or legal proceeding; (iii) promptly inform the other parties of any communication to or from any Governmental Entity or third party regarding the Merger; and (iv) promptly furnish the other with copies of notices or other communications received by Parent or the Company, as the case may be, or any of their Subsidiaries, from any third party or any Governmental Entity with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each party hereto will have the right to review in advance, and each party will consult and cooperate with the other parties and will consider in good faith the views of the other parties in connection with, any filing, analysis, appearance, presentation, memorandum, brief, argument, opinion or proposal made or submitted in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, in each case, made or submitted to a Governmental Entity. In addition, except as may be prohibited by any Governmental Entity or by any Law, in connection with any such request, inquiry, investigation, action or

 

56


legal proceeding, each party hereto will permit authorized Representatives of the other parties to be present at each meeting or conference relating to such request, inquiry, investigation, action or legal proceeding and to have access to and be consulted in connection with any document, opinion or proposal made or submitted to any Governmental Entity in connection with such request, inquiry, investigation, action or legal proceeding.

(b) Prior to the Closing, each party shall keep the other parties reasonably informed regarding any lawsuits or other legal proceedings against it or any of its Affiliates relating to or challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the Merger (“Transaction Litigation”), except to the extent, in the reasonable judgment of such party, such action would jeopardize any privilege of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect thereto. The Company shall promptly advise Parent orally and in writing of the initiation of any Transaction Litigation and Company shall control the defense, negotiations or settlement of all Transaction Litigation. Company shall provide reasonably prompt notice to the Parent of any material developments regarding, and shall reasonably consult with and permit the Parent and its representatives to participate in the defense, negotiations or settlement of, any Transaction Litigation, and Company shall give consideration to the Parent’s advice with respect to such Transaction Litigation. Where compromise or settlement would require any admission of liability to be made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries nor any of its or their Representatives to, compromise, settle or come to a settlement arrangement regarding any Transaction Litigation unless the Parent shall have given its prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

Section 5.10 Minority Interests. Promptly following the date hereof, the Company shall, with respect to the Bumble Minorities, use all reasonable endeavors to cashout their shares in Bumble Holding, in each case, for a price per share that is equal to $1,250 per share (as adjusted for any combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization, or by way of stock split, stock dividend or other equity distribution). Such offer may include, at the Company’s discretion, an offer to acquire or require that any Bumble Minority irrevocably waives, forfeits and releases any rights, entitlements or other interests that such Bumble Minority has under any of the Shadow Equity Plans, such that upon the acceptance of such offer, such Bumble Minority shall have no remaining rights, entitlements or other interests under any Shadow Equity Plan, and the Company shall keep Parent reasonably informed of any material communications with such shareholders and any other material developments related to the matters contemplated by this Section 5.10.

Section 5.11 Tax Cooperation. The Company will cooperate with Parent in good faith in connection with any application for relief for UK stamp duty with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, provided that Parent shall reimburse Company promptly for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs, fees and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by it or its Subsidiaries in connection with such applications.

Section 5.12 Trademark Opposition. In the event that the Company has not received an executed agreement to assign to the Company any and all rights to U.S. serial no. 86/350269 (BUMBL) (and such mark) before the opposition deadline, the Company shall timely file with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office an opposition proceeding against U.S. serial no. 86/350269 (BUMBL) and shall prosecute such opposition diligently until the earlier of (i) final resolution of the proceeding or (ii) an executed agreement to assign any and all rights in such application (and such mark) to the Company. After the Company’s initial filing of the proceeding, Parent shall have a reasonable right of consultation with regard to the Company’s activities in connection with the foregoing.

 

57


ARTICLE VI

COVENANTS OF PARENT

Section 6.1 Confidentiality Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, any information provided to or obtained by the Company, Parent, Merger Sub or their respective authorized representatives pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to the Confidentiality Agreement; provided that the Confidentiality Agreement shall survive only until (and shall automatically and without any further action on the part of either party terminate upon) the earlier to occur of the Closing and the date it would otherwise terminate pursuant to its express terms. Further, if a conflict arises between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall control (including Section 13.2), and the execution of this Agreement shall constitute written consent by the Company pursuant to the Confidentiality Agreement to all actions after the date hereof by Parent and the Parent Related Parties expressly permitted or expressly required by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents that would otherwise be restricted under the Confidentiality Agreement.

Section 6.2 Indemnification of Officers and Directors of the Company.

(a) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall procure, bind and pay in full all premiums for a tail insurance coverage policy (the “Tail Insurance Coverage”) for the benefit of the officers and directors who, as of the Closing Date, are covered by the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ currently effective directors’, managers’ and officers’ liability insurance policy held by the Company (such persons, the “D&O Indemnified Parties”), which shall provide the D&O Indemnified Parties with coverage in respect of acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time in such individual’s capacity as such for a period of six (6) years following the Effective Time in an amount not less than, and that shall have other terms not materially less favorable to the D&O Indemnified Parties than, the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage presently maintained by the Company (for and on behalf of it and its Subsidiaries). Parent shall cause the Surviving Company to maintain any such Tail Insurance Coverage in full force and effect and continue to honor the obligations thereunder until the sixth anniversary of the Effective Time.

(b) From the Closing until the sixth anniversary of the Effective Time (but with respect to claims for indemnification made by any D&O Indemnified Party on or prior the sixth anniversary of the Effective Time, such period shall extend until the final resolution thereof), Parent (i) agrees to cause the Company and its Subsidiaries to honor in accordance with their terms the provisions of their respective Organizational Documents as in effect on the date hereof with respect to indemnification of the D&O Indemnified Parties for any acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Closing in and to the extent of their capacities as D&O Indemnified Parties (and not as shareholders or equity holders) and agrees such rights shall not be modified or amended in a manner materially adverse to such D&O Indemnified Parties for any acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Closing except as required by Law, unless such modification or amendment expands the rights of D&O Indemnified Parties to indemnification and (ii) shall cause the Surviving Company and its Subsidiaries to, to the fullest extent that the Surviving Company or its Subsidiaries would have been permitted to indemnify such D&O Indemnified Party under applicable Law and their Organizational Documents, (A) indemnify and hold harmless the D&O Indemnified Parties against all D&O Expenses (as defined below) and all Damages, claims, judgments and amounts paid in settlement in respect of any threatened, pending or completed claim, action or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, based on or arising out of or relating to the fact that such Person is or was a director or officer of any of the Company and its Subsidiaries or arising out of acts or omissions occurring on or prior to the Closing (a “D&O Indemnifiable Claim”) and (B) advance to such D&O Indemnified Parties all D&O Expenses incurred in connection with any D&O Indemnifiable Claim promptly after receipt of statements therefor; provided that, the former director, officer or manager to whom such expenses are advanced provides an undertaking to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such D&O Indemnified Party is not entitled to such

 

58


indemnification. Any D&O Indemnifiable Claims shall continue until such D&O Indemnifiable Claim is disposed of or all Orders in connection with such D&O Indemnifiable Claim are fully and finally satisfied. For the purposes of this Agreement, “D&O Expenses” shall include attorneys’ fees and all other costs, charges and expenses paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, to be a witness in or participate in any D&O Indemnifiable Claim.

(c) If Parent or the Surviving Company or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person, and shall not be the continuing or surviving company or entity in such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each case, the Parent shall procure that proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Parent or the Surviving Company, as applicable, shall, from and after the consummation of such transaction, succeed to (or otherwise assume) the indemnification and other obligations set forth in this Section 6.2.

(d) The provisions of this Section 6.2 shall survive the consummation of the Merger and the Effective Time and (i) are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each D&O Indemnified Party, and his or her heirs and shall be binding on all successors and assigns of Parent and the Surviving Company and (ii) are in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any such Person may have by Contract or otherwise.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (including this Section 6.2) Parent, Merger Sub, the Surviving Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates shall not be required to purchase Tail Insurance Coverage or otherwise provide any D&O Indemnified Party with indemnification or expense reimbursement with respect to any claim or Damage related to the Finam Transactions.

Section 6.3 Employee Matters.

(a) Unless otherwise agreed between any Continuing Employee and Parent, Parent shall, or shall cause the Company or one of its Subsidiaries to, provide (i) from and after the Closing Date until the one (1) year anniversary thereof (or earlier cessation of employment, as applicable), a base salary or base wages and target cash bonus opportunity to each Continuing Employee at an annual rate that is no less than the annual rate of the base salary or base wages and target cash bonus opportunity that was provided to such employee immediately prior to the Closing and (ii) from and after the Closing Date until the one (1) year anniversary thereof (or earlier cessation of employment, as applicable), employee benefits (excluding any change of control, sale, retention or similar bonus arrangements, defined benefit pension, or equity or equity-linked compensation) that are substantially similar, in the aggregate, to the employee benefits provided to employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Closing Date. Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude Parent, the Surviving Company or any or any of its Subsidiaries from terminating the employment of any employee at any time on or after the Closing or require any payment of compensation or provision of benefits to such person thereafter.

(b) Except as specifically provided herein, Parent shall use all reasonable endeavors to cause service rendered by employees of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries prior to the Closing Date to be taken into account for purposes of participation and vesting (but not for other purposes, including benefit accruals under any defined benefit plan), as applicable, under all employee benefit plans, programs, policies and arrangements of Parent and its Subsidiaries (including the Company and each of its Subsidiaries) from and after the Closing Date, to the same extent as such service was taken into account under corresponding plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such purposes. Nothing herein shall result, or require any action that would result, in the duplication of any benefits. Without limiting the foregoing, Parent shall use

 

59


all reasonable endeavors to cause employees of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries to not be subject to any pre-existing condition or limitation under any health or welfare plan of Parent or its Subsidiaries (including the Company and each of its Subsidiaries) for any condition for which such employee would have been entitled to coverage under the corresponding plan of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries in which such employee participated immediately prior to the Closing Date.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing contained in this Section 6.3, whether express or implied, shall confer upon any third party, or any current or former employee of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or Parent, any entitlement, rights or remedies (including any right to benefits, compensation, employment or continued employment for any specified period), of any nature or kind whatsoever under or by reason of this Section 6.3 and no employee shall be deemed a third-party beneficiary of this Section 6.3. No provision of this Section 6.3 is intended to modify, amend or create any employee benefit plan of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or Parent or prohibit Parent, the Surviving Company or their respective Affiliates and Subsidiaries from amending, modifying or terminating any benefit plan or obligate Parent, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Affiliates’ to maintain any particular compensation or benefit plan, program, policy or arrangement or create any obligations of the Parties with respect to any Benefit Plan or other employee benefit plan of Parent or the Company or their Subsidiaries.

Section 6.4 Rollover Agreements. Parent (or an Affiliate of Parent) and certain of the Rollover Participants (and, if applicable, the Company and certain of its Subsidiaries), have entered into as of the date hereof or will enter into prior to Closing, an equity exchange and/or investment agreement (a “Rollover Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, such Rollover Participant will contribute to Parent (or such Affiliate of Parent) prior to the Closing a portion of such Rollover Participant’s Company Common Shares (whether received in connection with the Rollover transactions or otherwise) in exchange for equity interests of Parent (or such Affiliate of Parent) (such transactions, the “Rollover”, and such Company Common Shares, the “Rollover Equity”). Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, including Article II, the Rollover Equity held directly or indirectly by Parent (or an Affiliate of Parent) as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Rollover Agreements shall not be converted at the Effective Time into, and shall not become, the right to receive a portion of the Estimated Closing Merger Consideration as provided in Section 2.3(b) and Section 2.3(c), and instead be treated as set forth in this Section 6.4; provided that the Rollover Participant’s Pro Rata Share of the amounts, if any, payable pursuant to the last sentence of Section 2.9(b), Section 2.10 or Section 10.6(a) attributable to the Rollover Equity will be treated for all purposes hereunder as if such Rollover Equity were still held by the applicable Rollover Participant as of the Closing, and when and if such amounts become payable hereunder, shall be paid to such Rollover Participant as if such Rollover Participant held such Rollover Equity as of the Closing. For the avoidance of doubt, the Rollover Equity will be treated as outstanding as of the Closing for purposes of the calculation of the Pro Rata Share and the Allocation Schedule for all purposes hereunder. In connection with the Rollover, the Company shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, reasonably cooperate with Parent, Parent’s Affiliates, Merger Sub and the Rollover Participants in connection with, and to the fullest extent reasonably necessary (or otherwise reasonably requested by Parent) to permit and effect, the Rollover contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 6.5 R&W Insurance Policy. Parent shall ensure that the R&W Insurance Policy provides that, (1) each insurer expressly waives and releases any right of subrogation, or rights acquired by assignment arising under the R&W Insurance Policy, against the Sellers in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby except in cases of Seller fraud and (2) each insurer expressly agrees that Parent and its Affiliates shall not be required or obligated to seek recovery or recourse from the Sellers under the sections of this Agreement that relate to Breach (as defined in the R&W Insurance Policy) except as provided in clause (1) in connection with the subrogation rights of the insurers. Parent covenants

 

60


and agrees to not cancel, redeem or take any action that would adversely affect the rights of Sellers under or in connection with the terms and conditions of the R&W Insurance Policy. Parent and its Affiliates will not (i) amend, waive or otherwise modify the R&W Insurance Policy in any manner that would allow the insurers thereunder or any other Person to, except in the case of fraud by the Company in the making of warranties in this Agreement, subrogate or otherwise make or bring any action or proceedings against any Seller, any Seller’s equityholders, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates or any past, present or future director, manager, officer, employee or advisor of any Seller or the Company or any its Subsidiaries based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement or that would reasonably be likely to result in any such Person having any Liability arising from any breach of any warranty in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.

ARTICLE VII

JOINT COVENANTS

Section 7.1 Government Approvals; Antitrust Filings.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company and Parent shall cooperate with each other and use (and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to use) all reasonable endeavors to take or cause to be taken all actions, and do or cause to be done all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as practicable and in any event by or before the Outside Date, including (i) preparing and filing as promptly as practicable all documentation to effect all necessary notices, reports and other filings and to obtain as promptly as reasonably practicable the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period, and to obtain all necessary actions, non-actions, waivers, consents, registrations, approvals, permits and authorizations that may be required, necessary or advisable to be obtained from any third party and/or any Governmental Entity in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including under the HSR Act and the other applicable Antitrust Laws (including, for the avoidance of the doubt, the applicable Specified Antitrust Laws) and, if applicable, the BMA.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing, each of Parent and the Company shall use all reasonable endeavors to make the initial filings required by it under the Specified Antitrust Laws with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (which filings will include, where applicable, a request for “early termination” with respect to the waiting periods under the HSR Act and any other Specified Antitrust Laws) as soon as reasonably practicable and advisable following the date hereof; provided that such filings under the HSR Act shall be made within ten (10) Business Days after the date hereof. Further, each of Parent and the Company shall use all reasonable endeavors to make all subsequent and other filings and submissions required under the Specified Antitrust Laws in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as soon as reasonably practicable after the date hereof.

(c) Each of Parent and the Company agrees to make available as promptly as practicable to the other’s counsel such information and materials as each of them may reasonably request, and as may be appropriate or required under applicable Antitrust Laws or otherwise, relative to its business, assets and property or otherwise as may be required of each of them to file any information requested or required by such Governmental Entities under the applicable Antitrust Laws; provided that any information or materials provided to the other party pursuant to this Section 7.1 may be provided on an “outside counsel only” basis, if appropriate, and that information or materials may also be redacted (i) to remove references concerning the valuation of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries, (ii) as necessary to comply with contractual arrangements and obligations and (iii) as necessary to address reasonable attorney-client or other privilege or confidentiality concerns. Parent shall pay and shall be solely responsible for the payment of all filing fees paid to Governmental Entities for the filings under any Antitrust Laws in connection with the transactions contemplated herein.

 

61


(d) The Parties shall coordinate and cooperate with one another in exchanging and providing such information to each other and in making the filings and requests referred to in this Section 7.1 and provide such assistance as may be reasonably requested by any other party hereto in connection with the foregoing. Except as may be required or prohibited by any Governmental Entity or by Law, each of Parent and the Company shall promptly inform the other Party of any written or substantive oral communication to or from any Governmental Entity regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. None of the Parties shall enter into any agreement with any Governmental Entity not to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, except with the prior written consent of the other Parties. No Party shall independently participate in any meeting or communication with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with any Governmental Entity in respect of any filings, investigation or other inquiry that is the subject of this Section 7.1 without giving the other Parties’ sufficient and reasonable prior notice of the meeting to the extent practicable and, to the extent practicable and permitted by such Governmental Entity and applicable Law, the opportunity to attend and/or participate in such meeting or communication; provided, however, that the requirements of this provision shall not apply to any portion of a meeting or discussion between Parent or its Affiliates or representatives, on the one hand, and any Governmental Entity, on the other hand, solely to the extent such a meeting or communication relates only to Parent (or any of its Affiliate’s) confidential business information. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Parent shall, on behalf of the Parties, control and direct all communications and strategy in dealing with any Governmental Entity under the HSR Act or other Antitrust Laws; provided that Parent shall consider in good faith the views and comments of the Company and its outside counsel with respect to such communications and strategies.

(e) Parent shall take, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to take, any and all actions necessary to obtain any clearances required under or in connection with any applicable Antitrust Laws and enable all waiting periods under any applicable Antitrust Laws to expire, in each case to the extent required to fulfil the conditions at Section 8.3(c) as soon as reasonably practicable after the date of this Agreement and in any case prior to the Outside Date, including promptly complying with any requests for additional information by any Governmental Entity and consenting to any Remedies in order to obtain all such clearances. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, nothing in this Section 7.1 or Section 7.2 or any other provision of this Agreement shall require Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to take or agree to take any action with respect to any other of Parent’s Affiliates (including The Blackstone Group Inc. and any investment funds or investment vehicles affiliated with, or managed or advised by, The Blackstone Group Inc. or any portfolio company (as such term is commonly understood in the private equity industry) or investment of The Blackstone Group Inc. or of any such investment fund or investment vehicle, but excluding the Company and its subsidiaries), for the avoidance of doubt, excluding the Company and its Subsidiaries and any Remedies that may be undertaken in respect of the Business.

(f) The Company, Parent and Merger Sub shall not take any actions or do, or cause to be done, any things that would be reasonably likely to (i) prevent, materially delay or materially impede receipt of any clearance from any Governmental Entity, (ii) prevent or materially delay Closing, (iii) extend any waiting or notice period under any applicable law with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (iv) cause any Governmental Entity to object to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, in the case of the Company save to the extent otherwise required by this Agreement or applicable Law, or as requested or required by the Parent.

Section 7.2 Financing; Financing Cooperation.

(a) Parent acknowledges and agrees that the Seller Representative, the Sellers, the Company, their respective Affiliates and their respective directors, managers, members, officers, employees, agents and representatives have no responsibility for, and shall not incur any liability to any Person under, the Debt Financing that Parent may raise in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any cooperation provided by such Persons pursuant to this Section 7.2.

 

62


(b) Parent shall use, and cause its Affiliates to use, all reasonable endeavors to arrange, consummate and obtain the Financing contemplated by the Commitment Letters on the respective terms set forth therein, including by using all reasonable endeavors to take or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or use all reasonable endeavors to cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to (i) maintain in effect the Financing and the Commitment Letters on terms not materially less favorable to the Parent and Merger Sub than are set forth in the Commitment Letters as of the date of this Agreement, (ii) enter into definitive financing agreements with respect to the Debt Financing, so that such agreements are in effect no later than the Closing Date on terms and conditions not materially less favorable to the Parent and Merger Sub than the respective terms and conditions contained in the Commitment Letters (including the fee letters related thereto) on the date of this Agreement;, and (iii) satisfy on a timely basis all conditions applicable to Parent and Merger Sub in such definitive financing agreements and consummate the Financing at the Closing. Prior to the Closing, Parent shall not agree to, or permit, any amendment or modification of, or waiver under, the Commitment Letters or other documentation relating to the Financing that (i) would reduce the aggregate amount of the Debt Financing or Equity Financing, including by changing the amount of fees to be paid or original issue discount (other than any market flex provisions) from that contemplated in the Debt Commitment Letter to less than the amounts provided for in the Debt Commitment Letter as of the date of this Agreement, unless such amount is replaced with an amount of new equity financing or debt financing on conditions no less favorable to Parent, taken as a whole, than the terms set forth in the Debt Commitment Letter, (ii) would impose new or additional material conditions, or otherwise expand, amend or modify any of the conditions to the receipt of the Debt Financing to fund the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in a manner materially adverse to the Sellers or the Company, (iii) would materially delay or prevent the Closing, (iv) would adversely impact the ability of the Parent or any of its Affiliates (if applicable) to enforce its rights against the other parties to the Commitment Letters, or (v) would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect Parent’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, in each case without the prior written consent of the Seller Representative (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). The Parent and its Affiliates shall not allow for any amendment to the Equity Commitment Letters without the prior written consent of the Company which may be withheld in its sole and absolute discretion.

(c) The Parent shall give the Seller Representative and the Company prompt written notice upon (A) becoming aware of any breach or default by any party to the Commitment Letters or any definitive agreements relating to the Financing or (B) receipt by it or any of its Affiliates of any written notice or other written communication from any Person with respect to (i) any failure to comply with the terms of the Commitment Letters or any definitive agreements relating to the Financing by any party thereto, (ii) any actual or threatened termination or repudiation (whether in whole or in part) of any of the Commitment Letters or any definitive agreements relating to the Financing by any party thereto or (iii) any material dispute or disagreement between or among any of the parties to any of the Commitment Letters or any definitive agreements relating to the Financing solely to the extent such disagreement or dispute relates to the obligation of the parties thereto to fund their commitments thereunder or the availability of the Financing. Upon request by the Company, Parent shall inform the Seller Representative and the Company on a current basis and in reasonable detail of the status of the Parent’s efforts to arrange the Financing and to satisfy the conditions thereof and of material developments concerning the timing of the closing of the Financing contemplated by the Commitment Letters. If any of the Debt Financing or the Debt Commitment Letter (or any definitive financing agreement relating thereto) expire, are terminated or otherwise become unavailable prior to the Closing, in whole or in part, for any reason, Parent shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to use all reasonable endeavors to promptly to arrange for alternative financing to replace the debt financing contemplated by such expired or terminated commitments or arrangements in an amount at least

 

63


equal to the Debt Financing or such unavailable portion thereof, on terms and conditions (after taking into account any “flex” provisions applicable to such alternative financing (as defined below)) not less favorable to Parent, taken as a whole, than the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter (after taking into account any “flex” provisions contemplated by the fee letter associated with the Debt Commitment Letter), in any event, without adding new or additional conditions or contingencies, or amending, modifying or expanding existing conditions, to receipt of the Debt Financing in a manner more onerous than those set forth in Debt Commitment Letter (including the fee letters related thereto) as of the date of this Agreement, and without inclusion of any other terms that would (A) prevent, impede or materially delay the ability of the Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Closing, (B) make any portion of the Debt Financing (or satisfaction of the conditions to obtaining the Debt Financing) less likely to be obtained or prevent, impede or materially delay the funding of the Debt Financing or (C) adversely impact the ability of the Parent or any of its Affiliates (if applicable) to enforce its rights against the parties to the Debt Commitment Letter. For the avoidance of doubt, the failure to arrange for any such alternative Debt Financing does not relieve the Parent of any of its obligations under this Agreement. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “Debt Commitment Letter” shall be deemed to include any commitment letter (or similar agreement) with respect to any alternative financing arranged in compliance herewith (and any Debt Commitment Letter remaining in effect at the time in question).

(d) Prior to the Closing, the Company shall provide and the Company shall, and shall use all reasonable endeavors to cause its Subsidiaries and each of its and their respective representatives to provide, at Parent’s sole cost and expense, such cooperation reasonably requested by Parent in connection with the Debt Financing (provided that such requested cooperation does not unreasonably interfere in any material respect with the business or operations of the Company or the Company’s Subsidiaries), including the following: (i) upon reasonable advance notice and during normal business hours of the Company, causing the appropriate senior officers of the Company to participate in a reasonable number of meetings, presentations, road shows, due diligence sessions (or other sessions with prospective lenders, investors and rating agencies), drafting sessions and sessions with rating agencies; (ii) assisting with the preparation of appropriate and customary materials for rating agency presentations, bank information memoranda and similar documents reasonably required in connection with the Debt Financing (including, to the extent necessary, customary authorization letters and an additional bank information memorandum that does not include material nonpublic information); (iii) assisting with the preparation of any pledge and security documents or other definitive financing documents as may be reasonably requested by Parent; provided that no obligation of the Company or its Subsidiaries under any such document or agreement shall be effective until the Closing; (iv) facilitating the pledging of collateral reasonably requested by Parent (including the delivery of original share certificates, together with share powers executed in blank, with respect to the Company and its Company’s Subsidiaries); provided that no pledge shall be effective until the Closing, (v) reasonably facilitating the taking of all corporate actions by the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to entering such definitive financing documents and otherwise necessary to permit consummation of the Debt Financing, (vi) cooperating reasonably with due diligence requests, to the extent customary and reasonable, in connection with the Financing; (vii) executing a true and correct certificate of the chief financial officer of the Company with respect to solvency matters in the form of Annex I of Exhibit C of the Debt Commitment Letter (or substantially similar provisions in any alternative financing); (viii) providing Parent at least 3 Business Days prior to the Closing Date all customary documentation and other information with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, as is reasonably requested in writing by Parent at least 10 Business Days prior to the Closing Date that is required in connection with the Debt Financing under applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and any certification required under beneficial ownership regulations; (ix) assisting Parent in procuring public corporate ratings and corporate family ratings in respect of the Company and public ratings of the facilities contemplated by the Debt Financing, (x) assisting with the payoff of existing indebtedness of the Company that will be repaid at or prior to Closing and the release of

 

64


related liens on or prior to the Closing Date (including using all reasonable endeavors to obtain customary payoff letters, lien terminations and other instruments of discharge, in each case in a form reasonably acceptable to Parent); and (ix) furnishing on a confidential basis to Parent and its financing sources, as promptly as reasonably practicable, the financial information related to the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries necessary to satisfy the conditions set forth in paragraph 5 of Exhibit C to the Debt Commitment Letter and such financial information reasonably requested by Parent for use in connection with the Debt Commitment Letter; provided that, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, until the Closing occurs, none of the Seller Representative, the Company, the Company’s Subsidiaries or their respective directors, officers, managers, members, employees, stockholders, representatives and Affiliates shall (A) be required to pay any commitment or other similar fee, (B) have any liability or obligation under the Debt Commitment Letters, any loan agreement or any related document or any other agreement or document related to the Debt Financing (other than with respect to customary authorization letters contemplated above) or (C) be required to take any action that will (1) conflict with or violate their respective Organizational Documents or any applicable Laws, orders or the contracts governing their respective existing Indebtedness for borrowed money or result in the contravention of, or that could reasonably be expected to result in a violation or breach of, or default under, any material contract to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, (2) unreasonably disrupt the ordinary conduct of the business or operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries, (3) be required to incur any other liability in connection with the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter or (4) be required to (I) pass resolutions or consents, approve or authorize the execution of, or execute any document, agreement, certificate or instrument (other than any customary authorization letters referred to above) or take any other corporate action with respect to the Debt Financing that is not contingent on the Closing or that would be effective prior to the Effective Time or (II) provide or cause its legal counsel to provide any legal opinions that are not required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Section 7.2. Parent shall indemnify and hold harmless each Seller, the Seller Representative, the Company and its Subsidiaries, and each of their respective directors, officers, managers, members, employees, stockholders, representatives, advisors and Affiliates, from and against any and all liabilities or losses suffered or incurred by them in connection with the arrangement, alteration or consummation or loss of the Debt Financing, any other financing that Parent may raise in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, any cooperation provided pursuant to this Section 7.2, and any information utilized in connection therewith, in each case, except to the extent suffered or incurred as a result of the bad faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct or material breach of this Agreement by the Sellers, the Seller Representative or any of the Company or its Subsidiaries or, in each case, their respective representatives. Additionally, Parent shall, promptly upon written request by the Seller Representative on behalf of the Sellers or the Company, reimburse such party at or promptly after the Closing Date for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs, fees and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) to the extent such costs, fees and expenses are incurred by the Company or its Company’s Subsidiaries, and each of their respective directors, officers, managers, members, employees, stockholders, representatives, advisors and Affiliates in connection with any such party complying with the obligations under this Section 7.2.

Section 7.3 Further Assurances. If at any time after the Effective Time, the Surviving Company shall reasonably consider or be advised that any further assignments or assurances in Law or otherwise are necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm, of record or otherwise, in the Surviving Company, all rights, title and interests in all property and all privileges, powers and franchises of the Company, then the Surviving Company and its proper officers and directors, in the name and on behalf of the Company, shall execute and deliver all such proper deeds, assignments and assurances in law and take all reasonable endeavors to vest, perfect or confirm title to such property or rights in the Surviving Company and otherwise to carry out the purpose of this Agreement, and the proper officers and directors of the Surviving Company are fully authorized in the name of the Company to take any and all such action.

 

65


ARTICLE VIII

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

Section 8.1 Conditions to the Companys Obligations. The obligation of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is subject to the fulfillment (or waiver by the Company, to the extent permitted by Law) of each of the following conditions on or prior to the Closing:

(a) The warranties made by Parent and Merger Sub in Article IV of this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except for such warranties, which by their terms are expressly made as of a specific date, in which case the same shall continue on the Closing Date to be so true and correct as of the specified date), except where the failure of such warranties to be so true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, does not and is not reasonably expected to prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents.

(b) All obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to be performed hereunder prior to the Closing shall have been performed or complied with in all material respects.

(c) The transactions contemplated by the Founder Rollover Agreement shall have been consummated in accordance with the terms thereof.

(d) Parent shall have delivered to the Company each of the agreements, documents and instruments required to be delivered pursuant to Section 2.7(a).

Section 8.2 Conditions to Parents and Merger Subs Obligations. The obligation of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is subject to the fulfillment (or waiver by Parent and Merger Sub, to the extent permitted by Law) of each of the following conditions on or prior to the Closing:

(a) (i) (A) The Fundamental Warranties (other than the Fundamental Warranties in clause (ii) in the first sentence of Section 3.10 and Section 3.27), shall be true and correct in all respects except for any inaccuracies that are de minimis, and (B) the Fundamental Warranties in clause (ii) in the first sentence of Section 3.10 and Section 3.27, shall be true and correct in all respects, in each case, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date, in the case of each of clauses (A) and (B), and except to the extent such warranties, which by their terms, are expressly made as of a specific date, in which case the same shall continue on the Closing Date to be so true and correct as of the specified date; and (ii) all other warranties contained in Article III (excluding in Section 3.7(b), Section 3.7(c), Section 3.7(d), Section 3.9, Section 3.11, Section 3.12, Section 3.15, Section 3.16, Section 3.23, Section 3.24 and Section 3.25) shall be true and correct, in the case of clause (ii) disregarding all Qualifications contained therein, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except, in each case, to the extent such warranties, which by their terms, are expressly made as of a specific date, in which case the same shall continue on the Closing Date to be so true and correct as of the specified date), except, in the case of this clause (ii), where the failure of such warranties to be so true and correct (disregarding all Qualifications contained therein) does not constitute or result in, and would not reasonably be expected to constitute or result in, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) All obligations of the Company to be performed hereunder prior to the Closing shall have been performed or complied with in all material respects.

 

66


(c) The transactions contemplated by the Founder Rollover Agreement shall have been consummated in accordance with the terms thereof.

(d) The Company or the Seller Representative, as applicable, shall have delivered to Parent each of the documents required to be delivered at the Closing pursuant to Section 2.7(b).

Section 8.3 Joint Conditions to the Parties Obligations. The obligations of the Parties to close the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment of each of the following conditions on or prior to the Closing Date (any of which may be waived in writing by each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company, each as to only its respective obligation to effect the Closing, to the extent permitted by Law):

(a) The Shareholder Approval shall have been obtained in accordance with applicable Law and the Organizational Documents of the Company.

(b) No court or other Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law or Order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is in effect and restrains, enjoins or otherwise prohibits consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(c) All (i) waiting periods applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under the HSR Act shall have expired or have been terminated, (ii) the consents, approvals, or clearances under applicable Specified Antitrust Laws set forth on Section 8.3(c)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Schedules with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been obtained or any applicable waiting period thereunder shall have been terminated or shall have expired and (iii) the consents, approvals, or clearances set forth on Section 8.3(c)(iii) of the Company Disclosure Schedules with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been obtained or any applicable waiting period thereunder shall have been terminated or shall have expired.

ARTICLE IX

NO SURVIVAL

Section 9.1 No Survival. None of the warranties of any Party contained in this Agreement or in any officer’s or secretary’s certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Closing, and no claim shall be brought by any Person in respect of any such warranty after the Closing. None of the agreements, obligations or covenants of any Party to be performed by any Party before the Closing shall survive the Closing, and no claim shall be brought by any Person in respect of any such agreement, obligation or covenant after the Closing. Unless otherwise indicated, agreements, obligations and covenants set forth in this Agreement which by their terms are required to be performed after the Closing, Article X, Article XII, Article XIII and this Section 9.1, shall survive the Closing in accordance with their terms and conditions. Nothing in this Section 9.1 or any other provision of this Agreement shall limit or restrict any claims in respect of fraud in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and nothing herein shall limit the rights to enforce any of the separate Transaction Documents entered into in connection with this Agreement (other than the certificates provided pursuant to Section 2.7(a)(ii), Section 2.7(b)(vi) or Section 2.7(b)(vii)).

 

67


ARTICLE X

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 10.1 Indemnification by Sellers.

(a) From and after the Effective Time, subject to the other provisions of this Article X and Section 9.1, the Sellers in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Share in the case of Section 10.1(a)(i), and Andrey Ogandzhanyants, in the case of Section 10.1(a)(ii) (as applicable, the “Indemnifying Parties”) shall indemnify and hold harmless Parent, Merger Sub, the Surviving Company, and each of their respective Affiliates and its and their respective officers, directors, managers, employees, agents or representatives of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “Parent Indemnified Parties”) against any and all Damages suffered or incurred by any Parent Indemnified Party as a result of, in connection with, or arising out of or relating to:

(i) a percentage (the “Contribution Percentage”) of any and all Damages suffered or incurred by any Parent Indemnified Party as a result of, in connection with, or arising out of or relating to the Match Litigation (the “Match Damages”), as follows;

(A) in respect of the first $20,000,000 of Match Damages, the Contribution Percentage shall be 100%;

(B) in respect of the next $80,000,000 of Match Damages, the Contribution Percentage shall be 70%; and

(C) in respect of the next $300,000,000 of Match Damages, the Contribution Percentage shall be 50%,

in each case only to the extent that a Match Resolution has not been achieved prior to the Measurement Time; and

(ii) any and all Damages suffered or incurred by any Parent Indemnified Party as a result of, in connection with, or arising out of or relating to the Quack Restructuring.

(b) Any and all indemnification payments required to be made to Parent Indemnified Parties in accordance with Section 10.1(a)(i) shall be made solely from the Match Indemnification Holdback Amount and/or by withholding or setting off against any Earn-Out Payment pursuant to Section 2.14(i) (it being understood that the right of set-off against any Earn-Out Payment is on a Seller by Seller basis).

(c) If and to the extent an indemnification payment is required to be made pursuant to Section 10.1(a)(i), Parent shall provide notice of such payment to the Seller Representative no later than five (5) Business Days after the determination of such indemnification payment as provided in this Article X and such payment shall reduce on a dollar-for-dollar basis the then outstanding amount of the Match Indemnification Holdback Amount. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if in respect of any payment required to be made pursuant to Section 10.1(a)(i) the amount of the remaining balance of the Match Indemnification Holdback Amount on the date that any such indemnification payment is to be made to the Parent Indemnified Parties is insufficient to cover the total amount of such indemnification payment (such deficiency between the amount in the Match Indemnification Holdback Amount and the total amount of the indemnification payment, the “Deficiency Amount”), then the Parties acknowledge and agree that (i) (A) the amount of any Earn-Out Payment that is due and payable pursuant to Section 2.14 shall be reduced by the amount of such Deficiency Amount and (B) if any Deficiency Amount remains outstanding following the reduction of such Earn-Out Payment to zero in accordance with the foregoing clause (A),

 

68


then (to the extent the obligations of the Parties under Section 2.14 have not ceased pursuant to Section 2.14(h)) the “Maximum Earn-Out Payment” shall be reduced by the amount of such outstanding Deficiency Amount that so remains, or (ii) if no Earn-Out Payment is then due and payable pursuant to Section 2.14, then (to the extent the obligations of the Parties under Section 2.14 have not ceased pursuant to Section 2.14(h)) the “Maximum Earn-Out Payment” shall be reduced by the amount of such Deficiency Amount.

Section 10.2 Certain Limitations.

(a) The Parent Indemnified Parties’ sole and exclusive recourse under Section 10.1(a)(i) shall be against the Match Indemnification Holdback Amount; provided that in the case of Section 10.1(a)(i) only, further recourse shall be available through the reduction of any then due and payable Earn-Out Payments, and then through reduction of the Maximum Earn-Out Payment, in that order and as described in Section 10.1(c). From and after the Effective Time, the indemnification provisions in this Article X shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of any party or Indemnified Party with respect to any and all claims arising out of breaches of representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement.

(b) The aggregate amount of the liability of Andrey Ogandzhanyants for all claims under Section 10.1(a)(ii) shall not exceed an amount equal to $25,000,000.

(c) The amount which any Indemnifying Party is or may be required to pay to any Parent Indemnified Party pursuant to this Article X shall be determined net of any amounts actually recovered by such Parent Indemnified Party in respect of the matters, facts or circumstances subject of the relevant breach, including under insurance policies, indemnities, any deduction, credit, refund or other reimbursement arrangements with respect to such Damages, and any amount of any Tax relief or Tax Benefit actually realized by any Parent Indemnified Party, in each case, that is actually recovered or actually realized (as applicable) in the year in which the indemnity payment is made or any prior year (in each case net of any costs of recovery incurred by or on behalf of such Parent Indemnified Party). The Parent Indemnified Parties shall not (collectively or individually) be entitled to recover damages or obtain payment, reimbursement, restitution or indemnity more than once for the same loss, damage, deficiency or breach.

(d) Save as expressly permitted in this Article X, the Parent Indemnified Parties hereby waive and relinquish any right of set-off or counterclaim, deduction or retention which they might otherwise have in respect of any claim or out of any payments which they may be obliged to make (or procure to be made) to the Sellers (directly or indirectly) pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise.

(e) No Indemnifying Party shall be liable to pay any amount in respect of any claim under Article X to the extent that such claim is based upon a liability which is contingent only or is otherwise not capable of being quantified unless and until such liability ceases to be contingent and becomes an actual liability or becomes capable of being quantified, as the case may be.

(f) No Indemnifying Party shall be liable to pay any amount in respect of any claim under this Article X to the extent that a specific allowance, provision or reserve in respect of the matter or thing giving rise to such claim has been made in the Financial Statements or Closing Statement (including, for these purposes, the calculations used for arriving at the Financial Statements or Closing Statement) and such specific allowance, provision or reserve results in an actual dollar-for-dollar reduction in the Closing Merger Consideration.

 

69


Section 10.3 Indemnification Claim Procedure (Generally).

(a) If any Parent Indemnified Party shall claim to have suffered Damages (other than with respect to a Third-Party Claim) for which indemnification is available pursuant to Section 10.1(a)(ii) (a “Quack Claim”), the Parent Indemnified Party shall promptly, and in any case within 30 days of discovery by the Parent Indemnified Party, notify the Seller Representative (which shall also be deemed notice to the Indemnifying Parties for the purposes hereof) in writing of such claim (such notice a “Direct Claim Notice”); provided, however, that no delay on the part of the Parent Indemnified Party in notifying the Seller Representative shall relieve the Indemnifying Parties from any obligation hereunder unless (and then solely to the extent that) the Indemnifying Parties are actually and materially prejudiced thereby and then only to the extent of such prejudice. Such Direct Claim Notice shall describe in reasonable detail, to the extent known to the Parent Indemnified Party at the time of such notice, (a) the facts and circumstances giving rise to such Proceeding or Damages, (b) the basis upon which indemnity is being sought hereunder, and (c) the amount (or a good faith estimate) of the Damages. In respect of the Quack Claim, if the Seller Representative (on behalf of the Indemnifying Parties) notifies the Parent Indemnified Party in writing that it does not dispute the claim described in such Direct Claim Notice or fails to notify the Parent Indemnified Party in writing within twenty (20) days after the Seller Representative’s receipt of such Direct Claim Notice whether the Seller Representative (on behalf of the Indemnifying Parties) disputes the claim described therein, then the Damages arising from the claim specified in such Direct Claim Notice will be conclusively deemed a liability of the Indemnifying Parties for which the relevant Parent Indemnified Party shall be entitled to indemnification under (and subject to the limitations set forth in) this Article X. If the Seller Representative has timely disputed the Indemnifying Parties’ liability with respect to a claim specified in a Direct Claim Notice by delivering a written notice to the Parent Indemnified Party within the twenty (20) day period after the Seller Representative’s receipt of the applicable Direct Claim Notice, then either party shall be permitted to bring appropriate proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to resolve such dispute.

(b) In order for a Parent Indemnified Party to be entitled to any indemnification provided for under Section 10.1(a)(ii) in respect of, in connection with, arising out of or involving any actual or threatened Proceeding or Damages claimed by any third Person against a Parent Indemnified Party (a “Third-Party Claim”), such Parent Indemnified Party shall promptly, and in any case within 30 days of discovery by the Parent Indemnified Party of the actual Proceeding (or threatened Proceeding, if such threat has been made in writing by such third Person) or Damages, give written notice of such Third-Party Claim to the Seller Representative (which shall also be deemed notice to the Indemnifying Parties for the purposes hereof); provided, however, that no delay on the part of the Parent Indemnified Party in notifying the Seller Representative shall relieve the Indemnifying Parties from any obligation hereunder unless (and then solely to the extent that) the Indemnifying Parties are actually and materially prejudiced thereby. Such notice shall describe in reasonable detail, to the extent known to the Parent Indemnified Party at the time of such notice, (i) the facts and circumstances giving rise to such Proceeding or Damages, (ii) the basis upon which indemnity is being sought hereunder, and (iii) the amount (or a good faith estimate) of the Damages.

(c) Following receipt of a notice of a Third-Party Claim from a Parent Indemnified Party pursuant to Section 10.3(b), the Seller Representative shall be entitled to assume the defense and control of such Third-Party Claim, at its sole cost and expense and with its own counsel reasonably acceptable to the Parent Indemnified Party, by delivery of written notice to the Parent Indemnified Party, but only so long as (i) such written notice is delivered to the Parent Indemnified Party within twenty (20) days after the date of receipt of such notice of a Third-Party Claim (subject to the provisions of this Article X), (ii) such written notice contains an irrevocable agreement by the Seller Representative that such claim is subject to indemnification under Section 10.1(a)(ii) if such Third-Party Claim is resolved in favor of such Third-Party or (iii) such Third-Party Claim involves only money damages and does not seek an injunction or other equitable relief. Where the Seller Representative assumes to take conduct of the defense or control of a Third-Party Claim, the Parent Indemnified Party shall use all reasonable endeavors to provide any

 

70


information, documentation, evidence (including witness evidence), and assistance as the Seller Representative may reasonably require in connection with the preparation for and conduct of any proceedings and/or negotiations relating to the Third-Party Claim. The Parent Indemnified Party may take any actions reasonably necessary to defend and control such Third-Party Claim prior to the time that it receives a timely written notice from the Seller Representative electing to assume the defense and control of such Third-Party Claim as contemplated by this Section 10.3(c). The Seller Representative shall be authorized to consent to a settlement of, or the entry of any judgment arising from, any Third-Party Claim, without the consent of any Parent Indemnified Party; provided that (A) such settlement provides only for the payment of monetary damages (and does not impose any injunctive relief or equitable remedy or otherwise impose any conditions or restrictions on any Parent Indemnified Party), (B) the Indemnifying Parties and/or the Seller Representative pay or cause to be paid all amounts arising out of such settlement or judgment concurrently with the effectiveness of such settlement (subject to the limitations in this Agreement), (C) the Seller Representative obtains, as a condition of any settlement or other resolution, a complete and unconditional release of each Parent Indemnified Party from any and all Liability in respect of such Third-Party Claim, and (iv) there is no admission of Liability on the part of any Parent Indemnified Party and no finding or admission of any violation of any Law or any violation of the rights of any Person by the Parent Indemnified Party.

(d) If the Seller Representative (i) advises the Parent Indemnified Party in writing within twenty (20) days of receipt from a Parent Indemnified Party of a notice of a Third-Party Claim that the Seller Representative does not elect to assume the defense and control of such Third-Party Claim or (ii) is not entitled to assume the defense and control of such Third-Party Claim for any reason set forth in Section 10.3(c), then the Parent Indemnified Party may defend and control such Third-Party Claim and the Seller Representative shall pay (or if the Seller Representative does not have sufficient funds to pay, Andrey Ogandzhanyants shall pay) the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket costs, expenses and other amounts (including reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel, accountants or other advisors or experts retained by the Parent Indemnified Party) incurred by the Parent Indemnified Party in connection with such Parent Indemnified Party’s defense and control of such claim and such fees, costs, expenses and other amounts shall be considered Damages of the Parent Indemnified Party to which this Article X applies; provided that the Parent Indemnified Party shall (A) provide the Seller Representative with copies of written communications related to any material development, correspondence or communication in relation to such Third-Party Claim, (B) promptly provide the Seller Representative with copies of all material submissions and filings relating to the Third-Party Claim in the form submitted, filed or sent, and (C) not be entitled to settle or compromise any such Third-Party Claim absent the written consent of the Seller Representative, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

(e) If the Seller Representative assumes the defense of any Third-Party Claim, the Seller Representative shall allow the Parent Indemnified Party a reasonable opportunity to participate in the defense of such Third-Party Claim with its own counsel and at its own expense; provided that if the Parent Indemnified Party has been advised by its counsel that there are one or more legal defenses available to it that are different from or additional to those available to the Seller Representative or any Indemnifying Party or that there is otherwise an actual or potential conflict between the interests of the Parent Indemnified Party and the Seller Representative or any Indemnifying Party, the Seller Representative shall pay (or if the Seller Representative does not have sufficient funds to pay, Andrey Ogandzhanyants shall pay) the fees and out-of-pocket costs, expenses and other amounts (including fees and expenses of legal counsel, accountants or other advisors or experts retained by the Parent Indemnified Party) incurred by the Parent Indemnified Party in connection with such Third-Party Claim and such fees, costs, expenses and other amounts shall be considered Damages of the Parent Indemnified Party to which this Article X applies. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and their respective representatives to, reasonably cooperate with the Seller Representative in the defense of any Third-Party Claim. In addition, the parties shall render to

 

71


each other such other assistance as may reasonably be requested by the other parties to ensure the proper and adequate defense of any Third-Party Claim, and the applicable party in charge of the defense and control of such Third-Party Claim shall keep the other parties reasonably apprised on a current basis as to the status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with respect to such Third-Party Claim.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the procedures set forth in this Section 10.3 shall not apply to the Match Litigation, which shall be subject to the procedures set forth in Section 10.4, including that the Match Indemnification Holdback Amount shall only be available to settle any amounts in respect of the Match Litigation.

Section 10.4 Indemnification Claim Procedures (Match Litigation).

(a) Following the Effective Time, the Surviving Company shall undertake and have sole discretion and authority with respect to the defense, control, prosecution, settlement or compromise of the Match Litigation, on behalf and in the name of the Surviving Company and its Subsidiaries, with counsel selected by the Surviving Company, provided that the Surviving Company and its Subsidiaries shall not, and Parent shall procure that such persons shall not, consent to or permit any settlement or compromise of, or payment in respect of (other than payment of Match Litigation Expenses pursuant to Section 10.4(c)), the Match Litigation, save to the extent that such settlement or compromise constitutes a Match Resolution.

(b) Following the Effective Time and until the date the Match Litigation is fully and finally dismissed with prejudice pursuant to a fully executed and binding settlement agreement or finally adjudicated on the merits (including by a court decision which cannot be appealed or has not been appealed within the applicable statutory deadline) (such final settlement or adjudication, including where achieved prior to the Effective Time, the “Match Resolution”, and such date, the “Match Resolution Date”), subject to the execution and delivery of a mutually acceptable confidentiality agreement (which includes customary “joint defense” and “common interest” protections) by Seller Representative, Parent and the Surviving Company, Parent shall cause the Surviving Company and its Subsidiaries to (i) reasonably consult with the Seller Representative and its counsel with respect to the Match Litigation if it is reasonably expected that the Match Resolution Date may be achieved by a court decision which has not been appealed within the applicable statutory deadline, (ii) provide the Seller Representative with copies of all material submissions, pleadings, filings and expert reports relating to the Match Litigation in the form submitted, filed or sent, and (iii) upon request from the Seller Representative, provide the Seller Representative and its counsel with reasonable access to reasonably requested documentation and records to the extent regarding the Match Litigation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, such access, information, documents or records described in this Section 10.4(b) may be redacted or withheld by Parent or the Surviving Company or its Subsidiaries as necessary, in the reasonable judgment of legal counsel to Parent or the Surviving Company, to preserve attorney-client privilege, work product privilege or to comply with applicable Law or any Order of a Governmental Entity.

(c) All reasonable and documented fees and out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable and documented fees and expenses of outside legal counsel, accountants or other advisors or experts retained by the Company or its Subsidiaries (in the case of clause (i) below) or the Parent Indemnified Parties (in the case of clause (ii) below)) incurred by the Company or its Subsidiaries (in the case of clause (i) below) or the Parent Indemnified Parties (in the case of clause (ii) below), in connection with the Match Litigation (i) if incurred and remaining unpaid as of Closing, shall be included as “Indebtedness” for the purposes of this Agreement and (ii) without duplication of amounts included in “Indebtedness” pursuant to clause (i), if incurred before Closing and paid after the determination of the final Closing Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 2.10, or (iii) if incurred after Closing (the “Match Litigation Expenses”), shall be treated as Match Damages pursuant to Section 10.1(a)(i) (provided that in the case of (iii) only, the relevant Contribution Percentage shall be applied).

 

72


(d) Promptly following the Match Resolution Date, (i) Parent shall notify the Seller Representative (which shall also be deemed notice to the Indemnifying Parties for the purposes hereof) in writing of the amount of Match Damages incurred in connection therewith and for which the Parent Indemnified Parties are entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 10.1(a)(i), and (ii) any and all indemnification payments required to be made to Parent Indemnified Parties in accordance with Section 10.1(a)(i) as a result of the Match Litigation shall be paid and disbursed in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Article X.

(e) From and after the Closing until the Match Resolution Date (the “Match Litigation Period”), within five (5) Business Days after the last day of each calendar quarter during such Match Litigation Period, Parent will deliver to the Seller Representative a statement of account for the Match Litigation Expenses incurred during the immediately preceding calendar quarter (or otherwise incurred during the Match Litigation Period and which have not previously been paid in accordance herewith) together with a written explanation, as to which of such Match Litigations Expenses are Match Damages that are indemnifiable in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.1(a)(i).

Section 10.5 Treatment of Indemnification Payments. All payments pursuant to this Article X shall be treated by the Parties for applicable Tax purposes as adjustments to the Total Merger Consideration, unless otherwise required by Law.

Section 10.6 Match Indemnification Holdback Amount Release.

(a) On the date (the “Match Indemnification Release Date”) that is five (5) Business Days after the Match Resolution Date, the Parent shall pay (or cause to be paid) to the Sellers an amount equal to all funds then-remaining with respect to the Match Indemnification Holdback Amount (any such amounts that are distributed for the benefit of the Sellers are referred to herein as the “Residual Match Indemnification Holdback Amount”) in accordance with Section 10.6(b) less an amount equal to the aggregate amount of (i) the applicable Contribution Percentage of any Match Litigation Expenses (allocated in accordance with Section 10.1(a)(i)) incurred during the Match Litigation Period and which have not previously been allocated or paid in accordance herewith, and (ii) any amount constituting an award or agreed settlement amount payable pursuant to the Match Resolution and constituting Match Damages that are indemnifiable pursuant to Section 10.1(a)(i), which have not been paid as of the Match Indemnification Release Date. Thereafter, any portion of the funds remaining with respect to the Match Indemnification Holdback Amount after payment of the actual amounts referable to the estimates in the foregoing sentence shall be released and distributed in accordance with Section 10.6(b) as soon as practicable following payment of such amounts.

(b) In the event that a Residual Match Indemnification Holdback Amount, if any, is to be distributed for the benefit of the Sellers in accordance with the terms hereof, such distribution shall be distributed to the Sellers in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares and as follows: (i) the aggregate amount payable to the Shareholders (other than holders of Unvested Growth Shares) in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares shall be paid to the Paying Agent (or, if twelve months or more shall have elapsed since the Effective Time as of the date of such distribution, then such amounts shall be paid to Songsir or its designee) for further distribution thereto in accordance with, and subject to, Section 2.8(e)(i) and (ii) the aggregate amount payable to the holders of Options and Unvested Growth Shares in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares shall be paid to the Surviving Company for further distribution to such Optionholders and holders of Unvested Growth Shares in accordance with, and subject to, Section 2.8(d).

 

73


(c) If the Match Indemnification Release Date has not been achieved by the date that 20 Business Days prior to the three (3) year anniversary of the Closing Date, Parent shall prior to the three (3) year anniversary of the Closing Date:

(i) enter into an Escrow Agreement with the Escrow Agent for the establishment of the Match Indemnification Escrow Account; and

(ii) deliver or cause to be delivered to such Escrow Agent the Residual Match Indemnification Holdback Amount to the Match Indemnification Escrow Account, including by enforcing its rights under that certain Holdback Equity Commitment Letter to cause the parties thereto to fund the Residual Match Indemnification Holdback Amount.

(d) The Match Indemnification Escrow Account shall be operated on the following terms:

(i) any payments from the Match Indemnification Escrow Account shall only be made on the joint written instructions of Parent and the Seller Representative; and

(ii) if an indemnification payment is required to be made pursuant to Section 10.1(a)(i), then Parent and the Seller Representative shall, no later than five (5) Business Days after the determination of such indemnification payment as provided in this Article X, jointly instruct the Escrow Agent to pay to such Parent Indemnified Party amounts up to the then-remaining balance in the Match Indemnification Escrow Account pursuant to the terms of, and subject to, the Escrow Agreement and this Agreement (including Section 2.8(k)).

(e) The provisions of this Article X shall continue to apply to the indemnification and payment obligations of the Parties from the date of establishment of the Match Indemnification Escrow Account, including as if references in this Article X to the “Match Indemnification Holdback Amount” were references to the “Match Indemnification Escrow Account”.

(f) Following the establishment of the Match Indemnification Escrow Account, Section 10.4(e) shall be deemed to be amended to require as a condition to the payment of any Match Litigation Expenses a statement of account and invoice for such Match Litigation Expenses to be delivered to the Escrow Agent along with a written instruction directing the Escrow Agent to release and distribute to Parent from the Match Indemnification Escrow Account an amount equal to such Match Damages set forth in the relevant statement of account and invoice.

ARTICLE XI

TERMINATION

Section 11.1 Right to Terminate. This Agreement and the obligations to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing by notice given in accordance with Section 13.3, as follows:

(a) by the mutual written consent of Parent and the Company;

(b) by either of Parent or the Company if the Closing shall not have occurred at or before 11:59 p.m. on May, 8th 2020 (the “Outside Date”); provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 11.1(b) shall not be available to any Party whose breach of, or failure to fulfill any of its obligations under, this Agreement has been the primary cause of the failure of the Closing to occur on or prior to the Outside Date;

 

74


(c) by Parent, in the event of any breach by the Company of any of the Company’s covenants or agreements or any of the Company’s warranties contained herein being or becoming inaccurate, in any case, such that the closing conditions set forth in Section 8.2(a) or Section 8.2(b), as applicable, would not then be satisfied, and, if capable of being cured prior to the Outside Date, such breach is not cured to the extent necessary to satisfy such closing conditions by the earlier of (i) thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of notice from Parent of such breach and (ii) five (5) Business Days prior to the Outside Date; provided that Parent must not then be in material breach of this Agreement;

(d) by the Company, in the event of any breach by Parent or Merger Sub of any of Parent’s or Merger Sub’s respective covenants or agreements or any of Parent’s or Merger Sub’s respective warranties contained herein being or becoming inaccurate, in any case, such that the closing conditions set forth in Section 8.1(a) or Section 8.1(b), as applicable, would not then be satisfied, and, if capable of being cured prior to the Outside Date, such breach is not cured to the extent necessary to satisfy such closing conditions by the earlier of (i) thirty (30) days after receipt by Parent or Merger Sub of notice from the Company of such breach and (ii) five (5) Business Days prior to the Outside Date; provided that the Company must not then be in material breach of this Agreement;

(e) by either Parent or the Company, if there shall be in effect a final, non-appealable Order of a Governmental Entity or court of competent jurisdiction in effect permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 11.1(e) shall not be available to any Party whose breach of, or failure to fulfill any of, its covenants under this Agreement has been the primary cause of such Order;

(f) by Parent, if the Shareholder Approval has not been obtained and evidence thereof delivered to Parent within forty-eight (48) hours after the execution of this Agreement under Section 5.5(a); or

(g) by the Company, upon written notice to Parent, if (i) Parent and Merger Sub shall have failed to consummate the Closing by the date that is three (3) Business Days after the later of (A) the first date on which the Closing should have occurred pursuant to Section 2.5 and (B) the date of delivering of such notice of termination, (ii) all of the conditions set forth in Section 8.2 and Section 8.3 have been and continue to be satisfied or waived at the time Closing is required to have occurred pursuant to Section 2.5 (other than any conditions that, by their nature, are to be satisfied at the Closing, each of which would be capable of being satisfied if the Closing Date were that the date that the notice of termination is delivered by the Company to Parent), (iii) the Company shall have irrevocably and unconditionally confirmed by written notice to Parent that all conditions set forth in Section 8.1 and Section 8.3 have been satisfied or irrevocably waived by the Company (other than any conditions that, by their nature, are to be satisfied at the Closing, each of which would be capable of being satisfied if the Closing Date were to occur on the date requested) and given written notice to Parent of the matters in clause (ii) and that the Company stands ready, willing and able to consummate the Closing (which notices may be given on or after the date the Closing should have occurred) and (iv) the Company cooperates in good faith with Parent consistent with its obligations under this Agreement to effect the Closing during the time period described in clause (i) above and at all times during such time period the Company stood ready, willing and able to consummate the Closing.

Section 11.2 Remedies Upon Termination. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 11.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become wholly void and of no further force and effect and each of the Parties shall be relieved of their respective duties and obligations under this Agreement and no Party (or any shareholder, Affiliate, director, officer, employee, agent, consultant or representative of such Party) shall have any claim under this Agreement against any other Party (or any shareholder, Affiliate,

 

75


director, officer, employee, agent, consultant or representative of such Party), except that Section 5.6 (solely to the extent related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby), Section 6.1, this Section 11.2, Section 11.3 and Article XIII (and the Parties’ rights and obligations under this Section 11.2, Section 11.3 and Article XIII) shall each survive any such termination and the Guarantees will survive in accordance with their respective terms.

Section 11.3 Termination Fee.

(a) Parent shall pay (or cause to be paid) to the Company (and WWH) a cash amount equal to $175,625,000 in the aggregate (the “Termination Fee”) in the event that this Agreement is validly terminated (i) by Parent pursuant to Section 11.1(b) at any time when the Company is entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.1(d) or Section 11.1(g) (without giving effect to any notice requirement other than a waiver of any unsatisfied conditions pursuant to Section 11.1(g)), (ii) by the Company pursuant to Section 11.1(b) at any time when the Company is entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.1(d) (for the avoidance of doubt, giving effect to all notice requirements and cure periods and rights set forth therein), or (iii) by the Company pursuant to Section 11.1(g), Parent shall, as a condition to such termination pay to the Company (and WWH as applicable) the Termination Fee by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by the Company (and WWH as applicable) promptly but in no event later than five (5) Business Days after the date of such valid termination. The Termination Fee, if payable, shall be allocated to WWH in accordance with her Pro Rata Share and the balance shall be allocated to the Company on behalf of all other Sellers.

(b) The Parties agree that payment of the Termination Fee pursuant to Section 11.3(a) is not a penalty but constitutes a primary and binding obligation on the part of Parent, which Parent agrees to pay to the Company (in the specified circumstances) in consideration for (i) the resources expended and the opportunities foregone while negotiating this Agreement and in reliance on this Agreement and on the expectation of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Company’s costs and expenses (A) in negotiating this Agreement and the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated by the same (including the Finam Transactions), (B) of continuing to own and fund the Company in the period from termination of this Agreement to completion of any subsequent sale of the Company and its Subsidiaries (a “Subsequent Sale”), and (C) of carrying out further marketing exercises and running a further sale process to locate and select one or more buyers for the Business and complete a Subsequent Sale with such persons, and (ii) the negative value impact that a failed sales process would be expected to have on the value that would be achieved by the Sellers on a Subsequent Sale. The Parties acknowledge and agree that without this agreement, the Parties would not enter into this Agreement.

(c) The Parties acknowledge and agree that in no event shall Parent be required to pay the Termination Fee on more than one occasion. In the event that the Termination Fee is payable in accordance with Section 11.3(a), the receipt of the Termination Fee shall constitute the sole and exclusive remedy of the Company, the Seller Representative and each of their respective former, current or future general or limited partners, parents, Subsidiaries, controlling persons, divisions, Affiliates, predecessors, successors and assigns, and their present and former directors, officers, shareholders, members, employees, agents, attorneys, representatives, beneficiaries, heirs and assigns and the former, current or future general or limited partners, parents, Subsidiaries, divisions, Affiliates, predecessors, successors and assigns, and the present and former directors, officers, shareholders, members, employees, agents, attorneys, representatives, beneficiaries, heirs and assigns of the foregoing (collectively, the “Seller Related Parties”) against Parent, Merger Sub, any Debt Financing Source, and any of their respective former, current, or future general or limited partners, shareholders, controlling persons, parents, Subsidiaries, controlling persons, divisions, managers, members, directors, officers, Affiliates, employees, agents, attorneys or other

 

76


representatives, successors, beneficiaries, heirs and assigns and the former, current, or future general or limited partners, shareholders, controlling persons, parents, Subsidiaries, controlling persons, divisions, managers, members, directors, officers, Affiliates, employees, agents, attorneys or other representatives, successors, beneficiaries, heirs and assigns of the foregoing (collectively, the “Parent Related Parties”) for any liability, loss, cost or expense suffered or incurred as a result of any breach (including any willful breach) of any agreement, covenant, representation or warranty in this Agreement or the failure of the Closing to be consummated or otherwise, which recourse shall be sought solely against Parent to the extent provided herein and subject to the limitations set forth herein (or the Equity Investors under their respective Guarantees, to the extent provided therein and subject to the limitations therein) and no other Parent Related Party, and upon payment of such amount by Parent, Parent shall not have any further liability or obligation relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, and in no event shall any Parent Related Party have any liability or obligation relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or any theory of law or equity, whether in equity or at law, in contract, in tort or otherwise (except Parent to the extent provided herein and subject to the limitations set forth herein or the Equity Investors under their respective Guarantees to the extent provided therein and subject to the limitations set forth therein).

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if Parent or Merger Sub breaches this Agreement or fails to perform hereunder (whether willfully, intentionally, unintentionally or otherwise), then, except for an order of specific performance to the extent granted in accordance with the terms of Section 13.16, the sole and exclusive remedies (whether at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise) against Parent or any Parent Related Party for any breach, loss or damage or failure to perform (whether willfully, intentionally, unintentionally or otherwise), which recourse shall be sought solely against Parent to the extent provided herein and subject to the limitations set forth herein (or the Equity Investors under their respective Guarantees, to the extent provided therein and subject to the limitations therein), and no other Parent Related Party, shall be, if applicable, for the Company to terminate this Agreement pursuant to the applicable provisions of Section 11.1, and the Company to receive payment of the Termination Fee pursuant to the applicable provisions of Section 11.3(a). For the avoidance of doubt, (A) the Company will be entitled to seek specific performance of this Agreement or any other remedy available to it at law or in equity while also seeking payment of the Termination Fee, but the Company shall not be entitled to both obtain specific performance to cause the Closing to occur and also receive payment of the Termination Fee and (B) in no event shall the Termination Fee be paid on more than one occasion. For the avoidance of doubt, none of the Parent Related Parties (other than the Parent to the extent set forth in this Agreement and the Equity Investors solely to the extent set forth in their respective Guarantees) will have any liability to any Person, including any Seller Related Party relating to or arising out of this Agreement, the Equity Financing or the Debt Financing or in respect of any other document or theory of law or equity or in respect of any oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith or therewith, whether at law or equity in contract, in tort or strict liability, by the enforcement of any assessment, by any legal or equitable proceeding, by virtue of any Law or otherwise.

ARTICLE XII

SELLER REPRESENTATIVE

Section 12.1 Appointment of the Seller Representative. By virtue of approval of the Merger and this Agreement (including pursuant to the Shareholder Approval) or other appointment authorization documentation, or by accepting any consideration payable hereunder, each of the Sellers shall be deemed to have agreed to irrevocably appoint the Seller Representative as the Sellers’ attorney-in-fact and exclusive agent in connection with the execution and performance of this Agreement, the Transaction Documents, the Escrow Agreement and any documents ancillary to this Agreement as set forth in this Article XII. The powers, immunities and rights to indemnification granted to the Seller Representative hereunder are

 

77


irrevocable and coupled with an interest, and shall not be affected by the death, bankruptcy, insolvency, incapacity, illness, dissolution or other inability to act of any Seller or, in the case of a trust, by the death of any trustee or trustees or the termination of such trust, or any other event, shall be binding on any successor thereto and shall survive the delivery of an assignment by any Seller of the whole or any fraction of its interest in the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Account, the Match Indemnification Holdback Amount or the Match Indemnification Escrow Account. The Seller Representative hereby accepts its appointment as “Seller Representative” hereunder without compensation (except for the reimbursement from the Sellers of out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by the Seller Representative in its capacity as such). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in exercising its authority hereunder, the Seller Representative may not agree to settle any claim that would impose any material, non-monetary obligation on a Seller. The Seller Representative shall act in good faith in exercising its authority hereunder and shall make its decisions and take its actions or inactions based on its determination of what is in the best interest of the Sellers as a group with respect to the matters authorized hereunder, and not to the advantage or disadvantage of the Seller Representative or any individual Seller over the others.

Section 12.2 Authority of the Seller Representative. Each Seller hereby irrevocably grants the Seller Representative full power and authority:

(a) to execute and deliver, on behalf of such Seller, and to accept delivery of, on behalf of such Seller, such documents as may be deemed by the Seller Representative, in its sole discretion, to be appropriate to consummate this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including the Quack Restructuring);

(b) to endorse and to deliver on behalf of such Seller, Company Share Certificates (if any) to be sold by such Seller (if a Shareholder) at the Closing;

(c) to (i) dispute or refrain from disputing, on behalf of such Seller, any claim made by Parent under this Agreement, including with respect to the Quack Restructuring; (ii) negotiate and compromise, on behalf of such Seller, any dispute that may arise under, and to exercise or refrain from exercising any remedies available under, this Agreement (including agreeing to the final Closing Merger Consideration, authorizing Parent to reclaim cash from the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Account in satisfaction of a claim, authorizing Parent to reclaim cash from the Match Indemnification Escrow Account in satisfaction of an indemnification claim and with respect thereto), and (iii) execute, on behalf of such Seller, any settlement agreement, release or other document with respect to such dispute or remedy;

(d) to give or agree to give, on behalf of such Seller, any and all consents, waivers, amendments or modifications, deemed by the Seller Representative, in its sole discretion, to be necessary or appropriate, under this Agreement and in connection with the Quack Restructuring, and, in each case, to execute and deliver any documents that may be necessary or appropriate in connection therewith;

(e) to enforce, on behalf of such Seller, any claim against Parent or any other Party arising under this Agreement or in connection with the Quack Restructuring;

(f) to engage attorneys, accountants and agents at the expense of Sellers, and to incur other out-of-pocket expenses related to the performance of its services hereunder (the “Seller Representative Expenses”);

(g) to amend this Agreement (other than this Section 12.2), the Transaction Documents, the Escrow Agreement and any documents ancillary to this Agreement; and

 

78


(h) to give such instructions and to take such action or refrain from taking such action, on behalf of such Seller, as the Seller Representative deems, in its sole discretion, necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this Agreement, the Transaction Documents, the Escrow Agreement and any documents ancillary to this Agreement, the Quack Acquisition Agreement and the Quack IP License.

Section 12.3 Reliance. Each Seller hereby agrees to the following:

(a) In all matters in which action by the Seller Representative is required or permitted by this Article XII, the Seller Representative is authorized to act on behalf of such Seller, notwithstanding any dispute or disagreement among the Sellers or between any Seller and the Seller Representative, and Parent, the Escrow Agent and the Paying Agent shall be entitled to rely on any and all action taken by the Seller Representative under this Agreement, the Transaction Documents, the Escrow Agreement and any documents ancillary to this Agreement without any liability to, or obligation to inquire of, any Seller, notwithstanding any knowledge on the part of Parent, the Escrow Agent or the Paying Agent of any such dispute or disagreement. Further, a decision, act, consent or instruction of the Seller Representative, including an amendment, extension or waiver of this Agreement, shall constitute a decision of the Sellers and shall be final, binding and conclusive upon each such Seller and each Seller’s successors as if expressly confirmed and ratified in writing, and Parent shall be entitled to deal exclusively with the Seller Representative as agent on behalf of all Sellers as to all actions for which Seller Representative has the authority to act (or refrain from acting) under this Article XII and all defenses which may be available to any Seller to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the Seller Representative taken in good faith under this Agreement, the Transaction Documents, the Escrow Agreement and any documents ancillary to this Agreement are waived. Any payments made to the Sellers by Parent, the Surviving Company, the Escrow Agent or the Paying Agent in accordance with the instructions of the Seller Representative shall be deemed, as it respects Parent, the Company, the Escrow Agent or the Paying Agent, made to the Sellers in the correct proportions and amounts.

(b) Notice to the Seller Representative, delivered in the manner provided in Section 13.3, shall be deemed to be notice to all Sellers for purposes of this Agreement. The power and authority of the Seller Representative, as described in this Agreement, shall continue in force until all rights and obligations of Sellers under this Agreement shall have terminated, expired or been fully performed.

(c) The Seller Representative may resign at any time and a majority-in-interest of Sellers (determined by Pro Rata Share) shall have the right, exercisable from time to time upon written notice delivered to the Seller Representative and Parent, to remove the Seller Representative, with or without cause, and to appoint any Person to fill a vacancy caused by the death, dissolution, resignation or removal of the Seller Representative. The immunities and rights to indemnification shall survive the resignation or removal of the Seller Representative and the Closing and/or any termination of this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement.

(d) If the Seller Representative resigns or is removed or otherwise ceases to function in its capacity as such for any reason whatsoever, and no successor is appointed pursuant to Section 12.3(c) within thirty (30) days, then Parent shall have the right to appoint a Seller to act as the Seller Representative to serve as described in this Agreement.

Section 12.4 Actions by Sellers. Each Seller agrees that, notwithstanding the foregoing, at the request of Parent, such Seller shall take all actions necessary or appropriate to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including delivery of such Seller’s Company Shares) individually on such Seller’s own behalf, and to deliver any other documents required of Sellers pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

79


Section 12.5 Indemnification of the Seller Representative. Each Seller shall severally, but not jointly, indemnify the Seller Representative against any Damages, losses, claims, liabilities, fees, costs, expenses (including fees, disbursements and costs of counsel and other skilled professionals and in connection with seeking recovery from insurers), judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement (except to the extent that the foregoing result from the Seller Representative’s gross negligence or willful misconduct) that the Seller Representative may suffer or incur in connection with any action or omission of the Seller Representative in such capacity. Each Seller shall bear its pro rata portion of such Damages based on his, her or its respective Pro Rata Share. Such losses may be recovered first, from the Expense Fund, second, from any distribution of the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Account or the Match Indemnification Holdback Amount or Match Indemnification Escrow Account, as applicable (and in each case excluding any part thereof attributable to WWH), as the case may be, otherwise distributable to the Sellers at the time of distribution, and third, directly from the Sellers. The Seller Representative shall not be liable to any Seller with respect to any action or omission taken or omitted to be taken by the Seller Representative pursuant to this Article XII, except for the Seller Representative’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud. The Sellers acknowledge that the Seller Representative shall not be required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the exercise or performance of any of its powers, rights, duties or privileges or pursuant to this Agreement, the Escrow Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Furthermore, the Seller Representative shall not be required to take any action unless the Seller Representative has been provided with funds, security or indemnities which, in its determination, are sufficient to protect the Seller Representative against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred by the Seller Representative in performing such actions.

Section 12.6 Certain Warranties

(a) Seller Representative is a limited liability company and is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation. Seller Representative has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to be executed or delivered by it, as applicable, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which Seller Representative is a party by Seller Representative have been duly and validly approved by Seller Representative, and no other proceedings are necessary on the part of Seller Representative to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which Seller Representative is a party.

(b) This Agreement and each Transaction Document has been duly authorized and executed and delivered by duly authorized officers or other duly authorized signatories of Seller Representative and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Seller Representative, enforceable against Seller Representative, in accordance with its terms, except to the extent enforcement may be affected by Laws relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and creditors’ rights and by the availability of injunctive relief, specific performance and other equitable remedies. At the Closing, the Transaction Documents to be executed and delivered by Seller Representative will be duly executed and delivered by duly authorized officers or other duly authorized signatories of Seller Representative, and will constitute valid and binding obligations of Seller Representative, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except to the extent enforcement may be affected by Laws relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and creditors’ rights and by the availability of injunctive relief, specific performance and other equitable remedies.

Section 12.7 Seller Representatives Authority. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, including the other provisions of this Article XII, WWH shall not be deemed to have agreed to or to have appointed the Seller Representative as WWH’s attorney-in-fact, agent or other representative for any purpose and the Sellers’ Representative shall not have authority to execute any

 

80


amendment to this Agreement or any documents ancillary to the foregoing to which WWH is a party, without first obtaining the prior written consent of WWH (other than any such amendments that are ministerial in nature), including any amendment to change the form or amount of the Closing Merger Consideration and the indemnification provisions set forth in Article X.

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 13.1 Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement (provided, that, if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 11.1, any allocation of the payment of Third-Party Expenses or Transaction Expenses as provided in Article II or otherwise shall be disregarded for the purposes of this Section 13.1), each Party hereto shall bear all fees and expenses incurred by such Party in connection with, relating to or arising out of the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including financial advisors’, attorneys’, accountants’ and other professional fees and expenses. For the avoidance of doubt, (a) an amount of $2,944,326.20 of the aggregate costs and expenses of the insurance secured by Parent for representations and warranties insurance relating to this Agreement shall be borne by the Company as a Transaction Expense (with the remainder borne by Parent), and the burden of any retention under such representations and warranties insurance shall be borne exclusively by Parent and (b) all fees and expenses of the Escrow Agent and the Paying Agent shall be paid by Parent.

Section 13.2 Publicity. Up until the Closing, except as otherwise required by Law or applicable stock exchange rules, any press releases or other publicity by (i) the Company, the Seller Representative and any Seller on the one hand, and (ii) the Parent, Merger Sub and their respective Affiliates on the other hand, in each case concerning this transaction shall be made only with the prior agreement of, in the case of (i), the Parent, and in the case of (ii), the Seller Representative and WWH (and in any event, the Parties shall use all reasonable endeavors to consult and agree with each other with respect to the content of any such required press release or other publicity prior to the Closing); provided that upon the request of Parent, upon the existence of the transaction becoming in the public domain otherwise than as a result of a breach of this Section 13.2 by the Parent, Merger Sub or any of its Affiliates, the Company shall release a press release mutually acceptable to the Company, Parent and WWH announcing the entrance into this Agreement by them, which release shall (unless otherwise mutually agreed by them) not contain any financial terms related to the transactions contemplated hereby. Following the Closing, except as otherwise required by Law or applicable stock exchange rules, no press releases or other publicity shall state the amount of the Closing Merger Consideration or the Total Merger Consideration or contain any other financial terms related to the transactions contemplated hereby and must otherwise be reasonably acceptable to WWH, Seller Representative and Parent (or contain only information previously disclosed). Further, this Agreement and the terms hereof shall be kept confidential; provided that (a) the Parties may make any press release or other public announcement concerning the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other documents, instruments and certificates contemplated to be delivered in connection with this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby to the extent that such release or announcement contains solely information that is in the public domain otherwise than as a result of a breach of this Section 13.2, (b) notwithstanding any restrictions in the Confidentiality Agreement, Parent and its Affiliates may make disclosures to their respective current, former or prospective investors, equity holders and limited partners to the extent such information is customarily provided to current, former or prospective investors, equity holders or limited partners in private equity funds or venture capital funds (including in the Equity Investors’ normal fundraising, marketing, informational or reporting activities to third parties), so long as such recipients are bound by customary obligations of confidentiality to the disclosing Person, (c) Parent may make disclosures to any lenders or potential lenders (including any Debt Financing Source) or any actual or potential source of equity financing to Parent and/or its Affiliates (including, from and after

 

81


the Closing, the Company and its Subsidiaries), (d) the Parties and WWH may make disclosures to the extent required by Law or applicable stock exchange rules (and in any event, the Parties and WWH shall use all reasonable endeavors to consult and agree with each other with respect to the content of any such disclosure) and (e) the Parties and WWH may make disclosures to their respective representatives and advisors as necessary in connection with the ordinary conduct of their respective businesses or as necessary to assist such Person in exercising its rights or satisfying and performing its covenants and obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents; provided that the provisions of this Section 13.2 shall apply to any Person receiving information pursuant to clauses (b), (c) or (d) and the Person disclosing such information thereto shall notify them of the provisions of this Section 13.2 and shall be responsible for any breach of the provisions hereof by them. Further, in the event that any disclosure is required by applicable Law or applicable stock exchange rules, then to the extent “confidential treatment” would be available, each of the Parties agrees to use its all reasonable endeavors to obtain “confidential treatment” of the disclosed information and to redact such terms of this Agreement and the other documents covered by the confidentiality provisions herein, in each case, as the other Parties may reasonably request.

Section 13.3 Notices. All notices required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and may be delivered by hand, by email in .pdf or similar format, or by internationally recognized private courier. Notices delivered by hand shall be deemed delivered when actually delivered. Notices given by internationally recognized private courier shall be deemed delivered on the date delivery is promised by the courier. Notices given by email shall be deemed given on the date sent, or, if the transmission is not made before 5:00 p.m., local time at the place of receipt on a Business Day, the first Business Day after transmission (provided that no “error message” or other notification of non-delivery is received by the sender). All notices shall be addressed as follows (or to such other respective addresses and/or addressees as may be designated by notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 13.3):

If to the Company:

Worldwide Vision Limited

H. P. House

21 Laffan Street

Hamilton HM 12

Bermuda

Attention: Kevin Insley

Email: [email address]

  [email address]

and

[address]

Attention: Whitney Wolfe Herd

Email: [email address]

 

82


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

Baker & McKenzie LLP

100 New Bridge Street

London EC4V 6JA, United Kingdom

Attention: David Scott; James Heller

Email: [email address] and [email address]

and

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

450 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Attention: Evan Rosen

Email: [email address]

and

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

5, Aldermanbury Square

Barbican, London EC2V 7HR

United Kingdom

Attention: Will Pearce

Email: [email address]

If to the Seller Representative or any Seller or WWH

Buzz SR Limited

70 Africa House

70 Kingsway, London

United Kingdom

WC2B 6AH

Attention: Larry Nathan

Email: [email address]

           [email address]

and

[address]

Attention: Whitney Wolfe Herd

Email: [email address]

 

83


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

Baker & McKenzie LLP

100 New Bridge Street

London EC4V 6JA, United Kingdom

Attention: David Scott; James Heller

Email: [email address] and [email address]

and

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

450 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Attention: Evan Rosen

Email: [email address]

and

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

5, Aldermanbury Square

Barbican, London EC2V 7HR

United Kingdom

Attention: Will Pearce

Email: [email address]

If to Parent or Merger Sub, or if after Closing, to the Surviving Company:

Buzz Holdings L.P.

c/o The Blackstone Group Inc.

345 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10154

and

Buzz Holdings L.P.

c/o The Blackstone Group Inc.

40 Berkely Square

London W1J 5AL

Attention: Martin Brand

                 Jon Korngold

                 Sachin Bavishi

                 Vishal Amin

Email: [email address]

            [email address]

            [email address]

            [email address]

 

84


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

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Attention: Anthony F. Vernace; Robert Langdon

Email: [email address]; [email address]

Section 13.4 Entire Agreement; Schedules

(a) This Agreement and the instruments to be delivered by the Parties pursuant to the provisions hereof constitute the entire agreement between the Parties and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns. Each Exhibit, Annex, Schedule and the Company Disclosure Schedule shall be considered incorporated into this Agreement (unless such Exhibits, Annexes or Schedules are separate, executed agreements, in which case such agreement, when executed and delivered, shall constitute a document independent of this Agreement).

(b) Information set forth on the Company Disclosure Schedule hereto shall be deemed to qualify each warranty set forth in Article III of this Agreement to which such information is applicable (regardless of whether or not such warranty is qualified by reference to the Company Disclosure Schedule), to the extent the application to such warranty is readily apparent from the face of such disclosure and information in the Company Disclosure Schedules. No disclosure in the Company Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed to constitute an admission of any liability or the breach of any Contract or violation of any Law or Permit by the Company or Parent, respectively, to any third party or otherwise imply that any such matter, information or item is material or creates a measure for materiality for the purposes of this Agreement.

Section 13.5 Non-Waiver. The failure in any one or more instances of a Party to insist upon performance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement or to exercise any right or privilege in this Agreement conferred, or the waiver by such Party of any breach of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement, shall not be construed as a subsequent waiver of any such terms, covenants, conditions, rights or privileges, but the same shall continue and remain in full force and effect as if no such forbearance or waiver had occurred (other than with respect to the specific instance waived). Further, no such waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving Party (or in the case of the Sellers following the Closing, the Seller Representative on their behalf).

Section 13.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered by each Party in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

Section 13.7 Delivery by Electronic Transmission. Counterpart signature pages to this Agreement transmitted by electronic mail in “portable document format” (“.pdf”) form, or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial appearance of a document, will have the same effect as physical delivery of the paper document bearing an original signature.

Section 13.8 Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or any

 

85


other jurisdiction, and, for purposes of such jurisdiction, such provision or portion thereof shall be struck from the remainder of this Agreement, which remainder shall remain in full force and effect, and the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in a reasonably acceptable manner so that the transactions contemplated hereby may be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parties intend that the provisions of Section 11.3, including the limitations set forth therein, be construed as integral provisions of this Agreement and that such provisions and limitations shall not be severable in any manner that increases a Party’s Liability or obligations under this Agreement or the Equity Financing or Debt Financing.

Section 13.9 Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, except that (i) to the extent any provisions of this Agreement relate to the exercise of a director’s or officer’s fiduciaries duties and/or similarly, statutory duties or obligations of the Company or the Merger Sub and/or (ii) statutory provisions or other applicable Laws of Bermuda are mandatorily applied to the Merger, such provisions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Bermuda. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Parties hereto hereby agree that any action whether in law or in equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, involving any Debt Financing Source, arising out of or relating to, this Agreement, the Debt Financing or any of the agreements entered into in connection with the Debt Financing or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or the performance of any services thereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York (without giving effect to any conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the laws of another jurisdiction).

Section 13.10 Binding Effect; Benefit. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Parties, and their successors and permitted assigns. Section 6.2 shall be enforceable by the D&O Indemnified Parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, shall confer on any Person other than the Parties, and their respective successors and permitted assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, including third party beneficiary rights, other than (i) (x) the Sellers, with respect to the provisions in Section 2.3, Section 2.6, Section 2.8, Section 2.13, and, subject to the terms of Section 2.14(j), Section 2.14, as applicable, but only after the Effective Time (and, after such time and to such extent, they shall be deemed a “Party” solely for purposes of application of the provisions related to interpretation thereof and enforcement following the Closing by the Seller Representative on their behalf), and (y) WWH, (ii) STB, Davis Polk and BM under Section 13.17 and (iii) the Debt Financing Sources, with respect to Section 11.3(c), Section 11.3(d), the last sentence of Section 13.9, Section 13.13, Section 13.14, Section 13.15, Section 13.16(b) and Section 13.20(d), and in respect of each of the foregoing, this Section 13.10 (collectively, the “Specified Provisions”), as applicable, and each of whom are intended third party beneficiaries entitled to enforce such provisions. The third-party beneficiary rights referenced in clause (i) of the preceding sentence may be exercised only by the Seller Representative (on behalf of the Sellers), and no Seller, whether purporting to act in its capacity as such or purporting to assert any right (derivatively or otherwise) on behalf of the Company or the Seller Representative, shall have any right or ability to exercise or cause the exercise of any such right and, prior to the Closing, the Seller Representative shall have no such rights.

Section 13.11 Assignment. No Party may assign or delegate, by operation of law or otherwise, all or any portion of its rights, obligations or liabilities under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Parties to this Agreement (which may be delivered (x) by the Company prior to the Closing on behalf of the Seller Representative and the Sellers and (y) by the Seller Representative following the Closing on behalf of all Sellers); provided, however, that Parent or Merger Sub, upon prior written notice to the Company, may assign, in its sole discretion, any or all of its rights, interests and obligations under this Agreement (i) in the case of Parent, to any Affiliate of Parent and (ii) in the case of

 

86


Merger Sub, to Parent or to any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent, but no such assignment under any of the preceding clause (i) or (ii) shall (A) relieve any such assignor of its obligations under this Agreement, or (B) increase the liability of any Person under this Agreement. Any attempted assignment in violation of the terms of this Section 13.11 shall be null and void, ab initio.

Section 13.12 Third Party Rights. WWH is an express third party beneficiary and has third party rights for the purpose of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 with the right to enforce any rights of WWH hereunder.

Section 13.13 Amendments. This Agreement shall not be modified or amended or waived except pursuant to an instrument in writing executed and delivered on behalf of Parent and the Company and, following the Closing, the Seller Representative, and any such modification, amendment or waiver shall be binding on each of the Parties, including Merger Sub. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 13.13, (a) this Agreement may not be modified or amended or waived, in a manner adverse to WWH, without the prior written consent of WWH, and (b) no Specified Provision may be waived or amended in any manner adverse to the Debt Financing Sources or Debt Financing Representatives without the written consent of the Debt Financing Sources identified in the Debt Commitment Letter.

Section 13.14 Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL IN CONNECTION WITH ANY LAWSUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (INCLUDING THE DEBT FINANCING), WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE, AND INCLUDING ANY PROCEEDING SEEKING ENFORCEMENT OF SUCH PARTY’S RIGHTS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO (I) CONSENTS TO TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY OF ANY SUCH PROCEEDINGS AND (II) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS Section 13.14.

Section 13.15 Consent to Jurisdiction. THE COURTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES (THE “CHOSEN COURTS”) SHALL HAVE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION TO SETTLE ANY CLAIM, DISPUTE OR MATTER OF DIFFERENCE WHICH MAY ARISE OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING CLAIMS FOR SET-OFF OR COUNTERCLAIM OR RELATING TO ANY NON-CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT) OR THE LEGAL RELATIONSHIPS ESTABLISHED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO PROCEEDINGS IN ANY SUCH COURTS ON THE GROUND OF VENUE OR ON THE GROUND THAT PROCEEDINGS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENCE FORUM. WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO ANY OTHER MODE OF SERVICE ALLOWED UNDER ANY RELEVANT LAW, EACH OF THE PARTIES AGREES THAT IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING BETWEEN ANY OF THE PARTIES BEING COMMENCED IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY MATTERS ARISING UNDER IT, THE PROCESS BY WHICH IT IS COMMENCED (WHERE CONSISTENT WITH THE APPLICABLE COURT RULES) MAY BE SERVED ON THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 13.3. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, (A) ALL MATTERS RELATING TO THE INTERPRETATION, CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY AND ENFORCEMENT (WHETHER AT LAW, IN EQUITY, IN CONTRACT, IN TORT, OR OTHERWISE) AGAINST ANY DEBT FINANCING SOURCE OR DEBT FINANCING REPRESENTATIVE IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THE DEBT FINANCING, ANY COMMITMENT LETTER RELATED THERETO OR ANY OF THE AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEBT FINANCING OR THE PERFORMANCE THEREOF, SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY

 

87


STATE OR FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK (AND APPELLATE COURTS THEREOF); (B) EACH PARTY HERETO SUBMITS FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY WITH RESPECT TO ANY SUCH ACTION TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURT AND AGREES NOT TO BRING OR PERMIT ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES TO BRING OR SUPPORT ANYONE ELSE IN BRINGING ANY SUCH ACTION IN ANY OTHER COURT; (C) EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICE OR DOCUMENT BY REGISTERED MAIL ADDRESSED TO THEM AT THEIR RESPECTIVE ADDRESSES SHALL BE EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS AGAINST THEM FOR ANY SUCH ACTION BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT, AND (D) EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES TO WAIVE AND HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH ANY OF THEM MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF, AND THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF, ANY SUCH ACTION IN ANY SUCH COURT.

Section 13.16 Specific Performance.

(a) Each of the Parties acknowledges that the rights of each Party to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby are unique and recognizes and affirms that in the event of a breach of this Agreement by any Party, money damages may be inadequate and the non-breaching Party may have no adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, the Parties agree that prior to a valid termination of this Agreement in accordance with this Agreement, subject to Section 13.16(c), Parent, the Company and the Seller Representative, as the non-breaching Party, shall have the right, in addition to any other rights and remedies existing in its favor at law or in equity, to enforce its rights and the other Party’s obligations hereunder not only by a Proceeding or Proceedings for damages but also by a Proceeding or Proceedings for specific performance, injunctive and/or other equitable relief (without posting of bond or other security). Subject to Section 13.16(c), each of the Parties agrees that it shall not oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief when expressly available pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and hereby waives (i) any defenses in any Proceeding for an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief, including the defense that the other Parties have an adequate remedy at law or an award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or equity and (ii) any requirement under Law to post a bond, undertaking or other security as a prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief.

(b) The election of the Company to pursue an injunction or specific performance shall not restrict, impair or otherwise limit the Company from subsequently seeking to terminate this Agreement and seeking to collect the Termination Fee pursuant to Section 11.3(a); provided, however, that under no circumstances shall the Company be permitted or entitled to receive both a grant of specific performance resulting in the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the payment of the Termination Fee (or monetary damages of any kind).

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein or otherwise to the contrary, the Company shall be entitled to enforce or seek to enforce specifically Parent’s and Merger Sub’s obligations to consummate the Closing (and/or draw down the proceeds of the Equity Financing or otherwise cause the Equity Financing to be funded) if, and only if, (i) all conditions in Section 8.2 and Section 8.3 (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing but subject to the satisfaction of those conditions at the Closing) have been satisfied at the time the Closing is required to occur pursuant to Section 2.5(a), (ii) the full amount of the Debt Financing provided for by the Debt Commitment Letter has been funded or will be funded at the Closing in accordance with its terms subject only to the consummation of the Closing and the funding of the Equity Financing and no other condition, (iii) Parent fails to complete the Closing by the date the Closing is required to have occurred pursuant to Section 2.5(a), and (iv) the Company has irrevocably and unconditionally certified in writing that if specific performance is granted and the Equity Financing and Debt Financing are funded, then the Company is willing and able to consummate the Company will fulfil its obligations to consummate the Closing if specific performance is granted pursuant to this Section 13.16(c).

 

88


(d) Save as expressly set out in this Section 13.16 or Section 13.20, each party acknowledges and agrees that the only remedy available to it in respect of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall, subject to Sections 11.3 and 11.4, be for damages for breach of contract and that it shall have no claim or remedy in tort in respect of such breach. No party shall have the right to rescind this Agreement.

Section 13.17 Waiver of Conflicts Regarding Representation; Non-Assertion of Attorney-Client Privilege

(a) Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees on its own behalf and on behalf of its directors, members, partners, officers, employees and Affiliates, that Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (“STB”) has acted as counsel to Parent in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and in the other documents referred to herein and intends to represent the Company and its Subsidiaries from and after the Closing. Accordingly, each of the Company, its Subsidiaries, the Sellers and the Seller Representative hereby consents and agrees to, STB representing the Company and the Subsidiaries of the Company from and after the Closing in connection with any such matter related to such representation. In connection with the foregoing, each of the Company, its Subsidiaries, the Sellers and the Seller Representative hereby irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, and to procure that none of their respective Affiliates asserts, any conflict of interest arising from or in connection with (i) STB’s prior representation of Parent and (ii) STB’s post-Closing representation of Parent, the Company and the Subsidiaries of the Company. The Sellers, the Seller Representative, the Subsidiaries of the Company and the Company each hereby acknowledge that each of them have had the opportunity to discuss and obtain adequate information concerning the significance and material risks of, and reasonable available alternatives to, the waivers, permissions and other provisions of this Agreement, including the opportunity to consult with counsel other than STB.

(b) Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees on its own behalf and on behalf of its directors, members, partners, officers, employees and Affiliates, that Baker & McKenzie LLP (“BM”) has acted as counsel to Seller Representative and certain Sellers in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and in the other documents referred to herein and intends to represent the Seller Representative, the Sellers and any manager, director, member, partner, officer, employee or affiliate of the Seller Representative or any Seller from and after the Closing. Accordingly, each of the Parent, Merger Sub, Company, its Subsidiaries and the Seller Representative hereby consents and agrees to, BM representing the Seller Representative, the Sellers and any manager, director, member, partner, officer, employee or affiliate of the Seller Representative or any Seller from and after the Closing in connection with any such matter related to such representation. In connection with the foregoing, each of the Parent, Merger Sub, Company, its Subsidiaries and the Seller Representative hereby irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, and to procure that none of their respective Affiliates asserts, any conflict of interest arising from or in connection with (i) BM’s prior representation of the Seller Representative or any Seller, and (ii) BM’s post-Closing representation of the Seller Representative, the Sellers and any manager, director, member, partner, officer, employee or affiliate of the Seller Representative or any Seller. The Parent, Merger Sub, Company, its Subsidiaries and the Seller Representative each hereby acknowledge that each of them have had the opportunity to discuss and obtain adequate information concerning the significance and material risks of, and reasonable available alternatives to, the waivers, permissions and other provisions of this Agreement, including the opportunity to consult with counsel other than BM.

 

89


(c) Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees on its own behalf and on behalf of its directors, members, partners, officers, employees and Affiliates, that Davis Polk & Wardwell, LLP (“Davis Polk”) has acted as counsel to WWH in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and in the other documents referred to herein and intends to represent WWH and Affiliate of WWH from and after the Closing. Accordingly, each of the Parent, Merger Sub, Company, its Subsidiaries and the Seller Representative hereby consents and agrees to, Davis Polk representing WWH and any affiliate of WWH from and after the Closing in connection with any such matter related to such representation. In connection with the foregoing, each of the Parent, Merger Sub, Company, its Subsidiaries and the Seller Representative hereby irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, and to procure that none of their respective Affiliates asserts, any conflict of interest arising from or in connection with (i) Davis Polk’s prior representation of WWH, and (ii) Davis Polk’s post-Closing representation of the WWH and any affiliate of WWH. The Parent, Merger Sub, Company, its Subsidiaries and the Seller Representative each hereby acknowledge that each of them have had the opportunity to discuss and obtain adequate information concerning the significance and material risks of, and reasonable available alternatives to, the waivers, permissions and other provisions of this Agreement, including the opportunity to consult with counsel other than Davis Polk.

(d) Each of the Company, its Subsidiaries, the Sellers and the Seller Representative further agrees, that all communications in any form or format whatsoever between or among any of STB, Parent and, after the Closing, the Company and its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or other representatives that relate to the transactions contemplated hereby or in connection with any other matter relating to the process for the acquisition of the Company and its Subsidiaries by Parent, shall from and after the Closing be deemed to be retained and owned collectively by Parent, the Company and its Subsidiaries, as appropriate, and shall be controlled by such relevant entity. All such communications shall remain privileged after the Closing and the privilege and the expectation of client confidence relating thereto shall belong solely to Parent, the Company and its Subsidiaries, as appropriate, and shall be controlled by such relevant entity.

(e) Each of the Parent, Merger Sub, Company, its Subsidiaries and the Seller Representative further agrees, that all communications in any form or format whatsoever between or among any of BM, any Seller or the Seller Representative, and, after the Closing, the Seller Representative, the Sellers or any of their respective managers, directors, officers, employees or other representatives that relate to the transactions contemplated hereby or in connection with any other matter relating to the process for the acquisition of the Company and its Subsidiaries by Parent, shall from and after the Closing be deemed to be retained and owned collectively by the Seller Representative and the Sellers, as appropriate, and shall be controlled by such relevant Person. All such communications shall remain privileged after the Closing and the privilege and the expectation of client confidence relating thereto shall belong solely to Seller Representative or the Sellers, as appropriate, and shall be controlled by such relevant Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a dispute arises between Parent, the Surviving Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries and a third party (other than a Party to this Agreement or any of their respective Affiliates) after the Closing, the Surviving Company (including on behalf of its Subsidiaries) may assert the attorney-client privilege to prevent disclosure of confidential communications by BM to such third party; provided, that, neither the Surviving Company nor any of its Subsidiaries may waive such privilege without the prior written consent of the Seller Representative.

Section 13.18 Governmental Reporting. Anything to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to mean that a Party or other Person must make or file, or cooperate in the making or filing of, any return or report to any Governmental Entity in any manner that such Person or such Party reasonably believes or reasonably is advised is not in accordance with Law.

 

90


Section 13.19 Headings. The table of contents, headings and other captions contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

Section 13.20 Non-recourse

(a) Any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement, any Guaranty or any Equity Commitment Letter may only be brought against the entities that are expressly named as parties hereto or thereto and then only with respect to the specific obligations of such party and subject to the terms, conditions and limitations set forth herein or therein. Except to the extent a named Party to this Agreement (and then only to the extent of the specific warranties, or other obligations undertaken by such named Party in this Agreement and not otherwise) and except as provided in any Guaranty (and then only to the extent with respect to the Equity Investors party to such Guaranty and to the extent provided therein) or any Equity Commitment Letter (and then only to the extent with respect to the Equity Investors party to such Equity Commitment Letter and only to the extent provided therein), no Parent Related Party shall have any liability (whether in contract, tort, equity, strict liability or otherwise) for any one or more of the warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations or liabilities of any one or more of the Parent or Merger Sub under this Agreement (whether for indemnification or otherwise) of or for any claim based on, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. It is further understood that any certificate or certification contemplated by this Agreement and executed by an officer of a Party will be deemed to have been delivered only in such officer’s capacity as an officer of such Party (and not in his or her individual capacity) and will not entitle any Party to assert a claim against such officer in his or her individual capacity.

(b) Subject to Section 13.20(c), each of the Seller Representative and the Company (on behalf of themselves, their respective Affiliates, and any Person claiming by, through or on behalf of the Seller Representative, the Company or their respective Affiliates, including the Sellers) covenants and agrees that it shall not institute, and shall cause its Representatives and Affiliates not to bring, make or institute any action, claim, proceeding (whether based in Contract, tort, fraud, strict liability, other Laws or otherwise, at law or in equity) arising under or in connection with this Agreement, any Guaranty, any Equity Commitment Letter or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby against any of the Parent Related Parties and that none of the Parent Related Parties shall have any liability or obligations (whether based in Contract, tort, fraud, strict liability, other Laws or otherwise) to the Sellers, the Seller Representative, the Company, the Company’s Subsidiaries, any of their respective Representatives or Affiliates (Person claiming by, through or on behalf of the Seller Representative, the Company or their respective Affiliates) or any of their respective successors, heirs or representatives thereof arising out of or relating to this Agreement, any Guaranty, any Equity Commitment Letter or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, other than in each case, Parent and Merger Sub to the extent provided herein and subject to the limitations set forth herein or the Equity Investors under their respective Guaranty, to the extent provided therein and subject to the limitations therein.

(c) Nothing in this Section 13.20 shall prejudice the availability or right of any Party to request specific performance in connection with, but subject to the limitations set forth in, Section 13.16.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Seller Representative, on behalf of itself and the Seller Related Parties, and the Company on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries hereby irrevocably and unconditionally acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement may not be enforced against any Debt Financing Source or any Debt Financing Representative and no Debt Financing Source or Debt Financing Representative shall have any liability under this Agreement or for any claim or Proceeding (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) based on, in respect of, or by reason of, the transactions contemplated hereby, including any dispute related to, or arising from, the Debt Financing, the Debt

 

91


Commitment Letter, any of the agreements entered into in connection therewith or the performance thereof (provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall affect the rights of Parent or its Affiliates against any Debt Financing Source or any Debt Financing Representative under any debt commitment letter or any other agreement with respect to the Debt Financing or any of the transactions contemplated thereby or the any services thereunder). For the avoidance of doubt, none of the Seller Representative, Sellers or any of their respective Affiliates will have any rights or claims, whether at law of equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise, and will not seek any rights or claims, against any Debt Financing Source or Debt Financing Representative arising under or in connection with this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby; provided, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not limit any right of the Company following the Effective Time under any definitive agreements with respect to the Debt Financing.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

92


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement and Plan of Merger as of the date first written above.

 

PARENT:
BUZZ HOLDINGS L.P.
By:  

/s/ Jonathan Korngold

Name: Jonathan Korngold
Title: President

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement and Plan of Merger as of the date first written above.

 

MERGER SUB:
BUZZ MERGER SUB LTD.
By:  

/s/ Jonathan Korngold

Name: Jonathan Korngold
Title: Director

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement and Plan of Merger as of the date first written above.

 

THE COMPANY:
WORLDWIDE VISION LIMITED
By:  

/s/ Kevin Insley

Name: Kevin Insley
Title: Director
THE COMPANY:
WORLDWIDE VISION LIMITED
By:  

/s/ Luke Frendo

Name: Luke Frendo
Title: Director

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement and Plan of Merger as of the date first written above.

 

THE SELLER REPRESENTATIVE (solely in its capacity as the Seller Representative):
BUZZ SR LIMITED
By:  

/s/ Andrey Ogandzhanyants

Name: Andrey Ogandzhanyants
Title: Director

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]


ANNEX A

Defined Terms

1 Defined Terms. The following terms, whenever used in this Agreement, shall have the following meanings for all purposes of this Agreement:

Affiliate” with respect to any Person means any other Person who directly or indirectly Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with such Person, including, in the case of any Person who is an individual natural person, his or her spouse, any of his or her descendants (lineal or adopted) or ancestors and any of their spouses; provided that, for the purposes of this Agreement, (i) any “portfolio company” (as such term is commonly understood in the private equity industry) of any investment fund affiliated with any person shall not be considered an “Affiliate” of such Person, and (ii) WWH shall not be considered an “Affiliate” of the Company, Parent or Merger Sub.

Aggregate Option Exercise Price” means the aggregate price that the holders of Vested Options and Unvested Options would be required to pay as purchase price to exercise all such Vested Options and Unvested Options outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, in each case, excluding for the avoidance of doubt, the Terminated Options.

Ambassador Commitments” means the commitments of the Company and its Subsidiaries pursuant to (i) the endorsement agreement to be entered into with Aneres Entertainment LLC and Serena Williams (the deal memo for which is at 4.1.9.3.1.47 of the Data Room), (ii) the sponsorship agreement entered into with LA Clippers LLC dated February 27, 2018 (at 4.1.3.11.14 of the Data Room), and (iii) the endorsement agreement entered into with Purple Pebble America LLC, dated October 29, 2018 (at 4.1.3.11.4 of the Data Room).

Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means laws, regulations, rules or guidelines relating to money laundering, including, without limitation, financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, which apply to the business and dealings of the Company, each Subsidiary of the Company, and the shareholders of the Company; such as, without limitation, the U.S. Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56, the U.S. Currency and Foreign Transaction Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the U.S. Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, as amended, the UK Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the UK Terrorism Act 2000, as amended, all money laundering-related laws of other jurisdictions where the Company and its subsidiaries conduct business or own assets, and any related or similar Law issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity.

Antitrust Laws” means the HSR Act and any other Laws that are designed or intended to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade or lessening of competition through merger or acquisition.

Base Purchase Price” means $2,825,000,000.

Benefit Plan” means any retirement, pension, profit sharing, deferred compensation, savings, bonus, incentive, sales commission, cafeteria, medical, dental, vision, hospitalization, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, medical expense reimbursement, dependent care assistance, tuition reimbursement, disability, sick pay, holiday, vacation, retention, employment, individual consulting, severance, termination, change of control, equity purchase, equity option, restricted equity, phantom equity, equity appreciation rights, employee loan fringe benefit or other employee benefit plan, program, policy, agreement or arrangement (including any “employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA (whether or not subject to ERISA) and including any Company UK Pension Plan) (a) sponsored,

 

Annex A-1


maintained or contributed to by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates for the benefit of any current or former employee, officer, director, retiree, or independent contractor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any spouse, dependent, or beneficiary thereof, or (b) with respect to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates has any obligation or Liability, contingent or otherwise, or (c) under which any employee of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates has any present or future rights to benefits; provided, however, that the term “Benefit Plan” shall not include any plan, program or arrangement that is both mandated and maintained by a Governmental Entity to the extent funded by employment Taxes, social or national insurance contributions or similar obligations.

Bermuda Companies Act” means the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda.

Bermuda Merger Agreement” means the statutory merger agreement between the Company, the Parent and Merger Sub substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

Blackstone Group” means The Blackstone Group Inc. and any investment funds or investment vehicles affiliated with, or managed or advised by, The Blackstone Group Inc. and any portfolio company, as such term is commonly understood in the private equity industry, or investment of The Blackstone Group Inc. or of any such investment fund or investment vehicle, in each case excluding the Parent and its Subsidiaries.

BMA” means the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

Bumble Fund” means Bumble Trading Inc.’s corporate venture capital initiative, details of which are contained in the Data Room at 4.1.3.5.1.

Bumble Holding” means Bumble Holding Limited, a UK private limited company with registration number 9214520.

Bumble Minorities” means each of Chris Gulczynski, Sarah Mick and Michelle Kennedy and any transferee of their capital stock of Bumble Holdings.

Business” means the business of the Companies and its Subsidiaries.

Business Day” means a day on which banks are open for business in the City of London, England, New York, New York and Hamilton, Bermuda, but does not include a Saturday, Sunday or a statutory holiday in the United States, Bermuda or England.

Cash” means cash and cash equivalents and any other items required to be included within Cash in accordance with the Specific Accounting Principles; provided, that cash and cash equivalents as of the Measurement Time held (i) in any jurisdiction other than any of the United States, the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, or Australia, or (ii) in or via e-money license accounts, (including but not limited to Paypal, HiFX, Currency Cloud, Web Money, Yandex, Transfer Wise, Payoneer and FairFX, and other currency cards of a similar nature), shall not exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate (and any amounts in excess of $5,000,000 shall be deemed excluded from “Cash”).

Certificate of Incorporation” means the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, dated October 4, 2007.

 

Annex A-2


Closing Cash Amount” means all Cash of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Measurement Time, determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance with the Accounting Principles, as set out in the Closing Statement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Closing Cash Amount shall be calculated net of uncleared checks, wires and drafts issued by the Company and/or its Subsidiaries and shall include uncleared checks and drafts received by or deposited for the account of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that have not yet been credited to such relevant account.

Closing Indebtedness Amount” means the aggregate amount of consolidated Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries outstanding as of the Measurement Time, determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles and as set out in the Closing Statement. For the avoidance of doubt, if Closing Indebtedness Amount is a net asset (i.e. assets exceed liabilities) then the Closing Indebtedness Amount will be expressed as a negative amount and if Closing Indebtedness Amount is a net liability (liabilities exceed assets) then the Closing Indebtedness Amount will be expressed as a positive amount.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations issued pursuant thereto.

Company Bye-Laws” means the Bye-Laws of the Company, in effect as of November 23, 2013.

Company Common Shares” means the common shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company.

Company Equity” means the Company Common Shares, Growth Shares and Options.

Company Shares” means, collectively, Company Common Shares and Growth Shares (and, for the avoidance of doubt, all classes therein).

Company UK Pension Plan” means any United Kingdom pension scheme or arrangement in respect of which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries does or could reasonably be expected to have any Liability, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise.

Confidential Information” means any confidential or proprietary information which relates to, or is used in the Business and includes, but is not limited to information pertaining to operations, technology, procedures and methods of operation, financial statements and other financial information, trade secrets, market studies and forecasts, competitive analyses, network configurations, target markets, techniques, pricing policies and information, know-how, actual and potential customers (and all agreements relating thereto), marketing and similar arrangements, servicing and training programs and arrangements and customer lists, profiles and preferences.

Confidentiality Agreement” means the Mutual Confidentiality Agreement, dated August 23, 2019, by and between the Company and Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Advisors L.L.C.

Continuing Employee” means each employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries who becomes an employee of Parent or an Affiliate of Parent immediately after the Effective Time or who continues to have an employment relationship with the Surviving Company or any of its Subsidiaries immediately after the Effective Time.

Contract” means any contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment, understanding, lease, license, or other legally binding agreement, purchase order, statement of work, and including all amendments thereto (in each case, whether written or oral).

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 ownership of securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Annex A-3


Corcaran” means Corcaran Holding Ltd., a company incorporated in the Republic of Cyprus with registration number HE 210756.

Cumulative Investment” means, as of any date of determination, with respect to the Qualifying Parent Equityholders, the total cash investment, directly or indirectly, made by such Qualifying Parent Equityholder in Parent to acquire Parent Securities, as of such date; provided, “Cumulative Investment” shall not include any amount invested, directly or indirectly, by a Qualified Parent Equityholder (x) where a principal purpose or intent of such investment is to circumvent or reduce any payment contemplated by Section 2.14, or (y) in respect of equity securities that are redeemed, transferred or otherwise disposed of by Qualifying Parent Equityholders in connection with a post-closing syndication on or prior to the date that is the first anniversary of the Closing Date.

Damages” means all losses, costs, charges, settlements, awards, judgments, fines, penalties, damages, Taxes, assessments, levies, awards, diminution in value, reasonable expenses, (including reasonable attorneys’, actuaries’, accountants’, experts’ and other professionals’ fees, disbursements and expenses), Liabilities, claims or deficiencies of any kind, including any claims, actions, suits, litigation, arbitration, investigation or proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity.

Data Room” means the Merrill DatasiteOne virtual data room entitled “Buzz VDR” established by or on behalf of the Company for the purposes of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Debt Financing Representatives” means, with respect to the Debt Financing Sources, their respective former, current, or future officers, directors, employees, agents, trustees, shareholders, partners, controlling persons and representatives and the successors and permitted assigns thereof.

Debt Financing Sources” means the entities (or any of their Affiliates) that have committed to provide or arrange or have otherwise entered into agreements in connection with all or any part of the Debt Financing (or any alternative financing described Section 7.2(c)) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the parties to the Debt Commitment Letter and any joinder agreements or credit agreements entered into pursuant thereto or relating thereto

Designated Exchange Rate” means, in respect of any date, the rate of exchange from the applicable non-U.S. currency to U.S. dollars as published by the European Central Bank at https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/euro_reference_exchange_rates/html/index.en.html, as of such date.

Disclosed” means fairly disclosed (with sufficient detail to identify to the Parent the nature and scope of the matter disclosed).

Dissenting Shares” means Company Shares held by Dissenting Shareholders and issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.

Dissenting Shareholder” means a holder of Company Shares who, as of the Effective Time, (a) did not vote in favor of the Shareholder Approval Matters, (b) complied with all of the provisions of the Bermuda Companies Act concerning the right of the holders of Company Shares to require appraisal of their Company Shares pursuant to the Bermuda Companies Act, and (c) made an application to the Supreme Court of Bermuda pursuant to Section 106(6) of the Bermuda Companies Act.

Distribution Waterfall” means an allocation of the Estimated Closing Merger Consideration among the Sellers, calculated in accordance with the terms and conditions of Section 4.2(c) of the Company Bye-Laws and Section 2.3 of this Agreement, assuming for the purposes of such allocation that (a) an amount of capital equal to the Estimated Closing Merger Consideration was distributed pursuant to Section

 

Annex A-4


4.2(c) of the Bye-Laws at the Effective Time and (b) (i) the number of Company Common Shares shall include any Dissenting Shares and the Rollover Equity, (ii) all Vested Options and Unvested Options issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time were exercised in full (which, for the avoidance of doubt, excludes any Terminated Options), and (iii) all Unvested Growth Shares were fully vested Growth Shares in accordance with their terms and conditions.

Distribution Waterfall Schedule” means the schedule of the Distribution Waterfall to be delivered by the Company to Parent at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date (as it may be modified pursuant to the terms of Article II).

Environmental Claim” means any claim, Proceeding, complaint, or notice of violation alleging violation of, or Liability under, any Environmental Laws.

Environmental Laws” means all Laws, statutes, regulations, ordinances, rules, regulations, and policies having the force of law, and all Orders and decrees and arbitration awards, which pertain to, or impose standards regarding, environmental matters or contamination of any type whatsoever or the protection or cleanup of the environment, the preservation or protection of natural resources, or the exposure of any individual to harmful or deleterious substances.

Equity Rights” means (a) share capital or shares of capital stock of, partnership or limited partnership interests or limited liability company or membership interests or other equity interests in, a Person; (b) options, warrants, convertible or exchangeable securities or other rights (contingent or otherwise), preemptive or similar rights, rights of first refusal, subscriptions, or commitments to issue any such rights, whether or not currently exercisable, that would obligate any Person to issue any of its equity securities to any Person; (c) equity appreciation, profit participation, performance shares, contingent value rights, phantom equity rights or similar rights (including, “shadow” equity, restricted equity or restricted share units or similar rights) with respect to any Person or commitments to issue any such rights or similar securities or rights that are derivative of, or provide economic benefits based, directly or indirectly, on the value or price of any share capital or capital stock of, or other securities or ownership interests, in a Person; and (d) rights of first offer, rights of first refusal, anti-dilution rights, preemptive rights, or other similar rights (contingent or otherwise), whether or not currently exercisable, with respect to any future offer, sale or issuance of equity securities by any Person.

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

ERISA Affiliate” of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries means any other entity, trade or business which, together with the Company or such of its Subsidiaries, would be treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code or ERISA Section 4001(b).

Exit Event” shall mean (i) the sale or disposition, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of Parent and its Subsidiaries, as a whole, to any “person” or “group” (as such terms are defined in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended, the “Exchange Act”)) other than a Permitted Transferee or any person or group who becomes a Permitted Transferee immediately following and in connection with such transaction(s); (ii) any person or group, other than a Qualifying Parent Equityholder, is or becomes the beneficial or economic owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the outstanding equity securities of Parent, or equity securities of Parent entitled to more than 50% of the value of the assets or proceeds that would be distributed to Shareholders in connection with a liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of Parent or voluntary filing for bankruptcy (had such a transaction occurred), including, in each case, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise.

 

Annex A-5


Finam Agreements” means the Share Purchase Agreement, dated 30 October, 2019, by and between Rimberg, Corcaran and Andrey Ogandzhanyants, as amended by a side letter dated 7 November 2019.

Finam Transaction Documents” means all definitive transaction documentation, instruments and other agreements and understandings evidencing, to Parent’s reasonable satisfaction, the Finam Transactions.

Finam Transactions” means the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Finam Agreements, the approval of the Board of Directors of the Company with respect to the same and any other action taken by the Company and its Representatives with respect to the preceding transactions and the other Finam Transaction Documents.

Financial Statements Date” means December 31, 2018.

Foreign Benefit Plan” shall mean any Benefit Plan established or maintained outside of the United States of America by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries primarily for the benefit of employees or other individual service providers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries residing or providing services outside of the United States of America.

Fundamental Warranties” means the warranties contained in Section 3.1 (Organization; Existence and Good Standing), Section 3.2 (Power and Authority) and Section 3.3 (Enforceability); the first two sentences of Section 3.5(a) and Section 3.5(b) (Capitalization); Section 3.6 (Subsidiaries); clause (ii) in the first sentence of Section 3.10 (Conduct of Business); Section 3.26 (Brokers); and Section 3.27 (Requisite Shareholder Approval).

Governmental Entity” means: (a) any national, federal, state, county, municipal, local, or foreign government or any quasi-governmental entity or entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, taxing, or administrative functions of or pertaining to government; (b) any public international organization; (c) any agency, division, bureau, department, or other political subdivision of any government, entity or organization described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b) of this definition; or (d) any instrumentality controlled by any government, entity, organization, or other Person described in the foregoing clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this definition.

Growth Shares” means any growth shares of the Company that are subject to any vesting requirements or restrictions on participation or entitlements to proceeds or repurchase, forfeiture or other lapse restrictions that remain unsatisfied as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, including each class of growth share of the Company set forth on Section 3.5(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules

Hazardous Materials” means any infectious, carcinogenic, radioactive, toxic or hazardous chemical or chemical compound, or any pollutant, contaminant or hazardous substance, material or waste, in each case, whether solid, liquid or gas, including, without limitation, petroleum, petroleum products, by products or derivatives and asbestos and any other substance, material or waste listed, classified or regulated as a “solid waste,” “hazardous,” “hazardous substance,” “hazardous material,” “hazardous waste,” “toxic,” “toxic substance,” “toxic waste”, “toxic pollutant,” “contaminant,” or “pollutant” or any similar terms under any Environmental Law.

Holdback Equity Commitment Letter” means the equity commitment letter dated on the date of this Agreement between the Equity Investors and Parent, relating to the payment of the Match Indemnification Holdback Amount (when due in accordance with Section 10.6).

 

Annex A-6


IFRS” means the International Financial Reporting Standards or International Accounting Standards issued or adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board (or a predecessor body) and interpretations issued by the International Financial Reporting Standards Interpretations Committee (or a predecessor body), each as and to the extent from time to time adopted by the European Union in accordance with EC Regulation No. 1606/2002.

In-the-Money Options” means all Options outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time having an exercise price per share immediately prior to the Effective Time that is less than the Per Common Share Closing Consideration, provided that for the purposes of determining what is an “In-the-Money Option” at Closing only (and not, for the avoidance of doubt, for the purposes of calculating the total aggregate amount of Closing Merger Consideration payable on the cancellation of any Option pursuant to Section 2.3(e)(i) or Section 2.3(e)(ii), as applicable), references to the “Closing Merger Consideration” in the definition of “Per Common Share Closing Consideration” shall be deemed to be references to the “Estimated Closing Merger Consideration”.

Indebtedness” means in respect of the following (without duplication): (i) the current and long-term portions of amounts owed (including unpaid interest or premium thereon) for borrowed money, (ii) the reimbursement of any obligor for actual liability for amounts drawn on any letter of credit, surety bonds or performance bonds and related fees and expenses, (iii) all obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iv) obligations under capital leases or finance leases, only where and to the extent such obligation would be recorded as a liability on the balance sheet in accordance with the Accounting Principles, (v) all obligations for deferred purchase price for property (whether real or personal), assets (tangible or intangible), equipment or services, excluding accounts payable and other similar trade payable liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business, but including the amount of remaining “earn outs” for past acquisitions (if any) of shares or any business, whether or not to be satisfied in cash or equity (including by virtue of vesting or other non-forfeiture thereof), (vi) all amounts required to settle any swap agreements or other hedge agreements to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party (including any interest rate agreement and currency agreement, whether entered into for hedging or speculative purposes), with the amount of such Indebtedness being deemed to equal the aggregate amounts required to terminate such Contract on the Closing Date, (vii) obligations for deferred compensation, post-retirement or post-employment welfare benefits and unfunded or underfunded obligations under Benefit Plans, in each case, only to the extent of a type or nature of such liabilities that were recognized in the Financial Statements, including, in each case, all employer-side employment Taxes, social or national insurance contributions or similar obligations payable with respect to thereto, (viii) any accrued but unpaid severance obligations, including, in each case, all employer-side employment Taxes, social or national insurance contributions or similar obligations payable with respect thereto, (ix) any declared or accrued but unpaid (as of the Measurement Time) dividends or distributions payable to any minority shareholders in the Company’s Subsidiaries or to the Sellers, in each case to the extent payable by the Company or its Subsidiaries after the Measurement Time, (x) all liabilities secured by any mortgage, pledge, security interest, Lien (other than a Permitted Lien), (xi) any outstanding or accrued interest with respect to the indebtedness referred to above and any breakage, termination, “make-whole” or prepayment premiums or fees with respect thereto or other similar costs, fees or expenses on the foregoing which are payable on or as a result of Closing, (xii) any Match Litigation Expenses in accordance with Section 10.4(c)(i), (xiii) any unpaid income Tax liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries for any Pre-Closing Tax Period; provided (A) such amount shall not be an amount less than zero except to the extent provided in clause (C), (B) such income Tax liabilities shall be calculated taking into account income Tax Assets (including deductions arising by virtue of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents) to the extent such income Tax Assets are in the same jurisdiction as the applicable income Tax liability and are available to offset or may become available to offset such income Tax liabilities as a matter of Law and (C) without duplication any income Tax liabilities included in this clause (xiii) shall be reduced by the amount of the Malta Tax Receivable and the UK Loss Amount (each

 

Annex A-7


as defined in the Accounting Principles) and if the aggregate amount of the Malta Tax Receivable and the UK Loss Amount exceeds the amount of income Tax liabilities included in this clause (xiii), then a net asset shall be included in Indebtedness equal to such excess amount, (xiv) the Sales Tax Liability (as defined in the Accounting Principles), (xv) any other amounts required to be treated as Indebtedness in accordance with the Specific Accounting Principles, including the Russian PAYE/NIC Liability (as defined in the Accounting Principles), and (xvi) all outstanding guarantees to the extent actually called upon (including called upon guarantees in the form of an agreement to repurchase or reimburse) of the Company and its Subsidiaries in respect of any indebtedness of another Person of the type described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (xv); provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall not be deemed to include any obligations under undrawn letters of credit, any intercompany Indebtedness between the Company and its Subsidiaries or between any of the Subsidiaries, any Indebtedness incurred by Parent, Merger Sub, the Surviving Company and its Subsidiaries, and any of their Affiliates (or subsequently assumed by the Company, Surviving Company or any of their Subsidiaries on or after the Closing Date), any Transaction Expenses, Third-Party Expenses, Closing Cash Amount and any amounts included in Net Working Capital. For the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness shall also exclude any Tax liabilities (or reductions in assets including Tax Assets) in each case arising in connection with the Pre-Closing Restructuring and any Liabilities, including Taxes arising from actions taken by Parent, its Affiliates, including the Company, on or after the Closing that are not specifically contemplated by this Agreement and any uncertain tax provisions or accruals except to the extent expressly specified in the Accounting Principles.

Intellectual Property” means all intellectual and industrial property rights worldwide, including all: (a) patents; (b) trademarks, service marks, brand names, trade names, slogans, logos, trade dress, get-up, designs, business and corporate names, Internet domain names, social and mobile media identifiers and any other designations of source or origin, together with all common law rights related thereto and goodwill associated therewith; (c) copyrights (including copyrights in Software), moral rights, rights of authorship and attribution, rights in databases and data collections and other works of authorship; (d) trade secrets, Confidential Information, know-how, methods, processes, inventions and algorithms; and (e) registrations and applications, including continuations, divisionals, continuations in part, provisionals, renewals, reexaminations and foreign counterparts for any of the foregoing.

Interim Period” means the period of time from and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article XI.

IRS” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

IT Systems” means all hardware, computer systems, databases, websites, applications, Software, networks, electronic data processing equipment, telecommunications systems and networks, platforms, peripherals, interfaces, and information technology assets and infrastructure.

Law” means any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, treaty, constitution, administrative interpretation or common law of any Governmental Entity, any Order or any other requirement having the force of law of any Governmental Entity.

Letter of Transmittal shall mean the letter of transmittal in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.

Liabilities” means any liability, Tax or other obligation (whether pecuniary or not, and whether known or unknown).

 

Annex A-8


Liens” means all liens, claims, mortgages, security interests, pledges, easements, rights of way, options, rights of first refusal or negotiation, preemptive rights, equitable interests, conditional sale agreements or other title retention agreements, judgments, attachments, rights of way, encroachments, servitudes, restrictions on transfer and encumbrances of every kind and nature whatsoever, excluding licenses, whether arising by agreement, operation of law or otherwise.

Match Indemnification Escrow Account” means the escrow account designated by the Escrow Agent in connection with the Residual Match Indemnification Holdback Amount.

Match Indemnification Holdback Amount” means (i) if no Match Resolution has been achieved prior to the Measurement Time, the amount of Seventy Six Million Dollars ($76,000,000), or (ii) if a Match Resolution has been achieved prior to the Measurement Time, $0.

Match Indemnification Liability means (i) if a Match Resolution has been achieved prior to the Measurement Time, any amounts incurred and remaining unpaid at the Measurement Time by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to Match Group, LLC or any of its Affiliates under the terms of such Match Resolution, if any (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding any amounts that are treated as “Indebtedness” pursuant to Section 10.4(c)(i)), or (ii) if no Match Resolution has been achieved prior to the Measurement Time, $0.

Match Litigation” means the litigation in connection with (a) Match Group, LLC, as plaintiff, v. Bumble Trading, Inc. et al., as defendants, Case No. 6:18-cv-00080-ADA in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Waco Division; (b) Bumble Trading Inc. et al. v. Match Group, LLC et al., IPR2019-00842 (PTAB); (c) Bumble Trading Inc. et al. v. Match Group, LLC et al., IPR2019-01000 (PTAB); (d) Bumble Trading Inc. et al. v. Match Group, LLC et al., IPR2019-01537 (PTAB); (e) Bumble Trading Inc. et al. v. Match Group, LLC et al., IPR2019-01538 (PTAB), including, in each case, any claims, counterclaims and cross-claims made in connection therewith, in each case whether raised or brought prior to, at or after the Effective Time, and any amendment of any such claims, counterclaims or cross-claims (including any amendment adding or joining other parties thereto), and any Proceeding involving, in whole or in part, such litigation, claims, counterclaims or cross-claims, and any other Proceeding (whether filed, threatened or settled (with or without any filing), prior to, at or after the Effective Time) relating to or arising out of the acts or omissions of the Company, its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates prior to the Closing (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any actions that are continuing at Closing) that make substantially the same type of allegations as are made in such litigation, claims, counterclaims or cross-claims.

Material Adverse Effect” means any event, change, circumstance, development, occurrence, state of facts, effect or other matter (each, a “Change”) that, individually or in the aggregate, (a) has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, properties, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (b) prevents the Company’s ability to consummate the Merger before the Outside Date; provided, however, that, solely in the case of clause (a), none of the following will be considered in determining whether there has been, a “Material Adverse Effect”: (1) any event, Change, development, occurrence or state of facts resulting from (i) any Change, event or development in or affecting financial conditions, general economic conditions (including prevailing interest rates, exchange rates, commodity prices and fuel costs), social or political conditions generally or any Change, event or development generally affecting the online dating industry, (ii) any failure of the Company and its Subsidiaries to meet any published or internally prepared projections, budgets, plans or forecasts of revenues, earnings or other financial performance measures or operating statistics (it being understood that this clause (ii) will not prevent a determination that any event, Change, development, occurrence or state of facts underlying such failure has resulted in a Material Adverse Effect to the extent such event, change, development, occurrence or state of facts is not otherwise excluded from this definition of Material Adverse Effect), (iii) the execution, delivery, pendency or performance of this Agreement or the Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, or the

 

Annex A-9


public announcement or other publicity with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement including (A) the identity of Parent and its Affiliates or (B) by reason of any communication by Parent or any of its Affiliates regarding the plans or intentions of Parent with respect to the conduct of the Business following the Closing, and any Proceeding to the extent arising from or otherwise reasonably attributable to the foregoing, (iv) Changes that generally affect the industries and markets in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate, (v) Changes in Laws, IFRS (or any other applicable accounting standards) or enforcement or interpretation thereof, in each case, after the date hereof, (vi) any outbreak or escalation of war or major hostilities or any act of sabotage or terrorism, or (vii)) volcanoes, tsunamis, pandemics, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados or other natural disasters; provided that, in the case of the foregoing clauses (i), (iv), (v), (vi) and (vii), if such Change disproportionately affects the Company and the Subsidiaries as compared to other Persons or businesses that operate in the industries or markets in which the Company operates, then the disproportionate aspect of such Change may be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred.

Maximum Earn-Out Payment” means $150,000,000, as such amount may be reduced pursuant to the terms of Article X.

Measurement Time” means 11:59 p.m. on the date immediately preceding the Closing Date.

Memorandum of Association” means the Memorandum of Association of the Company, dated September 24, 2007.

Net Cash Amount” means the result (which may be positive or negative) of (i) the Closing Cash Amount minus (ii) the Closing Indebtedness Amount.

Net Working Capital” means the amount (which may be a positive or negative number), equal to (a) the aggregate amount of the consolidated current assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, minus (b) the aggregate amount of the consolidated current liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case, calculated in accordance with the Accounting Principles as of the Measurement Time, and as set out in the Closing Statement; provided always that Net Working Capital shall not include amounts in the calculation of the Closing Cash Amount (or amounts that would be included in the Closing Cash Amount but for them being excluded pursuant to the definition of Cash), the Closing Indebtedness Amount, Transaction Expenses, Third-Party Expenses, the Quack Shareholder Debt Amount, the Rimberg Shareholder Debt Amount and the Shareholder Debt Amount.

Option” means each option to purchase or otherwise acquire Company Shares or which otherwise would require the Company to issue, sell, or otherwise cause to become outstanding any of its capital stock.

Optionholder means a Person who is the record owner of any Options. For the avoidance of doubt, a Person who has exercised an Option (whether or not contingent on the Closing) prior to the Effective Time shall not be considered an Optionholder with respect to such Option.

Order” means any judgement, order, writ, injunction or decree or similar requirement of any Governmental Entity, arbitrator or mediator and any settlement agreement or compliance agreement entered into in connection with any Proceeding.

Organizational Documents” means the articles of incorporation, certificate of incorporation, memorandum of association, charter, bye-laws, articles of formation, certificate of formation, regulations, operating agreement, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, limited liability company agreement, and all other similar documents, instruments or certificates executed, adopted or filed in connection with the creation, formation or organization of a Person, and, in each of the foregoing cases, shall include any other agreements to which such Person is a party providing governance rights (including the right to appoint directors or observers to boards or similar governing bodies), rights with respect to voting on equity or preemptive rights on the equity of such Person.

 

Annex A-10


Parent Capital Interests” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Rollover Agreement.

Parent Securities” means the securities of Parent that are issued and outstanding as of immediately following the Effective Time, as well as any securities of any such person issued after the Effective Time and prior to the termination or expiration of the obligations of the Parties under Section 2.14 pursuant to the terms of Section 2.14(h)(ii), and held, directly or indirectly, by Qualifying Parent Equityholders, and shall include (a) any securities (i) issued as a distribution thereon or (ii) issued by a Public Entity in exchange therefor pursuant to, or as contemplated by and in anticipation of, a Public Offering, merger or consolidation), and (b) any securities received by a Qualifying Parent Equityholder in connection with any direct or indirect sale, exchange or conversion of the Parent Securities.

Per Common Share Closing Consideration” means an amount equal to the quotient of (a) the aggregate amount of Closing Merger Consideration allocable to the Company Common Shares, divided by (b) the aggregate number of Company Common Shares that would be issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, assuming that all Vested Options and Unvested Options issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time were exercised in full by paying the applicable exercise price in cash (which for the avoidance of doubt excludes any Terminated Options) and, without duplication, including all Dissenting Shares and Rollover Equity. For the avoidance of doubt, the aggregate amount of Closing Merger Consideration allocable to the Company Common Shares for the purposes hereof shall be determined after giving effect to any amounts of the Estimated Closing Merger Consideration allocable to the Growth Shares as provided by Section 4.2(c) of the Bye-Laws and the Distribution Waterfall.

Permits” means all licenses, permits, registrations, approvals, authorizations, consents and Orders of, or filings with, any Governmental Entity.

Permitted Liens” means: (a) liens for Taxes not yet due and payable or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings (provided an appropriate reserve is established therefor); (b) statutory liens of landlords, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics and materialmen incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums not yet due; (c) liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security; (d) zoning restrictions and minor irregularities of title on real property that do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value, occupancy, rights or access or existing use thereof; and (e) liens relating to the transferability of securities under applicable securities laws.

Permitted Transferee” means, with respect to any Qualifying Parent Equityholder, any Affiliate of such Person or any investment fund, vehicle or similar entity of which such Person or any Affiliate, advisor or manager of such Person serves as the general partner, manager or advisor and in which such Person or an Affiliate of such Person retains dispositive power (but excluding any portfolio companies (as such term is generally understood in the private equity industry) of any of the foregoing.

Person” means any natural individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, bank, trust company, trust or other entity, whether or not legal entities, or any Governmental Entity, agency or political subdivision.

Personally Identifiable Information” means information from or about an individual person, the Processing of which is restricted or governed under applicable Law, including but not limited to each of the following as and to the extent restricted or governed under applicable Law: (a) personally identifiable information (e.g., name, address, telephone number, email address, financial account number, government-issued identifier, health information and any other data used or intended to identify, contact or precisely locate a person); and (b) Internet Protocol address or other persistent identifiers.

 

Annex A-11


Post-Closing Payments” means, collectively, (a) the Residual Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Amount, (b) the Excess Amount, (c) any funds remaining in the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Amount pursuant to Section 2.10(e)(ii), (d) the Residual Expense Fund Amount, (e) any Residual Match Indemnification Holdback Amount, (f) any payment pursuant to Section 2.13 and (g) any Earn-Out Payment.

Pre-Closing Tax Period” means any Tax period ending on or before the Closing Date (or, in the case of any Tax period that includes but does not end on the Closing Date, the portion of such Tax period ending on the Closing Date).

Privacy Requirements” means the UK’s Data Protection Act 1998 (applicable up to and including 24 May 2018), the EU’s General Data Regulation (2016/679) (applicable from 25 May 2018) and the UK’s Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.

Proceeding” means any litigation (in law or in equity), arbitration, mediation, action, lawsuit, proceeding, compliant, charge, claim, demand, hearing, inquiry, investigation or like matter by or before or by any Governmental Entity, whether administrative, judicial or arbitration in nature.

Processing” means use, processing, storage, disclosure, retention, transfer, disposal or management.

Pro Rata Share” means, (i) with respect to each Seller, including solely for the purposes of Section 2.14, Section 10.6(b) and Section 11.3, WWH, the amount represented as a percentage, equal to the applicable percentage set forth opposite such Seller’s name on the Pro Rata Share Schedule in respect of its Company Equity assuming all Company Equity held by such Seller is outstanding; provided, that the Pro Rata Share of WWH for the purposes of Section 2.14, Section 10.6(b) and Section 11.3 shall be deemed to be 1623% and the aggregate Pro Rata Shares of the Sellers (including for this purpose WWH), with respect to the Sellers (including for this purpose WWH) shall equal 100%. For the avoidance of doubt, each Seller’s Pro Rata Share of any Post-Closing Payments shall be calculated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Company Bye-Laws and assuming the payments of the Estimated Closing Merger Consideration were made to the Sellers as of the Effective Time.

Pro Rata Share Schedule” means the schedule setting forth with respect to each Seller, the Pro Rata Share of each Seller in respect of its Company Equity, to be delivered by the Company to Parent at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date. The Pro Rata Share allocated to WWH shall be presented as a separate entry in the Pro Rata Share Schedule titled the “WWH Percentage” and shall in all cases be equal to 1623% of the total aggregate Pro Rata Share of the Sellers.

Public Offering” means a public offering of equity securities of Parent, one of Parent’s controlled Affiliates or any other Public Entity, pursuant to a registration statement (including pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act) under the Securities Act or the applicable Laws of a non-U.S. jurisdiction.

Public Entity” means Parent or one of Parent’s controlled Affiliates or any successor thereof that is the issuer of common stock in a Public Offering.

Quack Acquired Asset” has the meaning ascribed to the term “Asset” in the Quack Acquisition Agreement.

 

Annex A-12


Quack Acquiror” means, Eyelinkmedia Holding Limited in its capacity as the acquiror of the Quack Business pursuant to the terms of the Quack Acquisition Agreement.

Quack Acquisition Agreement” means an Asset Purchase Agreement, by and among the Quack Sellers and the Quack Acquiror, in the form attached hereto as Annex C.

Quack Assumed Liabilities” means any liabilities expressly transferred pursuant to the Quack Acquisition Agreement.

Quack Business” has the meaning of “Business” in the Quack Acquisition Agreement.

Quack IP License” means a license agreement, by and among the Company and the Quack Acquiror, in the form attached hereto as Annex D.

Quack Promissory Note” means a promissory note in form attached hereto as Exhibit E.

Quack Related Shareholder” means Andrey Ogandzhanyants.

Quack Restructuring” means (a) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Quack Acquisition Agreement, (b) the Quack Assumed Liabilities, or (c) the Quack Acquired Assets.

Quack Shareholder Debt Amount” means the aggregate amount owing to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the Quack Promissory Notes immediately prior to Closing, including all accrued and unpaid interest through the Closing Date, determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles and as set out in the Closing Statement.

Qualified” means any warranty that is subject to a “materiality,” “material,” “Material Adverse Effect,” “in all material respects” or other derivations of the word “material” used alone or in a phrase that have a similar impact or effect or similar qualification (but not including knowledge); and the use of any such term shall be deemed to be a “Qualification”, provided that a “Qualification” shall not include any such term (a) that solely qualifies an affirmative requirement to (i) list specified items and does not qualify any exceptions from the accuracy of a specific warranty or (ii) provide or make available specified items or (b) any defined term (e.g., the defined term “Material Contract” does not become “Contract”) or the definition thereof.

Qualifying Parent Equityholder” means the following Equity Investors to the extent such Equity Investors actually consummate a direct or indirect cash investment in Parent to acquire Parent Securities at or prior to the Effective Time and hold Parent Securities, directly or indirectly as of immediately following the Effective Time: Blackstone Capital Partners VII NQ L.P., Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Fund III – NQ L.P., BTAS NQ Holdings L.L.C., Strategic Partners VIII Investments L.P., Blackstone Growth L.P., Blackstone Strategic Opportunity Fund L.P., Blackstone Diversified Alternatives Issuer L.L.C., Blackstone Harrington Partners L.P., Blackstone Private Strategies IDF Series Interests of SALI Multi-Series Fund, L.P., plus their respective Permitted Transferees who have held Parent Securities from time to time.

R&W Insurance Policy” means the representation and warranty insurance policy, and related excess policies, between Parent and the insurers party thereto entered into on the date of this Agreement.

Realized Cash Proceeds” means the amount of any cash paid or distributed, net of third-party transaction expenses incurred in connection with the applicable event resulting in “Realized Cash Proceeds”, (i) by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to (or on behalf of, or for the benefit of) a Qualifying Parent Equityholder or any of its Affiliates or Permitted Transferees including (A) any cash dividends or distributions or returns of capital, and (B) any management, monitoring, consulting, transaction, service,

 

Annex A-13


advisory or other similar fees, or by (ii) assumption or incurrence by Parent or any Subsidiary of any liability of a Qualifying Parent Equityholder or any of its Affiliates or Permitted Transferees, (iii) any waiver, forgiveness, release or deferral of any liability owed to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries by a Qualifying Parent Equityholder or any of its Affiliates or Permitted Transferees, (iv) repayment by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries of the principal or interest of any loan of a member of Qualifying Parent Equityholder or any of its Affiliates or Permitted Transferees, in each case excluding (v) any arm’s length commercial fees or other payments to portfolio companies of funds advised or managed by, or other Affiliates of, any Qualifying Parent Equityholder or its Affiliates, including Blackstone Capital Markets, (w) any tax distributions up to such Qualified Parent Equityholders’ pro rata share of Parent’s net taxable income multiplied by a 30% combined U.S. federal and state tax rate, (x) customary expense reimbursement for director designees (or other personnel) of any Qualifying Parent Equityholder or any of its Affiliates or Permitted Transferees) and (y) any “Realized Cash Proceeds” paid to any Affiliate of a Qualifying Parent Equityholder in respect of any investment (or portion thereof) by such Affiliate that is excluded from the definition of “Cumulative Investment” and (z) any interest, fees, principal or other amounts paid to Affiliates of any Qualifying Parent Equityholder in respect of a bona fide arm’s length debt financing in which such Affiliate participates as a lender or otherwise.

Related Party” means any Person who (directly or indirectly) owns (together with its Affiliates) a greater than 1.5% Pro Rata Share and any Affiliate, director, officer or key executive of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any Affiliate or immediate family member of any of the foregoing (including parents, siblings, children and spouses (or civil partners) of the foregoing).

Remedies” means any requirement, condition, understanding, agreement or order to sell, to hold separate or otherwise dispose of, or to conduct, restrict, operate, invest in or otherwise change, or any other structural or conduct relief.

Rimberg Promissory Note” means the promissory note attached as Annex E.

Rimberg” means Rimberg International Corp., a corporation organized in the British Virgin Islands.

Rimberg Shareholder Debt Amount” means the aggregate amount owing to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the Rimberg Promissory Note immediately prior to the Closing, including all accrued and unpaid interest through the Closing Date, determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles and as set out in the Closing Statement.

Sanctions Target” means: (a) any country or territory that is the subject of country-wide or territory-wide sanctions, including, but not limited to, as of the date of this Agreement, Iran, Cuba, Syria, Crimea, and North Korea; or (b) Sanctioned Persons.

Sellers” means, collectively, (a) the Shareholders and Optionholders, in each case, as of immediately prior to the Closing, and (b) solely with respect to Section 2.14, Section 10.6(b) and Section 11.3, and for the purposes of determining the Pro Rata Share payable to WWH in connection therewith, WWH.

Shadow Equity Plan” means each of (i) the Bumble Holding Limited 2018 Shadow Equity Plan, (ii) the Bumble Holding Limited 2015 Shadow Equity Plan, and (iii) the arrangements set forth on Schedule A(i).

Shareholder” means a holder of Company Shares.

 

Annex A-14


Shareholder Agreement” means the Shareholders’ Agreement, dated October 1, 2009, by and among the Company and each shareholder of the Company that is party thereto.

Shareholder Debt Amount” means any outstanding amount owing to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from any of the Shareholders (or their Affiliates), in each case excluding Songsir, as at immediately prior to Closing, including all accrued and unpaid interest through the Closing Date, determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles, as set out in the Closing Statement; provided, that in no event will the WWH Loan, Quack Shareholder Debt Amount or Rimberg Shareholder Debt Amount be considered Shareholder Debt Amount.

Shareholder Debt Issuer” means a person in respect of which any Shareholder Debt Amount is outstanding.

Software” means all computer software, computer programs (including any and all software implementation of algorithms, models and methodologies whether in source code or object code), applications (including applets and mobile apps), assemblers, compilers, interfaces, utilities, diagnostics and embedded systems, tools, firmware, databases and computations (including any and all data and collections of data), each of the foregoing in any form or format, and documentation (including user manuals, user guides, flow charts, developer notes, comments and annotations, and training materials) relating to any of the foregoing.

Specific Accounting Principles” has the meaning given to it in the Accounting Principles.

Specified Antitrust Laws” means the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act, the HSR Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the Laws of Austria, Cyprus, Germany, Ireland, Kenya, Russia, Uruguay that, in each case, is an Antitrust Law and applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Spread Value” means, with respect to an Option, an amount equal to the product of (a) the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Shares subject to such Option (or portion thereof), as applicable, immediately prior to the Effective Time, multiplied by (b) the excess, if any, of the Per Common Share Closing Consideration over the exercise price per share of Company Common Shares under such Option, in each case, as calculated and set forth on the Distribution Waterfall Schedule.

Songsir” means Songsir Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda under company registration number 45132.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to a specified Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, joint venture, or other legal entity of which the specified Person (either alone and/or through and/or together with any other Subsidiary) owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the economic interest or entitlement or the voting stock or other equity or partnership interests the holders of which are generally entitled to vote for the election of the board of directors or other governing body, of such legal entity or of which the specified Person controls the management.

Target Net Working Capital” means $2,484,000.

Tax Asset” means any net operating loss, net capital loss, investment Tax credit, foreign credit, charitable deduction or any other credit or Tax attribute that could be carried forward or back to reduce Taxes (including deductions and credits related to alternative minimum Taxes), any additional items described in Section 381 of the Code without reference to the conditions and limitations described therein and any amounts that are recoverable or refundable in respect of Tax, including as defined in more detail in the Accounting Principles.

 

Annex A-15


Tax Matters” means Taxes or any related claims, liabilities or other matters.

Tax Returns” means all returns, declarations, reports, claim for refund, information return, or statements and other documents filed or required to be filed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof, and the term “Tax Return” means any one of the foregoing Tax Returns.

Taxes” or “Tax” means (a) all U.S. or non-U.S. federal, provincial, state or local taxes, charges, fees, imposts, levies or other assessments, including without limitation all income, gross receipts, capital, sales, use, ad valorem, value added, transfer, franchise, profits, windfall profits, capital stock, license, withholding, payroll, employment, social security, unemployment, excise, goods and services, severance, stamp, conveyance, mortgage, registration, documentary, recording, premium, environmental, natural resources, intangibles, rent, occupancy, disability, workers’ compensation, health care, occupation, alternative minimum, add-on minimum, accumulated earnings, personal holding company, net worth, property and estimated taxes, customs duties, fees, assessments and similar charges or other tax of any kind whatsoever, including all interest, penalties, fines and additions to Tax imposed in connection with any such item whether civil or criminal and whether or not disputed and (b) any liability in respect of any items described in clause (a) above by reason of (x) being a transferee or successor or by having been a member of a combined, consolidated, unitary or other affiliated group or (y) contract or otherwise. The term “Tax” means any one of the foregoing Taxes.

Third-Party Expenses” means, solely to the extent unpaid as of the Closing, all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket third party expenses, costs and fees directly incurred and payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or the Seller Representative or any Shareholder solely to the extent reimbursement is sought from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries therefor) (excluding any and all interest, late payment fees or penalties or similar payments with respect thereto) in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and consummation of the Merger, this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, of the following advisors: Baker & McKenzie LLP, Carey Olsen Bermuda Limited and Deloitte LLP, in each case, solely to the extent incurred from and after August 7, 2019 through and including the Effective Time. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to the contrary, (a) no costs or expenses incurred after the Effective Time (including any fees and expenses of the Independent Expert under Section 2.10(d)) shall constitute a Third-Party Expense, and (b) no Transaction Expenses shall constitute a Third-Party Expense. For the avoidance of doubt, Third-Party Expenses shall not be deemed to include any costs described within this definition which are incurred by the Company or its Subsidiaries on behalf of the Parent.

Threshold Amount” means as of the relevant measurement date, with respect to the Qualifying Parent Equityholders an amount equal to the total aggregate amount of (a) the product of (i) 2.5 multiplied by (ii) the aggregate Cumulative Investment of the Qualifying Parent Equityholders to the date that is 12 months prior to the date of completion of the most recent Exit Event (to the extent any such Exit Event has been completed or, if applicable, is anticipated under any applicable Earn-Out Notice), plus (b) the product of (i) 1 multiplied by (ii) the aggregate Cumulative Investment of the Qualifying Parent Equityholders from the date immediately following the date that is 12 months prior to the date of completion of the most recent Exit Event (to the extent any such Exit Event has been completed or, if applicable, is anticipated under any applicable Earn-Out Notice) to the date immediately preceding the date of completion of such Exit Event.

Total Merger Consideration” means, as of any date, the Closing Merger Consideration plus the amount of all Earn-Out Payments actually paid to the Sellers as of such date.

Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Bermuda Merger Agreement, the Merger Application, the Escrow Agreement, the Letters of Transmittal, the Restrictive Covenant Agreements, the Support Agreements, the Founder Rollover Agreement and the Quack Acquisition Agreement and all the other agreements, certificates, instruments and other documents to be executed or delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Annex A-16


Transaction Expenses” means the following ((including amounts triggered on or as a result of Closing) but unpaid as of the Measurement Time but assuming consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (i) all costs, fees, expenses and other payments, if any, payable or reimbursable by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any management agreement, monitoring agreement, transaction and advisory services agreement or other similar contract existing prior to Closing, in each case, only to the extent as result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) (A) an amount of $2,944,326.20 of the aggregate costs and expenses of the insurance secured by Parent for representations and warranties insurance relating to this Agreement and (B) the costs of obtaining the Tail Insurance Coverage as contemplated by Section 6.2(a), (iii) any costs, fees and expenses, if any, incurred by or payable or reimbursable by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with (A) any actual or proposed public offering or sale of equity or debt securities of the Company or its Subsidiaries, pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act or the applicable Laws of non-U.S. jurisdiction and (B) any actual or proposed Competing Transaction or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Agreements (but excluding any Third-Party Expenses); (iv) all payments (measured on a consolidated basis) paid or payable by the Company or its Subsidiaries after the Measurement Time arising from severance, change of control payments, stay bonuses, retention bonuses, “exit” bonuses, transaction bonuses and similar payments payable as a result of the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby (excluding any severance payments payable solely as a result of any termination of employment by the Company or its Subsidiaries following the Closing), including, but not limited to, the items set forth on Schedule A(ii), and (v) all employer-side: employment Taxes, social or national insurance contributions or similar obligations payable by the Company or its Subsidiaries with respect to (A) the payment of any Transaction Expenses described in clause (iv), (B) the cash-out, vesting, exercise or cancellation of the Options (including arising in respect of payment of the Closing Option Consideration, Post-Closing Payments, or other payments contemplated by Section 2.3(e)(i) with respect to such Options), and (C) the cash-out, vesting and cancellation of any Growth Shares (including the Closing Merger Consideration and any Post-Closing Payments with respect to such Growth Shares), save to the extent recoverable by the Company after the Measurement Time). Notwithstanding the above, Transaction Expenses shall not be deemed to include (i) unless otherwise set forth in this Agreement, the fees, costs and expenses of the Parent, Merger Sub or any of its Affiliates and related parties in connection with this Agreement, (ii) any payment pursuant to Contracts entered into with or at the written direction of Parent or any of its Affiliates, (iii) any amounts between each of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (iv) any Third-Party Expenses, (v) any amounts paid or payable under the Rollover Agreement, or (vi) any amount in respect of the Shadow Equity Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, any amounts under this definition shall be stated net of any recoverable VAT, as applicable.

Transaction Invoices” means an invoice from each payee of (1) Third-Party Expenses and (2) Transaction Expenses of the type described in clauses (i) and (ii) of the definition of “Transaction Expenses”, in each case, setting forth amounts payable in respect thereof.

Unvested Option” means each Option (or portion thereof) that is not a Vested Option.

Vested Growth Share” means each Growth Share (excluding any Excluded Shares and Dissenting Shares) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time that is (a) vested in accordance with its applicable terms and conditions or (b) is subject to accelerated vesting solely as a result of the consummation of the Merger in accordance with the terms and conditions applicable to such Growth Shares and continued service by the holder of such Growth Shares through the Closing Date (provided such service continues through such date).

 

Annex A-17


Vested Option” means each Option (or portion thereof) that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time that is (a) vested in accordance with its applicable terms and conditions or (b) is subject to accelerated vesting solely as a result of the consummation of the Merger in accordance with the terms and conditions applicable to such Options and continued service by the Optionholder through the Closing Date (provided such service continues through such date).

WARN Act” means the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act or any similar national, state or local law or regulation requiring notice to employees and their appropriate union representatives of a plant closing, mass layoff or similar action.

WWH” means Whitney Wolfe Herd.

WWH Bumble Shares” means 400,000 ordinary shares, par value £0.000001, of Bumble Holding held by Founder.

WWH Cash Out Shares” means the number of WWH Bumble Shares equal to the product of (a) the WWH Bumble Shares and (b) the quotient of (i) the WWH Closing Date Cash Consideration and the (ii) WWH Closing Date Aggregate Consideration.

WWH Closing Date Aggregate Consideration” means the sum of: (a) $500,100,000, plus (b) $12,000,000, plus (c) an amount equal to $1,250,000 multiplied by the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the number of days from and including January 1, 2020 through and including the Closing Date by (2) 30; minus (d) an amount equal to 20% of any Indebtedness in respect of the Bumble Minorities and the Shadow Equity Plan included in the Closing Statement pursuant to paragraph 13(a) of the Accounting Principles (such amount not to exceed $3,000,000 in the aggregate); minus (e) $600,000; minus (f) $200,000; minus (g) an amount equal to any Bumble Holding dividends or distributions declared, made or paid to WWH in respect of her WWH Bumble Shares after the date hereof and prior to the Measurement Time; minus (h) an amount equal to one-sixth of the Match Indemnification Holdback Amount (or, to the extent that there is a Match Resolution prior to the Closing and the Match Indemnification Holdback Amount is zero in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, an amount equal to one-sixth of the aggregate amount paid prior to the Measurement Time or payable after the Measurement Time and included in the Closing Indebtedness Amount or as a current liability in the calculation of Net Working Capital, in either case by the Company and/or any Subsidiaries under such Match Resolution (if any)); minus (i) an amount equal to one-sixth of the Maximum Earn-Out Payment.

WWH Closing Date Cash Consideration” means the greater of (a) $125,000,000 and (b) 25% of the WWH Closing Date Aggregate Consideration.

WWH Closing Date Rollover Consideration” means the WWH Closing Date Aggregate Consideration minus the WWH Closing Date Cash Consideration.

WWH Loan” means that certain loan in the amount of $119,000,000 in favor of WWH, to be entered into immediately after Closing between WWH (as borrower) and Parent (as lender).

WWH Rollover Shares” means the number of WWH Bumble Shares equal to the product of (a) the WWH Bumble Shares and (b) the quotient of (i) the WWH Closing Date Rollover Consideration and the (ii) WWH Closing Date Aggregate Consideration

 

Annex A-18


2. Additional Defined Terms. In addition, the following terms have the meanings specified in the indicated Section of the Agreement:1

 

Term

   Section

Accounting Principles

   2.10(a)

Agreement

   Preamble

Allocation Schedules

   2.5(b)(i)

Appraisal Withdrawal

   2.12(b)

Certificate of Merger

   2.1(b)

Chosen Courts

   13.14

Closing

   2.5(a)

Closing Date

   2.5(a)

Closing Growth Share Consideration

   2.3(d)

Closing Merger Consideration

   2.4

Closing Option Consideration

   2.3(e)(i)

Closing Statement

   2.10(a)

Closing Unvested Growth Share Consideration

   2.3(d)(ii)

Collective Bargaining Agreement

   3.19(c)

Company

   Preamble

Company Disclosure Schedule

   Article III

Company Share Certificate

   2.8(b)

Competing Transaction

   5.4

D&O Indemnified Parties

   6.2(a)

Debt Commitment Letter

   4.7(a)

Debt Financing

   4.7(a)

Deficiency Amount

   10.1(c)

Direct Claim Notice

   10.3(a)

Dispute

   2.10(b)

Dispute Notice

   2.10(b)

Dispute Period

   2.10(b)

Earn-Out Dispute Notice

   2.13(d)

Earn-Out Financials

   2.13(b)(ii)

Earn-Out Item of Disagreement

   2.13(d)

Earn-Out Notice

   2.13(b)(i)

Earn-Out Objection Period

   2.13(d)

Earn-Out Payment

   2.13(a)

Earn-Out Statement

   2.13(b)(ii)

Effective Time

   2.1(b)

Equity Commitment Letter

   4.7(a)

Equity Financing

   4.7(a)

Equity Investors

   Recitals

Escrow Agent

   2.9(a)

Escrow Agreement

   2.9(a)

Estimated Closing Merger Consideration

   2.5(b)(i)

 

1 

BM Note: Definitions and references subject to this Agreement to be updated.

 

Annex A-19


Term

   Section

Estimated Closing Statement

   2.5(b)(i)

Excess Amount

   2.10(e)

Exchange Documents

   2.8(b)

Excluded Share

   2.3(b)

Expense Fund

   2.9(b)

Expense Fund Amount

   2.9(b)

Final Closing Merger Consideration

   2.10(e)

Financial Statements

   3.7(a)

Growth Share Vesting Event

   2.3(d)(ii)

Guaranty or Guarantees

   Recitals

HSR Act

   3.4

Indemnifying Parties

   10.1(a)

Independent Expert

   2.10(c)

Interim Financial Statements

   3.7(a)

Leased Real Property

   3.14(b)

Leases

   3.14(b)

Match Litigation Expenses

   10.4(d)

Match Litigation Period

   10.4(f)

Match Resolution Date

   10.4(c)

Material Advertisers

   3.22

Material Aggregators

   3.22

Material Consents

   5.2

Material Contract

   3.10(a)

Match Indemnification Release Date

   Section 10.6(a)

Material Suppliers

   3.22

Merger

   2.1(a)

Merger Application

   2.1(b)

Merger Sub

   Preamble

OFAC

   3.13(b)

Option Vesting Event

   2.3(e)(ii)

Outside Date

   11.1(b)

Parent

   Preamble

Parent Indemnified Parties

   10.1(a)

Parent Related Parties

   11.2(c)

Party or Parties

   Preamble

Payer

   2.11

Paying Agent

   2.8(a)

Paying Agent Fund

   2.8(a)

Pre-Closing Restructuring

   5.8

Pre-Closing Restructuring Documents

   2.7(b)(v)

Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Account

   2.9(a)

Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Amount

   2.9(a)

Quack Claim

   Section 10.3(a)

Registrar

   2.1(b)

Representatives

   5.4

Residual Expense Fund Amount

   2.9(b)

Residual Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Amount

   2.10(f)

Residual Match Indemnification Holdback Amount

   10.6(a)

 

Annex A-20


Term

   Section

Restrictive Covenant Agreement

   Recitals

Rolled Company Share Value

   2.8(a)

Rollover

   6.4

Rollover Equity

   6.4

Rollover Participants

   Recitals

Rollover Statement

   2.5(c)(i)

Sanctioned Persons

   3.13(b)

Seller Related Parties

   11.2(c)

Seller Representative

   Preamble

Seller Representative Expenses

   12.2(f)

Shareholder Approval

   5.5(a)

Shareholder Approval Matters

   5.5(a)

Shareholder Debt Instrument

   3.23(c)

Shortfall Amount

   2.10(f)

Specified Provisions

   13.10

STB

   13.16(a)

Support Agreement

   Recitals

Surviving Company

   2.1(a)

Tail Insurance Coverage

   6.2(a)

Terminated Option

   2.3(e)(iii)

Termination Fee

   11.2(a)

Third-Party Claim

   10.3(b)

Unvested Growth Share

   2.3(d)(ii)

 

Annex A-21

Exhibit 10.7

This SUPPORT AND SERVICES AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated January 29, 2020 and is between Buzz Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (together with its successors, “Parent”), Buzz Merger Sub Ltd., an exempted limited company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda and a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Parent (together with its successors, the “Company”), and Blackstone Buzz Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (together with its affiliated investment funds and each of their respective alternative investment vehicles, affiliated co-investing funds and alternative investment vehicles, and each of their affiliated advisers, “BBH”) affiliated with The Blackstone Group Inc. (“Blackstone”).

BACKGROUND

1. From time to time Blackstone investment professionals provide support and services, including through business units designed to provide specific services, to its private equity portfolio companies (such as Worldwide Vision Limited, an exempted limited company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda (“Target”)) in order to enhance their value.

2. The Company, as the surviving company in the merger under Bermuda law of Target with and into the Company (the “Merger”), in accordance with the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 8, 2019 (as amended, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Parent, the Company, Target and the other parties thereto, desires to avail itself of such services. Parent, the Company and BBH believe that this will be beneficial to the Company, and BBH is willing to arrange for the provisions of such services in consideration of the payment of the fees, reimbursements and indemnities described below.

3. References in this Agreement to the Company encompass the surviving company in the Merger.

In consideration of the premises and agreements contained herein and of other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

AGREEMENT

SECTION 1. Portfolio Operations Support.

(a) Portfolio Operations Group. Blackstone has established a “Portfolio Operations” group, which provide hands-on support to help such portfolio companies become more productive, efficient and valuable. During BBH’s consideration of the Merger, Blackstone’s Portfolio Operations group, for the benefit of the Company and BBH, has evaluated opportunities for improving Target’s performance and has worked – and is continuing to work – to help Target’s management craft a 100-day plan, as well as longer term strategies.

(b) Engagement to Provide Support. As of the date of the closing of the Merger (the “Closing Date”), and with retroactive effectiveness from the date of the Merger Agreement, Parent and the Company, jointly and severally, hereby engage BBH to arrange for Blackstone’s Portfolio Operations group to render to them and their respective subsidiaries Ops Support (as defined below). To that end, BBH intends to make available to Parent and the Company and their respective subsidiaries the services customarily provided by Blackstone’s Portfolio Operations


group to Blackstone’s private equity portfolio companies (the “Ops Support”), and the Company agrees to accept the amount and type of Ops Support as may be determined by the Portfolio Operations group, in its sole discretion, to be warranted and appropriate. BBH may, at any time, choose not to provide any such services.

SECTION 2. Other Services.

(a) Equity Healthcare. Blackstone has also established an “Equity Healthcare” group, which leverages the scale of Blackstone’s combined portfolio companies so as to hold down benefit and claims costs and deliver better quality health care to U.S. employees and their families. At or promptly following the Closing Date, Parent and the Company will enter into an agreement with BBH or its affiliated designee pursuant to which the Company will receive the healthcare-related services customarily provided by Blackstone’s Equity Healthcare group to Blackstone’s private equity portfolio companies. In consideration of such services, during the term of such agreement the Company will pay to BBH or its affiliated designee a “Per Employee Fee”, as described below.

Per Employee Fee. No later than the fifth business day of each month following the Closing Date, Parent and the Company will, jointly and severally, pay to BBH or its affiliated designee, as the Per Employee Fee in respect of that immediately preceding month, an aggregate amount equal to the Per Employee Fee times the highest number of employees of Parent and its subsidiaries that receive medical benefits from Parent or the Company or any of their other subsidiaries during such immediately preceding month. The Per Employee Fee is the current fee generally charged in this regard with respect to Blackstone’s portfolio companies generally.

(b) Group Purchasing. Blackstone facilitates a group purchasing program, which harnesses the purchasing power of a large number of Blackstone’s private equity portfolio companies. BBH agrees to make available to the Company the opportunity to participate in Blackstone’s group purchasing program. Any such participation would be on terms mutually agreed by the Company and BBH. Parent and the Company acknowledge that BBH may receive commissions, payments or fees from vendors or other third parties in connection with spending through Blackstone’s group purchasing program.

(c) No Other Services. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement, neither BBH nor any of its affiliates will have any obligation to provide services to Parent or the Company absent an agreement between BBH or its relevant affiliate and Parent or the Company with respect to the scope of such services and the payment to be made for providing such services. It is further expressly agreed that the Ops Support or any other service provided by BBH hereunder will not include investment banking or other financial advisory services in connection with any specific acquisition, divestiture, disposition, merger, consolidation, restructuring, refinancing, recapitalization, issuance of private or public debt or equity securities (including, without limitation, an initial public offering of equity securities), financing or similar transaction by Parent, the Company or any of their respective affiliates. If it is subsequently agreed that any such services may be provided, the relevant Blackstone entity may be entitled to receive additional compensation for providing services of the type specified in the preceding sentence by mutual agreement of the Company or such subsidiary, on the one hand, and the relevant Blackstone entity, on the other hand. For the avoidance of doubt, no services under this Agreement shall be provided in connection with any public offering of debt or equity securities or otherwise as a broker.

 

2


(d) Opportunity to Provide Future Services. If Parent, the Company or any of its subsidiaries determines that it is advisable for Parent, the Company or such subsidiary to hire a financial advisor, consultant, investment banker or any similar advisor in connection with any acquisition, divestiture, disposition, merger, consolidation, restructuring, refinancing, recapitalization, issuance of private or public debt or equity securities (including, without limitation, an initial public offering of equity securities), financing or similar transaction, it will notify BBH of such determination in writing. Promptly thereafter, upon the request of BBH, the parties will negotiate in good faith to agree upon appropriate services, compensation, indemnification and other terms upon which the Company or such subsidiary would hire the relevant Blackstone entity to provide such services. However, the Company or such subsidiary will not be required to hire Blackstone or any of its affiliates for such services.

(e) Monitoring of Ongoing Operations and Strategic Transactions. Even in the absence of discrete compensation, Blackstone expects to have its investment professionals actively monitor the operations of Parent and the Company, including through regular on-site visits. In addition, Blackstone may from time to time, on behalf of Parent or the Company, evaluate strategic transactions and other initiatives that are viewed by Blackstone as potentially being for the benefit of Parent or the Company. Whether or not such transactions or initiatives are ultimately consummated or realized, as described below Blackstone and its affiliates will be entitled to reimbursement from Parent and the Company of their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with their efforts in this regard (including in connection with such ongoing monitoring).

SECTION 3. Reimbursements.

(a) The Company will pay, or cause to be paid, directly, or reimburse BBH and its affiliates for, their respective Out-of-Pocket Expenses (as defined below). For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “Out-of-Pocket Expenses” means the out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by BBH and its affiliates in connection with (i) the Ops Support, (ii) any other services provided or arranged by them under this Agreement or any other agreement with the Company (including prior to the effective time of the Merger), (iii) in order to make Securities and Exchange Commission and other filings (such as antitrust or other regulatory filings or notices) required to be made by BBH or any of its affiliates in respect of or otherwise relating to the ownership or voting by BBH or any of its affiliates of equity securities of the Company or any of its successors or acquirers (i.e., relating to securities of any such successor or acquirer that may be acquired by BBH or its affiliates), (iv) in connection with the general monitoring as well as in connection with the evaluation of strategic transactions or other initiatives, all as contemplated by Section 2(e) above, or (v) otherwise incurred by BBH or its affiliates from time to time in the future in connection with the direct or indirect acquisition, ownership, voting, or subsequent sale or transfer by BBH or its affiliates of capital stock of Parent, the Company or any successor thereto, including in the case of (i) through (v), without limitation, (A) fees and disbursements of any independent

 

3


professionals and organizations, including independent accountants, outside legal counsel and other consultants, retained in connection therewith by BBH or any of its affiliates, (B) costs of any outside services or independent contractors such as financial printers, couriers, business publications, on-line financial services or similar services, retained or used by BBH or any of its affiliates in connection therewith, and (C) transportation and per diem cost in connection with travel to and from Blackstone’s offices and other locations on Company-related business. All payments or reimbursements for Out-of-Pocket Expenses will be made within 20 days of the request for payment or reimbursement.

SECTION 4. Tax and Other Information and Reporting Responsibilities.

(a) Tax-Related Information – General. The Company will promptly make available to Blackstone all books, records and files of the Company, its subsidiaries and any Portfolio-Level Holding Company, as defined below (collectively, the “Portfolio Group”) with respect to tax matters as may be reasonably requested by Blackstone and shall use reasonable efforts to comply with any requests by Blackstone for any tax-related information (including any applicable state withholdings) of the Portfolio Group. A “Portfolio-Level Holding Company” means any entity (i) which owns, directly or indirectly, all or a portion of the equity of the Company and (ii) in which each of BBH and the Company’s management own, directly or indirectly, all or a portion of the equity.

(b) Responsibility for Tax Returns. The Company will be responsible for the preparation, signing and filing of all tax returns and the maintenance of all books and records of each member of the Portfolio Group.

(c) Tax-Related Information – Pass-Through Entities. With respect to any Portfolio-Level Holding Company that is treated as a pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, in the case of the Company, if it is treated as a pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Company will deliver to BBH the following information with respect to each such entity: (i) on or prior to each March 1, April 15, July 15 and October 15, estimates of net taxable income for the taxable period in which such dates occur, with an updated estimate to be delivered by January 31 of the following year (which, in each case, shall include the separate allocation of effectively connected income, unrelated business taxable income, and all other separately stated items), and (ii) within 40 days after the entity’s year-end, a final Schedule K-1 for such taxable year, along with copies of all other federal, state and local income tax returns or reports filed by the entity for such year as may be required as a result of the operations of the entity (which, in each case, shall include the separate allocation of effectively connected income, unrelated business taxable income, and all other separately stated items), a schedule of book-tax differences for the immediately preceding tax year and such other tax information as shall be reasonably necessary for the preparation by Blackstone of its federal, state and local income tax returns and other tax information reporting.

(d) Portfolio Company Information. For so long as BBH directly or indirectly owns equity in Parent or the Company and continues to have a reporting obligation with respect thereto, either to investors or to governmental authorities, in order to facilitate (i) Blackstone’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements applicable to the beneficial ownership by BBH and its affiliates of equity securities of the Company, and (ii) BBH’s oversight of its investment in

 

4


the Company, the Company agrees promptly to provide BBH with such information concerning the Company, including its finances and operations, as BBH may from time to time request. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company agrees to provide BBH, in addition to other information that might be requested by BBH from time to time, (i) direct access to the Company’s auditors and officers, (ii) the ability to link Blackstone’s systems into the Company’s general ledger and other systems in order to enable BBH to retrieve data on a “real-time” basis, (iii) quarter-end reports, in a format to be prescribed by BBH, to be provided within 30 days after the end of each quarter, (iv) the right to visit and inspect any of the offices and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries and inspect the books and records of the Company and its subsidiaries, (v) copies of all materials provided to the Company’s board of directors (or equivalent governing body) at the same time as provided to the directors (or their equivalent) of the Company, (vi) access to appropriate officers and directors of Parent and the Company at such times as may be requested by BBH for consultation with BBH with respect to matters relating to the business and affairs of Parent, the Company and their respective subsidiaries, (vii) information in advance with respect to any significant corporate actions, including, without limitation, extraordinary dividends, mergers, acquisitions or dispositions of assets, issuances of significant amounts of debt or equity and material amendments to the certificate of incorporation or by laws of Parent, the Company or any of their respective subsidiaries, and to provide BBH with the right to consult with Parent, the Company and their respective subsidiaries with respect to such actions, and (viii) flash data, in a format to be prescribed by BBH, to be provided within ten days after the end of each quarter (all such information so furnished, the “Information”). Parent and the Company each agrees to consider, in good faith, the recommendations of BBH in connection with the matters on which Parent or the Company is consulted as described above. Parent and the Company each recognizes and confirms that BBH (a) will use and rely primarily on the Information and on information available from generally recognized public sources in performing the Ops Support and any other services contemplated by this Agreement or any other agreement with the Company without having independently verified the same, (b) does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the Information and such other information and (c) is entitled to rely upon the Information without independent verification.

(e) Sharing of Information. Individuals associated with Blackstone may from time to time serve on the boards of directors of Parent and the Company and their respective subsidiaries. Parent and the Company, on their own behalf and on behalf of their respective subsidiaries, recognize that such individuals (i) will from time to time receive non-public information concerning Parent, the Company and their respective subsidiaries, and (ii) may share such information with other individuals associated with Blackstone. Such sharing will be for the dual purpose of facilitating support to such individuals in their capacity as directors and enabling BBH, as an equityholder, to better evaluate the Company’s performance and prospects. Parent and the Company, on behalf of themselves and their respective subsidiaries, hereby irrevocably consent to such sharing.

 

5


SECTION 5. Indemnification.

(a) General. Parent and the Company, on a joint and several basis, shall indemnify and hold harmless BBH, its affiliates and their respective partners (both general and limited), members (both managing and otherwise), officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives (each such person being an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all actions, suits, proceedings, investigations, losses, demands, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, charges and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and expenses and any other litigation-related expenses), including in connection with seeking indemnification, whether joint or several (the “Liabilities”), related to, arising out of or in connection with (i) the Ops Support or any other services contemplated by this Agreement or any other agreement with the Company or Parent or any of their respective affiliates or the engagement of BBH pursuant to, and the performance of the Ops Support or any other services contemplated by, this Agreement or any other agreement with the Company or Parent or any of their respective affiliates, and (ii) the ownership or voting of equity securities of Parent or the Company or any of their respective affiliates, whether or not pending or threatened, whether or not an Indemnified Party is a party, whether or not resulting in any liability and whether or not such action, claim, demand, suit, investigation or proceeding is initiated, brought or threatened by the Company or any other party. Parent and the Company on a joint and several basis shall reimburse any Indemnified Party for all costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses and any other litigation-related expenses) as they are incurred in connection with investigating, preparing, pursuing, defending or assisting in the defense of any such pending or threatened action, claim, demand, suit, investigation or proceeding for which the Indemnified Party would be entitled to indemnification under the terms of the previous sentence, or any such matter related to or arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto. The Company and Parent each agrees that it shall not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, directly or indirectly settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened action, claim, demand, suit, investigation or proceeding contemplated by this Section 5 (if any Indemnified Party is a party thereto or has been threatened to be made a party thereto) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of the Indemnified Party from all liability, known or unknown, without future obligation or prohibition on the part of the Indemnified Party, related to, arising out of or in connection with such action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding, and does not contain an admission of guilt or liability on the part of the Indemnified Party. The Company and Parent will not be liable under the foregoing indemnification provision with respect to any particular loss, claim, demand, damage, liability, cost or expense of an Indemnified Party that is determined by a court, in a final judgment from which no further appeal may be taken, to have resulted solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party. The attorneys’ fees and other expenses of an Indemnified Party shall be paid by the Company or Parent as they are incurred upon receipt, in each case, of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party to repay such amounts if it is judicially determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that the Liabilities in question resulted solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party.

(b) Primary, Non-Exclusive Rights. The rights of an Indemnified Party to indemnification hereunder will be in addition to any other rights and remedies any such person may have under any other agreement or instrument to which the Indemnified Party is or becomes a party or is or otherwise becomes a beneficiary or under any law or regulation. In that regard, the Company acknowledges and agrees that the Company will be fully and primarily responsible for the payment to an Indemnified Party in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses in connection with any jointly indemnifiable claim (as defined below), pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, irrespective of any right of recovery the Indemnified Party may have from the Indemnitee-related entities (as defined below). Under no circumstance shall the Company be entitled to any right of subrogation or contribution by the Indemnitee-related entities

 

6


and no right of advancement or recovery the Indemnified Party may have from the Indemnitee-related entities shall reduce or otherwise alter the rights of the Indemnified Party or the obligations of the Company hereunder. In the event that any of the Indemnitee-related entities shall make any payment to the Indemnified Party in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to any jointly indemnifiable claim, the Indemnitee-related entity making such payment shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnified Party against the Company, and the Indemnified Party shall execute all papers reasonably required and shall do all things that may be reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as may be necessary to enable the Indemnitee-related entities effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. The Company and each Indemnified Party agree that each of the Indemnitee-related entities shall be third-party beneficiaries with respect to this Section, entitled to enforce this Section as though each such Indemnitee-related entity were a party to this Agreement.

(c) Definitions. For purposes of this Section 5(c), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(i) The term “jointly indemnifiable claims” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, any action, suit or proceeding for which an Indemnified Party shall be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses from both the Indemnitee-related entities and the Company pursuant to the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, as amended, the Delaware Revised Uniform Partnership Act, any agreement or the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, partnership agreement, operating agreement, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or comparable organizational documents of the Company or the Indemnitee-related entities, as applicable.

(ii) The term “Indemnitee-related entities” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (other than the Company or any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise an Indemnified Party has agreed, on behalf of the Company or at the Company’s request, to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent and which service is covered by the indemnity described in this Agreement) from whom an Indemnified Party may be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to which, in whole or in part, the Company may also have an indemnification or advancement obligation (other than as a result of obligations under an insurance policy).

SECTION 6. Disclaimer, Opportunities, Release and Limitation of Liability.

(a) Disclaimer; Standard of Care. BBH makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, in respect of the Ops Support or any other service to be provided hereunder or under any other agreement with the Company. In no event will BBH or any Indemnified Party be liable to the Company or any of its affiliates for any act, alleged act, omission or alleged omission that does not constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct of BBH as determined by a final, non-appealable determination of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

7


(b) Freedom to Pursue Opportunities. In recognition that Blackstone and its affiliates currently have, and will in the future have or will consider acquiring, investments in numerous companies with respect to which Blackstone or its affiliates or employees may serve as an advisor, a director or in some other capacity, in recognition that Blackstone and its affiliates have myriad duties to various investors and partners, in anticipation that the Company, on the one hand, and Blackstone (or one or more affiliates, associated investment funds or portfolio companies), on the other hand, may engage in the same or similar activities or lines of business and have an interest in the same areas of corporate opportunities, in recognition of the benefits to be derived by the Company hereunder, and in recognition of the difficulties which may confront any advisor who desires and endeavors fully to satisfy such advisor’s duties in determining the full scope of such duties in any particular situation, the provisions of this Section 6(b) are set forth to regulate, define and guide the conduct of certain affairs of the Company as they may involve Blackstone. Except as Blackstone or BBH may otherwise agree in writing after the date hereof:

(i) Blackstone and its affiliates shall have the right: (A) directly or indirectly to engage in any business and invest in debt, equity or other securities of, or provide advice to, any company or other entity, including, without limitation, any company, entity, business activities or lines of business that are the same as or similar to those pursued by, or competitive with, the Company and its subsidiaries; (B) directly or indirectly to do business with any client or customer of the Company and its subsidiaries; (C) to take any other action that Blackstone believes in good faith is necessary to or appropriate to fulfill its obligations as described in the first sentence of this Section 6(b); and (D) not to communicate, offer or present any potential transactions, matters or business opportunities (including, any transaction, matter or opportunity that may be an investment, business opportunity or prospective economic or competitive advantage in which the Company or any of its affiliates could have an interest or expectancy) to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective equityholders, directors, managers or other affiliates, and to pursue, directly or indirectly, any such opportunity for themselves, and to direct any such opportunity to another person.

(ii) Blackstone and its affiliates shall have no duty (contractual or otherwise) to communicate or present any corporate opportunities to the Company or any of its affiliates or to refrain from any actions specified in Section 6(b)(i) hereof, and the Company, on its own behalf and on behalf of its affiliates, hereby irrevocably waives any right to require Blackstone or any of its affiliates to act in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 6(b).

(iii) Neither Blackstone nor any of its affiliates shall be liable to the Company or any of its affiliates for breach of any duty (contractual or otherwise) by reason of any activities or omissions of the types referred to in this Section 6(b) or of any such person’s participation therein.

 

8


(c) Release. The Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally releases and forever discharges Blackstone, BBH and their respective affiliates and their respective partners (both general and limited), members (both managing and otherwise), officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives from any and all liabilities, claims, causes of action, demands, actions, suits or proceedings related to, arising out of or in connection with the Ops Support or any other services contemplated by this Agreement or any other agreement with the Company or the engagement of BBH pursuant to, and the performance of the Ops Support or any other services contemplated by, this Agreement or any other agreement with the Company that the Company may have, or may claim to have, on or after the date hereof, except with respect to any act or omission that constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final, non-appealable determination of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(d) Limitation of Liability. In no event will BBH or any Indemnified Party be liable to the Company or any of its affiliates (i) for any indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, including, without limitation, lost profits or savings, whether or not such damages are foreseeable, or for any third-party claims (whether based in contract, tort or otherwise), related to, arising out of or in connection with the Ops Support or any other services contemplated by this Agreement or any other agreement with the Company or the engagement of BBH pursuant to, and the performance of the Ops Support or any other services contemplated by, this Agreement or any other agreement with the Company that the Company may have with any Blackstone entity, or may claim to have, on or after the date hereof, except with respect to any act or omission that constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final, non-appealable determination of a court of competent jurisdiction or (ii) for an amount in excess of the fees actually received by BBH or the relevant Blackstone entity hereunder or under any other applicable agreement.

SECTION 7. Miscellaneous.

(a) Amendments. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, or consent to any departure by any party hereto from any such provision, will be effective unless it is in writing and signed by each of the parties hereto. Any amendment, waiver or consent will be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. The waiver by any party of any breach of this Agreement will not operate as or be construed to be a waiver by such party of any subsequent breach.

(b) Notices. Any notices or other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing and will be sufficiently given if delivered personally or sent by email with confirmed receipt, or by overnight courier, addressed as follows or to such other address of which the parties may have given written notice:

if to BBH:

c/o The Blackstone Group Inc.

345 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10154

Attention: Sachin Bavishi

email: [email address]

 

9


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

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017-3954

Attention: Anthony F. Vernace

email: [email address]

if to the Company:

c/o Buzz Holdings L.P.

345 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10154

Attention: Sachin Bavishi

email: [email address]

Unless otherwise specified herein, such notices or other communications will be deemed received (i) on the date delivered, if delivered personally or sent by email, in each case with confirmed receipt, and (ii) one business day after being sent by overnight courier.

(c) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all previous oral and written (and all contemporaneous oral) negotiations, commitments, agreements and understandings relating hereto.

(d) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REGARDLESS OF THE LAWS THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE GOVERN UNDER APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS THEREOF.

(e) Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. Each party hereto hereby (i) agrees than any action, directly or indirectly, arising out of, under or relating to this Agreement or the transactions or services contemplated herein shall exclusively be brought in the Delaware Court of Chancery sitting in Wilmington, Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”) and shall exclusively be heard and determined by the Court of Chancery, unless the Court of Chancery determines that it does not then have subject matter jurisdiction over such action, in which case any such action shall then exclusively be brought in and shall exclusively be heard and determined by either the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in Manhattan or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (ii) solely in connection with the action(s) contemplated by subsection (i) hereof, (A) irrevocably and unconditionally consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts identified in subsection (i) hereof, (B) irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue in any of the courts identified in clause (i) of this paragraph (e), (C) irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim that any of the courts identified in such clause (i) is an inconvenient forum or does not have personal jurisdiction over any party hereto, and (D) agrees that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action in the manner provided herein or in such other manner as may be permitted by applicable law shall be valid and sufficient service thereof. 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 respect of any claim or action directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement, the transactions or the services contemplated hereby.

 

10


(f) Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by the Company without the prior written consent of BBH; provided, however, that BBH may assign or transfer its duties or interests hereunder to any of its affiliates at the sole discretion of BBH and may otherwise assign, on a “shared basis”, its rights under Section 4 to any affiliated private equity fund to the extent necessary to maintain venture capital operating company status. Subject to the foregoing, the provisions of this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Subject to the next sentence, no person or party other than the parties hereto and their respective successors or permitted assigns is intended to be a beneficiary of this Agreement. The parties acknowledge and agree that BBH and its affiliates and their respective partners (both general and limited), members (both managing and otherwise), officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives as well as any assignees pursuant to this Section 7(f) are intended to be third-party beneficiaries under Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 hereof, as applicable.

(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile), and all of said counterparts taken together will be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

(h) Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction will, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction will not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

(i) Payments. Each payment made by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account or accounts as specified by BBH or the relevant recipient to the Company prior to such payment.

(j) Confidentiality. Without the prior written consent of BBH, the Company will not, and will not permit its parent holding company to, in either case directly or indirectly, disclose to any other person (other than employees and directors) this Agreement or the terms hereof or any of the terms, conditions or other facts with respect to any services provided hereunder, except such disclosure that, upon the advice of counsel, must be made in order to comply with applicable law, regulation or legal or judicial process. The term “person” as used in this letter agreement will be interpreted broadly to include the media and any corporation, company, group, partnership or other entity or individual.

(k) Captions. The captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part of or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.

[signature page follows]

 

11


The undersigned have executed, or have caused to be executed, this Support and Services Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

BUZZ HOLDINGS L.P.
By: Buzz Holdings GP L.L.C., its general partner
By:  

/s/ Jonathan Korngold

  Name: Jonathan Korngold
  Title: President

[Signature Page to Support & Services Agreement]


The undersigned have executed, or have caused to be executed, this Support and Services Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

BUZZ MERGER SUB LTD.
By:  

/s/ Jonathan Korngold

  Name: Jonathan Korngold
  Title: Director

[Signature Page to Support & Services Agreement]


The undersigned have executed, or have caused to be executed, this Support and Services Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

BLACKSTONE BUZZ HOLDINGS L.P.
By: BTO Holdings Manager – NQ L.L.C., its general partner
By:   Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Associates-NQ L.L.C., its managing member
By: BTOA-NQ L.L.C., its sole member
By:  

/s/ Christopher J. James

  Name: Christopher J. James
  Title: Authorized Person

[Signature Page to Support & Services Agreement]

Exhibit 10.9

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) dated January 29, 2020 by and between Buzz Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Company”) and Whitney Wolfe Herd (“Executive”).

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, Bumble Holding Limited, a UK private limited liability company (“Bumble”) employs Executive as its Chief Executive Officer pursuant to an offer letter dated as of January 21, 2015 (the “Prior Offer Letter”);

WHEREAS, Bumble is a subsidiary of Worldwide Vision Limited, an exempted limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda (“WVL”);

WHEREAS, the Company entered into that Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated November 8, 2019, by and among the Company, WVL, and the other parties thereto, pursuant to which WVL will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Transaction,” and the date on which the Transaction is completed, the “Effective Date”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the Transaction, the Company desires to employ (or cause one of its operating subsidiaries to employ) Executive, with Executive serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and to enter into this Agreement, which will embody the terms of Executive’s employment; and

WHEREAS, Executive desires to accept such employment, effective as of the Effective Date;

WHEREAS, the Company and Executive desire to enter into this Agreement, which embodies the terms of such employment; and

WHEREAS, should the closing of the Transaction fail to occur for any reason, this Agreement shall be null and void and have no effect, and any rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall automatically terminate.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1. Term of Employment. Subject to the provisions of Section 5 of this Agreement, Executive shall commence employment with the Company and/or one or more members of the Company Group (as defined below) for a period (the “Employment Term”) commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of the Effective Date on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement; provided, however, the Employment Term shall be automatically extended for an additional one-year period commencing with the third anniversary of the Effective Date and, thereafter, on each such successive anniversary of the Effective Date (each, an “Extension Date”), unless the Company or Executive provides the other party at least 90 days’ prior written notice before the next Extension Date that the Employment Term shall not be so extended (a “Notice of Non-Renewal”).


2. Position, Duties, Authority, and Policies.

(a) During the Employment Term, Executive shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Executive shall also serve as a member of the board of directors of the general partner of the Company (the “Board”), subject to the terms of the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Company, dated as of the Effective Date (the “Partnership Agreement”). In such position, Executive shall have such duties, functions, responsibilities and authority as shall be determined from time to time by the Board and consistent with Executive’s position and title. Executive shall report directly to the Board. From time to time, Executive shall serve on the board of directors or other governing body of any of the Company or its subsidiaries (the “Company Group”) as may be agreed to between the Board and Executive or removed from any such position (subject to the applicable provisions of the Partnership Agreement), without any claim for additional remuneration or compensation.

(b) Executive will devote substantially all of Executive’s business time and best efforts to the operation and oversight of the businesses of the Company Group and performance of Executive’s duties hereunder (excluding periods of vacation, approved time off or leave of absence) and will not, without the Company’s prior consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), engage in any other business activities that could conflict with Executive’s duties or services to the Company Group. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, during the Employment Term, it shall not be a violation of the prior sentence for Executive to engage in the activities set forth on Schedule I. Executive shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Company Group’s employee policies and codes of conduct as in effect from time to time to the extent not inconsistent with this Agreement.

3. Compensation.

(a) Base Salary. During the Employment Term, the Company shall pay (or cause to be paid) to Executive a base salary (“Base Salary”) at the annual rate of $650,000, payable in regular installments in accordance with the usual payment practices of the Company Group. Executive’s Base Salary shall be subject to annual review and subject to increase, but not decrease, as may be determined from time to time in the sole discretion of the Board.

(b) Annual Bonus. During the Employment Term, Executive shall be eligible to earn an annual bonus award (an “Annual Bonus”) based on the achievement of performance objectives and targets established annually by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, in consultation with Executive. During each fiscal year, Executive’s target bonus (the “Target Bonus”) will be $450,000 if target performance objectives are achieved. Any Annual Bonus shall be paid to Executive within two and one-half months after the end of the applicable fiscal year; provided, that if the applicable performance objectives and targets have not, if necessary, been verified by audit by such time, then the Annual Bonus, if any, shall be payable within 10 days following such verification, but not no later than December 31 of such year (provided, that the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to complete any such audit and pay such Annual Bonus as promptly as practicable). No Annual Bonus shall be payable in respect of any fiscal year in which Executive’s employment is terminated, except to the extent provided in Section 5.

 

2


4. Benefits.

(a) General. During the Employment Term, Executive shall be entitled to participate in the retirement, health and welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and arrangements of the Company Group as in effect from time to time (collectively, “Employee Benefits”), on terms and conditions no less favorable than each of the Employee Benefits are made available to any other senior executive of the Company Group (other than with respect to any terms and conditions specifically determined under this Agreement, the benefits for which shall be determined instead in accordance with this Agreement). For the avoidance of doubt, no new benefit plans shall be required to be adopted. Executive shall be entitled to the perquisites set forth on Schedule II.

(b) Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to five weeks’ paid vacation pursuant to the applicable Company vacation policy, plan or regular practice, as may be modified from time to time.

(c) Reimbursement of Business Expenses. During the Employment Term, the Company shall reimburse Executive for reasonable business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder in accordance with its then-prevailing business expense policy (which shall include appropriate itemization and substantiation of expenses incurred); provided, that reimbursement for travel expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder shall be made in accordance with the travel policy of the Company, which, with respect to Executive, shall be consistent with the travel policy in effect for Executive as of immediately prior to the Effective Date.

5. Termination.

(a) The Employment Term and Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by either party at any time and for any reason in the manner set forth in this Section 5; provided, that the terminating party shall be required to give the other party at least 90 days’ advance written notice (the “Notice Period”) of such termination (other than as a result of (i) a termination by the Company for Cause, which shall not require such advance notice, or (ii) a resignation by Executive for Good Reason, which shall require notice as set forth in Section 5(d)(iii)). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the provisions of this Section 5 shall exclusively govern Executive’s rights upon termination of employment with the Company; provided, that Executive’s rights under the Incentive Unit Subscription Agreement (as defined below) and any other equity plan, equity incentive award agreement or other employee benefit plan that provides for rights (other than severance payments) upon termination of employment shall, in each case, be governed exclusively by such plan or agreement, as applicable.

 

3


(b) By the Company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason.

(i) The Employment Term and Executive’s employment hereunder (A) may be terminated by the Company for Cause with immediate effect and (B) shall terminate automatically upon the effective date (following the Notice Period) of Executive’s resignation for any reason other than Good Reason.

(ii) For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean (A) any willful act or omission that constitutes a material breach by Executive of any of Executive’s material obligations under this Agreement or the Partnership Agreement; (B) the willful and continued failure or refusal of Executive to substantially perform the material duties reasonably required of Executive as an employee of the Company Group; (C) Executive’s commission or conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, (1) a felony or (2) a crime involving fraud or moral turpitude (or any other crime relating to the Company Group which would reasonably be expected to be materially injurious to the Company Group); provided, that if the Company terminates Executive’s employment and withholds payments or benefits to Executive on the assertion that Executive committed a felony or crime described in this clause (C) and Executive is subsequently acquitted of such felony or crime, then the Company shall promptly pay to Executive an amount sufficient to restore Executive to the same economic position Executive would have been in had Executive’s termination of employment been without Cause (including by paying an amount in severance that Executive would have been entitled to under this Agreement); (D) Executive’s willful theft, dishonesty or other misconduct that would reasonably be expected to be materially injurious to the Company Group; (E) Executive’s willful and unauthorized use, misappropriation, destruction or diversion of any material tangible or intangible asset of the Company Group (including, without limitation, Executive’s willful and unauthorized use or disclosure of the Company Group’s confidential or proprietary information) that would reasonably be expected to be materially injurious to the Company Group; or (F) any violation by Executive of any law regarding employment discrimination or sexual harassment that would reasonably be expected to be materially injurious to the Company Group; provided, that a termination of Executive’s employment for Cause that is susceptible to cure shall not be effective unless the Company first gives Executive written notice of its intention to terminate and the grounds for such termination, and Executive has not, within five business days following receipt of such notice, cured such Cause;

(iii) If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, Executive shall be entitled to receive:

(A) the Base Salary through the date of termination;

(B) reimbursement, within 30 days following receipt by the Company of Executive’s claim for such reimbursement (including appropriate supporting documentation), for any unreimbursed business expenses properly incurred by Executive in accordance with Company policy prior to Executive’s termination; provided, that such claims for such reimbursement are submitted to the Company within 90 days following the date of Executive’s termination of employment; and

 

4


(C) such Employee Benefits (other than with respect to severance benefits), if any, to which Executive may be entitled, payable in accordance with the terms and conditions of plan, program and policies (the amounts described in clauses (A) through (C) hereof being referred to as the “Accrued Rights”).

Following such termination of Executive’s employment by the Company for Cause, except as set forth in this Section 5(b)(iii), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.

(iv) If Executive resigns for any reason other than Good Reason, provided that Executive will be required to comply with the Notice Period requirement in Section 5(a), Executive shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Rights. During the Notice Period, and subject to the following sentence, Executive shall continue to perform Executive’s duties and obligations under Section 2 hereto as reasonably requested by the Company, and shall receive the Base Salary and Employee Benefits. In lieu of all or any portion of the Notice Period, the Company, at its sole election, may elect to pay to Executive the Base Salary in lieu of notice (in which case, Executive’s employment shall terminate on the date so elected by the Company) or, if Executive resigns for any reason other than Good Reason, the Company may elect to place Executive on “garden leave” during the Notice Period (such period, if elected, the “Garden Leave Period”). If such Garden Leave Period is elected by the Company, then during the Garden Leave Period, Executive shall (x) remain an employee of the Company but not be required to perform any duties for the Company or attend work and (y) be eligible for continued Base Salary and medical and other employee benefits, but no other compensation, including no incentive compensation or continued vesting in equity incentives or other awards during the Garden Leave Period. Following such resignation by Executive for any reason other than Good Reason, except as set forth in this Section 5(b)(iv), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.

(c) Disability or Death.

(i) During any period that Executive is unable to perform Executive’s duties hereunder as a result of a Disability, Executive shall continue to receive Executive’s full Base Salary set forth in Section 3(a) and Employee Benefits set forth in Section 4(a) until Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 5(a). For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean any medically determinable physical or mental impairment resulting in Executive’s inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity, where such impairment can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity of not less than 12 months.

(ii) Upon termination of Executive’s employment hereunder as a result of Executive’s death or by the Company at a time when Executive has a Disability, Executive or Executive’s estate, survivors or beneficiaries (as the case may be) shall be entitled to receive:

 

5


(A) the Accrued Rights;

(B) any Annual Bonus earned, but unpaid, as of the date of termination, paid in accordance with Section 3(b) (except to the extent payment is otherwise deferred pursuant to any applicable deferred compensation arrangement with the Company, in which case such payment shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of such deferred compensation arrangement); and

(C) subject to Executive’s continued compliance in all material respects with Section 6 and Section 7 hereof, and the execution and non-revocation of the Release (as defined below) by Executive or Executive’s estate, survivors or beneficiaries (as the case may be), no later than two and one-half months after the end of the applicable fiscal year, a pro-rata portion of the Annual Bonus payable for the fiscal year in which such termination occurs, based on the achievement of the actual performance objectives and targets for such fiscal year and a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days during the fiscal year up to and including the date of termination of Executive’s employment and the denominator of which is the number of days in such fiscal year (the “Pro-Rated Bonus”).

Following such termination of Executive’s employment hereunder as a result of Executive’s death or by the Company at a time when Executive has a Disability, except as set forth in this Section 5(c), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.

(d) By the Company Without Cause (other than by reason of death or Disability) or Resignation by Executive for Good Reason.

(i) If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (other than as described in Section 5(c)) or by Executive for Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled to receive:

(A) the Accrued Rights;

(B) any Annual Bonus earned, but unpaid, as of the date of termination, paid in accordance with Section 3(b) (except to the extent payment is otherwise deferred pursuant to any applicable deferred compensation arrangement with the Company, in which case such payment shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of such deferred compensation arrangement); and

(C) subject to Executive’s continued compliance in all material respects with Section 6 and Section 7 hereof, and the execution and non-revocation of the Release, the Company shall pay Executive (x) an amount equal to 12 months of Executive’s then-current Base Salary, payable in equal monthly installments over a 12-month period; (y) an amount equal to the Target Bonus for

 

6


the year of termination of employment, payable within 60 days following the date of termination; and (z) if Executive elects continuation of Executive’s medical and dental coverage under COBRA, Executive’s coverage and participation under the Company Group’s medical and dental benefit plans in which Executive was participating immediately prior to termination of employment pursuant to this Section 5(d)(i) (“Medical and Dental Benefits”) shall continue at the same cost to Executive as the cost for the Medical and Dental Benefits immediately prior to such termination until the earlier of (i) the 12-month anniversary of the date of termination or (ii) the date on which Executive becomes eligible for medical and/or dental coverage from Executive’s subsequent employer (it being understood that such continuation of coverage may be made by paying Executive a series of monthly payments sufficient, after payment of federal, state and local income taxes, to pay Executive’s applicable monthly COBRA premium); provided, further, that payments under (x) shall be in addition to any Base Salary payments made in lieu of all or a portion of the Notice Period. The Executive may choose to continue the Medical and Dental Benefits under COBRA at Executive’s own expense for the balance, if any, of the period required by law.

Following such termination of employment without Cause by the Company or a resignation by Executive for Good Reason, except as set forth in this Section 5(d)(i), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.

(ii) Release. Amounts payable to Executive under Section 5(c)(ii)(B) and Section (c)(ii)(C)5(c)(ii)(C) or Section 5(d)(i)(B) and Section 5(d)(i)(C) (collectively, the “Conditioned Benefits”) are subject to (i) Executive’s (or Executive’s estate’s) execution and non-revocation of a release of claims, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I (the “Release”), within 60 days following the date of termination and (ii) the expiration of any revocation period contained in such Release. Further, to the extent that any of the Conditioned Benefits constitutes “nonqualified deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or the 60-day period following the date of termination begins in one calendar year and ends in a second calendar year, any payment of any amount or provision of any benefit otherwise scheduled to occur prior to the 60th day following the date of Executive’s termination of employment hereunder, but for the condition on executing the Release as set forth herein, shall not be made until the first regularly scheduled payroll date following such 60th day (regardless of when the Release is delivered), after which any remaining Conditioned Benefits shall thereafter be provided to Executive according to the applicable schedule set forth herein.

(iii) For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean any of the following (without Executive’s consent): (A) a decrease in Executive’s Base Salary or Target Bonus, or a failure by any member of the Company Group to pay any compensation or provide any benefits due and payable to Executive in connection with Executive’s employment; (B) a diminution of the title, responsibilities or authority of Executive; (C) any member of the Company Group’s requiring Executive to be based at any office or location that is inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement or other understanding with the Company, so long as Executive’s actual work location(s) are

 

7


reasonably appropriate (after reasonably taking into account Executive’s past practice as Chief Executive Officer of Bumble prior to the Effective Date), given Executive’s duties and responsibilities and the needs of the Company Group; (D) a material breach by the Company of this Agreement; or (v) the Company’s delivery to Executive of a Notice of Non-Renewal; provided, that no event or condition described in clauses (A) – (D) above will constitute Good Reason unless (x) Executive gives the Board written notice of such event or condition giving rise to Good Reason within 30 days after Executive first learns of such event or condition, (y) the Company fails to cure such event or condition within 30 days after receipt of such notice and (z) Executive resigns from employment within 30 days following the expiration of such cure period.

(iv) If Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause (other than as described in Section 5(c)) the Company shall comply with the Notice Period requirement in Section 5(a). During such Notice Period, and subject to the following sentence, Executive shall continue to perform Executive’s duties and obligations under Section 2 hereto as reasonably requested by the Company. In lieu of all or any portion of the Notice Period, the Company, at its sole election, may elect to pay to Executive the Base Salary in lieu of notice (in which case, Executive’s employment shall terminate on the date so elected by the Company).

(e) Expiration of Employment Term. Except as provided in Section 5(d)(i) in the case of a resignation by Executive for Good Reason, the continuation of Executive’s employment with the Company Group beyond the expiration of the Employment Term following the delivery of a Notice of Non-Renewal shall be deemed an employment at-will and shall not be deemed to extend any of the provisions of this Agreement and Executive’s employment may thereafter be terminated at will by either Executive or the Company; provided, that the provisions of Sections 5 (as applicable), 6, 7 and 8 of this Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement or Executive’s termination of employment hereunder.

(f) Notice of Termination; Board/Committee Resignation. Any purported termination of employment by the Company or by Executive (other than due to Executive’s death) pursuant to Section 5 of this Agreement shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of employment under the provision so indicated. Upon termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, at the request of the Company, Executive agrees to resign, as of the date of such termination and to the extent applicable, from the Board (and any committees thereof) and the board of directors or comparable governing bodies (and any committee thereof) of any other Company Group member, except to the extent Executive is entitled to serve or appoint herself as a member of the Board (and any committees thereof) and the board of directors or comparable governing bodies (and any committees thereof), as the case may be, pursuant to any other written agreement with a member of the Company Group, including, without limitation, the Partnership Agreement.

 

8


6. Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation. Executive acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of the Company Group and further acknowledges and recognizes that Executive has received, and will receive, Confidential Information (as defined below) and other trade secrets of the Company Group, and accordingly agrees as follows:

(a) Non-Competition.

(i) During the Employment Term and until the later of (i) the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Post-Closing Restricted Period”) and (ii) the second anniversary of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company Group (such actual period of restriction, whether such period ends upon or after the expiration of the Post-Closing Restricted Period, the “Restricted Period”), Executive will not, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any person, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation or other business organization, entity or enterprise whatsoever (“Person”), directly or indirectly solicit or assist in soliciting in competition with the Company Group the business of any then current or prospective client or customer with whom Executive (or Executive’s direct reports) had personal contact or dealings on behalf of the Company during the one-year period preceding Executive’s termination of employment.

(ii) During the Restricted Period, Executive will not directly or indirectly:

(A) engage in any business activities involving any Competing Business, individually or through an entity, as an employee, director, officer, owner, investor, partner, member, consultant, contractor, agent, joint venturer or otherwise, in any geographical area where any member of the Company Group engages in its business;

(B) acquire a financial interest in, or otherwise become actively involved with, any Competing Business, directly or indirectly, as an individual, partner, shareholder, officer, director, principal, agent, trustee or consultant; or

(C) interfere with, or attempt to interfere with, business relationships (whether formed before, on or after the date of this Agreement) between the members of the Company Group and any of their clients, customers, suppliers, partners, members or investors.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (A) Executive may, directly or indirectly, own, solely as an investment, securities of any Competing Business which are publicly traded on a national or regional stock exchange or on the over-the-counter market if Executive does not, directly or indirectly, own 5% or more of any class of securities of such Person; and (B) this Section 6 shall not restrict (x) Executive’s participation in the activities set forth on Schedule I or (y) Executive’s activities with respect to female empowerment and entrepreneurialism and social justice.

 

9


(iv) For purposes of this Agreement, “Competing Business” means (A) the business of online, web-based or mobile-based applications established or used for the purposes of (I) match-making for dating or romance or (II) professional networking and (B) any business activity known to Executive that is competitive with the then-current or demonstrably planned business activities of the Company Group; provided, that online, web-based or mobile-based applications established and predominantly used for any purposes other than those described above in clause (A) or (B) (even if such applications, for the avoidance of doubt, incidentally result in dating, romance or professional networking) shall not constitute a Competing Business.

(b) Employee Non-Solicitation. During the Restricted Period, Executive will not, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any Person, directly or indirectly:

(i) solicit or encourage any employee of the Company Group to leave the employment of the Company Group;

(ii) hire or solicit for employment any employee who was employed by the Company Group as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company Group for any reason or who left the employment of the Company Group coincident with, or within one year prior to, the date of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company Group for any reason; or

(iii) encourage any material consultant of the Company Group to cease working with the Company Group.

(c) Non-Disparagement. During the Employment Term and following a termination of employment for any reason (i) Executive agrees not to make, or direct any other Person to make, any Disparaging Statement (as defined below) about the Company Group, The Blackstone Group Inc. or any of their respective affiliates (or any of their respective officers or directors) (it being understood that comments made in Executive’s good faith performance of Executive’s duties hereunder shall not be deemed disparaging or defamatory for purposes of this Agreement) and (ii) the Company shall instruct the members of the Board that are affiliated with The Blackstone Group Inc. not to make, or direct any other Person to make, any Disparaging Statement about Executive or Executive’s spouse. In addition, following the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company Group for any reason, the Company shall instruct the members of the Company Group’s management team and any other individual who is authorized to make any public statement on behalf of the Company Group not to make, or direct any other Person to make, any Disparaging Statement about Executive or Executive’s spouse. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Disparaging Statement” shall mean any communication that is intended to defame or disparage, or has the effect of defaming or disparaging.

(d) It is expressly understood and agreed that although Executive and the Company consider the restrictions contained in this Section 6 to be reasonable and necessary to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests and to be in consideration of Executive’s significant rollover of equity interests into the Company and of the Company’s grant of incentive equity interests to Executive, in each case, in connection with the Transaction, if a final judicial

 

10


determination is made by a court of competent jurisdiction that the time or territory or any other restriction contained in this Agreement is an unenforceable restriction against Executive, the provisions of this Agreement shall not be rendered void but shall be deemed amended to apply as to such maximum time and territory and to such maximum extent as such court may judicially determine or indicate to be enforceable. Alternatively, if any court of competent jurisdiction finds that any restriction contained in this Agreement is unenforceable, and such restriction cannot be amended so as to make it enforceable, such finding shall not affect the enforceability of any of the other restrictions contained herein.

(e) The period of time during which the provisions of this Section 6 shall be in effect shall be extended by the length of time during which Executive is in breach of the terms hereof as determined by any court of competent jurisdiction on the Company’s application for injunctive relief. The period of time during which the provisions of this Section 6 shall be in effect shall be reduced by the Garden Leave Period (if elected).

(f) The provisions of this Section 6 shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, including but not limited to, any termination other than for Cause.

7. Confidentiality; Intellectual Property.

(a) Confidentiality.

(i) Executive will not at any time (whether during or after Executive’s employment with the Company), (x) retain; or (y) disclose, divulge, reveal, communicate, share, transfer or provide access to any Person outside any Company Group member (other than (A) Executive’s professional advisers who are bound by confidentiality obligations, (B) in performance of Executive’s duties under Executive’s employment and pursuant to customary industry practice, (C) in connection with any litigation proceedings for enforcement by Executive of Executive’s rights under this Agreement and (D) to Executive’s representatives who have a need to know such information for tax or financial reporting reasons), any non-public, proprietary or confidential information (in any form or medium, including text, digital or electronic) – including, without limitation, trade secrets, know-how, research and development, software, databases, inventions, processes, formulae, technology, designs and other intellectual property, information concerning finances, investments, profits, pricing, costs, products, services, vendors, customers, clients, partners, investors, personnel, compensation, recruiting, training, advertising, sales, marketing, promotions, government and regulatory activities and approvals (in any form or medium, tangible or intangible) – concerning the past, current or future business, activities and operations of any Company Group member and/or any third party that has disclosed or provided any of same to any Company Group member on a confidential basis (“Confidential Information”) without the prior written authorization of the Board. Executive will not at any time (whether during or after Executive’s employment with the Company Group) use any Confidential Information for the benefit, purposes or account of Executive or any other Person, other than in the performance of Executive’s duties under this Agreement.

 

11


(ii) “Confidential Information” shall not include any information that is (A) generally known to the industry or the public other than as a result of Executive’s breach of this covenant; (B) made available to Executive by a third party without breach of any confidentiality obligation or other wrongful act of which Executive has knowledge; (C) required by law to be disclosed; provided, that with respect to subsection (C) Executive shall (to the extent legally permissible and reasonably practicable) give prompt written notice to the Company of such requirement, disclose no more information than is so required, and reasonably cooperate with any attempts by any Company Group member to obtain a protective order or similar treatment; or (D) permitted to be disclosed pursuant to any organizational document of the Company Group.

(iii) Except as required by law, Executive will not disclose to anyone, other than Executive’s family (it being understood that, in this Agreement, the term “family” refers to Executive, Executive’s spouse, spouse equivalent, children, parents, spouse’s parents and spouse equivalent’s parents) and advisors, the existence or contents of this Agreement; provided, that Executive may disclose to any prospective future employer executive compensation and the provisions of Section 6 and Section 7 of this Agreement and, may disclose the existence or contents of this Agreement in connection with any litigation proceedings for enforcement by Executive of Executive’s rights under this Agreement (provided, that, in connection with any such litigation or proceedings not involving the Company Group or any of their Affiliates, Executive shall (to the extent legally permissible and reasonably practicable) disclose no more information than is required). This Section 7(a)(iii) shall terminate if the Company publicly discloses a copy of this Agreement (or, if the Company publicly discloses summaries or excerpts of this Agreement, to the extent so disclosed).

(iv) Upon termination of Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, Executive shall, upon the Company’s request, promptly destroy, delete, or return to the Company, at the Company’s option, all originals and copies in any form or medium (including memoranda, books, papers, plans, computer files, letters and other data) in Executive’s possession or control (including any of the foregoing stored or located in Executive’s office, home, laptop or other computer, whether or not Company property) that contain Confidential Information, except that Executive may retain only those portions of any personal notes, notebooks and diaries that do not contain any Confidential Information and nothing herein shall require Executive to destroy any computer records or files containing Confidential Information which Executive is required to maintain pursuant to applicable law or in connection with any litigation proceedings for enforcement by Executive of Executive’s rights under this Agreement; provided, that the provisions of this Agreement will continue to apply to such Confidential Information.

(v) Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or impede Executive from communicating, cooperating or filing a complaint with any U.S. federal, state or local governmental or law enforcement branch, agency or entity (or similar bodies of relevant foreign jurisdictions) (collectively, a “Governmental Entity”) with respect to possible violations of any applicable law or regulation, or from otherwise making disclosures to any Governmental Entity that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any

 

12


such law or regulation; provided, that in each case such communications and disclosures are consistent with applicable law, and nothing herein shall preclude Executive’s right to receive an award from a Governmental Entity for information provided under any whistleblower program. Executive does not need the prior authorization of (or to give notice to) the Company regarding any such communication or disclosure.

(vi) Pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, the Company and Executive hereby confirm, understand and acknowledge that Executive shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any applicable federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made (A) in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, in each case solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (B) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. The Company and Executive hereby confirm, understand and acknowledge further that if Executive files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law, Executive may disclose the trade secret to Executive’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if Executive (x) files any document containing the trade secret under seal and (y) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order. Moreover, Executive does not need the prior authorization of (or to give notice to) the Company regarding any such communication or disclosure. Except as required by applicable law, under no circumstance will Executive be authorized to disclose any information covered by attorney-client privilege or attorney work product of the Company, without prior written consent of the Company’s General Counsel or other officer designated by the Company.

(b) Intellectual Property.

(i) If Executive creates, invents, designs, develops, contributes to or improves any works of authorship, inventions, concepts, intellectual property, materials, trademarks or similar rights, documents or other work product (including without limitation, research, reports, software, algorithms, techniques, databases, systems, applications, presentations, textual works, content, improvements, or audiovisual materials), whether or not patentable or registrable under patent, trademark, copyright or similar laws (“Works”), either alone or with third parties, at any time during Executive’s employment by the Company Group members and within the scope of such employment (it being understood that, for the avoidance of doubt, the activities set forth on Schedule I shall not be considered within the scope of such employment for the purposes of this Section 7) and/or with the use of any resources of any Company Group member or their respective Affiliates, which Works shall be “Company Group Works” (it being understood that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall Executive’s name, likeness, image or any other rights of publicity be considered Company Group Works). Executive agrees that all such Company Group Works shall, as between the parties hereto, be the sole and exclusive property and intellectual property of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive hereby irrevocably assigns, transfers and conveys (and agrees to so assign, transfer and convey), to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, all of Executive’s right, title, and interest therein (including rights under patent, industrial property, copyright, trademark, trade secret,

 

13


unfair competition, other intellectual property laws, and related laws) to the Company Group members to the extent ownership of any such rights does not vest originally in such Company Group members whether as a “work made for hire” or by virtue of the prior sentence. If Executive creates any written records (in the form of notes, sketches, drawings, or any other tangible form or media) of any Company Group Works, such records will remain, as between the parties hereto, the sole property and intellectual property of the Company Group members at all times. For clarity, any activities using Executive’s name, likeness, image or any other rights of publicity, to the extent such activities (A)(x) would not otherwise be prohibited by Section 6(a) of the Agreement and (y) are outside of the ordinary course of business of the Company Group, as such business exists now or at any time in the future or (B) are otherwise approved by the Board (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) shall not be considered within the scope of Executive’s employment for the purposes of this Section 7.

(ii) Executive hereby assigns and agrees to assign all of Executive’s rights of attribution, paternity, integrity, modification, disclosure and withdrawal, and any other rights throughout the world that may be known as or referred to as “moral rights,” “artist’s rights,” “droit moral,” or the like (collectively, “Moral Rights”) in any of the Company Group Works. To the extent that Moral Rights cannot be assigned under applicable law, Executive hereby waives and agrees not to enforce any and all such Moral Rights, including, without limitation, any limitation on subsequent modification, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law.

(iii) Executive shall take all reasonably requested actions and execute all reasonably requested documents (including any licenses or assignments required by a government contract) at the expense of any Company Group member (but without further remuneration) to assist the applicable Company Group member or its affiliates in validating, maintaining, protecting, enforcing, perfecting, recording, patenting or registering any of the Company Group members’ rights in the Company Group Works. Executive hereby designates and appoints the Company and its designees as Executive’s agent and attorney-in-fact, to act for and in Executive’s behalf and stead solely to the extent necessary to execute and file such documents and solely to the extent Executive is unable or unwilling to do so. This power of attorney is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable. Executive shall not knowingly take any actions inconsistent with the Company’s ownership rights set forth in this Section 7, including by filing to register any Company Group Works in Executive’s own name.

(iv) Executive shall not improperly use for the benefit of, bring to any premises of, divulge, disclose, communicate, reveal, transfer or provide access to, or share with any Company Group member or their respective Affiliates any confidential, proprietary or non-public information or intellectual property relating to a former employer or other third party without the prior written permission of such third party. Executive shall comply with all relevant policies and guidelines of the Company Group that are from time to time previously disclosed to Executive, including regarding the protection of Confidential Information and intellectual property and potential conflicts of interest.

 

14


(v) Executive has listed on the attached Exhibit II, Works that are owned by Executive, in whole or jointly with others prior to Executive’s employment with the Company (such Works, together with any other Works owned by Executive in whole or jointly with others prior to Executive’s employment with the Company Group, collectively, “Prior Works”). Executive shall not use any Prior Work in connection with Executive’s employment with the Company Group without prior written consent of the Company. If, in connection with Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive incorporates into any Company product, service or process any Prior Work (or any portion of a Prior Work), in any manner whatsoever, Executive grants the Company a non-exclusive, perpetual (or the maximum time period allowed by applicable law), sublicensable, assignable, royalty-free right and worldwide license to use, modify, reproduce, reduce to practice, market, distribute, communicate and/or sell such Prior Work or portion of such Prior Work solely to the extent necessary for the Company to exploit such Company product, service or process. The Company, on behalf of itself and the other members of the Company Group, agrees that any and all Prior Works shall, as between the parties hereto, be and remain the sole and exclusive property and intellectual property of Executive. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall any Prior Works (or any portion thereof) be considered “Confidential Information” under this Agreement.

(c) The provisions of Section 7 hereof shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason (except as otherwise set forth in Section 7(a)(iii) hereof).

8. Specific Performance. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the remedies of the Company Group at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of Section 6 and Section 7 of this Agreement would be inadequate and the Company Group would suffer irreparable damages as a result of such breach or threatened breach. In recognition of this fact, Executive agrees that, in the event of such a material breach, in addition to any remedies at law, any member of the Company Group, without posting any bond, shall be entitled, in addition to any other remedy available at law or equity, to cease making any payments or providing any benefit otherwise required by this Agreement, and may be entitled to obtain equitable relief in the form of specific performance, temporary restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available. Any determination as to whether Executive is in compliance with Section 6 and Section 7 hereof shall be determined without regard to whether the Company Group could obtain an injunction or other equitable relief under the law of any particular jurisdiction.

9. Miscellaneous.

(a) Indemnification; Directors and Officers Insurance. The Company shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, fines, taxes and interest and penalties thereon (other than taxes based on fees or other compensation received by Executive from the Company), claims, demands, actions, suits, proceedings (whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise), costs, expenses and disbursements (including reasonable and documented legal and accounting fees and expenses, costs of investigation and sums paid in settlement) of any kind or nature whatsoever (collectively, “Claims and Expenses”), which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted at any

 

15


time against Executive that arises out of or relates to Executive’s service as an officer, director or employee, as the case may be, of any Company Group member, or Executive’s service in any such capacity or similar capacity with an affiliate of the Company Group or other entity at the request of the Company Group; provided, that Executive shall not be entitled to indemnification hereunder against any Claims or Expenses that are finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from any act or omission that (i) is a criminal act by Executive or (ii) constitutes fraud or willful misconduct by Executive. The Company shall pay the expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses and costs of investigation) incurred by Executive in defending any such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding as such expenses are incurred by Executive and in advance of the final disposition of such matter; provided, that Executive undertakes to repay such expenses if it is determined by agreement between Executive and the Company or, in the absence of such an agreement, by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that Executive is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company Group. The Company (or other Company Group member) will maintain directors’ and officers’ insurance providing coverage in such scope and subject to such limits as the Company determines, in its discretion, is appropriate.

(b) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof that would direct the application of the law of any other jurisdiction (except that the provisions of Section 6 shall be governed by the law of the State of Texas, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof that would direct the application of the law of any other jurisdiction).

(c) Jurisdiction; Venue. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court sitting in the State of Delaware over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and each of the parties agrees that any action relating in any way to this Agreement must be commenced only in the courts of Delaware, federal or state. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted or not prohibited by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably consents to the service of process in any suit, action or proceeding by sending the same by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by recognized overnight courier service, to the address of such party set forth in Section 9(j).

(d) Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement (including, without limitation, the schedules and exhibits attached hereto) contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the employment of Executive by any member of the Company Group, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (including, without limitation, the Prior Offer Letter, the term sheet dated as of November 8, 2019 (solely to the extent related to the terms and conditions of Executive’s employment with the Company Group) and any verbal agreements) between Executive and any member of the Company Group regarding the terms and conditions of Executive’s employment with the Company Group, with the exception of any applicable prior invention assignment or the protections that exist under the terms of any applicable long term incentive plan (or any earned compensation, including under any retirement

 

16


or deferred compensation plans), that certain Incentive Unit Subscription Agreement between the Company and Executive dated as of the date hereof (the “Incentive Unit Subscription Agreement”), the Partnership Agreement, that certain Securityholders Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2020 by and among the Company and the other parties thereto (the “Securityholders Agreement”), and that certain Loan and Security Agreement entered into between Executive and the Company, dated as of January 29, 2020 (the “Loan Agreement”). In addition, if the Company Group is a party to one or more agreements with Executive related to the matters subject to Section 6 or Section 7, such other agreement(s) shall remain in full force and effect and continue in addition to this Agreement, including, without limitation, any covenants pertaining to confidentiality, nondisclosure, non-competition, non-solicitation and non-disparagement applicable to Executive. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, warranties, covenants or undertakings between the parties with respect to the subject matter herein other than those expressly set forth herein. This Agreement (including, without limitation, the schedules and exhibits attached hereto) may not be altered, modified, or amended except by written instrument signed by the parties hereto.

(e) No Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver of such party’s rights or deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement.

(f) Set Off; No Mitigation. The Company’s obligation to pay Executive the amounts provided hereunder pursuant to Sections 5(c)(ii)(B), 5(c)(ii)(C), 5(d)(i)(B) and 5(d)(i)(C), as applicable, following the Employment Term shall be subject to set-off for amounts owed by Executive to any Company Group member (other than any amount owed by Executive to any Company Group member pursuant to the Loan Agreement). Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for pursuant to this Agreement by seeking other employment, and such payments shall not be reduced by any compensation or benefits received from any subsequent employer (except as provided for in Section 5(d)(i)(C)), self-employment or other endeavor.

(g) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.

(h) Assignment. This Agreement, and all of Executive’s rights and duties hereunder, shall not be assignable or delegable by Executive. Any purported assignment or delegation by Executive in violation of the foregoing shall be null and void ab initio and of no force and effect. This Agreement shall be assigned by the Company to a person or entity which is a successor in interest (“Successor”) to all or substantially all of the then-business operations of the Company; provided, that such Successor undertakes to be bound by the terms hereunder. Upon such assignment, the rights and obligations of the Company hereunder shall become the rights and obligations of such Successor.

 

17


(i) Compliance with Code Section 409A.

(i) The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with or be exempt from Code Section 409A and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith. If any provision of this Agreement (or of any award of compensation, including equity compensation or benefits) would cause Executive to incur any additional tax or interest under Code Section 409A, the Company shall, after consulting with and receiving the approval of Executive, reform such provision in a manner intended to avoid the incurrence by Executive of any such additional tax or interest.

(ii) A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits that are considered nonqualified deferred compensation under Code Section 409A upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A, and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.” The determination of whether and when a separation from service has occurred for proposes of this Agreement shall be made in accordance with the presumptions set forth in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations.

(iii) Any provision of this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if at the time of Executive’s separation from service, the Company determines that Executive is a “specified employee,” within the meaning of Code Section 409A, then to the extent any payment or benefit that Executive becomes entitled to under this Agreement on account of such separation from service would be considered nonqualified deferred compensation under Code Section 409A, such payment or benefit shall be paid or provided at the date which is the earlier of (x) six months and one day after such separation from service and (y) the date of Executive’s death (the “Delay Period”). Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments and benefits delayed pursuant to this Section 9(i) (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) shall be paid or provided to Executive in a lump-sum, and any remaining payments and benefits due under this Agreement shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein.

(iv) Any reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided under this Agreement that constitute deferred compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A, including that (A) in no event shall any fees, expenses or other amounts eligible to be reimbursed by the Company under this Agreement be paid later than the last day of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the applicable fees, expenses or other amounts were incurred; (B) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits that the Company is obligated to pay or provide, in any given calendar year shall not affect the expenses that the Company is obligated to reimburse, or the in-kind benefits that the Company is obligated to pay or provide, in any other calendar year, provided that the foregoing clause (B) shall not be violated with regard to expenses

 

18


reimbursed under any arrangement covered by Code Section 105(b) solely because such expenses are subject to a limit related to the period the arrangement is in effect; and (C) Executive’s right to have the Company pay or provide such reimbursements and in-kind benefits may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit.

(v) For purposes of Code Section 409A, Executive’s right to receive any installment payments shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments. Whenever a payment under this Agreement specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (for example, “payment shall be made within 30 days following the date of termination”), the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company. In no event may Executive, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment to be made under this Agreement, to the extent such payment is subject to Code Section 409A.

(j) Notice. For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or overnight courier or three days after it has been mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses set forth below in this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

If to the Company:

Buzz Holdings L.P.

1105 W. 41st Street, Suite A

Austin, TX 78756

Attention:         General Counsel

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

The Blackstone Group Inc.

345 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10154

Attention:         Martin J. Brand

Jon Korngold

and

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Attention:         Gregory T. Grogan

 

19


If to Executive:

To the most recent address of Executive set forth in the personnel records of the Company.

(k) Executive Representation. Executive hereby represents to the Company that the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Executive and the Company and the performance by Executive of Executive’s duties hereunder shall not constitute a breach of the terms of any employment agreement or other agreement or written policy to which Executive is a party or otherwise bound. Executive hereby further represents that Executive is not subject to any agreement with a previous employer that is unaffiliated with the Company Group that contains any restrictions on Executive’s ability to solicit, hire or engage any employee or other service provider of such previous, unaffiliated employer that would restrict the ability of Executive to perform Executive’s duties hereunder. Executive agrees that the Company is relying on the foregoing representations in entering into this Agreement and related equity-based award agreements.

(l) Cooperation. Executive shall provide Executive’s reasonable cooperation in connection with any pending claim, litigation, regulatory or administrative proceeding involving any Company Group member (or any appeal from any action or proceeding) arising out of or related to the period when Executive was employed by any Company Group member. In the event that Executive’s cooperation is requested after the termination of Executive’s employment, the applicable Company Group member shall (i) use its reasonable efforts to minimize interruptions to Executive’s personal and professional schedule and (ii) reimburse Executive for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred by Executive in connection with such cooperation upon reasonable substantiation of such expenses.

(m) Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such federal, state and local taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. Any amounts so withheld shall be properly paid over to the appropriate government authority.

(n) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

[Signatures Follow]

 

20


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

 

BUZZ HOLDING L.P.
By: Buzz Holdings GP L.L.C., its general partner
By:  

/s/ Jonathan Korngold

Name: Jonathan Korngold
Title: President

[CEO Employment Agreement – Signature Page]


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

 

EXECUTIVE

/s/ Whitney Wolfe Herd

Whitney Wolfe Herd

[CEO Employment Agreement – Signature Page]


Schedule I

Executive may engage in the following activities:

 

   

serve on the board of directors (or equivalent governing bodies) of (A) the following for-profit entities: (x) Verizon media advisory board; (y) Imagine Entertainment; and (z) Rent the Runway; and/or (B) not-for-profit organizations;

 

   

with the approval of the Board (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), serve on the board of directors (or equivalent governing bodies) of other for-profit enterprises; and

 

   

engage in an unlimited number of (A) public speaking engagements, (B) publishing opportunities and/or (C) professional events or conferences, in each case, subject to the approval of the Board (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) to the extent that such speaking engagements, publishing opportunities and events or conferences are outside of the ordinary course of business of the Company Group.

Executive shall be entitled to retain all fees or other payments earned in connection with the activities set forth on this Schedule I.


Schedule II

 

   

Company Car. Executive shall be entitled to maintain the leased vehicle provided to Executive as of immediately prior to the Effective Date for the remainder of the lease term for such vehicle (to the extent the lease is still in effect). For the avoidance of doubt, after the expiration (or other termination) of the lease term for such vehicle, the Company shall not provide a leased vehicle to Executive.

 

   

Childcare Services. During the Employment Term, Executive shall be entitled to childcare services when Executive is traveling with Executive’s child (or children, as the case may be), including payment for, or reimbursement of, travel-related expenses for Executive’s child (or children, as the case may be) and an additional childcare provider.

 

   

Security Benefits. During the Employment Term, Executive shall be entitled to full-time security benefits (i) with respect to any Company Group office (including while Executive is providing services from, and physically located at, such office) or (ii) when Executive is traveling under circumstances that pose a risk to Executive, as reasonably determined by Executive.

Exhibit 10.10

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of July 12, 2020 by and between Bumble Trading LLC, a Delaware limited company (the “Company”) and Tariq Shaukat (“Executive”).

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Executive, with Executive serving as President of the Company, and to enter into this Agreement, which will embody the terms of Executive’s employment; and

WHEREAS, Executive desires to accept such employment, effective as of July 20, 2020 (the “Commencement Date”); and

WHEREAS, the Company and Executive desire to enter into this Agreement, which embodies the terms of such employment.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1. Term of Employment. Subject to the provisions of Section 5 of this Agreement, Executive shall commence employment with the Company for a period commencing on the Commencement Date, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and until terminated in accordance with Section 5 of this Agreement (the “Employment Term”). Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive’s employment with the Company is at-will. Executive further acknowledges and agrees that nothing in this Agreement gives Executive the right to remain an employee of the Company or any member of the Company Group (which is defined as, collectively, the Company and its subsidiaries).

2. Position, Duties, Authority, Principal Work Location and Policies.

(a) During the Employment Term, Executive shall serve as the President of the Company. In such position, Executive shall have such duties, functions, responsibilities and authority as are customarily performed by the President who is responsible for managing the operations of a business enterprise that is under the control of investment funds affiliated with a private equity firm, as well as those assigned to Executive by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or the board of directors of the Company or of its parent (the “Board”) from time to time. Executive shall report directly to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.

(b) Executive will devote all of Executive’s business time and his professional and diligent efforts to the performance of Executive’s duties to the Company (excluding periods of approved time off or leave of absence) and will not engage in any other business activities that could conflict with Executive’s duties or services to the Company Group; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent Executive from (i) with the prior written approval of the Chief Executive Officer (which may be withheld in the Chief Executive Officer’s sole discretion), serving on the boards of directors (and board committees) of commercial or non-profit


organizations; (ii) participating in charitable, civic, educational, professional, community or industry affairs, (iii) managing Executive’s passive personal investments, and (iv) continuing to serve on the boards of directors (and board committees) of, and engage in activities related to such service for, those organizations listed in Schedule A, so long as all such activities do not, in the aggregate, interfere or conflict with Executive’s duties hereunder or otherwise materially affect the performance of Executive’s duties to the Company or create a potential business or fiduciary conflict.

(c) Executive’s principal work location shall be in the Austin, Texas metropolitan area; provided, however, that in light of current conditions, Executive shall be entitled to work remotely for a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 6 months (or such other period of time as may be required by law or agreed to with the Chief Executive Officer), beginning on the Commencement Date. Executive acknowledges that Executive will be required to travel on business (including, without limitation, to the Company offices in London, United Kingdom and Moscow, Russia) in connection with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder. A one-time lump sum (gross) payment of $175,000.00 (the “Relocation Payment”) will be made to Executive upon the commencement of Executive’s employment to offset relocation costs incurred in the movement of Executive’s household and family. There will be no other payments for relocation expenses made following the payment of the Relocation Payment.

(d) Executive’s employment is subject to all the terms and conditions of the Company Group’s policies and codes of conduct as in effect from time to time, to the extent not inconsistent with this Agreement.

3. Compensation.

(a) Base Salary. During the Employment Term, the Company shall pay (or cause to be paid) to Executive a base salary (“Base Salary”) at the annual rate of $560,000.00, payable in regular installments in accordance with the usual payment practices of the Company Group. Executive’s Base Salary shall be subject to increase as may be determined from time to time in the Company’s sole discretion.

(b) Bonus. During the Employment Term, Executive shall be eligible to earn a cash bonus award (the “Bonus”), subject to the terms and conditions of the bonus plan established by the Company, as may be amended, updated or replaced from time to time, and based on the achievement of certain corporate performance objectives as approved by the Company in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to fiscal year 2020, Executive shall be guaranteed a Bonus equal to $350,000.00 so long as Executive does not resign without Good Reason prior to December 31, 2020, which amount represents a pro-rated annual Bonus for the period of July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. For fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2020, Executive shall be eligible to earn a Bonus with an annualized target of no less than $500,000.00 (“Target Bonus”), with such Bonus payable annually, quarterly or on such other periodic basis as determined by the Company in its sole discretion. Any Bonus earned under this Section 3(b) shall be paid within two and one-half months after the end of the fiscal year to which the Bonus relates, subject to Executive’s continued employment with the Company through the date of payment (except as otherwise provided in Section 5).

 

2


(c) Equity Awards. During the Employment Term, Executive shall be eligible to participate in a long term equity-based incentive plan of a Company affiliate (as amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Equity Plan”), and, subject to the terms and conditions of such Equity Plan. Executive shall receive an equity award of 24,532,328.00 Class B Units of Buzz Management Aggregator L.P., representing 9.00% of the Equity Plan pool (the “Equity Awards”). The Equity Awards shall be documented separately in the form of award agreement under the Equity Plan, which Equity Plan and form of award agreement are attached hereto as Exhibit I, and governed by the terms and conditions set forth in the award agreement and the Equity Plan.

4. Benefits.

(a) General. During the Employment Term, Executive generally shall be entitled to participate in the retirement, health and welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and arrangements of the Company Group as in effect from time to time (collectively, “Employee Benefits”).

(b) Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation on the same basis generally as other senior executives of the Company Group pursuant to the applicable Company vacation policy, plan or regular practice, as may be modified from time to time.

(c) Reimbursement of Business Expenses. During the Employment Term, the Company shall reimburse Executive for reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder in accordance with its then- prevailing business expense policy (which shall include, without limitation, appropriate itemization and substantiation of expenses incurred).

5. Termination.

(a) The Employment Term and Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by either party at any time and for any reason in the manner set forth in this Section 5; provided, that Executive shall be required to give the Company at least 60 days’ advance written notice of any termination by Executive (other than for Good Reason) (the “Notice Period”). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the provisions of this Section 5 shall exclusively govern Executive’s rights upon termination of employment with the Company; provided, that Executive’s rights under the Equity Plan (or any other equity plan) and equity incentive award agreement shall, in each case, be governed exclusively by such plan or agreement, as applicable.

(b) By the Company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason.

(i) The Employment Term and Executive’s employment hereunder (A) may be terminated by the Company for Cause with immediate effect and (B) shall terminate automatically upon the effective date (following the Notice Period) of Executive’s resignation for any reason other than Good Reason.

 

3


(ii) For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean (A) any material breach by Executive of any of Executive’s obligations under this Agreement or the PIIA (as defined below); (B) the continued failure or refusal of Executive to substantially perform the duties reasonably required of Executive as an employee or service provider of the Company Group serving in Executive’s position; (C) Executive’s commission or conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, (1) a felony or (2) other crime involving fraud or moral turpitude (or any other crime relating to the Company Group which is, or could reasonably be expected to be, materially injurious to the Company Group); (D) Executive’s theft, dishonesty or other misconduct that is, or could reasonably be expected to be, injurious to the Company Group; (E) Executive’s unauthorized use, misappropriation, destruction or diversion of any tangible or intangible asset of the Company Group (including, without limitation, Executive’s unauthorized use or disclosure of the Company Group’s confidential or proprietary information) that is, or could reasonably be expected to be, injurious to the Company Group; (F) any act(s) constituting employment discrimination or sexual harassment; or (G) use of illegal drugs, or Executive’s abuse of alcohol or prescription drugs, that impairs Executive’s ability to perform Executive’s duties or, as determined in the Board’s determination, otherwise makes Executive unfit to service an officer of the Company; provided, that, solely with respect to clauses (A), (B) and (E) above, a termination of Executive’s employment for Cause that is capable of cure shall not be effective unless the Company first gives such Executive written notice of its intention to terminate and the grounds for such termination, and such Executive has not, within ten business days following receipt of such notice, cured such act or omission.

(iii) If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, Executive shall be entitled to receive:

(A) the Base Salary through the date of termination;

(B) reimbursement, within 60 days following receipt by the Company of Executive’s claim for such reimbursement (including appropriate supporting documentation), for any unreimbursed business expenses properly incurred by Executive in accordance with Company policy prior to Executive’s termination; provided, that such claims for such reimbursement are submitted to the Company within 90 days following the date of Executive’s termination of employment; and

(C) such Employee Benefits (other than with respect to annual or quarterly bonuses, incentive plans and severance benefits), if any, to which Executive may be entitled, payable in accordance with the terms and conditions of plan, program and policies (the amounts described in clauses (A) through (C) hereof being referred to as the “Accrued Rights”).

Following such termination of Executive’s employment by the Company for Cause, except as set forth in this Section 5(b)(iii), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.

 

4


(iv) If Executive resigns for any reason other than Good Reason, provided that Executive will be required to comply with the Notice Period requirement in Section 5(a), Executive shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Rights. During the Notice Period, and subject to the following sentence, Executive shall continue to perform Executive’s duties and obligations under Section 2 hereto as reasonably requested by the Company. In lieu of all or any portion of the Notice Period, the Company, at its sole election, may elect either to (x) pay to Executive the Base Salary in lieu of notice (in which case, Executive’s employment shall terminate on the date so elected by the Company) or (y) place Executive on “garden leave” (such period, if elected, the “Garden Leave Period”). If such Garden Leave Period is elected by the Company, then during the Garden Leave Period, Executive shall (x) remain an employee of the Company but not be required to perform any duties for the Company or attend work and (y) be eligible for continued Base Salary and employee benefits within the scope of Section 4(a) above, but no other compensation, including, for the avoidance of doubt, no incentive compensation (including the Bonus), commissions, or continued vesting in equity incentives or other awards. Following such resignation by Executive for any reason other than Good Reason, except as set forth in this Section 5(b)(iv), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.

(c) Disability or Death.

(i) For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean any medically determinable physical or mental impairment resulting in Executive’s inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity, where such impairment can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity of not less than 12 months. Executive shall cooperate in all reasonable respects with the Company if a question arises as to whether Executive has become disabled (including, without limitation, submitting to reasonable examinations by one or more medical doctors and other health care specialists selected by the Company and authorizing such medical doctors and other health care specialists to discuss Executive’s condition with the Company).

(ii) Upon termination of Executive’s employment hereunder as a result of Executive’s death or by the Company at a time when Executive has a Disability, Executive or Executive’s estate, survivors or beneficiaries (as the case may be) shall be entitled to receive:

(A) the Accrued Rights;

(B) any Bonus earned, but unpaid, in respect of any completed bonus period as of the date of termination, paid in accordance with Section 3(b) (except to the extent payment is otherwise deferred pursuant to any applicable deferred compensation arrangement with the Company, in which case such payment shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of such deferred compensation arrangement) (the “Prior Bonus”); and

(C) subject to Executive’s continued compliance with Section 6 and Section 7 hereof and the PIIA, and the execution and non-revocation of the Release by Executive or Executive’s guardian, estate, survivors or beneficiaries (as the case may be), no later than two and one-half months after the end of the

 

5


applicable fiscal year, a pro-rata portion of the Bonus payable for the applicable performance period (e.g., fiscal year or fiscal quarter) in which such termination occurs, based on the achievement of the actual performance objectives and targets for such performance period and a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days during such performance period up to and including the date of termination of Executive’s employment and the denominator of which is the number of days in such performance period (the “Pro-Rated Bonus”).

Following such termination of Executive’s employment hereunder as a result of Executive’s death or by the Company at a time when Executive has a Disability, except as set forth in this Section 5(b)(i), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.

(d) By the Company Without Cause (other than by reason of death or Disability); Resignation by Executive for Good Reason.

(i) If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (acting by resolution of the Board), or by Executive for Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled to receive:

(A) the Accrued Rights;

(B) any Prior Bonus;

(C) subject to Executive’s continued compliance with Section 6 and Section 7 hereof and the PIIA, and the execution and non-revocation of the Release, the Company shall pay Executive (i) (A) if such termination of employment occurs prior to the second anniversary of the Commencement Date, an amount equal to the sum of 18 months of then-current Base Salary and 150% of Executive’s then-current annual Target Bonus, or (B) if such termination of employment occurs on or following the second anniversary of the Commencement Date, an amount equal to the sum of 24 months of then-current Base Salary and 200% of Executive’s then-current annual Target Bonus, in each case, less applicable withholdings and paid in equal monthly installments in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices; and (ii) if Executive elects continuation of Executive’s coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”), Executive’s coverage and participation under the Company Group’s group health plans in which Executive was participating immediately prior to termination of employment pursuant to this Section 5(d)(i) (“Group Health Benefits”) shall continue at the same after-tax cost to Executive as the after-tax cost to Executive for the Group Health Benefits immediately prior to such termination (it being understood that such continuation of coverage may be made by paying Executive a series of monthly payments sufficient, after payment of federal, state and local income taxes, to pay the applicable portion of the monthly COBRA premium).

 

6


Following such termination of employment without Cause by the Company or a resignation by Executive for Good Reason, except as set forth in this Section 5(d)(i), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.

(ii) Release. Amounts payable to Executive under Section 5(c)(ii)(C) or Section 5(d)(i)(C) (the “Conditioned Benefits”) are subject to (A) Executive’s (or Executive’s estate’s) execution and non-revocation of a release of claims, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit II (the “Release”), within 60 days following the date of termination and (B) the expiration of any revocation period contained in such Release. Further, to the extent that any of the Conditioned Benefits constitutes “nonqualified deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or the 60-day period following the date of termination begins in one calendar year and ends in a second calendar year, any payment of any amount or provision of any benefit otherwise scheduled to occur prior to the 60th day following the date of Executive’s termination of employment hereunder, but for the condition on executing the Release as set forth herein, shall not be made until the first regularly scheduled payroll date following such 60th day (regardless of when the Release is delivered), after which any remaining Conditioned Benefits shall thereafter be provided to Executive according to the applicable schedule set forth herein.

(iii) For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean any of the following, without Executive’s prior written consent: (A) a decrease of 10% or more in Executive’s then-current Base Salary or Target Bonus (or, in connection with any across-the-board reductions applied to similarly situated Company executives, reductions that exceed 25%), or failure to pay Base Salary or the Bonus when due; (B) a material diminution of Executive’s then-current title or a material diminution in Executive’s then-current authority, duties, or responsibilities, measured in the aggregate; (C) a relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment to any location that increases Executive’s one-way commute by more than 50 miles compared to the commute from Executive’s then-current office or location (which such current office or location shall be determined disregarding any remote working arrangement that may then be in effect); (D) failure by the Company (or an affiliate) to grant the Equity Award as contemplated in Section 3(c) or (E) any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach of this Agreement by the Company; provided, that no event or condition described in clauses (A) – (E) above will constitute Good Reason unless (x) Executive gives the Company written notice of such event or condition giving rise to Good Reason within 30 days after Executive first learns of such event or condition, (y) the Company fails to cure such event or condition within 30 days after receipt of such notice and (z) Executive resigns from employment within 60 days following the expiration of such cure period in the event that the Company has failed to cure such event or condition.

(e) Notice of Termination; Board/Committee Resignation. Any purported termination of employment by the Company or by Executive (other than due to Executive’s death) pursuant to Section 5 of this Agreement shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice that shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and

 

7


shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of employment under the provision so indicated. Upon termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive agrees to resign, as of the date of such termination and to the extent applicable, from any Company Group member’s board of directors (and any committees thereof) and the board of directors or comparable governing bodies (and any committees thereof) of any other Company Group member. Failure to provide such resignation within 10 business days following the Company’s request shall result in forfeiture of the amounts otherwise payable under this Section 5 (other than the Accrued Rights).

(f) Suspension. If the Company has reasonable grounds to believe that an event constituting “Cause” may have occurred, the Company shall have the right to suspend any or all of Executive’s duties, functions, responsibilities or authorities, or require Executive to take “garden leave” for such reasonable period and on such terms as it considers appropriate, including a requirement that Executive shall not be present on the Company’s premises or contact any of its suppliers, clients, business relations, customers or staff. Any suspension and/or garden leave pursuant to this Section 5(f) will be on full pay, and Executive’s benefits under this Agreement will continue to be provided.

6. Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation. Executive acknowledges and reaffirms Executive’s understanding of, and agreement to comply with, all of the post-employment obligations under the Employee Proprietary Information, Inventions Assignment, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit III, by and between the Company and Executive (the “PIIA”). Executive acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of the Company Group and its affiliates, and further acknowledges and recognizes that Executive has received, and will receive, Confidential Information (as defined below) and other trade secrets of the Company Group, and accordingly agrees as follows:

(a) Non-Competition.

(i) During the Employment Term and, (A) if the termination of Executive’s employment or services occurs prior to the second anniversary of the Commencement Date, until the 18-month anniversary of such termination of employment or services with the Company Group or (B) if the termination of Executive’s employment or services occurs on or following the second anniversary of the Commencement Date, until the second anniversary of such termination of employment or services with the Company Group (the Employment Term and the applicable period in clause (A) or (B), together, the “Restricted Period”), Executive will not, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any person, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation or other business organization, entity or enterprise whatsoever (“Person”), directly or indirectly solicit or assist in soliciting in competition with the Company Group the business of any then current or prospective client or customer with whom Executive (or Executive’s direct reports at the direction of Executive) had personal contact or personal dealings on behalf of the Company during the one-year period preceding Executive’s termination of employment.

 

8


(ii) During the Restricted Period, Executive will not directly or indirectly:

(A) engage in any business activities involving any Competing Business, individually or through an entity, as an employee, director, officer, owner, investor, partner, member, consultant, contractor, agent, joint venturer or otherwise, in any geographical area where any member of the Company Group engages in its business;

(B) acquire a financial interest in, or otherwise become actively involved with, any Competing Business, directly or indirectly, as an individual, partner, shareholder, officer, director, principal, agent, trustee or consultant; or

(C) interfere with, or attempt to interfere with, business relationships (whether formed before, on or after the date of this Agreement) between the members of the Company Group and any of their clients, customers, suppliers, partners, members or investors.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the PIIA, Executive may, directly or indirectly, own, solely as an investment, securities of any Competing Business which are either (a) publicly traded on a national or regional stock exchange or on the over-the-counter market if Executive (x) is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group which controls, such Person and (y) does not, directly or indirectly, own 2% or more of any class of securities of such Person or (b) not so publicly traded if Executive (x) is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group which controls, such Person, and (y) does not, directly or indirectly, own 5% or more of any class of securities of such Person. Furthermore, if a business enterprise that engages in or is actively planning to engage in a Competing Business also engages in or actively plans to engage in any business other than a Competing Business (“Other Business Lines”), then nothing in this Section 6(a) shall prohibit Executive from providing services or advice exclusively with respect to such Other Business Lines; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall be prohibited from providing services or advice to an Other Business Line of any entity listed on Schedule B hereto.

(iv) For purposes of this Agreement, “Competing Business” means any business activities, including any product, service or process or the research and development thereof in (i) the business of online, web-based or mobile-based matchmaking for dating or romance, (ii) online, web-based or mobile-based interpersonal matchmaking, including but not limited to professional networking; or (iii) any line of business in which any member of the Company Group had demonstrable and detailed plans and intent to engage while Executive was employed by, or providing services to, the Company Group and of which Executive was aware. For the avoidance of doubt, products, services, and processes relating primarily to business-to-business interactions or to the business of providing technology systems and platforms to enable communication and collaboration between people or businesses, such as general purpose video conferencing, text messaging, or email services, are not included in Competing Businesses unless the Company is engaged in providing such products, services or processes or has demonstrable and detailed plans and intent to engage in said business or to provide such products, services or processes.

 

9


(b) Employee Non-Solicitation. During the Restricted Period, Executive will not, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any Person, directly or indirectly:

(i) solicit or encourage any employee of the Company Group to leave the employment of the Company Group;

(ii) hire or solicit for employment any employee who was employed by the Company Group as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company for any reason or who left the employment of the Company Group coincident with, or within six months prior to, the date of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company for any reason; or

(iii) encourage any material consultant of the Company Group to cease working with the Company Group.

(c) Non-Solicitation of Customers, Suppliers, etc. During the Restricted Period, Executive will not, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any Person, directly or indirectly:

(i) solicit or induce any supplier, licensee or other business, or knowingly or intentionally solicit or induce any customer, in any case, that has a relationship with any member of the Company Group to cease doing business with, materially reduce the amount of business conducted with any member of the Company Group, interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee, or other business and any member of the Company Group; or

(ii) knowingly or intentionally assist any Person in any substantive or direct way to do, or attempt to do, anything prohibited by clause (i) above.

(d) Non-Disparagement. During the Employment Term and following a termination of employment for any reason, Executive agrees not to make, or cause any other Person to make, any communication that is intended to defame or disparage, has the effect of defaming or disparaging, or is in any manner likely to be harmful to, or to the business or personal reputation of, the Company or any of its affiliates, agents or advisors (or any of its or their respective employees officers or directors) (it being understood that comments made in Executive’s good faith performance of Executive’s duties hereunder shall not be deemed disparaging or defamatory for purposes of this Agreement). Upon the expiration of the Employment Term, (i) no statement will be made in the name of or on behalf of the Company and (ii) the Company shall instruct its executive officers, the members of its governing body and those who routinely participate in Company Group management and governance meetings to not make any communication, in either case of clause (i) or (ii), that is intended to defame or disparage, has the effect of defaming or disparaging, or is in any manner likely to be harmful to, or to the business or personal reputation of, Executive (it being understood that comments made in the ordinary course of an individual’s good faith performance of one’s duties shall not be deemed disparaging or defamatory for purposes of this Agreement). Nothing contained in this Section 6(d) is intended to prevent any Person from testifying truthfully in any legal proceeding.

 

10


(e) It is expressly understood and agreed that although Executive and the Company consider the restrictions contained in this Section 6 to be reasonable and necessary to protect each party’s legitimate business interests, if a final judicial determination is made by a court of competent jurisdiction that the time or territory or any other restriction contained in this Agreement or the PIIA is an unenforceable restriction against Executive or the Company, the provisions of this Agreement or the PIIA, as applicable, shall not be rendered void but shall be deemed amended to apply as to such maximum time and territory and to such maximum extent as such court may judicially determine or indicate to be enforceable. Alternatively, if any court of competent jurisdiction finds that any restriction contained in this Agreement or the PIIA is unenforceable, and such restriction cannot be amended so as to make it enforceable, such finding shall not affect the enforceability of any of the other restrictions contained herein.

(f) The period of time during that the provisions of this Section 6 shall be in effect shall be extended by the length of time during which Executive or the Company, as the case may be, is in breach of the terms hereof as determined by any court of competent jurisdiction on a party’s application for injunctive relief. In the case of Executive, the period of time during which the provisions of this Section 6 shall be in effect shall be reduced by the Garden Leave Period, if any.

(g) The provisions of this Section 6 shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason.

7. Confidentiality; Intellectual Property.

(a) Confidentiality.

(i) Executive will not at any time (whether during or after Executive’s employment with the Company, other than to perform Executive’s duties and responsibilities for the Company and other members of the Company Group), (x) retain or use for the benefit, purposes or account of Executive or any other Person; or (y) disclose, divulge, reveal, communicate, share, transfer or provide access to any Person outside any Company Group member (other than Executive’s professional advisers who are bound by confidentiality obligations or otherwise in performance of Executive’s duties under Executive’s employment and pursuant to customary industry practice), any non-public, proprietary or confidential information (in any form or medium, including text, digital or electronic) – including, without limitation, trade secrets, know-how, research and development, software, databases, inventions, processes, formulae, technology, designs and other intellectual property, information concerning finances, investments, profits, pricing, costs, products, services, vendors, customers, clients, partners, investors, personnel, compensation, recruiting, training, advertising, sales, marketing, promotions, government and regulatory activities and approvals (in any form or medium, tangible or intangible) – concerning the past, current or future business, activities and operations of any Company Group member and/or any third party that has disclosed or provided any of same to any Company Group member on a confidential basis (“Confidential Information”) without the prior written authorization of the Company.

 

11


(ii) “Confidential Information” shall not include any information that is (A) generally known to the industry or the public other than as a result of Executive’s breach of this covenant; (B) made legitimately available to Executive by a third party without breach of any confidentiality obligation or other wrongful act of which Executive has knowledge; or (C) required by law to be disclosed; provided, that with respect to subsection (C) Executive shall (to the extent legally permissible and reasonably practicable) give prompt written notice to the Company of such requirement, disclose no more information than is so required, and reasonably cooperate with any attempts by any Company Group member to obtain a protective order or similar treatment.

(iii) Except as required by law, Executive will not disclose to anyone, other than Executive’s family (it being understood that, in this Agreement, the term “family” refers to Executive, Executive’s spouse, spouse equivalent, children, parents, spouse’s parents and spouse equivalent’s parents) and advisors, the existence or contents of this Agreement and the PIIA; provided, that Executive may disclose to any prospective future employer the provisions of Section 6 and Section 7 of this Agreement and the PIIA. This Section 7(a)(iii) shall terminate if the Company publicly discloses a copy of this Agreement (or, if the Company publicly discloses summaries or excerpts of this Agreement, to the extent so disclosed).

(iv) Upon termination of Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, Executive shall (A) cease and not thereafter commence use of any Confidential Information or intellectual property (including without limitation, any patent, invention, copyright, trade secret, trademark, trade name, logo, domain name or other source indicator) owned or used by any Company Group; and (B) immediately destroy, delete, or return to the Company, at the Company’s option, all originals and copies in any form or medium (including memoranda, books, papers, plans, computer files, letters and other data) in Executive’s possession or control (including any of the foregoing stored or located in Executive’s office, home, laptop or other computer, whether or not Company property) that contain Confidential Information, except that Executive may retain only those portions of any personal notes, notebooks and diaries that do not contain any Confidential Information.

(v) Nothing in this Agreement or the PIIA shall prohibit or impede Executive from communicating, cooperating or filing a complaint with any U.S. federal, state or local governmental or law enforcement branch, agency or entity (or similar bodies of relevant foreign jurisdictions) (collectively, a “Governmental Entity”) with respect to possible violations of any applicable law or regulation, or otherwise making disclosures to any Governmental Entity, in each case, that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any such law or regulation; provided, that in each case such communications and disclosures are consistent with applicable law and nothing herein shall preclude Executive’s right to receive an award from a Governmental Entity for information provided under any whistleblower program. Executive does not need the prior authorization of (or to give notice to) the Company regarding any such communication or disclosure.

 

12


(vi) Pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, Executive hereby confirms that Executive understands and acknowledges that Executive shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any applicable federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made (A) in confidence to a government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (B) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Executive understands and acknowledges further that if Executive files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law, Executive may disclose the trade secret to Executive’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if Executive (x) files any document containing the trade secret under seal and (y) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order. Moreover, Executive does not need the prior authorization of (or to give notice to) the Company regarding any such communication or disclosure. Except as required by applicable law, under no circumstance will Executive be authorized to disclose any information covered by attorney-client privilege or attorney work product of the Company, without prior written consent of the Company’s General Counsel or other officer designated by the Company.

(b) Intellectual Property.

(i) If Executive creates, invents, designs, develops, contributes to or improves any works of authorship, inventions, concepts, intellectual property, materials, trademarks or similar rights, documents or other work product (including without limitation, research, reports, software, algorithms, techniques, databases, systems, applications, presentations, textual works, content, improvements, or audiovisual materials), whether or not patentable or registrable under patent, trademark, copyright or similar laws (“Works”), either alone or with third parties, at any time during Executive’s employment by the Company and within the scope of such employment and/or with the use of any resources of any Company Group member or their respective affiliates (“Company Group Works”), Executive shall promptly and fully disclose same to the Company. Executive agrees that all Company Group Works shall be the sole and exclusive property and intellectual property of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive hereby irrevocably assigns, transfers and conveys (and agrees to so assign, transfer and convey), to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, all of Executive’s right, title, and interest therein (including rights under patent, industrial property, copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition, other intellectual property laws, and related laws) to the Company to the extent ownership of any such rights does not vest originally in the Company whether as a “work made for hire” or by virtue of the prior sentence. If Executive creates any written records (in the form of notes, sketches, drawings, or any other tangible form or media) of any Company Group Works, Executive will keep and maintain same. The records will be available to and remain the sole property and intellectual property of the Company at all times.

(ii) Executive hereby assigns and agrees to assign all rights of attribution, paternity, integrity, modification, disclosure and withdrawal, and any other rights throughout the world that may be known as or referred to as “moral rights,” “artist’s rights,” “droit moral,” or the like (collectively, “Moral Rights”) related to any Company

 

13


Group Works. To the extent that Moral Rights cannot be assigned under applicable law, Executive hereby waives and agrees not to enforce any and all such Moral Rights, including, without limitation, any limitation on subsequent modification, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law.

(iii) Executive shall take all requested actions and execute all requested documents (including any licenses or assignments required by a government contract) at the expense of any Company Group member (but without further remuneration) to assist the applicable Company Group member or its affiliates in validating, maintaining, protecting, enforcing, perfecting, recording, patenting or registering any of the Company Group members’ rights in the Company Group Works. Executive hereby designates and appoints the Company and its designees as Executive’s agent and attorney-in-fact, to act for and in Executive’s behalf and stead to execute and file documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts in connection with the foregoing to the extent Executive is unable or unwilling to do so. This power of attorney is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable. Executive shall not take any actions inconsistent with the Company’s ownership rights set forth in this Section 7, including by filing to register any Company Group Works in Executive’s own name.

(iv) Executive shall not improperly use for the benefit of, bring to any premises of, divulge, disclose, communicate, reveal, transfer or provide access to, or share with any Company Group member or their respective affiliates any confidential, proprietary or non-public information or intellectual property relating to a former employer or other third party without the prior written permission of such third party. Executive shall comply with all relevant policies and guidelines of the Company Group that are from time to time previously disclosed to Executive, including regarding the protection of Confidential Information and intellectual property and potential conflicts of interest.

(v) Executive has listed on the attached Exhibit IV, Works that are owned by Executive, in whole or jointly with others prior to Executive’s employment with the Company (collectively, “Prior Works”). Executive shall not use any Prior Work during Executive’s employment with the Company, without prior written consent of the Company. If, during Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive uses or incorporates into any Company product, service or process any Prior Work (or any portion of a Prior Work), in any manner whatsoever, Executive grants the Company a perpetual (or the maximum time period allowed by applicable law), sublicensable, assignable, royalty-free right and worldwide license to use, modify, reproduce, reduce to practice, market, distribute, communicate and/or sell such Prior Work or portion of such Prior Work used by Executive in such Company product, service or process.

(c) The provisions of Section 7 hereof shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason (except as otherwise set forth herein).

8. Specific Performance. Each party acknowledges and agrees that the remedies of the other party at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of Section 6 and Section 7 of this Agreement or the PIIA would be inadequate and such party would suffer irreparable damages as a result of such breach or threatened breach. In recognition of this fact,

 

14


each party agrees that, in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, in addition to any remedies at law, the other party, without posting any bond, shall be entitled, in addition to any other remedy available at law or equity, to cease making any payments or providing any benefit otherwise required by Section 5 of this Agreement (if applicable) and may be entitled to obtain equitable relief in the form of specific performance, temporary restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available. In addition, upon any breach of Section 6 or Section 7 of this Agreement or the PIIA, which is capable of cure but which is not substantially cured by Executive within 5 days following such breach, Executive shall promptly return to the Company upon request all Conditioned Benefits made to Executive pursuant to Section 5 (if any), less any amounts paid by Executive as taxes in respect of such payments (unless such taxes are actually recovered by Executive from the relevant Governmental Authority, in which case such tax amounts also shall be returned to the Company). Any determination under this Section 8 of whether a party is in compliance with Section 6 hereof and in material compliance with Section 7 hereof and with the PIIA shall be determined based solely on the contractual provisions provided therein and the facts and circumstances of the breaching party’s actions without regard to whether the other party could obtain an injunction or other relief under the law of any particular jurisdiction.

9. Miscellaneous.

(a) Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance. The Company shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, fines, taxes and interest and penalties thereon (other than taxes based on fees or other compensation received by Executive from the Company), claims, demands, actions, suits, proceedings (whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise), costs, expenses and disbursements (including reasonable and documented legal and accounting fees and expenses, costs of investigation and sums paid in settlement) of any kind or nature whatsoever (collectively, “Claims and Expenses”), which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted at any time against Executive that arises out of or relates to Executive’s service as an officer, director or employee, as the case may be, of any Company Group member, or Executive’s service in any such capacity or similar capacity with an affiliate of the Company Group or other entity at the request of the Company Group; provided, that Executive shall not be entitled to indemnification hereunder against any Claims or Expenses that are finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from any act or omission that (i) is a criminal act by Executive or that Executive had no reasonable cause to believe was lawful or (ii) constitutes fraud or willful misconduct by Executive. The Company shall pay the expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses and costs of investigation) incurred by Executive in defending any such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding as such expenses are incurred by Executive and in advance of the final disposition of such matter; provided, that Executive undertakes to repay such expenses if it is determined by agreement between Executive and the Company or, in the absence of such an agreement, by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that Executive is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company Group. The Company (or other Company Group member) will maintain directors’ and officers’ insurance providing coverage in such scope and subject to such limits as the Company determines, in its discretion, is appropriate.

 

15


(b) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof that would direct the application of the law of any other jurisdiction (except that the provisions of Section 6 shall be governed by the law of the State of Texas, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof that would direct the application of the law of any other jurisdiction).

(c) Jurisdiction; Venue. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court sitting in the State of Delaware over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and each of the parties agrees that any action relating in any way to this Agreement must be commenced only in the courts of Delaware, federal or state. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted or not prohibited by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably consents to the service of process in any suit, action or proceeding by sending the same by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by recognized overnight courier service, to the address of such party set forth in Section 9(k).

(d) Arbitration.

(i) Except as provided in Section 8, above, or prohibited by law, any dispute or controversy as to the interpretation or enforceability of this Agreement or any other agreement entered into between the Company and Executive or any claim or cause of action of any of the Parties thereto against the other relating to Executive’s employment or the termination thereof shall be resolved by binding arbitration with the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) pursuant to its rules for the resolution of employment disputes. Included within this arbitration provision are claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code, the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, any state or local law prohibiting discrimination in employment, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, any federal civil rights act, as well as claims for retaliation for filing a wage claim or a worker’s compensation claim, wrongful failure or refusal to hire or promote, wrongful termination, breach of contract, slander, libel, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, tortious interference with contractual or other relations, assault or any other cause of action. This provision applies to complaints concerning hiring, discharge, promotion, transfer, lay-off, wages, harassment, retaliation, work assignments, reasonable accommodations required by law, breach of contract, or any other term or condition of employment. These provisions apply to claims whether made against the Company, or against any of its affiliates, agents, representatives and/or employees. This Agreement to arbitrate does not apply to claims for worker’s compensation or unemployment benefits.

(ii) Arbitration is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§ 1-16. If for any reason these arbitration provisions are deemed by a court to not be enforceable under the Federal Act, they will be enforced under the Texas General Arbitration Act.

 

16


(iii) The arbitration shall be held in Austin, Texas before one arbitrator who shall be selected in accordance with the provisions of the AAA rules. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding and neither Party shall have the right to appeal the substantive findings of the arbitrator. Both parties agree to keep strictly confidential and not to make any public disclosures concerning any claim for arbitration or the arbitration itself, except as may be required or allowed by law. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, this provision shall not prohibit nor limit any party’s right to apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for ancillary or injunctive relief prior to or during the pending of the arbitration.

(iv) There will be no right or authority for any dispute to be brought, heard or arbitrated as a class action and/or as a collective action (the “Class Action Waiver”). Nor shall any arbitrator have the authority to hear or arbitrate any such dispute, regardless of any other language in this Agreement, or any provision of any of the rules or procedures of the AAA that might otherwise apply including, without limitation, the AAA Supplemental Rules for Class Action Arbitration. No arbitrator shall have the right to interpret the extent, applicability and/or enforceability of this Class Action Waiver. Any issue or dispute as to whether this Agreement permits such class and/or collective action arbitration shall be resolved and/or interpreted solely by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(e) Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement (including, without limitation, the schedules and exhibits attached hereto) contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the employment of Executive by the Company, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between Executive and any member of the Company Group regarding the terms and conditions of Executive’s employment with the Company, with the exception of any applicable prior invention assignment or the protections that exist under the terms of any applicable long term incentive plan (or any earned compensation, including under any retirement or deferred compensation plans). In addition, if the Company Group is a party to one or more agreements with Executive related to the matters subject to Section 6 or Section 7, such other agreement(s) (including, without limitation, the PIIA) shall remain in full force and effect and continue in addition to this Agreement, including, without limitation, any covenants pertaining to confidentiality, nondisclosure, non-competition, intellectual property, non- solicitation and non-disparagement applicable to Executive. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, warranties, covenants or undertakings between the parties with respect to the subject matter herein other than those expressly set forth herein. This Agreement (including, without limitation, the exhibits attached hereto) may not be altered, modified, or amended except by written instrument signed by the parties hereto.

(f) No Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver of such party’s rights or deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement.

 

17


(g) Set Off; No Mitigation. The Company’s obligation to pay Executive the amounts provided herein and to make the arrangements provided hereunder shall be subject to set-off, counterclaim or recoupment of amounts owed by Executive to any Company Group member. Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for pursuant to this Agreement by seeking other employment, and such payments shall not be reduced by any compensation or benefits received from any subsequent employer, self- employment or other endeavor.

(h) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.

(i) Assignment. This Agreement, and all of Executive’s rights and duties hereunder, shall not be assignable or delegable by Executive, except for Executive’s rights to receive vested payments or benefits in the event of the death of Executive as provided in the Agreement. Any purported assignment or delegation by Executive in violation of the foregoing shall be null and void ab initio and of no force and effect. This Agreement may be assigned by the Company to a Person which is a successor in interest (“Successor”) to all or substantially all of the assets and business operations of the Company, including any Company Group member. Upon such assignment, the rights and obligations of the Company hereunder shall become the rights and obligations of such Successor.

(j) Compliance with Code Section 409A.

(i) The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with or be exempt from Code Section 409A and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith. If any provision of this Agreement (or of any award of compensation, including equity compensation or benefits) would cause Executive to incur any additional tax or interest under Code Section 409A, the Company shall, after consulting with and receiving the approval of Executive, reform such provision in a manner intended to avoid the incurrence by Executive of any such additional tax or interest.

(ii) A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits that are considered nonqualified deferred compensation under Code Section 409A upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A, and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.” The determination of whether and when a separation from service has occurred for proposes of this Agreement shall be made in accordance with the presumptions set forth in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations.

(iii) Any provision of this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if at the time of Executive’s separation from service, the Company determines that Executive is a “specified employee,” within the meaning of Code Section 409A, then to the extent any payment or benefit that Executive becomes entitled to under this Agreement on account of such separation from service would be considered nonqualified deferred compensation under Code Section 409A, such payment or benefit shall be paid or provided at the date which is the earlier of (x) six months and one day after such separation from service and

 

18


(y) the date of Executive’s death (the “Delay Period”). Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments and benefits delayed pursuant to this Section 9(j)(whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) shall be paid or provided to Executive in a lump-sum, and any remaining payments and benefits due under this Agreement shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein.

(iv) Any reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided under this Agreement that constitute deferred compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A, including that (A) in no event shall any fees, expenses or other amounts eligible to be reimbursed by the Company under this Agreement be paid later than the last day of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the applicable fees, expenses or other amounts were incurred; (B) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits that the Company is obligated to pay or provide, in any given calendar year shall not affect the expenses that the Company is obligated to reimburse, or the in- kind benefits that the Company is obligated to pay or provide, in any other calendar year, provided that the foregoing clause (B) shall not be violated with regard to expenses reimbursed under any arrangement covered by Code Section 105(b) solely because such expenses are subject to a limit related to the period the arrangement is in effect; and (C) Executive’s right to have the Company pay or provide such reimbursements and in-kind benefits may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit.

(v) For purposes of Code Section 409A, Executive’s right to receive any installment payments shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments. Whenever a payment under this Agreement specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (for example, “payment shall be made within 30 days following the date of termination”), the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company. In no event may Executive, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment to be made under this Agreement, to the extent such payment is subject to Code Section 409A.

(k) Notice. For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or overnight courier or three days after it has been mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses set forth below in this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

If to the Company:

Bumble Trading LLC

1105 W. 41st Street, Suite A

Austin, TX 78756

Attention: General Counsel

 

19


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

The Blackstone Group Inc.

345 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10154

Attention: Martin J. Brand

                 Jon Korngold

and

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Attention: Gregory T. Grogan

If to Executive:

To the most recent address of Executive set forth in the personnel records of the Company

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

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLC

1881 Page Mill Road

Palo Alto, California 94304

Attention: Stephen W. Fackler

(l) Executive Representation. Executive hereby represents to the Company that the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Executive and the Company and the performance by Executive of Executive’s duties hereunder shall not constitute a breach of the terms of any employment agreement or other agreement or written policy to which Executive is a party or otherwise bound. Executive hereby further represents that Executive is not subject to any restrictions on Executive’s ability to solicit, hire or engage any employee or other service provider or that could restrict the ability of Executive to perform Executive’s duties hereunder. Executive agrees that the Company is relying on the foregoing representations in entering into this Agreement and related equity-based award agreements.

(m) Cooperation. Executive shall provide Executive’s reasonable cooperation in connection with any pending claim, litigation, regulatory or administrative proceeding involving any Company Group member (or any appeal from any action or proceeding) arising out of or related to the period when Executive was employed by the Company. In the event that Executive’s cooperation is requested after the termination of Executive’s employment, the applicable Company Group member shall (i) use its reasonable and diligent efforts to minimize interruptions to Executive’s personal and professional schedule and (ii) reimburse Executive for all reasonable and appropriate out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred by Executive in connection with such cooperation upon reasonable substantiation of such expenses. Executive agrees to promptly inform the Company Group if (i) Executive becomes aware of any claims that may be filed or threatened against the Company Group or its affiliates, other than as may be filed by Executive

 

20


and (ii) to the extent Executive is legally permitted, if Executive is asked to assist in any investigation of the Company Group or its affiliates (or their actions), regardless of whether a lawsuit or other proceeding has then been filed against the Company Group or its affiliates with respect to such investigation, and shall not do so unless legally required.

(n) Executive’s Legal Fees. The Company will reimburse Executive (or pay directly), upon presentation of an invoice therefor, an amount not to exceed $25,000, for attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by Executive in connection with the review, negotiation and documentation of this Agreement and the Equity Award.

(o) Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such federal, state and local taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

(p) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

[Signatures Follow]

 

21


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

 

BUMBLE TRADING LLC
 

/s/ Whitney Wolfe Herd

By:   Whitney Wolfe Herd
Title:   Authorized Signatory


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

 

EXECUTIVE

/s/ Tariq Shaukat

Tariq Shaukat


Schedule A

1. Public Storage

2. Ellipsis Health

Exhibit 10.11

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated August 14, 2020 by and between Bumble Trading LLC, a Delaware limited company (the “Company”) and Anuradha Subramanian (“Executive”).

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Executive, with Executive serving as Chief Financial Officer of the Company; and

WHEREAS, Executive desires to accept such employment, effective as of September 21, 2020 (the “Commencement Date”); and

WHEREAS, the Company and Executive desire to enter into this Agreement, which embodies the terms of such employment.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1. Term of Employment. Subject to the provisions of Section 5 of this Agreement, Executive shall commence employment with the Company for a period commencing on the Commencement Date, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and until terminated in accordance with Section 5 of this Agreement (the “Employment Term”). Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive’s employment with the Company is at-will. Executive further acknowledges and agrees that nothing in this Agreement gives Executive the right to remain an employee of the Company or any member of the Company Group (which is defined as, collectively, the Company and its subsidiaries).

2. Position, Duties, Authority, Principal Work Location and Policies.

(a) During the Employment Term, Executive shall serve as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. In such position, Executive shall have such duties, functions, responsibilities and authority as are normally associated with the position of Chief Financial Officer of a business enterprise that is under the control of investment funds affiliated with a private equity firm, and shall have such other duties, functions, responsibilities and authority, consistent with such position, as may be assigned to Executive by the Company, the board of directors of the Company or of its parent (the “Board”), the Chief Executive Officer or the President from time to time. Executive shall report directly to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.

(b) Executive will devote all of Executive’s business time and best efforts to the performance of Executive’s duties to the Company (excluding periods of approved time off or leave of absence) and will not engage in any other business activities that could conflict with Executive’s duties or services to the Company Group; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent Executive from (i) with the prior written approval of the Company, serving on the boards of directors (and board committees) of non-profit organizations; (ii) participating in charitable, civic, educational, professional, community or industry affairs, and (iii) managing Executive’s passive personal investments, so long as all such activities do not, in the aggregate, interfere or conflict with Executive’s duties hereunder or otherwise materially affect the performance of Executive’s duties to the Company or create a potential business or fiduciary conflict.


(c) Executive’s principal work location shall be in the Austin, Texas metropolitan area; provided, however, that in light of current conditions, Executive shall be entitled to work remotely for a reasonable period of time, which such period shall, in all events, end on or prior to July 31, 2021 such that Executive shall relocate to the Austin, Texas metropolitan area on or prior to July 31, 2021. Executive acknowledges that Executive will be required to travel on business (including, without limitation, to the Company offices in London, United Kingdom and Moscow, Russia) in connection with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder.

(d) Executive’s employment is subject to all the terms and conditions of the Company Group’s policies and codes of conduct as in effect from time to time, to the extent not inconsistent with this Agreement.

3. Compensation.

(a) Base Salary. During the Employment Term, the Company shall pay (or cause to be paid) to Executive a base salary at the annual rate of $450,000.00, payable in regular installments in accordance with the usual payment practices of the Company Group. Executive’s base salary may be increased from time to time in the Company’s sole discretion, and the base salary in effect from time to time is referred to herein as the “Base Salary”.

(b) Bonus.

(i) During the Employment Term, Executive shall be eligible to earn a cash bonus award (the “Bonus”), subject to the terms and conditions of the bonus plan established by the Company, as may be amended, updated or replaced from time to time, and based on the achievement of certain corporate performance objectives as approved by the Company in its sole discretion. Executive’s target bonus (the “Target Bonus”) for each quarter will be equal to 25% of the Base Salary for such quarter if target performance objectives are achieved for such quarter. In the event that the Company exceeds or fails to meet the corporate performance objectives in a given quarter, the Bonus shall be subject to increase or decrease, as reasonably determined by the Company or otherwise provided under the applicable bonus plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may elect to change from a quarterly bonus program to an annual bonus program at any time, provided that Executive shall be eligible to participate in any such annual bonus program on a level consistent with other similarly situated executives of the Company. For fiscal year 2021 and beyond, Executive’s Target Bonus shall be determined by the Company and communicated to Executive; provided, that with respect to fiscal year 2021, Executive shall be guaranteed a Bonus amount equivalent to 60% of the Base Salary for such fiscal year, regardless of whether such Bonus is payable, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, annually, quarterly or on another periodic basis. Any Bonus earned under this Section 3(b) shall be paid prior to March 15 of the year following the year to which the applicable performance period relates. No Bonus shall be payable in respect of any fiscal quarter (or other performance period) in which Executive’s employment is terminated, except to the extent provided in Section 5.

 

2


(ii) Executive shall receive a one-time bonus payment of $150,000.00, which shall be paid no later than January 31, 2021, subject to Executive’s continued employment through the payment date, except to the extent provided in Section 5 (the “Additional Bonus Payment”).

(c) Sign-on Bonus. In connection with the execution of this Agreement, Executive shall receive a one-time bonus payment of $80,000.00 (the “Sign-on Bonus”). Fifty percent (50%) of the Sign-on Bonus shall be paid within three business days following the Commencement Date and the remaining fifty percent (50%) of the Sign-on Bonus shall be paid on the six-month anniversary of the Commencement Date; provided, in each case, that Executive remains employed by the Company on the applicable payment date, except to the extent provided in Section 5.

(d) Relocation Payment. The Company will pay to Executive a lump sum payment of $100,000.00 upon the commencement of Executive’s employment to offset relocation costs incurred in the movement of Executive’s household and family to the Austin, Texas metropolitan area. Additionally, if Executive relocates to the Austin, Texas metropolitan area and enrolls Executive’s child(ren) in a school in the Austin, Texas metropolitan area on or prior to December 31, 2020, subject to Executive’s continued employment through the date of such enrollment (or, if later, the date of such relocation), the Company will pay to Executive an additional (net after-tax) lump sum payment of $50,000.00. Any amounts payable pursuant to this Section 3(d) shall in all events be made prior to March 15, 2021.

(e) Equity Awards. During the Employment Term, Executive shall participate in the Amended and Restated Buzz Management Aggregator L.P. Equity Incentive Plan (as amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Equity Plan”). Within 30 days following the Commencement Date, Executive shall be granted an equity award representing 3.00% of the pro forma Equity Plan pool (the “Equity Awards”). The Equity Awards shall be documented separately in an award agreement under the Equity Plan and governed by the terms and conditions set forth in the award agreement and the Equity Plan.

4. Benefits.

(a) General. During the Employment Term, Executive generally shall be entitled to participate in the retirement, health and welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and arrangements of the Company Group as in effect from time to time (collectively, “Employee Benefits”).

(b) Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation on the same basis generally as other senior executives of the Company Group pursuant to the applicable Company vacation policy, plan or regular practice, as may be modified from time to time.

(c) Reimbursement of Business Expenses. During the Employment Term, the Company shall reimburse Executive for reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder in accordance with its then-prevailing business expense policy (which shall include, without limitation, appropriate itemization and substantiation of expenses incurred).

 

3


(d) Reimbursement of Legal Expenses. Within 30 days following the Commencement Date, the Company shall reimburse Executive for (or shall pay directly to Executive’s attorneys) reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by Executive in connection with the review, negotiation, revision and execution of this Agreement and the Equity Award, subject to a cap of $10,000.00.

5. Termination.

(a) The Employment Term and Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by either party at any time and for any reason in the manner set forth in this Section 5; provided, that Executive shall be required to give the Company at least 60 days’ advance written notice of any termination by Executive other than a resignation for Good Reason (the “Notice Period”). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the provisions of this Section 5 shall exclusively govern Executive’s rights upon termination of employment with the Company; provided, that Executive’s rights under the Equity Plan (or any other equity plan) and equity incentive award agreement shall, in each case, be governed exclusively by such plan or agreement, as applicable.

(b) By the Company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason.

(i) The Employment Term and Executive’s employment hereunder (A) may be terminated by the Company for Cause with immediate effect and (B) shall terminate automatically upon the effective date (following the Notice Period) of Executive’s resignation for any reason other than Good Reason.

(ii) For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean (A) any breach by Executive of any of Executive’s material obligations under this Agreement or the PIIA (as defined below); (B) the continued failure or refusal of Executive to substantially perform the duties reasonably required of Executive as an employee or service provider of the Company Group; (C) Executive’s commission or conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, (1) a felony or (2) other crime involving fraud or moral turpitude (or any other crime relating to the Company Group which is, or could reasonably be expected to be, materially injurious to the Company Group); (D) Executive’s theft, dishonesty or other misconduct that is, or could reasonably be expected to be, injurious to the Company Group; (E) Executive’s unauthorized use, misappropriation, destruction or diversion of any tangible or intangible asset of the Company Group (including, without limitation, Executive’s unauthorized use or disclosure of the Company Group’s confidential or proprietary information) that is, or could reasonably be expected to be, injurious to the Company Group; (F) any act(s) constituting employment discrimination or sexual harassment; or (G) use of illegal drugs, or Executive’s abuse of alcohol or prescription drugs, that impairs Executive’s ability to perform Executive’s duties or, as reasonably determined by the Company in good faith, otherwise makes Executive unfit to service an officer of the Company Group; provided, that, solely with respect to clauses (A) and (B) above, a termination of Executive’s employment for Cause that is susceptible to cure shall not be effective unless the Company first gives such Executive written notice of its intention to terminate and the grounds for such termination, and such Executive has not, within five business days following receipt of such notice, cured such Cause.

 

4


(iii) If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, Executive shall be entitled to receive:

(A) the Base Salary through the date of termination;

(B) reimbursement, within 60 days following receipt by the Company of Executive’s claim for such reimbursement (including appropriate supporting documentation), for any unreimbursed business expenses properly incurred by Executive in accordance with Company policy prior to Executive’s termination; provided, that such claims for such reimbursement are submitted to the Company within 90 days following the date of Executive’s termination of employment; and

(C) such Employee Benefits (other than with respect to annual or quarterly bonuses, incentive plans and severance benefits), if any, to which Executive may be entitled, payable in accordance with the terms and conditions of plan, program and policies (the amounts described in clauses (A) through (C) hereof being referred to as the “Accrued Rights”).

Following such termination of Executive’s employment by the Company for Cause, except as set forth in this Section 5(b)(iii), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.

(iv) If Executive resigns for any reason other than Good Reason, provided that Executive will be required to comply with the Notice Period requirement in Section 5(a), Executive shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Rights. During the Notice Period and subject to the following sentence, Executive shall continue to perform Executive’s duties and obligations under Section 2 hereto as reasonably requested by the Company. In lieu of all or any portion of the Notice Period, the Company, at its sole election, may elect either to (x) pay to Executive the Base Salary in lieu of notice (in which case, Executive’s employment shall terminate on the date so elected by the Company) or (y) place Executive on “garden leave” (such period, if elected, the “Garden Leave Period”). If such Garden Leave Period is elected by the Company, then during the Garden Leave Period, Executive shall (x) remain an employee of the Company but not be required to perform any duties for the Company or attend work and (y) be eligible for continued Base Salary and medical benefits, but no other compensation, including no incentive compensation, commissions, or continued vesting in equity incentives or other awards. Following such resignation by Executive for any reason other than Good Reason, except as set forth in this Section 5(b)(iv), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.

 

5


(c) Disability or Death.

(i) The Employment Term and Executive’s employment hereunder (A) may be terminated by the Company at a time when Executive has a Disability, with immediate effect and (B) shall terminate automatically upon the Executive’s death.

(ii) For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean any medically determinable physical or mental impairment resulting in Executive’s inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity, where such impairment is expected to result in death or is expected to last for a continuous period of inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity of not less than 12 months. The Company and Executive shall reasonably cooperate with each other if a question arises as to whether Executive has become disabled (including, without limitation, submitting to reasonable examinations by one or more medical doctors and other health care specialists selected by the Company, which such selection is subject to consent of Executive (not to be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed), and authorizing such medical doctors and other health care specialists to discuss Executive’s condition with the Company).

(iii) Upon termination of Executive’s employment hereunder as a result of Executive’s death or by the Company at a time when Executive has a Disability, Executive or Executive’s estate, survivors or beneficiaries (as the case may be) shall be entitled to receive:

(A) the Accrued Rights;

(B) any Bonus earned, but unpaid, in respect of any completed bonus period as of the date of termination, paid in accordance with Section 3(b) (except to the extent payment is otherwise deferred pursuant to any applicable deferred compensation arrangement with the Company, in which case such payment shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of such deferred compensation arrangement) (the “Prior Bonus”); and

(C) subject to Executive’s continued compliance with Section 6 and Section 7 hereof and the PIIA, and the execution and non-revocation of the Release by Executive or Executive’s estate, survivors or beneficiaries (as the case may be), no later than two and one-half months after the end of the applicable performance period (e.g., fiscal year or fiscal quarter), a pro-rata portion of the Bonus payable for such performance period in which such termination occurs, based on the achievement of the actual performance objectives and targets for such performance period and a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days during such performance period up to and including the date of termination of Executive’s employment and the denominator of which is the number of days in such performance period (the “Pro-Rated Bonus”).

Following such termination of Executive’s employment hereunder as a result of Executive’s death or by the Company at a time when Executive has a Disability, except as set forth in this Section 5(b)(i), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.

 

6


(d) By the Company Without Cause (other than by reason of death or Disability); Resignation by Executive for Good Reason

(i) If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (other than as described in Section 5(b)(i)) or by Executive for Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled to receive:

(A) the Accrued Rights;

(B) any Prior Bonus;

(C) subject to Executive’s continued compliance with Section 6 and Section 7 hereof and the PIIA, and the execution and non-revocation of the Release, (i) an amount equal to 12 months of then-current Base Salary (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be the Base Salary without giving effect to any reduction that gives rise to a resignation by Executive for Good Reason hereunder), less applicable withholdings and paid in equal monthly installments in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices for 12 months following the date of termination; (ii) a Pro-Rated Bonus and (iii) if Executive elects continuation of Executive’s medical and dental coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”), Executive’s coverage and participation under the Company Group’s medical and dental benefit plans in which Executive was participating immediately prior to termination of employment pursuant to this Section 5(d)(i) (“Medical and Dental Benefits”) shall continue at the same cost to Executive as the cost for the Medical and Dental Benefits immediately prior to such termination until the earlier of (x) the 12-month anniversary of the date of termination or (y) the date on which Executive becomes eligible for medical and/or dental coverage from Executive’s subsequence employer (it being understood that such continuation of coverage may be made by paying Executive a series of monthly payments sufficient, after payment of federal, state and local income taxes, to pay the applicable portion of the monthly COBRA premium). Executive may choose to continue the Medical and Dental Benefits under COBRA at Executive’s own expense, if any, of the period required by law; and

(D) to the extent unpaid as of the termination date, the Sign-On Bonus and the Additional Bonus Payment.

Following such termination of employment without Cause by the Company or a resignation by Executive for Good Reason, except as set forth in this Section 5(d)(i), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.

 

7


(ii) For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean any of the following, without Executive’s prior written consent: (A) a material decrease in Executive’s Base Salary or Target Bonus (except for an across-the-board reduction that applies to all other similarly situated executives of the Company) or failure to pay Base Salary or the Bonus when due; (B) a material diminution to Executive’s title as in effect on the Effective Date or a material diminution in Executive’s duties, responsibilities or authorities (other than temporarily while physically or mentally incapacitated or as required by applicable law), measured in the aggregate; or (C) a relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment to any location that is more than 50 miles from Executive’s then-current office or location (which such current office or location shall be determined disregarding any remote working arrangement that may then be in effect); provided, that no event or condition described in clauses (A) – (C) above will constitute Good Reason unless (x) Executive gives the Company written notice of such event or condition giving rise to Good Reason within 30 days after Executive first learns of such event or condition, (y) the Company fails to cure such event or condition within 30 days after receipt of such notice and (z) Executive resigns from employment within 30 days following the expiration of such cure period.

(e) Release. Amounts payable to Executive under Section 5(c)(iii)(B) and Section 5(c)(iii)(C) or Section 5(d)(i)(B), Section 5(d)(i)(C) and Section 5(d)(i)(D) (the “Conditioned Benefits”) are subject to (i) Executive’s (or Executive’s estate’s) execution and non-revocation of a release of claims, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I (the “Release”), within 60 days following the date of termination and (ii) the expiration of any revocation period contained in such Release. Further, to the extent that any of the Conditioned Benefits constitutes “nonqualified deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or the 60-day period following the date of termination begins in one calendar year and ends in a second calendar year, any payment of any amount or provision of any benefit otherwise scheduled to occur prior to the 60th day following the date of Executive’s termination of employment hereunder, but for the condition on executing the Release as set forth herein, shall not be made until the first regularly scheduled payroll date following such 60th day (regardless of when the Release is delivered), after which any remaining Conditioned Benefits shall thereafter be provided to Executive according to the applicable schedule set forth herein.

(f) Notice of Termination; Board/Committee Resignation. Any purported termination of employment by the Company or by Executive (other than due to Executive’s death) pursuant to Section 5 of this Agreement shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of employment under the provision so indicated. Upon termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive agrees to resign, as of the date of such termination and to the extent applicable, from any Company Group member’s board of directors (and any committees thereof) and the board of directors or comparable governing bodies (and any committees thereof) of any other Company Group member. Failure to provide such resignation within 10 business days following the Company’s request shall result in forfeiture of the amounts otherwise payable under Section Error! Reference source not found. (other than the Accrued Rights).

 

8


(g) Suspension. If the Company has reasonable grounds to believe that an event constituting “Cause” may have occurred, the Company shall have the right to suspend any or all of Executive’s duties, functions, responsibilities or authorities, or require Executive to take “garden leave” for such reasonable period and on such terms as it considers appropriate, including a requirement that Executive shall not be present on the Company’s premises or contact any of its suppliers, clients, business relations, customers or staff. Any suspension and/or garden leave pursuant to this Section 5(g) will be on full pay, and Executive’s benefits under this Agreement will continue to be provided.

6. Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation. Executive acknowledges and reaffirms Executive’s understanding of, and agreement to comply with, all of the post-employment obligations under the Employee Proprietary Information, Inventions Assignment, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit III, by and between the Company and Executive (the “PIIA”). Executive acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of the Company Group and its affiliates, and further acknowledges and recognizes that Executive has received, and will receive, Confidential Information (as defined below) and other trade secrets of the Company Group, and accordingly agrees as follows:

(a) Non-Competition.

(i) During the Employment Term and until the 12-month anniversary of Executive’s termination of employment or services with the Company Group (the “Restricted Period”), Executive will not, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any person, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation or other business organization, entity or enterprise whatsoever (“Person”), directly or indirectly solicit or assist in soliciting in competition with the Company Group the business of any then-current or prospective client or customer with whom Executive (or Executive’s direct reports) had personal contact or dealings on behalf of the Company during the one-year period preceding Executive’s termination of employment.

(ii) During the Restricted Period, Executive will not directly or indirectly:

(A) engage in any business activities involving any Competing Business, individually or through an entity, as an employee, director, officer, owner, investor, partner, member, consultant, contractor, agent, joint venturer or otherwise, in any geographical area where any member of the Company Group engages in its business;

(B) acquire a financial interest in, or otherwise become actively involved with, any Competing Business, directly or indirectly, as an individual, partner, shareholder, officer, director, principal, agent, trustee or consultant; or

(C) interfere with, or attempt to interfere with, business relationships (whether formed before, on or after the date of this Agreement) between the members of the Company Group and any of their clients, customers, suppliers, partners, members or investors.

 

9


(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the PIIA, Executive may, directly or indirectly, own, solely as an investment, securities of any Competing Business which are publicly traded on a national or regional stock exchange or on the over-the-counter market if Executive (x) is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group which controls, such Competing Business and (y) does not, directly or indirectly, own 2% or more of any class of securities of such Competing Business.

(iv) For purposes of this Agreement, “Competing Business” means any business activities involving in any way (A) the business of online, web-based or mobile-based applications established, operated or used for the purposes of (x) “meeting” or “connecting” functionality enabling users to communicate with both known and previously unknown third parties, including, without limitation, professional networking; or (y) matchmaking for dating or romance; or (B) any line of business in which any member of the Company Group had demonstrable plans to engage while Executive was employed by the Company and of which Executive was aware.

(b) Employee Non-Solicitation. During the Restricted Period, Executive will not, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any Person, directly or indirectly:

(i) solicit or encourage any employee of the Company Group to leave the employment of the Company Group;

(ii) hire or solicit for employment any employee who was employed by the Company Group as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company for any reason or who left the employment of the Company Group coincident with, or within one year prior to, the date of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company for any reason; or

(iii) encourage any material consultant of the Company Group to cease working with the Company Group.

(c) Customer Non-Solicitation. During the Restricted Period, Executive will not, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any Person, directly or indirectly:

(i) solicit or induce any customer, supplier, licensee, or other business relation (or any actively sought prospective customer, supplier, licensee, or other business relation) of any member of the Company Group to cease doing business with, materially reduce the amount of business conducted with any member of the Company Group, interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee, or other business relation (or any actively sought prospective customer, supplier, licensee, or other business relation by such Executive) and any member of the Company Group; or

(ii) knowingly or intentionally assist any Person in any substantive or direct way to do, or attempt to do, anything prohibited by clause (i) above.

 

10


(d) Non-Disparagement. During the Employment Term and following a termination of employment for any reason, Executive agrees not to make, or cause any other Person to make, any communication that is intended to defame or disparage, has the effect of defaming or disparaging, or is in any manner likely to be harmful to, or to the business or personal reputation of, the Company or any of its affiliates, agents or advisors (or any of its or their respective employees officers or directors (it being understood that comments made in Executive’s good faith performance of Executive’s duties hereunder shall not be deemed disparaging or defamatory for purposes of this Agreement).

(e) It is expressly understood and agreed that although Executive and the Company consider the restrictions contained in this Section 6 to be reasonable and necessary to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests and of the Company’s contemplated grant of incentive equity interests to Executive, if a final judicial determination is made by a court of competent jurisdiction that the time or territory or any other restriction contained in this Agreement or the PIIA is an unenforceable restriction against Executive, the provisions of this Agreement or the PIIA, as applicable, shall not be rendered void but shall be deemed amended to apply as to such maximum time and territory and to such maximum extent as such court may judicially determine or indicate to be enforceable. Alternatively, if any court of competent jurisdiction finds that any restriction contained in this Agreement or the PIIA is unenforceable, and such restriction cannot be amended so as to make it enforceable, such finding shall not affect the enforceability of any of the other restrictions contained herein.

(f) The period of time during which the provisions of this Section 6 shall be in effect shall be extended by the length of time during which Executive is in breach of the terms hereof as determined by any court of competent jurisdiction on the Company’s application for injunctive relief. The period of time during which the provisions of this Section 6 shall be in effect shall be reduced by the Garden Leave Period (if elected).

(g) The provisions of this Section 6 shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason.

7. Confidentiality; Intellectual Property.

(a) Confidentiality.

(i) Executive will not at any time (whether during or after Executive’s employment with the Company), (x) retain or use for the benefit, purposes or account of Executive or any other Person; or (y) disclose, divulge, reveal, communicate, share, transfer or provide access to any Person outside any Company Group member (other than Executive’s professional advisers who are bound by confidentiality obligations or otherwise in performance of Executive’s duties under Executive’s employment and pursuant to customary industry practice), any non-public, proprietary or confidential information (in any form or medium, including text, digital or electronic) – including, without limitation, trade secrets, know-how, research and development, software, databases, inventions, processes, formulae, technology, designs and other intellectual property, information concerning finances, investments, profits, pricing, costs, products, services, vendors, customers, clients, partners, investors, personnel, compensation,

 

11


recruiting, training, advertising, sales, marketing, promotions, government and regulatory activities and approvals (in any form or medium, tangible or intangible) – concerning the past, current or future business, activities and operations of any Company Group member and/or any third party that has disclosed or provided any of same to any Company Group member on a confidential basis (“Confidential Information”) without the prior written authorization of the Company.

(ii) “Confidential Information” shall not include any information that is (A) generally known to the industry or the public other than as a result of Executive’s breach of this covenant; (B) made legitimately available to Executive by a third party without breach of any confidentiality obligation or other wrongful act of which Executive has knowledge; or (C) required by law to be disclosed; provided, that with respect to subsection (C) Executive shall (to the extent legally permissible and reasonably practicable) give prompt written notice to the Company of such requirement, disclose no more information than is so required, and reasonably cooperate with any attempts by any Company Group member to obtain a protective order or similar treatment.

(iii) Except as required by law, Executive will not disclose to anyone, other than Executive’s family (it being understood that, in this Agreement, the term “family” refers to Executive, Executive’s spouse, spouse equivalent, children, parents, spouse’s parents and spouse equivalent’s parents) and advisors, the existence or contents of this Agreement and the PIIA; provided, that Executive may disclose to any prospective future employer the provisions of Section 6 and Section 7 of this Agreement and the PIIA. This Section 7(a)(iii) shall terminate if the Company publicly discloses a copy of this Agreement (or, if the Company publicly discloses summaries or excerpts of this Agreement, to the extent so disclosed).

(iv) Upon termination of Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, Executive shall (A) cease and not thereafter commence use of any Confidential Information or intellectual property (including without limitation, any patent, invention, copyright, trade secret, trademark, trade name, logo, domain name or other source indicator) owned or used by any Company Group; and (B) immediately destroy, delete, or return to the Company, at the Company’s option, all originals and copies in any form or medium (including memoranda, books, papers, plans, computer files, letters and other data) in Executive’s possession or control (including any of the foregoing stored or located in Executive’s office, home, laptop or other computer, whether or not Company property) that contain Confidential Information, except that Executive may retain only those portions of any personal notes, notebooks and diaries that do not contain any Confidential Information.

(v) Nothing in this Agreement or the PIIA shall prohibit or impede Executive from communicating, cooperating or filing a complaint with any U.S. federal, state or local governmental or law enforcement branch, agency or entity (or similar bodies of relevant foreign jurisdictions) (collectively, a “Governmental Entity”) with respect to possible violations of any applicable law or regulation, or otherwise making disclosures to any Governmental Entity, in each case, that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any such law or regulation; provided, that in each case such communications and disclosures are consistent with applicable law and nothing herein shall preclude Executive’s right to receive an award from a Governmental Entity for information provided under any whistleblower program. Executive does not need the prior authorization of (or to give notice to) the Company regarding any such communication or disclosure.

 

12


(vi) Pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, Executive hereby confirms that Executive understands and acknowledges that Executive shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any applicable federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made (A) in confidence to a government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (B) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Executive understands and acknowledges further that if Executive files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law, Executive may disclose the trade secret to Executive’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if Executive (x) files any document containing the trade secret under seal and (y) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order. Moreover, Executive does not need the prior authorization of (or to give notice to) the Company regarding any such communication or disclosure. Except as required by applicable law, under no circumstance will Executive be authorized to disclose any information covered by attorney-client privilege or attorney work product of the Company, without prior written consent of the Company’s General Counsel or other officer designated by the Company.

(b) Intellectual Property.

(i) If Executive creates, invents, designs, develops, contributes to or improves any works of authorship, inventions, concepts, intellectual property, materials, trademarks or similar rights, documents or other work product (including without limitation, research, reports, software, algorithms, techniques, databases, systems, applications, presentations, textual works, content, improvements, or audiovisual materials), whether or not patentable or registrable under patent, trademark, copyright or similar laws (“Works”), either alone or with third parties, at any time during Executive’s employment by the Company Group members and within the scope of such employment and/or with the use of any resources of any Company Group member or their respective affiliates (“Company Group Works”), Executive shall promptly and fully disclose same to such Company Group members. Executive agrees that all Company Group Works shall be the sole and exclusive property and intellectual property of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive hereby irrevocably assigns, transfers and conveys (and agrees to so assign, transfer and convey), to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, all of Executive’s right, title, and interest therein (including rights under patent, industrial property, copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition, other intellectual property laws, and related laws) to the Company Group members to the extent ownership of any such rights does not vest originally in such Company Group members whether as a “work made for hire” or by virtue of the prior sentence. If Executive creates any written records (in the form of notes, sketches, drawings, or any other tangible form or media) of any Company Group Works, Executive will keep and maintain same. The records will be available to and remain the sole property and intellectual property of the Company Group members at all times.

 

13


(ii) Executive hereby assigns and agrees to assign all rights of attribution, paternity, integrity, modification, disclosure and withdrawal, and any other rights throughout the world that may be known as or referred to as “moral rights,” “artist’s rights,” “droit moral,” or the like (collectively, “Moral Rights”) related to any Company Group Works. To the extent that Moral Rights cannot be assigned under applicable law, Executive hereby waives and agrees not to enforce any and all such Moral Rights, including, without limitation, any limitation on subsequent modification, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law.

(iii) Executive shall take all requested actions and execute all requested documents (including any licenses or assignments required by a government contract) at the expense of any Company Group member (but without further remuneration) to assist the applicable Company Group member or its affiliates in validating, maintaining, protecting, enforcing, perfecting, recording, patenting or registering any of the Company Group members’ rights in the Company Group Works. Executive hereby designates and appoints the Company and its designees as Executive’s agent and attorney-in-fact, to act for and in Executive’s behalf and stead to execute and file documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts in connection with the foregoing to the extent Executive is unable or unwilling to do so. This power of attorney is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable. Executive shall not take any actions inconsistent with the Company’s ownership rights set forth in this Section 7, including by filing to register any Company Group Works in Executive’s own name.

(iv) Executive shall not improperly use for the benefit of, bring to any premises of, divulge, disclose, communicate, reveal, transfer or provide access to, or share with any Company Group member or their respective affiliates any confidential, proprietary or non-public information or intellectual property relating to a former employer or other third party without the prior written permission of such third party. Executive shall comply with all relevant policies and guidelines of the Company Group that are from time to time previously disclosed to Executive, including regarding the protection of Confidential Information and intellectual property and potential conflicts of interest.

(v) Executive has listed on the attached Exhibit II, Works that are owned by Executive, in whole or jointly with others prior to Executive’s employment with the Company (collectively, “Prior Works”). Executive shall not use any Prior Work during Executive’s employment with the Company, without prior written consent of the Company. If, during Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive uses or incorporates into any Company product, service or process any Prior Work (or any portion of a Prior Work), in any manner whatsoever, Executive grants the Company a perpetual (or the maximum time period allowed by applicable law), sublicensable, assignable, royalty-free right and worldwide license to use, modify, reproduce, reduce to practice, market, distribute, communicate and/or sell such Prior Work or portion of such Prior Work used by Executive in such Company product, service or process.

 

14


(c) The provisions of Section 7 hereof shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason (except as otherwise set forth in Section 7(a)(iv) hereof).

8. Specific Performance. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the remedies of the Company Group at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of Section 6 and Section 7 of this Agreement or the PIIA would be inadequate and the Company Group would suffer irreparable damages as a result of such breach or threatened breach. In recognition of this fact, Executive agrees that, in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, in addition to any remedies at law, any of the Company Group, without posting any bond, shall be entitled, in addition to any other remedy available at law or equity, to cease making any payments or providing any benefit otherwise required by this Agreement and may be entitled to obtain equitable relief in the form of specific performance, temporary restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available. In addition, upon any breach of Section 6 or Section 7 of this Agreement or the PIIA, Executive shall promptly return to the Company Group upon request all cash payments made to Executive pursuant to Section 5 (if any), less any amounts paid by Executive as taxes in respect of such payments (unless such taxes are actually recovered by Executive from the relevant Governmental Authority, in which case such tax amounts also shall be returned to the Company Group). Any determination under this Section 8 of whether Executive is in compliance with Section 6 and Section 7 hereof and with the PIIA shall be determined based solely on the contractual provisions provided therein and the facts and circumstances of Executive’s actions without regard to whether the Company Group could obtain an injunction or other relief under the law of any particular jurisdiction.

9. Miscellaneous.

(a) Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance. The Company shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, fines, taxes and interest and penalties thereon (other than taxes based on fees or other compensation received by Executive from the Company), claims, demands, actions, suits, proceedings (whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise), costs, expenses and disbursements (including reasonable and documented legal and accounting fees and expenses, costs of investigation and sums paid in settlement) of any kind or nature whatsoever (collectively, “Claims and Expenses”), which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted at any time against Executive that arises out of or relates to Executive’s service as an officer, director or employee, as the case may be, of any Company Group member, or Executive’s service in any such capacity or similar capacity with an affiliate of the Company Group or other entity at the request of the Company Group; provided, that Executive shall not be entitled to indemnification hereunder against any Claims or Expenses that are finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from any act or omission that (i) is a criminal act by Executive or that Executive had no reasonable cause to believe was lawful or (ii) constitutes fraud or willful misconduct by Executive. The Company shall pay the expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses and costs of investigation) incurred by Executive in defending any such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding as such expenses are incurred by Executive and in advance of the final disposition of such matter; provided, that Executive undertakes to repay such expenses if it is determined by agreement between Executive and the Company or, in the absence of such an agreement, by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that Executive is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company Group. The Company (or other Company Group member) will maintain directors’ and officers’ insurance providing coverage in such scope and subject to such limits as the Company determines, in its discretion, is appropriate, but in all cases such scope and limitations will apply to Executive in the same manner as applies to all other C-suite executives of the Company generally.

 

15


(b) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof that would direct the application of the law of any other jurisdiction (except that the provisions of Section 6 shall be governed by the law of the State of Texas, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof that would direct the application of the law of any other jurisdiction).

(c) Jurisdiction; Venue. For purposes of Section 8, above, each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court sitting in the State of Delaware over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and each of the parties agrees that any action relating in any way to this Agreement must be commenced only in the courts of Delaware, federal or state. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted or not prohibited by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably consents to the service of process in any suit, action or proceeding by sending the same by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by recognized overnight courier service, to the address of such party set forth in Section 9(k).

(d) Arbitration.

(i) Except as provided in Section 8, above, or prohibited by law, any dispute or controversy as to the interpretation or enforceability of this Agreement or any other agreement entered into between the Company and Executive or any claim or cause of action of any of the Parties thereto against the other relating to Executive’s employment or the termination thereof shall be resolved by binding arbitration with the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) pursuant to its rules for the resolution of employment disputes. Included within this arbitration provision are claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code, the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, any state or local law prohibiting discrimination in employment, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, any federal civil rights act, as well as claims for retaliation for filing a wage claim or a worker’s compensation claim, wrongful failure or refusal to hire or promote, wrongful termination, breach of contract, slander, libel, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, tortious interference with contractual or other relations, assault or any other cause of action. This provision applies to complaints concerning hiring, discharge, promotion, transfer, lay-off, wages, harassment, retaliation, work assignments, reasonable accommodations required by law, breach of contract, or any other term or condition of employment. These provisions apply to claims whether made against the Company, or against any of its affiliates, agents, representatives and/or employees. This Agreement to arbitrate does not apply to claims for worker’s compensation or unemployment benefits.

 

16


(ii) Arbitration is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§ 1-16. If for any reason these arbitration provisions are deemed by a court to not be enforceable under the Federal Act, they will be enforced under the Texas General Arbitration Act.

(iii) The arbitration shall be held in Austin, Texas before one arbitrator who shall be selected in accordance with the provisions of the AAA rules. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding and neither Party shall have the right to appeal the substantive findings of the arbitrator. Both parties agree to keep strictly confidential and not to make any public disclosures concerning any claim for arbitration or the arbitration itself, except as may be required or allowed by law. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, this provision shall not prohibit nor limit any party’s right to apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for ancillary or injunctive relief prior to or during the pending of the arbitration.

(iv) There will be no right or authority for any dispute to be brought, heard or arbitrated as a class action and/or as a collective action (the “Class Action Waiver”). Nor shall any arbitrator have the authority to hear or arbitrate any such dispute, regardless of any other language in this Agreement, or any provision of any of the rules or procedures of the AAA that might otherwise apply including, without limitation, the AAA Supplemental Rules for Class Action Arbitration. No arbitrator shall have the right to interpret the extent, applicability and/or enforceability of this Class Action Waiver. Any issue or dispute as to whether this Agreement permits such class and/or collective action arbitration shall be resolved and/or interpreted solely by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(e) Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement (including, without limitation, the schedules and exhibits attached hereto) contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the employment of Executive by any member of the Company Group, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (including, without limitation, the Offer Letter between Executive and the Company, dated as of July 21, 2020, and any verbal agreements or understandings) between Executive and any member of the Company Group regarding the terms and conditions of Executive’s employment with the Company Group, with the exception of any applicable prior invention assignment or the protections that exist under the terms of any applicable long term incentive plan (or any earned compensation, including under any retirement or deferred compensation plans). In addition, if the Company Group is a party to one or more agreements with Executive related to the matters subject to Section 6 or Section 7, such other agreement(s) (including, without limitation, the PIIA) shall remain in full force and effect and continue in addition to this Agreement, including, without limitation, any covenants pertaining to confidentiality, nondisclosure, non-competition, intellectual property, non-solicitation and non-disparagement applicable to Executive. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, warranties, covenants or undertakings between the parties with respect to the subject matter herein other than those expressly set forth herein. This Agreement (including, without limitation, the exhibits attached hereto) may not be altered, modified, or amended except by written instrument signed by the parties hereto.

 

17


(f) No Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver of such party’s rights or deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement.

(g) Set Off; No Mitigation. The Company’s obligation to pay Executive the amounts provided herein and to make the arrangements provided hereunder shall be subject to set-off, counterclaim or recoupment of amounts owed by Executive to any Company Group member. Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for pursuant to this Agreement by seeking other employment, and such payments shall not be reduced by any compensation or benefits received from any subsequent employer (except as provided for in Section 5(d)(i)(C)(iii)), self-employment or other endeavor.

(h) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.

(i) Assignment. This Agreement, and all of Executive’s rights and duties hereunder, shall not be assignable or delegable by Executive. Any purported assignment or delegation by Executive in violation of the foregoing shall be null and void ab initio and of no force and effect. This Agreement may be assigned by the Company to a person or entity which is a successor in interest (“Successor”) to all or any parties of the business operations of the Company, or to any Company Group member. Upon such assignment, the rights and obligations of the Company hereunder shall become the rights and obligations of such Successor.

(j) Compliance with Code Section 409A.

(i) The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with or be exempt from Code Section 409A and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith. If any provision of this Agreement (or of any award of compensation, including equity compensation or benefits) would cause Executive to incur any additional tax or interest under Code Section 409A, the Company shall, after consulting with and receiving the approval of Executive, reform such provision in a manner intended to avoid the incurrence by Executive of any such additional tax or interest.

(ii) A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits that are considered nonqualified deferred compensation under Code Section 409A upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A, and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.” The determination of whether and when a separation from service has occurred for proposes of this Agreement shall be made in accordance with the presumptions set forth in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations.

 

18


(iii) Any provision of this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if at the time of Executive’s separation from service, the Company determines that Executive is a “specified employee,” within the meaning of Code Section 409A, then to the extent any payment or benefit that Executive becomes entitled to under this Agreement on account of such separation from service would be considered nonqualified deferred compensation under Code Section 409A, such payment or benefit shall be paid or provided at the date which is the earlier of (x) six months and one day after such separation from service and (y) the date of Executive’s death (the “Delay Period”). Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments and benefits delayed pursuant to this Section 9(j) (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) shall be paid or provided to Executive in a lump-sum, and any remaining payments and benefits due under this Agreement shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein.

(iv) Any reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided under this Agreement that constitute deferred compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A, including that (A) in no event shall any fees, expenses or other amounts eligible to be reimbursed by the Company under this Agreement be paid later than the last day of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the applicable fees, expenses or other amounts were incurred; (B) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits that the Company is obligated to pay or provide, in any given calendar year shall not affect the expenses that the Company is obligated to reimburse, or the in-kind benefits that the Company is obligated to pay or provide, in any other calendar year, provided that the foregoing clause (B) shall not be violated with regard to expenses reimbursed under any arrangement covered by Code Section 105(b) solely because such expenses are subject to a limit related to the period the arrangement is in effect; and (C) Executive’s right to have the Company pay or provide such reimbursements and in-kind benefits may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit.

(v) For purposes of Code Section 409A, Executive’s right to receive any installment payments shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments. Whenever a payment under this Agreement specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (for example, “payment shall be made within 30 days following the date of termination”), the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company. In no event may Executive, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment to be made under this Agreement, to the extent such payment is subject to Code Section 409A.

(k) Notice. For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or overnight courier or three days after it has been mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses set forth below in this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

 

19


If to the Company:

Bumble Trading LLC

1105 W. 41st Street, Suite A

Austin, TX 78756

Attention:   General Counsel

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

The Blackstone Group Inc.

345 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10154

Attention:   Martin J. Brand

                   Jon Korngold

and

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Attention:   Gregory T. Grogan

If to Executive:

To the most recent address of Executive set forth in the personnel records of the Company.

(l) Executive Representation. Executive hereby represents to the Company that the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Executive and the Company and the performance by Executive of Executive’s duties hereunder shall not constitute a breach of the terms of any employment agreement or other agreement or written policy to which Executive is a party or otherwise bound. Executive hereby further represents that Executive is not subject to any restrictions on Executive’s ability to solicit, hire or engage any employee or other service provider or that could restrict the ability of Executive to perform Executive’s duties hereunder. Executive agrees that the Company is relying on the foregoing representations in entering into this Agreement and related equity-based award agreements.

(m) Cooperation. Executive shall provide Executive’s reasonable cooperation in connection with any pending claim, litigation, regulatory or administrative proceeding involving any Company Group member (or any appeal from any action or proceeding) arising out of or related to the period when Executive was employed by any Company Group member. In the event that Executive’s cooperation is requested after the termination of Executive’s employment, the applicable Company Group member shall (i) use its reasonable efforts to minimize interruptions to Executive’s personal and professional schedule and (ii) reimburse Executive for all reasonable and appropriate out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred by Executive in connection with such cooperation upon reasonable substantiation of such expenses. Executive agrees to promptly inform the Company Group if (i) Executive becomes aware of any claims that may be filed or threatened against the Company Group or its affiliates, other than as may be filed by Executive and (ii) to the extent Executive is legally permitted, if Executive is asked to assist in any investigation of the Company Group or its affiliates (or their actions), regardless of whether a lawsuit or other proceeding has then been filed against the Company Group or its affiliates with respect to such investigation, and shall not do so unless legally required.

 

20


(n) Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such federal, state and local taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

(o) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

[Signatures Follow]

 

21


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

 

BUMBLE TRADING LLC

           /s/ Whitney Wolfe Herd

By:   Whitney Wolfe Herd
Title:   Authorized Signatory


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

 

EXECUTIVE

/s/ Anuradha Subramanian

Anuradha Subramanian

Exhibit 10.12

 

DATED

 

11 October, 2016

BADOO LIMITED (1)

and

IDAN WALLICHMAN (2)

 

 

SERVICE AGREEMENT

 

 

Mishcon de Reya

LLP Africa House

70 Kingsway

London WC2B 6AH

Tel: [phone number]

Fax: [fax number]

Ref: [reference number]


THIS AGREEMENT IS DATED 2016

PARTIES:

 

(1)

Badoo Limited whose registered office is at 13 Hawley Crescent, London, NW1 8NP (the “Employer); and

 

(2)

ldan Wallichman of [address] (you)

AGREED TERMS:

 

1.

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1

In this agreement, the following expressions have the following meanings:

the “Board means the board of directors for the time being of the Employer or any committee of the board of directors duly appointed by it;

Confidential Information means all and any information, in whatever form, of or relating to the Employer or any member of the Group which you (or, where the context so requires, another person) have obtained by virtue of your employment or engagement and which the Employer or any member of the Group regards as confidential, including (but not limited to):

 

  (a)

financial information, results and forecasts, sales targets and statistics, market share and pricing statistics, profit margins, price lists, discounts, credit and payment policies and procedures;

 

  (b)

information relating to business methods, corporate plans, business strategy, marketing plans, management systems, maturing new business opportunities, tenders, advertising and promotional material;

 

  (c)

information relating to and details of customers, prospective customers, suppliers and prospective suppliers including their identities, business requirements and contractual arrangements and negotiations with the Employer or any member of the Group;

 

  (d)

details of employees, officers and workers of and consultants to the Employer or any member of the Group, their remuneration details, job skills, experience and capabilities and other personal information;

 

  (e)

information relating to trade secrets, research activities, development projects, inventions, designs, know-how, technical specification and other technical information in relation the development or supply of any future product or service of the Employer or any member of the Group and information concerning the intellectual property portfolio and strategy of the Employer or any member of the Group; and

 

  (f)

any inside information (as defined in section 118C of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000)

 

  (g)

any information in respect of which the Employer or any member of the Group is bound by an obligation of confidence to a third party but excluding any information which:

 

  (i)

is part of your own stock in trade;


  (ii)

is readily ascertainable to persons not connected with the Employer or any member of the Group without significant expenditure of labour, skill or money; or

 

  (iii)

which becomes available to the public generally other than by reason of a breach by you of your obligations under this agreement;

Copies means copies or records of any Confidential Information in whatever form (including, without limitation, in written, oral, visual or electronic form or on any magnetic or optical disk or memory and wherever located) including, without limitation, extracts, analysis, studies, plans, compilations or any other way of representing or recording and recalling information which contains, reflects or is derived or generated from Confidential Information.

the “Employment means your employment under this agreement;

Garden Leave means any period during which the Employer exercises its rights under clause 16;

Group means the Employer, any subsidiary undertaking or parent undertaking of the Employer and any subsidiary undertaking of any such parent undertaking and “member of the Group includes any undertaking in the Group. In this Agreement, “subsidiary undertaking” and “parent undertaking” have the meanings set out in sections 1161 and 1162 of the Companies Act 2006, modified so that: sections 1162(2)(c) and 1162(4) do not apply; and in section 1162(3)(b), without limitation, a person is deemed to be “acting on behalf of’ an undertaking or any of its subsidiary undertakings if any of that undertaking’s shares are registered in the name of that person (i) as bare nominee; or (ii) by way of security or in connection with the taking of security. For the avoidance of doubt, the definition of “undertaking” in section 1161, without limitation, includes limited liability partnerships;

HMRC means HM Revenue and Customs;

Intellectual Property Rights means patents, rights to Inventions, copyright and related rights, trade marks, trade names and domain names, rights in get-up, rights in goodwill or to sue for passing off, rights in designs, rights in computer software, database rights, rights in confidential information (including know-how and trade secrets) and any other intellectual property rights, in each case whether registered or unregistered and including all applications (or rights to apply) for, and renewals or extensions of, such rights and all similar or equivalent rights or forms of protection which may now or in the future subsist in any part of the world;

Inventions means inventions, ideas and improvements, whether or not patentable, and whether or not recorded in any medium; and

Investment means any holding as a bona fide investment of not more than three per cent of the total issued share capital in any company, whether or not its shares are listed or dealt in on any recognised investment exchange provided such company does not carry out a business similar to or competitive with any business for the time being carried on by the Employer or any member of the Group.

 

3


2.

APPOINTMENT AND TERM

 

2.1

You will be employed as Chief Financial Officer, or in such other capacity commensurate with your skills, experience and status as the Employer may determine, on the terms set out in this agreement.

 

2.2

The Employment will commence on 15 November 2016 and will, subject to the remaining terms of this agreement, continue until terminated by either party giving to the other not less than six months’ prior written notice.

 

2.3

No previous employment counts as part of your continuous employment with the Employer.

 

3.

DUTIES

 

3.1

During the Employment you will:

 

  3.1.1

act as a director of the Employer;

 

  3.1.2

abide by your statutory, fiduciary and common law duties to the Employer;

 

  3.1.3

comply with the articles of association (as amended from time to time) of the Employer;

 

  3.1.4

devote the whole of your working time, attention and abilities to the business of the Employer;

 

  3.1.5

diligently exercise such powers and perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned to you together with such persons as the Employer may appoint to act jointly with you;

 

  3.1.6

use your best endeavours to promote, protect, develop and extend the business of the Employer and any member of the Group in existence from time to time;

 

  3.1.7

comply with all reasonable and lawful directions given to you by the Employer;

 

  3.1.8

under no circumstances whatsoever either directly or indirectly receive or accept for your own benefit any commission, rebate, discount, gratuity or profit from any person. firm or company having business transactions with the Employer or any member of the Group in existence from time to time unless previously agreed with the Board;

 

  3.1.9

promptly make such reports to the Board on any matters concerning the affairs of the Employer as are reasonably required;

 

  3.1.10

report your own wrongdoing and any wrongdoing or proposed wrongdoing of any other employee or director of the Employer or any member of the Group in existence from time to time to the Board immediately on becoming aware of it;

 

  3.1.11

I comply with any code relating to dealing in the Employer’s securities adopted by the Employer from time to time;

 

  3.1.12

comply with any law, principles, rules and regulations which apply to the Employer or you as a director or employee of the Employer, including those of any regulatory authority or of any market on which the Employer’s securities are quoted or traded; and

 

4


  3.1.13

comply with any corporate governance code or guidelines to the extent required by law or regulation or as adopted by the Employer from time to time.

 

3.2

The Employer may issue policies, procedures and rules on the conduct that it expects from its employees and may amend or replace them from time to time. You must familiarise yourself with and comply with the content of any such policies, procedures and rules.

 

3.3

You may be required to carry out work for or to hold office in any member of the Group at any time without additional remuneration.

 

3.4

The Employer may at its sole discretion transfer this agreement, or second you on a full-time or part-time, temporary or permanent basis, to any member of the Group at any time.

 

3.5

While you work for, hold office in or are seconded to any member of the Group you will have the same obligations and owe the same duties towards that member of the Group as you owe towards the Employer under the terms of this agreement.

 

4.

HOURS AND PLACE OF WORK

 

4.1

Your normal working hours are 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Friday together with such additional hours as may be necessary for the proper performance of your duties.

 

4.2

The Working Time Regulations 1998 provides a limit on weekly working time of an average of 48 hours. However, you acknowledge that you may be required to work in excess of these hours and you agree that the limit on working time will not apply to your employment. You are entitled to terminate this opt-out at any time by giving not less than three months’ written notice addressed to the Board.

 

4.3

Your normal place of work is Medius House, 2 Sheraton Street, London W1F 8BH but the Employer may require you to work at any place within Greater London on either a temporary or an indefinite basis.

 

4.4

You agree to travel (both within the United Kingdom and abroad) as and when required for the proper performance of your duties. However, you will not be required to work outside the United Kingdom for any continuous period of more than one month.

 

5.

REMUNERATION

 

5.1

You will be paid a salary of £160,000 per annum, which will accrue from day to day and be payable by equal monthly instalments in arrears on or before the last working day of each calendar month. You will not receive additional remuneration by way of fees for acting as a director of the Employer or any member of the Group.

 

5.2

The Employer will review your salary annually (except where notice has been served by either party to terminate this agreement). There shall be no obligation to increase your salary at any time.

 

5.3

You will be eligible for a bonus of up to 25% of your base salary subject to satisfaction of performance criteria.

 

5.4

You acknowledge that you have no right to receive a bonus and that the Employer is under no obligation to operate a bonus scheme and that if the Employer makes one or more bonus payments

 

5


  to you during the Employment it shall not become obliged to make any subsequent bonus payments. In any event, you will not be entitled to receive a bonus if the Employment has terminated (for any reason) or you are serving any period of notice (whether on Garden Leave or otherwise) at the time that bonuses are paid to directors.

 

5.5

The Employer will deduct income tax under PAYE and any national insurance contributions (and all and any other deductions required by law) from any bonus payable to you. Any bonus payable to you will not be taken into account for the purpose of calculating pension contributions.

 

5.6

The Employer may deduct from your salary or any other payments due to you any sums owed by you to the Employer or any member of the Group at any time.

 

6.

EXPENSES

The Employer will reimburse all reasonable expenses wholly, properly and necessarily incurred by you in the performance of your duties under this agreement, subject to production of such receipts or other appropriate evidence as the Employer may require.

 

7.

HOLIDAYS

 

7.1

You will be entitled to 24 days’ paid holiday in each holiday year (being the period from January to 31 December) together with the usual bank and other public holidays. In the respective holiday years in which the Employment commences or terminates, your holiday entitlement will be calculated on a pro rata basis for each complete month of service during the relevant year.

 

7.2

Holiday can only be taken with the advance approval of the Board. You may carry forward a maximum of five days’ holiday from one holiday year to the next. Any such holiday carried forward must be taken by 31 March in the subsequent holiday year. You are not entitled to receive any payment in lieu in respect of any unused entitlement, save on termination as provided in clause 7.3. You may not take more than two weeks’ continuous holiday at any one time without the prior written consent of the Board.

 

7.3

On termination of the Employment, the Employer may either require you to take any unused and accrued holiday entitlement during any notice period by giving you at least one day’s notice (but such holiday entitlement will be deemed to be taken during any period of Garden Leave) or make a payment in lieu based on your entitlement under clause 7.1 for the holiday year in which your employment terminates. If the Employer terminates the Employment for any of the reasons in clause 14 or if you resign in breach of clause 2.2, your entitlement to payment in lieu will be based on the minimum holiday entitlement under the Working Time Regulations 1998 only. If you have taken more holiday than your accrued entitlement, you will be required to reimburse the Employer in respect of the excess days taken and the Employer is authorised to deduct the appropriate amount from any sums due to you. Any payment in lieu or deduction made shall be calculated on the basis that each day of paid holiday is equivalent to 1/260th of your salary.

 

7.4

During any continuous period of absence due to incapacity of one month or more you will not accrue holiday under this contract. Your entitlement under clause 7.1 for the holiday year in which such absence takes place will be reduced pro rata but will not fall below your entitlement under the Working Time Regulations 1998.

 

6


8.

SICKNESS ABSENCE

 

8.1

Provided you comply with the sickness absence procedures below (or such additional or alternative procedures as the Employer shall notify from time to time), you will continue to receive your full salary and contractual benefits during any absence from work due to illness or injury for an aggregate of up to 20 working days in any period of 12 months. Such payments will be inclusive of any statutory sick pay that may be due and the Employer may deduct from such payments the amount of any social security or other benefits that you may be entitled to receive and, to the extent that damages for loss of earnings are recoverable from any third party in relation to such incapacity, any payments under this clause will constitute a loan repayable to the Employer on demand at such time as you receive such third party payment (provided that you will not be required to repay a sum in excess of the amount of damages recovered).

 

8.2

You will notify the Board as soon as possible on the first day of absence of the reasons for your absence and how long it is likely to last. You will be required to complete self-certification forms in respect of any period of absence and to provide a medical certificate for any period of incapacity of more than seven days (including weekends). Further certificates must be provided to cover any further periods of incapacity.

 

8.3

You agree to consent to medical examinations (at the Employer’s expense) by a doctor appointed by the Employer should the Employer reasonably require and you will provide to that doctor copies of your medical records. The results of the examination may be disclosed to the Employer and the Employer may discuss such results with the relevant doctor. Alternatively, you may be asked to obtain a medical report from your GP or another person responsible for your clinical care and to provide this to the Employer.

 

8.4

If you are away from work due to illness or injury for a consecutive period of 40 working days the Employer may (without prejudice to the provisions of clause 14.4.11) appoint another person or persons to perform your duties.

 

8.5

No sick pay under clause 8.1 will be paid (except statutory sick pay, if payable) on any day when:

 

  8.5.1

a hearing is pending which relates to any aspect of your conduct or performance and which could result in the imposition of a warning, dismissal or other sanction; or

 

  8.5.2

you have been told, whether formally or informally, that there are concerns about any aspect of your conduct or performance which could result in a disciplinary hearing;

 

  8.5.3

you are in breach of your obligations in relation to medical examinations and reports set out above; or

 

  8.5.4

you are serving a period of notice.

 

9.

PENSION

The Employer will provide access to a stakeholder pension scheme (the “Scheme) in accordance with its statutory obligations. Your participation in the Scheme will be subject to the rules of the Scheme and HM Revenue and Customs limits from time to time in force. The Employer will make a matching contribution to the Scheme subject to a maximum contribution from the Employer of 6% of your basic salary. Details of the Scheme can be obtained from the HR Department.

 

7


10.

OTHER BENEFITS

 

10.1

You will be entitled to participate in the following insurance schemes, details of which can be obtained from the HR Department:

 

  10.1.1

private medical insurance scheme, in respect of yourself and your immediate family; and

 

  10.1.2

critical illness cover.

 

10.2

Your right to participate in the schemes in clause 10.1 above is subject to the rules of the relevant scheme and of any related insurance policy as amended from time to time.

 

10.3

The Employer reserves the right to discontinue, vary or amend the schemes (including the level of cover) or change the providers at any time and is under no obligation to provide or continue to provide these benefits if they are not available for you (or for your immediate family) or not available at a cost the Employer considers reasonable. If the insurance providers refuse for any reason to provide any of the benefits to you or your immediate family, the Employer will not be liable to provide you with any replacement benefits of the same or similar kind or to pay any compensation in lieu of such benefits. The Employer will further not assume any liability for any payments that any insurer shall decline to make.

 

11.

OTHER INTERESTS

 

11.1

You will not (except as a representative of the Employer or with the prior written approval of the Board) whether paid or unpaid, directly or indirectly:

 

  11.1.1

undertake, be engaged or concerned in the conduct of;

 

  11.1.2

be or become an employee, agent, partner, consultant or director of; or

 

  11.1.3

assist or have any financial interest (other than the holding of an Investment) in any other business, trade, profession or occupation, whether actual or prospective.

 

11.2

You agree to disclose to the Board any matters relating to your spouse or civil partner (or anyone living as such), children or parents which may, in the reasonable opinion of the Board, be considered to interfere, conflict or compete with the proper performance of your obligations under this agreement.

 

12.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

 

12.1

You will not (save in the proper course of your duties or as specifically authorised by the Employer) either during the Employment or at any time after its termination (howsoever arising) directly or indirectly:

 

  12.1.1

use any Confidential Information;

 

  12.1.2

disclose or permit the disclosure of Confidential Information to any person, company, or organisation whatsoever; or

 

  12.1.3

make or use any Copies.

 

12.2

You are responsible for protecting the confidentiality of the Confidential Information and shall:

 

8


  12.2.1

use your best endeavours to prevent the use or communication of any Confidential Information by any unauthorised person, company or organisation; and

 

  12.2.2

inform the Employer immediately upon becoming aware, or suspecting, that any such person, company or organisation knows or has used any Confidential Information.

 

12.3

The restrictions above shall not apply to information which you or another person may be ordered to disclose by a court of competent jurisdiction or which you disclose pursuant to and in accordance with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, provided you have complied with the Employer’s policy (if any) from time to time regarding such disclosures, or as may be required by law.

 

12.4

You will not at any time during the period of your employment make any derogatory, untrue or unfavourable remarks or statements whether orally or in writing with regard to the Employer, any member of the Group, its or their business, any of its or their officers, directors or employees or any of its or their clients, customers or suppliers.

 

13.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

 

13.1

You shall give the Employer full written details of all Inventions and of all works embodying Intellectual Property Rights made wholly or partially by you at any time during the course of the Employment (whether or not during working hours or using Employer premises or resources) which relate to, or are reasonably capable of being used in, the business of the Employer or any member of the Group. You acknowledge that all Intellectual Property Rights subsisting (or which may in the future subsist) in all such Inventions and works shall automatically, on creation, vest in the Employer absolutely. To the extent that they do not vest automatically, you hold them on trust for the Employer. You agree promptly to execute all documents and do all acts as may, in the opinion of the Employer, be necessary to give effect to this clause 13.1.

 

13.2

You hereby irrevocably waive all moral rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (and all similar rights in other jurisdictions) which you have or will have in any existing or future works referred to in clause 13.1 above.

 

13.3

You hereby irrevocably appoint the Employer to be your attorney to execute and do any such instrument or thing and generally to use your name for the purpose of giving the Employer or its nominee the benefit of this clause 13 and acknowledge in favour of any third party that a certificate in writing signed by any Director or the Secretary of the Employer that any instrument or act falls within the authority conferred by this clause 13 shall be conclusive evidence that such is the case.

 

14.

TERMINATION

 

14.1

Notwithstanding clause 2.2, the Employer may (in its sole and absolute discretion) terminate the Employment at any time and with immediate effect by giving you notice that it is exercising its right to do so under this clause and that it will make you a payment in lieu of notice equal to your salary only which you would have been entitled to receive during the notice period (or remainder of the notice period) referred to in clause 2.2, less income tax and national insurance contributions. The Employer may elect, as regards the contractual benefits due under this clause, to either (i) make a payment equivalent to the cost of the Employer of providing the benefit; or (ii) continue to provide the benefit during the period for which payment in lieu of notice is made.

 

9


14.2

You will have no right to receive a payment in lieu of notice unless the Employer has exercised its discretion in clause 14.1 above. Nothing in this clause 14 shall prevent the Employer from terminating the Employment and electing not to make you any payment in lieu of notice.

 

14.3

Notwithstanding Clause 14.1, you will not be entitled to any payment in lieu if the Employer would otherwise have been entitled to terminate the Employment without notice in accordance with clause 14.4. In that case the Employer will also be entitled to recover from you any payment in lieu (or instalments thereof) already made.

 

14.4

The Employer may also terminate the Employment at any time with immediate effect without notice and without payment in lieu of notice if you:

 

  14.4.1

are guilty of gross misconduct or commit any material or (after warning) repeated or continued breach or non-observance of your obligations to the Employer (whether under this agreement or otherwise) or if you refuse or neglect to comply with any reasonable and lawful directions of the Employer;

 

  14.4.2

are guilty of any fraud or dishonesty or act in a manner which in the opinion of the Employer brings or is likely to bring you or the Employer or any member of the Group into disrepute or is materially adverse to the interests of the Employer or any member of the Group;

 

  14.4.3

are, in the reasonable opinion of the Employer, negligent and/or incompetent in the performance of your duties, or fail to perform your duties to a satisfactory standard (having previously been given written notice of such failure (whether by means of routine appraisal or otherwise) and a reasonable opportunity to improve);

 

  14.4.4

are guilty of a serious breach of any principles, rules, regulations or policies or any corporate governance code or guidelines applicable to you or the Employer or adopted by the Employer from time to time;

 

  14.4.5

are convicted of any criminal offence (other than a motoring offence for which a non-custodial penalty is imposed) or any offence under any regulation or legislation relating to insider dealing;

 

  14.4.6

are disqualified from holding any office which you hold in the Employer or any member of the Group or resign from such office without the prior written approval of the Board;

 

  14.4.7

have provided false or misleading information to the Employer in respect of your suitability for the Employment or your qualifications and experience;

 

  14.4.8

become bankrupt or make any arrangement with or for the benefit of your creditors or have a county court administration order made against you under the County Court Act 1984;

 

  14.4.9

become of unsound mind or a patient under any statute relating to mental health;

 

  14.4.10

become ineligible to work in the United Kingdom in accordance with any statute relating to immigration matters;

 

  14.4.11

are prevented by illness, injury or other incapacity from fully performing your obligations to the Employer for an aggregate of at least 60 working days in any period of 12 months

 

10


(even if, as a result of such termination, you would forfeit any entitlement to benefits under any permanent health insurance scheme provided by the Employer for your benefit, save that the Employer will not terminate the Employment solely on grounds of such illness, injury or other incapacity where such an entitlement to benefits would be forfeited).

 

14.5

The rights of the Employer under clause 14.4 are without prejudice to any other rights that it might have at law to terminate the Employment or to accept any breach by you of this agreement as having brought the agreement to an end. Any delay by the Employer in exercising its rights to terminate shall not constitute a waiver thereof.

 

14.6

If, during the Employment, you resign from the Board, the Employment shall automatically terminate.

 

15.

OBLIGATIONS ON TERMINATION

 

15.1

On the termination of the Employment (howsoever arising) or, if earlier, at the start of any Garden Leave, you will:

 

  15.1.1

immediately deliver to the Employer all property of the Employer or any member of the Group which may be in your possession or control including, without limitation, keys, mobile phone, company car (if any), blackberry, computer equipment, and all Copies, correspondence, documents, papers, memoranda, notes and records (including, without limitation, any records stored by electronic means, together with any codes or implements necessary to give full access to such records), system designs, software designs and software programmes (in whatever media) relating to the business or affairs of the Employer and all copies of the above, provided that where you are on Garden Leave you will not be required to return to the Employer (until the termination of the Employment) any property provided to you as a contractual benefit under the terms of this agreement;

 

  15.1.2

irretrievably delete any information relating to the business of the Employer or any member of the Group stored on any magnetic or optical disk or memory and all matter derived from such sources which is in your possession or under your control outside the Employer’s premises;

 

  15.1.3

provide a signed statement that you have complied fully with your obligations under clauses 15.1.1 and 15.1.2;

 

  15.1.4

immediately resign, without any claim for compensation, from all offices held in the Employer or any member of the Group and as a trustee of any pension scheme connected to the Employer or any member of the Group, and you hereby irrevocably appoint the Employer to be your attorney to execute any documents and do any things and generally to use your name for the purpose of giving the Employer or its nominee the full benefit of this clause;

 

  15.1.5

transfer without payment to the Employer or as it may direct any shares or other securities held by you in the Employer or any member of the Group as a nominee or trustee for the Employer or any member of the Group and deliver to the Employer the related certificates, and you hereby irrevocably appoint the Employer to be your attorney to execute any documents and do any things and generally to use your name for the purpose of giving the Employer or its nominee the full benefit of this clause.

 

11


15.2

On termination of the Employment (howsoever arising and whether lawful or not) you will have no rights as a result of this agreement or any alleged breach of this agreement to any compensation under or in respect of any share option or long term incentive scheme of the Employer in which you may participate or have received grants or allocations at or before the date the Employment terminates. Any rights which you may have under such scheme(s) shall be exclusively governed by the rules of such scheme(s) as in force from time to time.

 

15.3

If the Employment is terminated at any time in connection with any reconstruction or amalgamation of the Employer whether by winding up or otherwise and you receive an offer of employment (on terms no less favourable overall than the terms of this agreement) from an undertaking involved in or resulting from such reconstruction or amalgamation you will have no claim whatsoever against the Employer arising out of or connected with such termination.

 

16.

GARDEN LEAVE

 

16.1

The Employer is under no obligation to provide you with work and may (if either party serves notice to terminate the Employment or if you purport to terminate the Employment in breach of contract) require you not to perform any duties or to perform only specified duties.

 

16.2

During any period of Garden Leave, you shall:

 

  16.2.1

remain an employee of the Employer and be bound by the terms of this agreement (including, but not limited to, your implied duties of good faith and fidelity);

 

  16.2.2

continue to receive your salary and contractual benefits in the usual way (subject to the rules of the relevant benefits scheme(s) in force from time to time and the terms of this agreement);

 

  16.2.3

not, without the prior written consent of the Board attend your place of work or any other premises of the Employer or any member of the Group;

 

  16.2.4

not contact or deal with (or attempt to contact or deal with) any officer or employee (other than on a purely social basis), consultant, client, customer, supplier, agent, distributor, shareholder, adviser or other business contact of the Employer or any member of the Group except such person(s) as the Employer shall designate in writing, and the Employer may suspend your access to all or any information technology systems of the Employer and any member of the Group;

 

  16.2.5

be deemed to take any accrued but unused holiday entitlement; and

 

  16.2.6

(except during any periods taken as holiday, which should be notified in advance in accordance with the usual procedures) ensure that the Board knows where and how you can be contacted during normal working hours.

 

16.3

During any period of Garden Leave, the Board may, in its absolute discretion, appoint another person to perform your responsibilities jointly with you or in your place.

 

17.

RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

 

17.1

In this clause 17:

 

12


Capacity means as agent, consultant, director, employee, owner, shareholder or in any other capacity;

Customer means any person, firm, company, association or other entity who was an aggregator, collector or processor of revenues, marketing agency, portal, advertiser, subscription client, advertising agency, sponsor or promoter and who at any time during the Relevant Period (i) was provided with goods or services by the Employer or any member of the Group or (ii) was in the habit of dealing with the Employer or any member of the Group other than in a de minimis way, and about whom or which you have confidential information; and in each case with whom or which you, or any person who reported directly to you, had material dealings at any time during the Relevant Period;

Key Employee means any person who immediately prior to the Termination Date was employed or engaged by the Employer or any member of the Group with a base salary of £50,000 or above, or any other person employed or engaged by the Employer or any member of the Group who could materially damage the interests of the Employer or any member of the Group if they were involved in any Capacity in any business which competes with any Restricted Business, and with whom you had personal dealings during the Relevant Period;

Prospective Customer means any person, firm, company, association or other entity who is an aggregator, collector or processor of revenues, marketing agency, portal, advertiser, subscription client, advertising agency, sponsor or promoter to who during the period of six months prior to the Termination Date the Employer or any member of the Group had submitted a tender, made a pitch or presentation or with whom or which it was otherwise negotiating for the supply of goods or services, and with whom or which you, or any person who reported directly to you, had material dealings at any time during the Relevant Period;

Relevant Period means the period of 12 months ending on the Termination Date;

Restricted Business means any business which sells or provides (or will sell or provide once operational) products or services in competition with the products or services of a kind sold or supplied by the Employer or any member of the Group, specifically including but not limited to:

 

  (a)

any business that runs a social network platform or which operates, or plans to operate any “meeting” or “connecting” functionality enabling users to communicate with both known and previously unknown third parties;

 

  (b)

any business which provides a “Dating” service; and

 

  (c)

the following named companies (or any of their affiliates or group companies). For the avoidance of doubt, the Employer reserves the right to review, amend and add to this list on a regular basis: Ponder; Knock Knock; Lulu; The Grade; Down To Lunch; Wigo; Hinge; Happn; Tinder; Coffee Meets Bagel; The Grade; The League; Huggle; JSwipe; OKCupid; Raya; Black People Meet; Farmers Only; Gluten Free Singles; How About We; Grouper; Grindr; JDate; Huckle; Siren; Wildfyre; Her (Dattch); Hey Vina; Courtem; Match.com; Christian Mingle; Down; 3rnder; eHarmony; Adult FriendFinder; AnastasiaDate; Ashley Madison; BeautifulPeople.com; BeHappy2Day; Chemistry.com; Compatible Partners; DateMySchool; Gaydar; GayRomeo/Planet Romeo; Gleeden; Lavalife; Lovestruck; Mamba; Matchmaker.com; Meetic; Parship; Passions Network; Perfectmatch.com; Plenty Of Fish; Right Stuff; Shake My World; Speeddate.com; Spray date; SwoonXO; Tastebuds.fm; Tawkify; and Zoosk.

 

13


Supplier means any person, firm, company or entity who or which was at any time during the Relevant Period a supplier of services or goods (other than utilities and goods or services supplied for administrative purposes) to the Employer or any member of the Group and with whom or which you, or any person who reported directly to you, had material dealings during the Relevant Period;

Termination Date means the date on which the Employment terminates or, if you spend a period on Garden Leave immediately before the termination of the Employment, such earlier date on which Garden Leave commences.

 

17.2

You covenant with the Employer (for itself and as trustee and agent for each member of the Group) that you will not, directly or indirectly, on your own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any firm, company or person:

 

  17.2.1

for six months following the Termination Date be engaged, concerned or involved in any Capacity with any business which is (or intends to be) in competition with any Restricted Business;

 

  17.2.2

for twelve months following the Termination Date solicit or endeavour to entice away from the Employer or any member of the Group the business or custom of a Customer or Prospective Customer with a view to providing goods or services to that Customer in competition with any Restricted Business or otherwise induce, solicit or entice or endeavour to induce, solicit or entice any Customer to cease conducting, or reduce the amount of, business with the Employer or any member of the Group or discourage or prevent any Prospective Customer from conducting business with the Employer or any member of the Group;

 

  17.2.3

for twelve months following the Termination Date be involved with the provision of goods or services to, or otherwise have any business dealings with, any Customer or Prospective Customer in the course of any business which is in competition with any Restricted Business;

 

  17.2.4

for twelve months following the Termination Date solicit or endeavour to entice away from the Employer or any member of the Group the business or custom of any Supplier in the course of any business which is in competition with any Restricted Business;

 

  17.2.5

for twelve months following the Termination Date be involved with the receipt of goods or services from any Supplier where such receipt would adversely affect the ability or willingness of the Supplier to meet the requirements of the Employer or any member of the Group;

 

  17.2.6

for twelve months following the Termination Date offer to employ or engage or otherwise endeavour to entice away from the Employer or any member of the Group any Key Employee (whether or not such person would breach their contract of employment or engagement);

 

  17.2.7

for twelve months following the Termination Date employ or engage or facilitate the employment or engagement of any Key Employee (whether or not such person would breach their contract of employment or engagement) in any business which is in competition with any Restricted Business;

 

14


  17.2.8

at any time after the Termination Date represent yourself as being in any way connected with (other than as a former employee), or interested in the business of the Employer or any member of the Group or use any registered names or trading names associated with the Employer or any member of the Group.

 

17.3

None of the restrictions in clause 17.2 above shall prevent you from:

 

  17.3.1

holding an Investment;

 

  17.3.2

being engaged or concerned in any business insofar as your duties or work relate solely to geographical areas where that business is not in competition with any Restricted Business; or

 

  17.3.3

being engaged or concerned in any business insofar as your duties or work relate solely to services or activities of a kind with which you were not concerned to a material extent during the Relevant Period.

 

17.4

Each of the restrictions contained in this clause 17 (on which you have had the opportunity to take independent legal advice) is intended to be separate and severable and while they are considered by the parties to be reasonable in all the circumstances, it is agreed that if any one or more of such restrictions is held to go beyond what is reasonable in all the circumstances for the protection of the legitimate interests of the Employer or any member of the Group but would be valid if any particular restriction(s) were deleted or some part or parts of its or their wording were deleted, restricted or limited then such restriction(s) shall apply with such deletions, restrictions or limitations as the case may be.

 

17.5

You agree that you will (at the request and cost of the Employer) enter into a separate agreement with any member of the Group for which you perform services under which you will agree to be bound by restrictions corresponding to the restrictions contained in this clause 17 (or such similar restrictions as will be appropriate provided that such restrictions shall be no wider in scope than those contained in this clause) in relation to such member of the Group.

 

17.6

You agree that if your employment is transferred to any person, company, firm, organisation or other entity other than the Employer or any member of the Group (the “New Employer”) pursuant to the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006, you will, if required, enter into an agreement with the New Employer that will contain provisions that provide protection to the New Employer similar to that provided to the Employer and any member of the Group under clause 17.2.

 

17.7

If, during the Employment or any period during which the restrictions in this clause 17 apply you receive an offer to be involved in a business in any Capacity, you will notify the person making the offer of the terms of this clause 17.

 

18.

DISCIPLINARY AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

 

18.1

You are subject to the Employer’s disciplinary procedures, which can be found in the Staff Handbook. These procedures do not form part of your contract of employment. If you are dissatisfied with any disciplinary decision, you should apply in writing to the HR Department.

 

15


18.2

The Employer may at any time suspend you on full pay for a period of up to 20 working days, or such longer period as shall be reasonably necessary, for the purposes of investigating any allegation of misconduct or neglect against you.

 

18.3

If you wish to obtain redress of any grievance relating to the Employment you should apply in writing to the Board, in accordance with the Employer’s grievance procedures which can be found in the Staff Handbook. These procedures do not form part of your contract of employment.

 

19.

PERSONAL DATA

 

19.1

You consent to the Employer or any member of the Group processing both electronically and manually any data which relates to you for the purposes of the administration and management of its employees and its business and for compliance with applicable procedures, laws and regulations and in particular to the processing of sensitive personal data (as defined in the Data Protection Act 1998).

 

19.2

You also consent to the transfer of such personal data (including sensitive personal data) to other offices the Employer may have or to a member of the Group or to other third parties (including those who provide products or services to the Employer or any member of the Group, regulatory authorities, potential or future employers, governmental or quasi-governmental organisations and potential purchasers of the Employer or part of the Employer) whether or not in the European Economic Area (and whether or not the country or territory in question maintains adequate data protection standards), for administration purposes and other purposes in connection with your employment or where it is necessary or desirable for the Employer to do so.

 

19.3

You are referred to the Employer’s data protection policy (as amended from time to time) for further details, which can be found in the Staff Handbook.

 

20.

E-MAIL AND INTERNET

Telephone calls made and received by you using the Employer’s equipment, use of the e-mail system to send or receive business or personal correspondence and use of the internet may be monitored and/or recorded by the Employer. You acknowledge that the content of any communications using the Employer’s systems or anything stored on such systems will not be private and confidential to you but will belong to the Employer and that the use of such systems is for business purposes only. Further details can be found in the Employer’s e-mail and internet policy which can be found in the Staff Handbook.

 

21.

COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS

There are no collective agreements which directly affect the Employment.

 

22.

NOTICES

Any notice to be given under this agreement shall be in writing. Notices may be given by either party by personal delivery or post or by fax addressed to the other party at (in the case of the Employer) its registered office for the time being and (in the case of you) either to your address shown in this agreement or to your last known address and shall be deemed to have been served at the time at which it was delivered personally or transmitted or, if sent by post, would be delivered in the ordinary course of post. For the avoidance of doubt, no notices may be served by e-mail except with the written consent of the other party.

 

16


23.

FORMER AGREEMENTS

 

23.1

This agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties and is in substitution for any previous letters of appointment, agreements or arrangements, whether written, oral or implied, relating to your employment or engagement, which shall be deemed to have been terminated by mutual consent as from the commencement of this agreement.

 

23.2

You hereby warrant and represent to the Employer that you will not, in entering into this agreement or carrying out your duties under this agreement, be in breach of any other terms of employment whether express or implied or any other obligation binding upon you.

 

24.

CONSTRUCTION

 

24.1

The headings in this agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect its construction.

 

24.2

Any reference to a statutory provision shall be construed as a reference to any statutory modification or re-enactment of such provision (whether before or after the date of this agreement) for the time being in force.

 

24.3

The schedules to this agreement, if any, form part of and are incorporated into this agreement.

 

24.4

No modification, variation or amendment to this agreement shall be effective unless such modification, variation or amendment is in writing (not including e-mail) and has been signed by or on behalf of both parties.

 

25.

THIRD PARTY RIGHTS

The Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 shall not apply to this agreement and no person other than you and the Employer shall have any rights under it.

 

26.

COUNTERPARTS

This agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties to it on separate counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The agreement is not effective until each party has executed at least one counterpart, and it has been received by the other party (transmission by fax or email (in a PDF format) being acceptable for this purpose) and the agreement has been dated by agreement.

 

27.

PROPER LAW

 

27.1

Any claim or matter of whatever nature arising out of or relating to this agreement or its subject matter (including, but not limited to, non-contractual disputes or claims) shall be governed by, and this agreement shall be construed in all respects in accordance with, the law of England and Wales.

 

27.2

Each party irrevocably agrees to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales over any claim or matter arising out of or relating to this agreement or its subject matter (including, but not limited to, non-contractual disputes or claims).

This agreement has been executed as a deed and is delivered and takes effect on the date stated at the beginning of it.

 

17


EXECUTED as a deed by

 

Badoo Limited

 

acting by a director, in the presence of:

  

Signature

 

/s/ Vladimir Kornilovski

 

Director

  

Print name

 

Vladimir Kornilovski

 

Witness signature /s/ Kirsten Dellis                                                                                                                                                               
Name (in BLOCK CAPITALS) KIRSTEN DELLIS                                                                                                                                    
Address Medius House, Sheraton Street, London W1F 2BH                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

 

SIGNED as a deed by Idan Wallichman

 

in the presence of:

  

Signature

 

/s/ Idan Wallichman

 

Witness signature /s/ Sara Hayes                                                                                                                                                                
Name (in BLOCK CAPITALS) SARA HAYES                                                                                                                                        
Address Medius House, 2 Sheraton Street, London                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

 

18

Exhibit 10.13

 

LOGO

 

        Idan Wallichman <[email address]>

Fwd: My terms

2 messages

         
Idan Wallichman <[email address] >       Wed, Nov 22, 2017 at 5:32 AM
To: Idan Wallichman <[email address]>      

———Forwarded message———

From: Andrey <[email address]>

Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2017 at 12:31

Subject: Re: My terms

To: Idan Wallichman <[email address]>

Confirm

On 4 Oct 2017, at 14:08, Idan Wallichman <[email address]> wrote:

Hi Andrey

Following our conversation, I would like to summarise what we agreed.

 

  1.

50,000 GBP bonus to be paid by the company on the next payroll.

 

  2.

Currently, my notice period is 6 Months.In the event of change of control in WVL shares, I would like to amend it to be 12 months notice period from the company and keep 6 months from my side

 

  3.

Vesting acceleration of my options in the event of an exit. we agree to amend the option agreement so in an exit event, my options will be fully vested the earlier between the current agreement and 12 months after the exit date. in the event of an exit and if the company decided to release me before the options are fully vested (12 months after the exit date) the remainder of the options vesting period will be fully accelerated on my departure. All the additional option vesting acceleration post the exit date will be converted to net cash with the same terms of the options which already vested prior to the exit date.

 

  4.

Salary raise- we will Increase my salary once the company recruit an HRD, CMO, and IR officer

Please confirm so I can instruct HR/Mishcon to amend the above.

Thank you

Exhibit 10.14

Worldwide Vision Limited

PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL

Idan Wallichman

[address]

_______ October 2019

 

Dear Idan

Project Buzz

This letter confirms the incentive arrangements that apply to you in connection with the proposed sale of Worldwide Vision Limited (the “Company”) to one or more funds or investment vehicles of which Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Advisors LLC and Blackstone Management Associated VII L.L.C. are respectively general partner or advisor (the “Transaction”).

You will be entitled to the following payments, subject always to the terms and conditions detailed below.

 

1.

Bonus Terms

 

  1.1

Subject to section 2.3, you will, on completion of the Transaction (“Completion”) or as part of the first payroll following Completion, receive a one-off bonus equal to your bonus entitlement set out in section 2 below (“Bonus”), provided that each of the following conditions have been met:

 

  (a)

Completion occurs;

 

  (b)

you co-operate with any reasonable requests regarding any preparations reasonably required from you in your capacity as Chief Financial Officer, for the Transaction up to and including Completion;

 

  (c)

you have not at the time of Completion:

 

  (i)

voluntarily served notice of resignation, or resigned, from your employment with the Business other than in circumstances justifying constructive dismissal; or

 

  (ii)

been served notice of termination of your employment with the Business for reasons of gross misconduct, and such termination has not subsequently been successfully overturned by you (and is not subject to further appeal by the employer) in a competent employment tribunal or court of law; and


  (d)

you have at the time of Completion forfeited any other rights to receive proceeds from the Transaction, including any rights as a holder of equity in the Group (as defined below).

 

  1.2

Your entitlement to the Bonus is in addition to your basic salary pursuant to the terms of your employment agreement and any other payments due to you arising from the valid application of any change of control provisions related to your employment.

 

  1.3

In the event that any of the conditions set out in section 1.1 are not met, you will have no entitlement to the Bonus, but in those circumstances you will keep any equity rights or other rights to receive proceeds from the Transaction which you are currently holding.

 

2.

Bonus Entitlement

 

  2.1

Your Bonus shall be determined by reference to the final consideration payable under the Transaction, and in particular the aggregate enterprise value (for clarity, including the earn out and the price payable for the Quack assets) payable for 100% of the Company shares, its subsidiaries, and their respective businesses and assets and any other minorities (“Group”) (“EV”).

 

  2.2

The amount of your Bonus will vary in accordance with the factors set out below:

 

EV

   Bonus  

If EV is $2,700,000,000

   $ 5,000,000  

If EV is $2,800,000,000

   $ 5,999,800  

If EV is $2,900,000,000

   $ 7,466,450  

If EV is $3,000,000,000

   $ 8,983,100  

For the purposes of this table:

All amounts are in US dollars.

If the amount of the EV falls between two rows in the above table, your Bonus will be pro-rated accordingly. If the EV is above $3,000,000,000, the Bonus will be $8,983,100. If the EV is below $2,700,000,000, the Bonus will be $5,000,000,000.

 

  2.3

If as part of the Transaction any part of the purchase price is be withheld on Completion (“Holdback”), including but not limited to any earn out amount and any amounts placed in escrow in connection with potential EV adjustments, litigation, or other contingent risk(s), an equivalent amount of your Bonus will be withheld and only paid to the extent of later payment of the Holdback. In case of a Holdback, the amount you will receive at Completion or as part of the first payroll following Completion, will be calculated as follows:

 

2


X = B less (B multiple by Z)

Where:

 

X =    Amount to be paid to you at Completion or as part of the first payroll following Completion
B =    Bonus entitlement as set out in section 2.2
Z =    Total aggregate Holdback divided by EV

By way of illustrative example, if the EV is $3B and the Holdback is $150m, you will receive $8,533,945 at Completion (or as part of the first payroll following Completion) and the remaining amount will be paid pro-rata applying the above calculations and depending on the amount of the Holdback as released from time to time, subject to a maximum remaining amount of $449,155. Any such amounts payable from the Holdback shall be paid within five business days of the release of the relevant portion of the Holdback or at the next payroll following such release date.

Entitlement to your portion of the Bonus withheld under a Holdback is not contingent on any condition (including those set out in section 1.1), other than that the Bonus must have become payable in accordance with the terms of this letter, and the amount of the Holdback released from time to time.

 

  2.4

If there is any dispute in connection with the quantum of or your entitlement to the Bonus, save in case of fraud, the determination of Mark Lavie shall be final and binding on the parties hereto.

 

3.

General

 

  3.1

Your Bonus will be subject to deductions for income tax, employee National Insurance contributions or other social security contributions or any other sum that the payer is required to deduct at source by law, at the applicable rates (“Tax-Related Items”). Notwithstanding the above, you agree that you shall be obliged to pay any Tax-Related Items not so deducted (other than any amount of employer NICs or apprenticeship levy if relevant), and that the payer may deduct such amounts from any payments to be made to you.

 

  3.2

No variation of this letter shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by or on behalf of all the parties to this letter and expressed to be such a variation.

 

3


  3.3

This letter and all matters (including any contractual or non-contractual obligation) arising from or connected with it are governed by, and will be construed in accordance with, English law and, without prejudice to section 2.4, the English courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle all disputes arising in connection with any such matters.

 

  3.4

Nothing contained in this letter gives you the right to continue in the employment of the Group or otherwise impede the ability of the Group to terminate your employment (subject at all times to the terms of your employment agreement).

 

  3.5

Except for sections 3.1 and 3.4, this letter does not confer any rights on any person or party under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

 

  3.6

This letter supersedes and replaces in all respects, any previous oral or written agreements or arrangements relating to the award of bonuses or incentive payments in relation to the Transaction to you and you acknowledge and agree that you shall have no right to any such bonus or incentive payment and waive any right you may have to the same. Nothing in this agreement shall exclude any liability for, or remedy in respect of, fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

  3.7

You agree that you may not assign any rights or interests in or arising out of this letter.

 

  3.8

This letter may be executed as two or more counterparts and execution by each of the parties of any one of such counterparts will constitute due execution of this letter.

Please countersign this document as evidence of receipt and agreement to the proposal outlined above.

Yours Sincerely

Signed on behalf of Worldwide Vision Limited:

 

  Andrey Ogandzhanyants      Mark Lavie
 

/s/ Andrey Ogandzhanyants

    

/s/ Mark Lavie

Date:                                              

 

4


Agreed and accepted by:  
/s/ Idan Wallichman  

 

Idan Wallichman  

Date:                                                              

 

5

Exhibit 10.15

Buzz Holdings L.P.

December 11, 2019

Idan Wallichman

 

Re:

Retention Bonus and Post-Transaction Employment Terms and Conditions

Dear Idan:

Buzz Holdings L.P. (“Parent”) has identified you as key to the business of Worldwide Vision Limited (the “Company”) and, as such, desires to encourage you to remain employed with the Company. Accordingly, in connection with the acquisition of the Company by Parent (the “Transaction”), Parent is pleased to provide you with a retention bonus opportunity. This letter agreement (this “Agreement”) sets forth the terms and conditions of the retention bonus as well as the terms and conditions of your employment following the closing of the Transaction.

1. Retention Bonus Opportunity.

a. Retention Bonus. Subject to the other terms of this Agreement, you are eligible to receive a cash bonus equal to £400,000 (the “Retention Bonus”) if you remain employed with Parent (or any affiliate or subsidiary) (your “Employer”) through the earlier of (i) the one-year anniversary of the closing of the Transaction and (ii) the date that is three months following the Transition Date (as defined below) ((i) or (ii), as applicable, the “Retention Date”) and satisfy the other requirements listed in this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the satisfactory transition of your duties as may be required pursuant to Section 2(a), as determined in the discretion of the Parent’s board of directors (“Board”).

b. Payment; Rights on Termination of Employment. The Retention Bonus payment will be made as soon as practicable, but in any event no later than 30 days, following the Retention Date (the “Payment Date”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if your employment is terminated (i) by your Employer without “Cause” (as defined below) or (ii) you terminate your employment for “Good Reason” (as defined below) ((i) or (ii), a “Qualifying Termination”), in either case, prior to the Payment Date, you will be paid the Retention Bonus within 30 days following the date of termination of employment (or, if sooner, on the Payment Date). If your employment with your Employer is terminated for any other reason before the Payment Date, you will forfeit the right to receive the Retention Bonus.

c. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

i. “Cause” means (i) you repeatedly fail to substantially perform your duties with reasonable diligence (for avoidance of doubt, failure to achieve results shall not, by itself, constitute “Cause”)), other than by reason of incapacity, or you violate any material covenant contained in any agreement with the Company, including any covenants regarding non-competition, non-solicitation, no-hire, non-disparagement and confidentiality restrictions agreed to between you and your Employer (or any affiliate thereof), (ii) you engage in an act of fraud, theft or embezzlement in connection with your employment, (iii) you engage in a material act or omission involving misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of your duties, (iv) you engage in a material act of dishonesty, (v) you unreasonably refuse to carry out the lawful instruction of Employer commensurate with your duties or (vi) you are convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude or plead guilty or nolo contendre (or make an equivalent plea) to any such crime.


ii. “Good Reason” means any of the following, without your consent: (A) your Employer requires you to relocate from the greater London metropolitan area, (B) the Company or your Employer requires you to spend more than 40% of your business time and efforts outside of the United Kingdom, (C) a reduction in your Base Salary or Target Bonus (as such terms are defined below), (D) any diminution in your role or title to one that does not constitute the role or title, as applicable, of a C-level or other senior-level executive of the Company, (E) the Company or your Employer requires that you report to someone other than either the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or Group President of the Company, or (E) a “Change of Control” (as will be defined in Parent’s governing documents) is consummated after the closing of the Transaction but prior to the Transition Date; provided, that any of (A), (B), (C), (D) or (E) will constitute Good Reason only if the Employer fails to cure such event within 30 days after receipt from you of written notice of the event constituting Good Reason; provided, further, that Good Reason will cease to exist for an event on the 60th day following the later of (x) its occurrence or (y) your knowledge thereof (unless you have given your Employer written notice prior to such date). For the avoidance of doubt, the occurrence of the Transition Date shall not, by itself, constitute Good Reason unless one or more of the events listed in (A) through (E) of this Section 1(c)(ii) also occurs.

iii. “Transition Date” means the earlier to occur of (A) the date, if any, a new Chief Financial Officer is hired by your Employer and (B) the date, if any, on which you experience a material change in title, duties and responsibilities, measured in the aggregate.

2. Post-Transaction Employment Terms.

a. Roles and Responsibilities. Following the closing of the Transaction, you will (i) continue to carry out your job functions and responsibilities as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, unless otherwise determined by the Board or the Transition Date occurs, and (ii) perform other responsibilities and have other duties, in each case, as reasonably required by Parent, which may include, without limitation, duties as may be required for the orderly transition of the role of Chief Financial Officer on and following the Transition Date. For the avoidance of doubt, you acknowledge and agree that any change in your title, reporting relationship, duties and responsibilities in connection with the Transaction or transition of your role will not constitute “good reason” or other similar concept under this Agreement or any other employment-related agreements between you and the Company or any affiliate, subject to Section 1(c)(ii).

b. Base Salary and Bonus Opportunity. Your (i) annual base salary following the closing of the Transaction will be £300,000 per year (“Base Salary”), payable pursuant to your Employer’s regular payroll practice and (ii) annual target bonus opportunity will be 30% of your Base Salary, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable bonus plan or program, in each case, prorated for the period ending on the Retention Date.

3. General Provisions.

a. Non-Solicitation. As you know, Andrey Ogandzhanyants and others have agreed to certain restrictions on their ability to solicit or hire you and other employees of the Company. At such time as your employment with the Company ceases, Parent will consider in good faith any request you make to accept employment with Mr. Ogandzhanyants (or to an entity affiliated with Mr. Ogandzhanyants) prior to the expiration of those restrictions.

b. Confidentiality. You hereby agree that you will keep the terms of this Agreement confidential, and will not, except as required by law, disclose such terms to any person other than your immediate family or professional advisers (who also must keep the terms of this Agreement confidential).

c. Withholding. Subject to applicable law, Parent, the Company or its applicable subsidiary or affiliate may deduct and withhold from any amount payable under this Agreement such federal, state, local, foreign or other taxes as are required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

d. Entire Agreement. This Agreement is the complete agreement of the parties concerning the subject matter hereof and supersedes any other agreements, representations or understandings between you and Parent relating to the subject matter hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, this Agreement does not

 

2


replace any benefits or compensation you may be entitled to receive under any written agreement with the Company or your Employer or Company or Employer policy regarding benefits or compensation that are unrelated to the Transaction, including the notice period applicable upon a termination of your employment by the Company following the Transaction, as set forth in your written employment agreement with the Company.1 You acknowledge and agree that, in signing this Agreement, you have not relied, are not relying and disavow reliance on any prior oral or written representations or promises by Parent or the Company, other than those set forth herein, with regard to the subject matter, basis or effect of this Agreement.

e. Assignment; Amendment. This Agreement is assignable by Parent and may not be altered or modified other than in a writing signed by you and an authorized representative of Parent. This Agreement does not alter or in any way modify your employment relationship with your Employer or create any rights to continued employment.

f. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

g. Termination. In the event the Transaction is terminated without the closing of the Transaction having occurred, this Agreement shall automatically terminate and be null and void ab initio.

h. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts (including by facsimile or PDF), each of which will be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

[Signature page follows]

 

1 

Note: Written confirmation relating to the notice period provided.

 

3


Please contact me should you have any questions.

Sincerely,

/s/ Sachin Bavishi________

Name: Sachin Bavishi

Title:   Authorized Person

[Signature page to Idan Wallichman Letter Agreement]


ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED:

 

/s/ Idan Wallichman

      December 11, 2019
Idan Wallichman       Date

[Signature page to Idan Wallichman Letter Agreement]

Exhibit 10.16

BADOO LIMITED

July 2, 2020

Idan Wallichman

 

Re:

Bonus Award Letter

Dear Idan,

As you know, following the acquisition of the parent company of Badoo Limited (“Badoo”) by Buzz Holdings L.P. (“Parent”), we are implementing a new Employee Incentive Plan (the “EIP”) to better align our company and everyone’s continued efforts. We are excited for Badoo’s new chapter and appreciate your continued leadership and efforts.

In connection with the integration, we are phasing out the Badoo Limited LTIP (together with any award letter(s) between you and Badoo, the “Badoo LTIP”), and Badoo is pleased to offer you the opportunity to earn a bonus equal to a total of £86,729.00 (the “Bonus Award”), which represents certain amounts accrued in respect of the Badoo LTIP, as further described below. This Bonus Award letter (the “Award Letter”) sets forth the terms and conditions of your Bonus Award.

1. Bonus Award.

a. Subject to the terms of the Agreement, Badoo (or an affiliate) will pay to you the Bonus Award, which shall vest and become payable as follows, in each case, subject to your continued employment with Badoo (or one of its affiliates) through the applicable Vesting Date: (i) 50% of the Bonus Award (£43,364.50) will vest and become payable on November 28, 2020 and (ii) the remaining 50% of the Bonus Award (£43,364.50) will vest and become payable on May 28, 2021 (each such date, a “Vesting Date”); provided, that if a Vesting Date falls on a weekend or a bank holiday, the Vesting Date shall instead be the closest business day before the applicable Vesting Date set forth above.

b. Payment of the applicable portion of the Bonus Award will be made to you on, or within 30 days following, the Vesting Date.

2. Acknowledgement and Full Satisfaction. You acknowledge and agree that:

a. Other than Milestone 1 (for which you acknowledge and agree you have previously received full payment earned with respect thereto), no additional Milestone Events (as defined in the Badoo LTIP) have been satisfied, or will be able to be, satisfied, and no additional amounts have been earned by you under the Badoo LTIP;

b. Your opportunity to earn the Bonus Award is in replacement of any rights you have, or may be deemed to have, to earn any future, additional payments under the Badoo LTIP; and

c. You have no further interest in the Badoo LTIP, your award under the Badoo LTIP will be canceled, and you shall have no ability or entitlement to earn or vest in any unvested or unearned amounts under the Badoo LTIP, and you will be entitled to no other or further compensation, remuneration, payments or benefits of any kind in connection with the Badoo LTIP.


3. Release.

In consideration for the Bonus Award, to which you acknowledge you would otherwise not be entitled, you voluntarily release and forever discharge the Company, their affiliated and related entities, their respective predecessors, successors and assigns, their respective employee benefit plans and fiduciaries of such plans, and the current and former officers, directors, shareholders (and any person or entity that, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns more than 10% of the capital stock of the Company), employees, attorneys, accountants and agents of each of the foregoing in their official and personal capacities (collectively referred to as the “Releasees”) generally from all claims, demands, debts, damages and liabilities of every name and nature, known or unknown (“Claims”) that, as of the date when you sign this Agreement, you have, ever had, now claim to have or ever claimed to have had against any or all of the Releasees in respect of the Badoo LTIP and any related agreements or understandings. You agree not to accept damages of any nature, other equitable or legal remedies for your own benefit or attorney’s fees or costs from any of the Releasees with respect to any Claim released by this Agreement.

4. EIP Participation. The terms and conditions of your participation in the EIP has been, or will be, circulated to you under separate cover.

5. Miscellaneous.

a. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such federal, national, state, local and non-U.S. taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

b. This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with, and governed by, English law, without regard to conflict of law principles.

c. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and the Company and supersedes any previous agreements or understandings between you and the Company, whether written or oral, formal or informal, including, without limitation, the Badoo LTIP.

Please acknowledge and agree to the Bonus Amount and the terms in this letter, including, but not limited to, the Release set forth in Section 3, by signing on the line below provided for your signature.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

2


Sincerely,

/s/ Duncan Farrall____________

By: Duncan Farrall

Title: Authorized Signatory

Acknowledged and Accepted:

/s/ Idan Wallichman__________

Idan Wallichman

Date: July 29, 2020

Exhibit 10.17

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of January 29, 2020,

among

BUZZ BIDCO L.L.C.,

as Holdings,

BUZZ MERGER SUB LTD.,

as the Lead Borrower,

BUZZ FINCO L.L.C.,

as the Other Borrower Party,

THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swing Line Lender,

and

THE LENDERS AND L/C ISSUERS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,

BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

HSBC BANK PLC,

RBC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC1

and

SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners

BLACKSTONE HOLDINGS FINANCE CO. L.L.C.,

as Co-Manager

 

 

 

 

1 

RBC Capital Markets is a brand name for the capital markets business of Royal Bank of Canada and its affiliates.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     PAGE  
ARTICLE 1   
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS   

Section 1.01.

  Defined Terms      1  

Section 1.02.

  Other Interpretive Provisions      86  

Section 1.03.

  Accounting Terms      90  

Section 1.04.

  Rounding      91  

Section 1.05.

  References to Agreements, Laws, Etc      91  

Section 1.06.

  Times of Day      91  

Section 1.07.

  Timing of Payment or Performance      91  

Section 1.08.

  Cumulative Credit Transactions      91  

Section 1.09.

  Additional Approved Currencies      91  
ARTICLE 2   
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS   

Section 2.01.

  The Loans      92  

Section 2.02.

  Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans      93  

Section 2.03.

  Letters of Credit      94  

Section 2.04.

  Swing Line Loans      106  

Section 2.05.

  Prepayments      110  

Section 2.06.

  Termination or Reduction of Commitments      125  

Section 2.07.

  Repayment of Loans      126  

Section 2.08.

  Interest      127  

Section 2.09.

  Fees      127  

Section 2.10.

  Computation of Interest and Fees      128  

Section 2.11.

  Evidence of Indebtedness      128  

Section 2.12.

  Payments Generally      129  

Section 2.13.

  Sharing of Payments      131  

Section 2.14.

  Incremental Credit Extensions      132  

Section 2.15.

  Refinancing Amendments      140  

Section 2.16.

  Extension of Term Loans; Extension of Revolving Credit Loans      141  

Section 2.17.

  Defaulting Lenders      145  
ARTICLE 3   
TAXES, INCREASED COSTS PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY   

Section 3.01.

  Taxes      147  

Section 3.02.

  Illegality      151  

Section 3.03.

  Inability to Determine Rates      152  

Section 3.04.

  Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans      152  

Section 3.05.

  Funding Losses      154  

Section 3.06.

  Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation      154  

Section 3.07.

  Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances      155  

Section 3.08.

  Survival      157  

 

i


ARTICLE 4       
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS       

Section 4.01.

  Conditions to Initial Credit Extension      157  

Section 4.02.

  Conditions to All Credit Extensions      160  
ARTICLE 5       
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES       

Section 5.01.

  Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws      161  

Section 5.02.

  Authorization; No Contravention      161  

Section 5.03.

  Governmental Authorization; Other Consents      161  

Section 5.04.

  Execution, Delivery and Enforceability      162  

Section 5.05.

  Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect      162  

Section 5.06.

  Litigation      163  

Section 5.07.

  Ownership of Property; Liens; Real Property      163  

Section 5.08.

  Environmental Matters      163  

Section 5.09.

  Taxes      164  

Section 5.10.

  ERISA Compliance      164  

Section 5.11.

  Subsidiaries; Equity Interests      165  

Section 5.12.

  Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act      165  

Section 5.13.

  Disclosure      165  

Section 5.14.

  Labor Matters      165  

Section 5.15.

  Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc      166  

Section 5.16.

  Solvency      166  

Section 5.17.

  Subordination of Junior Financing      166  

Section 5.18.

  OFAC; USA PATRIOT Act; FCPA      166  

Section 5.19.

  Security Documents      167  
ARTICLE 6       
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS       

Section 6.01.

  Financial Statements      168  

Section 6.02.

  Certificates; Other Information      170  

Section 6.03.

  Notices      172  

Section 6.04.

  Taxes      172  

Section 6.05.

  Preservation of Existence, Etc.      173  

Section 6.06.

  Maintenance of Properties      173  

Section 6.07.

  Maintenance of Insurance      173  

Section 6.08.

  Compliance with Laws      174  

Section 6.09.

  Books and Records      174  

Section 6.10.

  Inspection Rights      174  

Section 6.11.

  Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors      175  

Section 6.12.

  Compliance with Environmental Laws      177  

 

ii


Section 6.13.

  Further Assurances      177  

Section 6.14.

  Designation of Subsidiaries      177  

Section 6.15.

  Maintenance of Ratings      178  

Section 6.16.

  Post-Closing Covenants      178  

Section 6.17.

  Change in Nature of Business      178  

Section 6.18.

  Use of Proceeds      178  

Section 6.19.

  Accounting Changes      178  
ARTICLE 7       
NEGATIVE COVENANTS       

Section 7.01.

  Liens      178  

Section 7.02.

  Investments      184  

Section 7.03.

  Indebtedness      188  

Section 7.04.

  Fundamental Changes      195  

Section 7.05.

  Dispositions      197  

Section 7.06.

  Restricted Payments      200  

Section 7.07.

  Transactions with Affiliates      204  

Section 7.08.

  Burdensome Agreements      206  

Section 7.09.

  Financial Covenant      207  

Section 7.10.

  Prepayments, Etc. of Indebtedness      207  

Section 7.11.

  Permitted Activities      208  
ARTICLE 8       
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES       

Section 8.01.

  Events of Default      209  

Section 8.02.

  Remedies Upon Event of Default      212  

Section 8.03.

  Exclusion of Immaterial Subsidiaries      212  

Section 8.04.

  Application of Funds      213  

Section 8.05.

  Right to Cure      214  
ARTICLE 9       
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND OTHER AGENTS       

Section 9.01.

  Appointment and Authorization of Agents      215  

Section 9.02.

  Delegation of Duties      216  

Section 9.03.

  Liability of Agents      216  

Section 9.04.

  Reliance by Agents      217  

Section 9.05.

  Notice of Default      218  

Section 9.06.

  Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Agents      218  

Section 9.07.

  Indemnification of Agents      218  

Section 9.08.

  Agents in Their Individual Capacities      219  

Section 9.09.

  Successor Agents      219  

Section 9.10.

  Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim      221  

Section 9.11.

  Collateral and Guaranty Matters      222  

Section 9.12.

  Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers      224  

Section 9.13.

  Withholding Tax Indemnity      224  

Section 9.14.

  Appointment of Supplemental Agents      225  

Section 9.15.

  Certain ERISA Matters      226  

 

iii


ARTICLE 10       
MISCELLANEOUS       

Section 10.01.

  Amendments, Etc.      227  

Section 10.02.

  Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies      231  

Section 10.03.

  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies      232  

Section 10.04.

  Attorney Costs and Expenses      233  

Section 10.05.

  Indemnification by the Borrowers      233  

Section 10.06.

  Payments Set Aside      235  

Section 10.07.

  Successors and Assigns      235  

Section 10.08.

  Confidentiality      245  

Section 10.09.

  Setoff      247  

Section 10.10.

  Interest Rate Limitation      248  

Section 10.11.

  Counterparts      248  

Section 10.12.

  Integration; Termination      248  

Section 10.13.

  Survival of Representations and Warranties      248  

Section 10.14.

  Severability      249  

Section 10.15.

  GOVERNING LAW, PROCESS AGENT      249  

Section 10.16.

  WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY      250  

Section 10.17.

  Binding Effect      250  

Section 10.18.

  USA PATRIOT Act      251  

Section 10.19.

  No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      251  

Section 10.20.

  Electronic Execution of Assignments      252  

Section 10.21.

  Effect of Certain Inaccuracies      252  

Section 10.22.

  Judgment Currency      252  

Section 10.23.

  Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions      253  

Section 10.24.

  Cashless Rollovers      253  

Section 10.25.

  Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs.      254  

Section 10.26.

  Lead Borrower.      254  
ARTICLE 11       
GUARANTY       

Section 11.01.

  The Guaranty      255  

Section 11.02.

  Obligations Unconditional      255  

Section 11.03.

  Reinstatement      256  

Section 11.04.

  Subrogation; Subordination      257  

Section 11.05.

  Remedies      257  

Section 11.06.

  Instrument for the Payment of Money      257  

Section 11.07.

  Continuing Guaranty      257  

Section 11.08.

  General Limitation on Guarantee Obligations      257  

Section 11.09.

  Information      257  

Section 11.10.

  Release of Guarantors      258  

Section 11.11.

  Right of Contribution      258  

Section 11.12.

  Cross-Guaranty      258  

 

iv


SCHEDULES

 

1.01A

  Commitments

1.01B

  Collateral Documents

1.01C

  Unrestricted Subsidiaries

5.05

  Certain Liabilities

5.06

  Litigation

5.07

  Ownership of Property

5.09

  Taxes

5.11

  Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments

6.16

  Post-Closing Covenants

7.01(b)

  Existing Liens

7.02(f)

  Existing Investments

7.03(b)

  Existing Indebtedness

7.05(f)

  Dispositions

7.07

  Transactions with Affiliates

7.08

  Certain Contractual Obligations

10.02

  Administrative Agent’s Office

10.02(a)

  Notice Information

11

  Agreed Security Principles

EXHIBITS

Form of

 

A

  Committed Loan Notice

B

  Letter of Credit Issuance Request

C

  Swing Line Loan Notice

D-1

  Term Note

D-2

  Revolving Credit Note

D-3

  Swing Line Note

E-1

  Compliance Certificate

E-2

  Solvency Certificate

F

  Assignment and Assumption

G

  Security Agreement

H

  Perfection Certificate

I

  Intercompany Note

J-1

  First Lien Intercreditor Agreement

J-2

  Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement

K

  Administrative Questionnaire

L-1

  Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption

L-2

  Affiliated Lender Notice

L-3

  Acceptance and Prepayment Notice

L-4

  Discount Range Prepayment Notice

L-5

  Discount Range Prepayment Offer

 

v


L-6

  Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice

L-7

  Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer

L-8

  Specified Discount Prepayment Notice

L-9

  Specified Discount Prepayment Response

M

  United States Tax Compliance Certificate

 

vi


CREDIT AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AGREEMENT (as the same may be amended, modified, refinanced and/or restated from time to time, this “Agreement”) is entered into as of January 29, 2020, among Buzz Merger Sub Ltd., an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of Bermuda (the “Lead Borrower”), Buzz Finco L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the “Other Borrower Party” hereunder), Buzz BidCo L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”), the other Guarantors (such term and any other capitalized terms used but not defined in this introductory paragraph and the Preliminary Statements below are defined in Section 1.01 below) party hereto from time to time, CITIBANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swing Line Lender, each L/C Issuer and each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”).

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

Pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 8, 2019 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, and including all schedules and exhibits thereto, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Buzz Holdings L.P., the Lead Borrower, Worldwide Vision Limited (the “Company”) and Buzz SR Limited, in its capacity as the Seller Representative, the Company will merge with and into the Lead Borrower (the “Acquisition”) with the Lead Borrower as the surviving company.

The Borrowers have requested that the applicable Lenders extend credit to the Borrowers in the form of (i) the Initial Term Loans on the Closing Date in an initial aggregate principal amount of $575,000,000 and (ii) the Revolving Credit Facility in an initial aggregate principal amount of $50,000,000.

The proceeds of the Initial Term Loans, together with the proceeds of the Equity Investment will be used by the Borrowers to directly or indirectly consummate the Transactions, to pay the costs and expenses related to the Transactions and to fund cash to the Lead Borrower’s balance sheet.

The proceeds of the Revolving Credit Facility will also be used by the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries to replace, backstop or cash collateralize existing Letters of Credit, for working capital and general corporate purposes (including permitted acquisitions) subject to the terms set forth herein.

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

Section 1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement (including in the Preliminary Statements hereto), the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

Acceptable Discount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(2).


Acceptable Prepayment Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(3).

Acceptance and Prepayment Notice” means a notice of the Borrower’s acceptance of the Acceptable Discount in substantially the form of Exhibit L-3.

Acceptance Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(2).

Accounting Change” means any change in accounting principles required by the promulgation of any rule, regulation, pronouncement or opinion by the Financial Accounting Standards Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or, if applicable, the SEC.

Acquired EBITDA” means, with respect to any Acquired Entity or Business or any Converted Restricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary (determined as if references to the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA were references to such Acquired Entity or Business and its Subsidiaries or to such Converted Restricted Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries), as applicable, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable.

Acquired Entity or Business” has the meaning set forth in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA.”

Acquisition” has the meaning set forth in the Preliminary Statements to this Agreement.

Additional Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(c).

Additional Refinancing Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(a).

Administrative Agent” means Citi, in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or as applicable, such Affiliates thereof as Citi shall from time to time designate for the purpose of performing its obligations hereunder in such capacity, or any successor administrative agent.

Administrative Agents Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Lead Borrower and the Lenders.

Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in the form of Exhibit K or such other form as may be supplied from time to time by the Administrative Agent.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any 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. “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.

 

2


Affiliated Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that is a direct or indirect holding company of Holdings or an Investor (including portfolio companies of the Investors notwithstanding the exclusion in the definition of “Investors”) (other than Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and other than any Debt Fund Affiliate) or a Non-Debt Fund Affiliate of an Investor at such time.

Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(l)(i).

Affiliated Lender Cap” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(l)(iii).

Affiliated Lender Notice” means the notice substantially in the form of Exhibit L-2.

Agency Fee Letter” means that certain Administrative Agency Fee Letter, dated as of January 29, 2020, by and among the Borrowers and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.

Agent-Related Persons” means the Agents, together with their respective Affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees, partners, agents, advisors, attorneys-in-fact and other representatives of such Persons and Affiliates.

Agents” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Supplemental Agents (if any).

Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.

Agreed Borrower Jurisdiction” means each of Bermuda and the United States.

Agreed Security Jurisdiction” means each of Bermuda, England and Wales and the United States.

Agreed Security Principles” means the agreed guarantee and security principles set forth on Schedule 11.

Agreement” means this Credit Agreement, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

All-In Yield” means, as to any Indebtedness, the yield thereof incurred or payable by the applicable borrower generally to all Lenders of such Indebtedness in an amount equal to the sum of (a) the applicable margin; (b) OID and upfront fees; provided that (i) OID and upfront fees shall be equated to interest rate assuming a 4-year life to maturity on a straight line basis (or, if less, the stated life to maturity at the time of incurrence of the applicable Indebtedness); and (ii) “All-In Yield” shall not include amendment fees, arrangement fees, structuring fees, commitment fees, underwriting fees and any similar fees payable to any lead arranger (or its affiliates) in connection with the commitment or syndication of such Indebtedness, consent fees

 

3


paid to consenting Lenders, ticking fees on undrawn commitments and any other fees not paid or payable generally to all Lenders in the primary syndication of such Indebtedness and (c) the interest rate (excluding the applicable margin) after giving effect to any Eurocurrency Rate or Base Rate floor; provided, that if any Incremental Term Loans (or any other applicable Indebtedness) include a Eurocurrency Rate or Base Rate floor that is greater than the Eurocurrency Rate or Base Rate floor applicable to any existing Class of Term Loans, such differential between interest rate floors shall be included in the calculation of All-In Yield, but only to the extent an increase in the Eurocurrency Rate or Base Rate floor applicable to the existing Term Loans would cause an increase in the interest rate then in effect thereunder, and in such case the Eurocurrency Rate and Base Rate floors (but not the Applicable Rate, unless the Lead Borrower otherwise elects in its sole discretion) applicable to the existing Term Loans shall be increased to the extent of such differential between interest rate floors.

Applicable Asset Sale Percentage” means, (a) 100.0% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available is greater than 3.25 to 1.00, (b) 50.0% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available is equal to or less than 3.25 to 1.00 and greater than 2.75 to 1.00 and (c) 0.0% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available is equal to or less than 2.75 to 1.00, in each case, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

Applicable Discount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(2).

Applicable ECF Percentage” means, for any fiscal year, (a) 50.0% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such fiscal year is greater than 3.25 to 1.00, (b) 25.0% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such fiscal year is equal to or less than 3.25 to 1.00 and greater than 2.75 to 1.00 and (c) 0.0% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such fiscal year is equal to or less than 2.75 to 1.00, in each case, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

Applicable Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.21.

Applicable Proceeds” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b)(ii).

Applicable Rate” means:

(a) with respect to the Initial Term Loans:

(i) a percentage per annum equal to (x) for Eurocurrency Rate Loans, 2.75% and (y) for Base Rate Loans, 1.75%; and

and

(b) with respect to Revolving Credit Loans:

 

4


(i) until delivery of financial statements for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2020 pursuant to Section 6.01, a percentage per annum equal to: (A) for Eurocurrency Rate Loans and Letter of Credit fees, 2.75% and (B) for Base Rate Loans, 1.75%; and

(ii) at any time upon or after the delivery of the financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01 for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2020, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a):

 

Applicable Rate

Pricing
Level

  

Consolidated First

Lien Net Leverage

Ratio

   Eurocurrency Rate
for Revolving
Credit
Loans and Letter of
Credit Fees
  Base Rate for
Revolving Credit
Loans
1    > 3.25 to 1.00    2.75%   1.75%
2   

£ 3.25 to 1.00

and

> 2.75 to 1.00

   2.50%   1.50%
3    £ 2.75 to 1.00    2.25%   1.25%

Notwithstanding the foregoing, after the consummation of a Qualified IPO (as certified by the Lead Borrower to the Administrative Agent), the Applicable Rate at each of the categories above in this clause (b) shall automatically be reduced further by 0.25%.

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a); provided that at the option of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, the highest pricing level (e.g., Pricing Level 1) shall apply as of (x) the first Business Day after the date on which a Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered but was not delivered, and shall continue to so apply to and including the date on which such Compliance Certificate is so delivered (and thereafter the pricing level otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply) and (y) as of the first Business Day after an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) shall have occurred and be continuing, and shall continue to so apply to but excluding the date on which such Event of Default is cured or waived (and thereafter the pricing level otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply).

Applicable Time” means, with respect to any Borrowings and payments in any Approved Foreign Currency, the local time in the place of settlement for such Approved Foreign Currency as shall be reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to be necessary for timely settlement on the relevant date in accordance with normal banking procedures in the place of payment. In advance of the initial

 

5


borrowing of a Revolving Credit Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit, in each case, in any Approved Foreign Currency, the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as applicable, shall provide the Lead Borrower and Revolving Credit Lenders with written notice of the Applicable Time for any borrowings and payments in such Approved Foreign Currency. In the event no such notice is delivered by the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers and any Revolving Credit Lender shall be required to make any borrowings and payments in accordance with the times specified herein for borrowings and payments in Dollars.

Appropriate Lender” means, at any time, (a) with respect to Loans of any Class, the Lenders of such Class, (b) with respect to Letters of Credit, (i) the relevant L/C Issuer (if applicable) and (ii) the Revolving Credit Lenders and (c) with respect to the Swing Line Facility, (i) the Swing Line Lender and (ii) if any Swing Line Loans are outstanding pursuant to Section 2.04(a), the Revolving Credit Lenders.

Approved Counterparty” means (i) any Agent, Lender or any Affiliate of an Agent or Lender at the time it entered into a Swap Contract or a Treasury Services Agreement, as applicable, in its capacity as a party thereto, notwithstanding whether such Approved Counterparty may cease to be an Agent, Lender or an Affiliate of an Agent or Lender thereafter and (ii) any other Person from time to time approved in writing by the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned).

Approved Currency” means each of (i) Dollars and (ii) any other currency that is approved in accordance with Section 1.09.

Approved Foreign Currency” means any Approved Currency other than Dollars.

Approved Fund” means, with respect to any Lender, any Fund that is administered, advised or managed by (a) such Lender, (b) an Affiliate of such Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers, advises or manages such Lender.

Assignees” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(b).

Assignment and Assumption” means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto.

Assignment Taxes” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(b).

Attorney Costs” means and includes the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and other charges of any law firm or other external legal counsel.

Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, in respect of any Financing Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP.

Auction Agent” means (a) the Administrative Agent or (b) any other financial institution or advisor employed by the Lead Borrower (whether or not an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent) to act as an arranger in connection with any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v); provided that the Lead Borrower shall not designate

 

6


the Administrative Agent as the Auction Agent without the written consent of the Administrative Agent (it being understood that the Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to agree to act as the Auction Agent); provided, further, that neither the Borrowers nor any of their Affiliates may act as the Auction Agent.

Audited Financial Statements” means the audited statements of profit or loss, other comprehensive income, financial position, changes in equity, and cash flows (together with any notes thereto) of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2018, December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

Auto-Extension Letter of Credit” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(b)(iii).

Available Incremental Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(d)(v).

Available RP Capacity Amount” means (i) the amount of Restricted Payments that may be made at the time of determination pursuant to Sections 7.06(d), (g), (h), (l) and (p) minus (ii) the sum of the amount of the Available RP Capacity Amount utilized by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to (A) make Restricted Payments in reliance on Sections 7.06 (g), (h), (l) or (p), (B) make Investments pursuant to Section 7.02(n), (C) incur Indebtedness pursuant to Section 7.03(y) and (D) make prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of Junior Financings prior to their scheduled maturity utilizing the Available RP Capacity Amount pursuant to Section 7.10 plus (iii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness prepaid prior to or substantially concurrently at such time, solely to the extent such Indebtedness (A) was secured by Liens pursuant to Section 7.01(bb) or (B) was incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(y) and not secured pursuant to Section 7.01(bb) (it being understood that the amount under this clause (iii) shall only be available for use under Sections 7.01(bb) and/or 7.03(y), as applicable).

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.

Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 12 of 1%, (b) the Prime Rate in effect for such day and (c) the Eurocurrency Rate on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) for deposits in Dollars for a one-month Interest Period plus 1.00%; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, the Eurocurrency Rate for any day shall be the LIBO Screen Rate (or any applicable successor page or such other commercially available published source providing such quotations as may be approved by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower from time to time), at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to such day for deposits in Dollars with a term of one month commencing on such day. If the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that it is unable to ascertain the Federal Funds Effective Rate for any

 

7


reason, including the inability or failure of the Administrative Agent to obtain sufficient quotations in accordance with the terms of the definition thereof, the Base Rate shall be determined without regard to clause (a) of the preceding sentence until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Eurocurrency Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Eurocurrency Rate, respectively. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Base Rate will be deemed to be zero if the Base Rate calculated pursuant to the foregoing provisions would otherwise be less than zero.

Base Rate Loan” means a Loan denominated in Dollars that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 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 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 any Person means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such Person.

Blackstone Funds” means, individually or collectively, any investment fund, co-investment vehicles and/or other similar vehicles or accounts, in each case managed or advised by an Affiliate of The Blackstone Group Inc., or any of their respective successors.

Bona Fide Debt Fund” means any fund or investment vehicle that is primarily engaged in the making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and other similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course.

Borrower Materials” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02.

Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment” means the offer by any Company Party to make a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a Specified Discount to par pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(B).

Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offers” means the solicitation by any Company Party of offers for, and the corresponding acceptance by a Lender of, a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a specified range of discounts to par pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(C).

 

8


Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers” means the solicitation by any Company Party of offers for, and the subsequent acceptance, if any, by a Lender of, a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a discount to par pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(D).

Borrowers” means, collectively, the Lead Borrower and the Other Borrower Party; a “Borrower” shall refer to either the Lead Borrower or the Other Borrower Party.

Borrowing” means a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a Swing Line Borrowing or a Term Borrowing of a particular Class, as the context may require.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state of New York or the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located and if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means a day on which dealings in deposits in the applicable Approved Currency are conducted by and between banks in the applicable London interbank market.

Business Expansion” mean (a) each facility which is either a new facility, branch or office or an expansion, relocation, remodeling or substantial modernization of an existing facility, branch or office owned by the Lead Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) each creation or expansion into new markets (in one or a series of related transactions) of a business unit to the extent such business unit commences operations or each expansion (in one or a series of related transactions) of business into a new market.

Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities and including in all events all amounts expended or capitalized under Financing Leases) by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be included as capital expenditures on the consolidated statement of cash flows of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Capitalized Software Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by the Lead Borrower 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 the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Cash Collateral” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(g).

Cash Collateral Account” means a blocked account at a commercial bank specified by the Administrative Agent in the name of the Administrative Agent and under the sole dominion and control of the Administrative Agent, and otherwise established in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Cash Collateralize” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(g).

 

9


Cash Equivalents” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary:

(1) Dollars;

(2) (a) cash in such local currencies held by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from time to time in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, (b) Canadian Dollars or (c) Sterling, euros or any national currency of any participating member state of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU);

(3) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof the securities of which are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of such government with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(4) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition, demand deposits, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding 24 months and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any domestic or foreign commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $250,000,000 in the case of U.S. banks and $100,000,000 (or the dollar equivalent thereof in foreign currencies as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;

(5) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (3), (4), (7) and (8) entered into with any financial institution or recognized securities dealer meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;

(6) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes rated at least P-2 by Moody’s, at least A-2 by S&P or at least F-2 by Fitch (or, if at any time none of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical Rating Agency) and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof;

(7) marketable short-term money market and similar funds having a rating of at least P-2, A-2 or F-2 from Moody’s, S&P or Fitch, respectively (or, if at any time none of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical Rating Agency);

(8) readily marketable direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally guaranteed by, any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, in each case having an investment grade rating from either Moody’s, S&P or Fitch (or, if at any time none of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical Rating Agency) with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(9) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any foreign government or any political subdivision or public instrumentality thereof, in each case having an investment grade rating from either Moody’s, S&P or Fitch (or, if at any time none of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical Rating Agency) with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

 

10


(10) Investments with average maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated A (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P, A-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s or F-2 by Fitch (or, if at any time none of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical Rating Agency);

(11) securities with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any financial institution or recognized securities dealer meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;

(12) Indebtedness or preferred stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P, “A-2” or higher from Moody’s or “F-2” or higher from Fitch with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition; and

(13) investment funds investing at least 90% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (12) above.

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 (8) and clauses (10), (11), (12) and (13) above of foreign obligors, which Investments or obligors (or the parents of such obligors) have ratings described in such clauses or equivalent ratings from comparable foreign rating agencies and (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 (13) and in this paragraph.

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

Casualty Event” means any event that gives rise to the receipt by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of any equipment, fixed assets or Real Property to replace or repair such equipment, fixed assets or Real Property.

CERCLA” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as subsequently amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

11


CFC” means a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Code in which the Borrower or any U.S. person (within the meaning of Section 957(c) of the Code) owns (within the meaning of 958(a) of the Code) 10% or more of the shares therein, as measured by either voting power or value.

Change of Control” shall be deemed to occur if:

(a) at any time prior to a Qualified IPO, the Permitted Holders shall fail to own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Closing Date), directly or indirectly, in the aggregate Equity Interests representing at least a majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings, other than in connection with any transaction or series of transactions in which Holdings shall become the wholly owned Subsidiary of a Holding Company;

(b) at any time after a Qualified IPO, any person or “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the Closing Date), other than (i) any combination of the Investors and/or the Permitted Holders or (ii) any “group” including any Permitted Holders (provided that Permitted Holders beneficially own more than 50% of all voting interests beneficially owned by such “group”), shall have acquired beneficial ownership of more than 50%, on a fully diluted basis, of the voting interest in Holdings’ Equity Interests, in each case, other than in connection with any transaction or series of transactions in which Holdings shall become the wholly owned Subsidiary of a Holding Company;

(c) a “change of control” (or similar event) shall occur under any Indebtedness for borrowed money permitted under Section 7.03 with an outstanding principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount or any Permitted Refinancing in respect of any of the foregoing with an outstanding principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

(d) Holdings shall cease to own (i) directly 100% of the Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower and (ii) directly or indirectly 100% of the Equity Interests of the Other Borrower Party.

Notwithstanding the preceding or any provision of Section 13d-3 or 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, (i) a Person or group shall not be deemed to beneficially own Equity Interests 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 Equity Interests in connection with the transactions contemplated by such agreement, (ii) if any group (other than a Permitted Holder) includes one or more Permitted Holders, the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of any Borrower owned, directly or indirectly, by any Permitted Holders that are part of such group shall not be treated as being beneficially owned by such group or any other member of such group for purposes of determining whether a Change of Control has occurred and (iii) a Person or group will not be deemed to beneficially own the Equity Interests of another Person as a result of its ownership of the Equity Interests 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 Equity Interests 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.

 

12


Citi” means Citibank, N.A.

City Code” has the definition in Section 1.02(h).

Class” (a) when used with respect to any Lender, refers to whether such Lender has a Loan or Commitment with respect to a particular Class of Loans or Commitments, (b) when used with respect to Commitments, refers to whether such Commitments are Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Revolving Credit Commitments of a given Extension Series, Extended Term Loans of a given Extension Series, Revolving Commitment Increases, Other Revolving Credit Commitments, Initial Term Commitments, Incremental Term Commitments or Refinancing Term Commitments of a given Refinancing Series and (c) when used with respect to Loans or a Borrowing, refers to whether such Loans, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Credit Loans, Revolving Credit Loans under Revolving Commitment Increases, Revolving Credit Loans under Extended Revolving Credit Commitments of a given Extension Series, Revolving Credit Loans under Other Revolving Credit Commitments, Initial Term Loans, Incremental Term Loans, Refinancing Term Loans of a given Refinancing Series or Extended Term Loans of a given Extension Series. Revolving Credit Commitments, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Commitments, Initial Term Commitments, Incremental Term Commitments or Refinancing Term Commitments (and in each case, the Loans made pursuant to such Commitments) that have different terms and conditions shall be construed to be in different Classes. Commitments (and, in each case, the Loans made pursuant to such Commitments) that have the same terms and conditions shall be construed to be in the same Class. There shall be no more than an aggregate of four Classes of revolving credit facilities and eight Classes of term loan facilities under this Agreement at any time outstanding under this Agreement.

Closing Date” means January 29, 2020, the first date on which all conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 4.01.

Closing Fees” means those fees required to be paid on the Closing Date pursuant to the Fee Letter.

Co-Manager” means Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C. and certain of its Affiliates, in its capacity as a co-manager under this Agreement.

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

Collateral” means (i) the “Collateral” as defined in the Security Agreement, (ii) all the “Collateral” or “Pledged Assets” (or similar term) as defined in any other Collateral Document, (iii) Mortgaged Property and (iv) any other assets pledged or in which a Lien is granted, in each case, pursuant to any Collateral Document.

Collateral Agent” means Citi, in its capacity as collateral agent or pledgee in its own name under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor collateral agent.

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

 

13


(a) the Administrative Agent shall have received each Collateral Document required to be delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 4.01(a) or from time to time pursuant to Section 6.11, Section 6.13, Section 6.16 or the Security Agreement or applicable Foreign Security Document, subject to the limitations and exceptions of this Agreement, duly executed by each Loan Party thereto;

(b) the Obligations shall have been guaranteed by Holdings and each Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower (other than the Excluded Subsidiaries) pursuant to the Guaranty;

(c) the Obligations and the Guaranty shall have been secured pursuant to the Security Agreement or the applicable Foreign Security Document by a first-priority perfected security interest in (i) all the Equity Interests of the Borrowers and (ii) all Equity Interests (other than any Equity Interests that are Excluded Assets) of each Restricted Subsidiary (that is not an Excluded Subsidiary (other than any Restricted Subsidiary that is an Excluded Subsidiary solely pursuant to clause (f) or (j)(y) or (j)(z) of the definition thereof)) directly owned by any Loan Party, subject to exceptions and limitations otherwise set forth in this Agreement and the Collateral Documents (to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction) (and the Collateral Agent shall have received certificates or other instruments representing all such Equity Interests (if any), together with undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank);

(d) all Pledged Debt owing to any Loan Party, that is evidenced by a promissory note shall have been delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement or the applicable Foreign Security Document and the Collateral Agent shall have received all such promissory notes, together with undated instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;

(e) with respect to any Loan Party organized in the United States, the Obligations and the Guaranty shall have been secured by a perfected security interest in substantially all now owned or at any time hereafter acquired tangible and intangible assets of each Loan Party (including Equity Interests, intercompany debt, accounts, inventory, equipment, investment property, contract rights, IP Rights, other general intangibles, Material Real Property (which in the case of Material Real Property shall include Mortgages on such Material Real Property) and proceeds of the foregoing), in each case, subject to exceptions and limitations otherwise set forth in this Agreement and the Collateral Documents (to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction), in each case with the priority required by the Collateral Documents;

(f) with respect to any assets owned by any Loan Party organized outside the United States and any Equity Interest in such Loan Party, the Obligations and Guaranty shall have been secured by a perfected security interest in and (a) pledge of all the Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower and/or direct Subsidiaries owned by such Loan Party, (b) pledge of rights arising under the Merger Agreement and (c) pledge over material long-term documented intercompany receivables (including any intercompany Swap Obligations), material intellectual property and material operating bank accounts owned by such Loan Party, in each case, subject to the terms of the Agreed Security Principles;

 

14


(g) subject to limitations and exceptions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents, to the extent a security interest in and Mortgages on any Material Real Property are required pursuant to clause (e) above or under Sections 6.11, 6.13 or 6.16 (each, a “Mortgaged Property”), the Administrative Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of a Mortgage with respect to such Mortgaged Property duly executed and delivered by the record owner of such property, together with evidence such Mortgage has been duly executed, acknowledged and delivered by a duly authorized officer of each party thereto, in form suitable for filing or recording in all filing or recording offices that the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to create a valid and subsisting perfected Lien (subject only to Liens described in clause (ii) below) on the property and/or rights described therein in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and evidence that all filing and recording taxes and fees have been paid or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being understood that if a mortgage tax or similar charge will be owed on the entire amount of the indebtedness evidenced hereby, then the amount secured by the Mortgage shall be limited to 100% of the fair market value of the property covered by such Mortgage (as reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith) at the time the Mortgage is entered into if such limitation results in such mortgage tax or similar charge being calculated based upon such fair market value), (ii) a fully paid American Land Title Association Lender’s policy of title insurance (or a marked-up title insurance commitment having the effect of a policy of title insurance) on such Mortgaged Property naming the Collateral Agent as the insured for its benefit and that of the Secured Parties and their respective successors and assigns (each, a “Mortgage Policy”, and collectively the “Mortgage Policies”) issued by a nationally recognized title insurance company reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent in form and substance and in an amount reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent (not to exceed 100% of the fair market value of the property covered thereby), insuring such Mortgage to be a valid subsisting first priority Lien on the property described therein, free and clear of all Liens other than Liens permitted pursuant to Section 7.01 or Liens otherwise consented to by the Collateral Agent, each of which shall (A) to the extent reasonably necessary, include such coinsurance and reinsurance arrangements (with provisions for direct access, if reasonably necessary) as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent, (B) contain a “tie-in” or “cluster” endorsement, if available, and applicable, under applicable law (i.e., policies which insure against losses regardless of location or allocated value of the insured property up to a stated maximum coverage amount), and (C) have been supplemented by such endorsements as shall be reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent (including endorsements on matters relating to usury, first loss, zoning, contiguity, doing business, public road access, variable rate, environmental lien, subdivision, mortgage recording tax, separate tax lot, revolving credit and so-called comprehensive coverage over covenants and restrictions), to the extent such endorsements are available in the applicable jurisdiction at commercially reasonable rates; provided, however, that in lieu of a zoning endorsement the Collateral Agent shall accept a zoning report from a nationally recognized zoning report provider, (iii) an opinion from local counsel in each jurisdiction (A) where such Mortgaged Property is located regarding the enforceability and perfection of such Mortgage and any related fixture filings and (B) where the applicable Loan Party granting the Mortgage on such Mortgaged Property is organized, regarding the due authorization, execution and delivery of such Mortgage, and in each case, such other matters as may be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, (iv) a completed “life of the loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood

 

15


Hazard Determination with respect to such Mortgaged Property (together with a notice about special flood hazard area status and flood disaster assistance), duly executed and acknowledged by the applicable Loan Party if required by Flood Insurance Laws (as defined below), together with evidence of flood insurance, to the extent required under Section 6.07(c) hereof and (v) a new ALTA or such existing surveys together with no change affidavits sufficient for the title company to remove all standard survey exceptions from such Mortgage Policy and issue the endorsements required in clause (ii) above;

(h) except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or any Collateral Document, all certificates, agreements, documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and United States Copyright Office, required by the Collateral Documents, applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to be filed, delivered, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be created by the Collateral Documents and perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the Collateral Documents and the other provisions of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement,” shall have been filed, registered or recorded or delivered to the Collateral Agent for filing, registration or recording; and

(i) after the Closing Date, (x) each Borrower (except with respect to its own Obligations) and (y) each Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower (other than the Other Borrower Party) that is not then a Guarantor and not an Excluded Subsidiary shall become a Guarantor and signatory to this Agreement pursuant to a joinder agreement in accordance with Sections 6.11 or 6.13 and a party to the Collateral Documents in accordance with Section 6.11; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower in an Agreed Security Jurisdiction that Guarantees (other than Guarantees by a non-Loan Party of Indebtedness of another non-Loan Party) any Junior Financing with a principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount or any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing shall be a Guarantor hereunder for so long as it Guarantees such Indebtedness.

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

(A) the foregoing definition shall not require, unless otherwise stated in this clause (A), the creation or perfection of pledges of, security interests in, Mortgages on, or the obtaining of title insurance or taking other actions with respect to the following (collectively, the “Excluded Assets”): (i) any property or assets owned by any Foreign Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party or any Unrestricted Subsidiary (unless such Unrestricted Subsidiary becomes a Guarantor at the option of the Lead Borrower), (ii) any lease, license, contract, agreement or other general intangible or any property subject to a purchase money security interest, Financing Lease Obligation or similar arrangement, in each case permitted under this Agreement, to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license, contract, agreement or other general intangible, Financing Lease Obligations or purchase money arrangement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than a Loan Party) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable Law, other than proceeds and receivables thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable Law notwithstanding such prohibition, (iii) any interest in fee-owned Real Property

 

16


(other than Material Real Properties), (iv) any interest in leased Real Property (including any requirement to deliver landlord waivers, estoppels and collateral access letters), (v) motor vehicles, aircrafts, airframes, aircrafts engines or helicopters and other assets subject to certificates of title, (vi) Margin Stock and Equity Interests of any Person other than the Borrowers and each wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrowers that is a Restricted Subsidiary (that is also not an Excluded Subsidiary (other than any Restricted Subsidiary that is an Excluded Subsidiary solely pursuant to clause (f) or (j)(y) or (j)(z) of the definition thereof)), (vii) any intent-to-use trademark application prior to the filing of a “statement of use” or “Amendment to Allege Use” with respect thereto, to the extent, if any, that, and solely during the period, if any, that granting a security interest in such trademark application prior to such filing would impair the enforceability or validity, or result in the voiding, of such trademark application (or any registration that may issue therefrom) under applicable federal Law, (viii) any property or assets to the extent a security interest therein would result in material adverse tax consequences to Holdings, the Borrowers, any direct or indirect parent entity of the Borrowers or any of the Borrowers’ direct or indirect Subsidiaries, as reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, (ix) any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters and authorizations, to the extent a security in any such license, franchise, charter or authorization is prohibited or restricted thereby after giving effect to the anti-assignment provision of the Uniform Commercial Code and other applicable Law, other than proceeds and receivables thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable Law notwithstanding such prohibition or restriction, (x) any assets to the extent pledges and security interests therein are prohibited or restricted by applicable Law whether on the Closing Date or thereafter (including any requirement to obtain the consent of any governmental authority or third party (other than a Loan Party)), (xi) all commercial tort claims, (xii) any deposit accounts, securities accounts or any similar accounts (including securities entitlements) (in each case, other than proceeds of Collateral) and any other accounts used solely as payroll and other employee wage and benefit accounts, tax accounts (including, without limitation, sales tax accounts) and any tax benefits accounts, escrow accounts, fiduciary or trust accounts and any funds and other property held in or maintained in any such accounts, (xiii) letter of credit rights, except to the extent constituting a supporting obligation for other Collateral as to which perfection of the security interest in such other Collateral may be accomplished by the filing of a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement (it being understood that no actions shall be required to perfect a security interest in letter of credit rights, other than the filing of a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement), (xiv) cash and Cash Equivalents (other than cash and Cash Equivalents to the extent constituting proceeds of Collateral), (xv) any particular assets if the burden, cost or consequence of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets is excessive in relation to the benefits to be obtained therefrom by the Lenders under the Loan Documents as reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, (xvi) voting Equity Interests in any Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC or any FSHCO, in each case, representing more than 65% of the voting power of all outstanding Equity Interests of such Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC or FSHCO and (xvii) proceeds from any and all of the foregoing assets described in clauses (i) through (xvi) above to the extent such proceeds would otherwise be excluded pursuant to clauses (i) through (xvi) above;

 

17


(B) (i) the foregoing definition shall not require control agreements with respect to any cash, deposit accounts or securities accounts or any other assets requiring perfection through control agreements; (ii) no actions in any jurisdiction outside of the Agreed Security Jurisdictions shall be required in order to create any security interests in assets located or titled outside of such jurisdictions, including any intellectual property registered outside of such jurisdictions, or to perfect such security interests in assets located or titled outside such jurisdictions (it being understood that there shall be no security agreements or pledge agreements governed under the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the Agreed Security Jurisdictions) and (iii) except to the extent that perfection and priority may be achieved by the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code or comparable filing under any applicable jurisdiction or actions required in connection with the security described in clause (f) above with respect to the Borrowers or a Guarantor, the Loan Documents shall not contain any requirements as to perfection or priority with respect to any assets or property described in clause (i) or (ii) of this clause (B);

(C) the Collateral Agent in its discretion may grant extensions of time for the creation or perfection of security interests in, and Mortgages on, or obtaining of title insurance or taking other actions with respect to, particular assets (including extensions beyond the Closing Date) where it reasonably determines, in consultation with the Lead Borrower, that the creation or perfection of security interests and Mortgages on, or obtaining of title insurance or taking other actions, or any other compliance with the requirements of this definition cannot be accomplished without undue delay, burden or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement or the Collateral Documents; provided that the Collateral Agent shall have received on or prior to the Closing Date (i) Uniform Commercial Code financing statements in appropriate form for filing under the Uniform Commercial Code in the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of each Loan Party and (ii) any certificates or instruments representing or evidencing Equity Interests of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries (other than Equity Interests constituting Excluded Assets) accompanied by instruments of transfer and (if relevant in the applicable jurisdiction) stock powers undated and endorsed in blank (or confirmation in lieu thereof reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent or its counsel that such certificates, powers and instruments have been sent for overnight delivery to the Collateral Agent or its counsel); provided further that the Collateral Agent shall have received the items set forth on Schedule 6.16 on or prior to the date(s) set forth therein; and

(D) Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall be subject to exceptions and limitations (if any) set forth in this Agreement, the Collateral Documents and, with respect to any Loan Party organized outside of the United States, the Agreed Security Principles.

Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, each Foreign Security Document, the Intellectual Property Security Agreements, each of the Mortgages, collateral assignments, security agreements, pledge agreements, intellectual property security agreements or other similar agreements delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 4.01, Section 6.11, Section 6.13 or Section 6.16 and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

 

18


Commitment” means a Revolving Credit Commitment, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment, Extended Revolving Credit Commitment of a given Extension Series, Other Revolving Credit Commitment of a given Refinancing Series, Initial Term Commitment, Incremental Term Commitment or Refinancing Term Commitment of a given Refinancing Series, as the context may require.

Commitment Fee Rate” means with respect to the unused Revolving Credit Commitments:

(i) until delivery of financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01 for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2020 and thereafter at any time at which the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a) is greater than 3.25 to 1.00, a percentage per annum equal to 0.50%; and

(ii) at any time upon or after the delivery of the of financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01 for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2020, if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a) is less than or equal to 3.25 to 1.00, a percentage per annum equal to 0.375%.

Any increase or decrease in the Commitment Fee Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a); provided that at the option of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, the highest Commitment Fee Rate (e.g., 0.50%) shall apply as of (x) the first Business Day after the date on which a Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered but was not delivered, and shall continue to so apply to and including the date on which such Compliance Certificate is so delivered (and thereafter the Commitment Fee Rate otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply) and (y) as of the first Business Day after an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) shall have occurred and be continuing, and shall continue to so apply to but excluding the date on which such Event of Default is cured or waived (and thereafter the Commitment Fee Rate otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply).

Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower.

Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.).

Company” has the meaning set forth in the Preliminary Statements to this Agreement.

Company Parties” means the collective reference to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including the Borrowers, and “Company Party” means any one of them.

 

19


Compensation Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.12(c)(ii).

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E-1.

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

(1) increased (without duplication) by the following, in each case (other than with respect to clauses (h), (k) and the applicable pro forma adjustments in clause (o)) to the extent deducted (and not added back) in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

(a) (x) provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital, including, without limitation, federal, state, municipal and foreign franchise and similar taxes (such as the Delaware franchise tax, the Pennsylvania capital tax, Texas margin tax and provincial capital taxes paid in Canada) and withholding taxes (including any future taxes or other levies which replace or are intended to be in lieu of such taxes and any penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from tax examinations), (y) the amount of distributions actually made to any direct or indirect parent company of the Lead Borrower in respect of such period in accordance with Section 7.06(i)(iii) and (z) the net tax expense associated with any adjustments made pursuant to clauses (1) through (17) of the definition of “Consolidated Net Income”; plus

(b) Fixed Charges for such period (including (w) non-cash rent expense, (x) net losses or any obligations on Swap Obligations or other derivative instruments, (y) bank fees and other financing fees and (z) costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, plus amounts excluded from Consolidated Interest Expense as set forth in clauses (1)(o) through (z) in the definition thereof); plus

(c) the total amount of depreciation and amortization expenses and capitalized fees, including, without limitation, the amortization of capitalized fees related to any Qualified Securitization Facility and the amortization of intangible assets, deferred financing costs, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, and any Capitalized Software Expenditures of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP; plus

(d) the amount of any equity-based or non-cash compensation charges or expenses, including any such charges or expenses arising from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights; plus

(e) any other non-cash charges, expenses or losses, including non-cash losses on the sale of assets and any write-offs or write-downs reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period and any non-cash expense relating to the vesting of warrants (provided that if any such non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, (A) the Lead Borrower may elect not to add back such non-cash charge in the current period and (B) to the extent the Lead Borrower elects to add back such non-cash charge, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA to such extent), and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period; plus

 

20


(f) the amount of any non-controlling interest 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

(g) the amount of (x) board fees, management, monitoring, consulting, transaction, advisory and other fees (including termination fees) and indemnities, costs and expenses paid or accrued in such period to the Investors or otherwise to any member of the board of directors of Holdings, the Lead Borrower, any Permitted Holder or any Affiliate of a Permitted Holder, in each case, to the extent permitted under Section 7.07, (y) payments made to option holders of the Lead Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parent companies in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to shareholders of such person or its direct or indirect parent companies, which payments are being made to compensate such option holders as though they were shareholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution, including any cash consideration for any repurchase of equity, in each case to the extent permitted in the Loan Documents and (z) any fees and other compensation paid to the members of the board of directors (or the equivalent thereof) of the Lead Borrower or any of its parent entities; plus

(h) the amount of (x) pro forma “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies related to the Transactions that are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable and projected by the Lead Borrower in good faith to result from actions that have been taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (in the good faith determination of the Lead Borrower) within 36 months after the Closing Date (including from any actions taken in whole or in part prior to the Closing Date), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions and (y) pro forma “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, synergies and Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to contracted pricing (at the highest contracted rate) related to mergers and other business combinations, acquisitions, investments, dispositions, divestitures, restructurings, operating improvements, cost savings initiatives and other similar transactions or initiatives (including the modification and renegotiation of contracts and other arrangements) that are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable and projected by the Lead Borrower in good faith to result from actions that have been taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken (in each case, including any steps or actions taken in whole or in part prior to the Closing Date or the applicable consummation date of such transaction, initiative or event) or are expected to be taken (in the good faith determination of the Lead Borrower) within 36 months after any such transaction, initiative or event is consummated, net the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions, in each case, calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions, synergies and Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to contracted pricing (at the highest contracted rate) had been realized on the first day of such period for which Consolidated EBITDA is being determined and as if such cost savings, operating expense reductions, synergies and Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to contracted pricing were realized on the first day of the applicable period for the entirety of such period; provided that no cost savings, operating expense reductions, synergies and Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to contracted pricing shall be added pursuant to this clause (h) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges otherwise added to Consolidated EBITDA, whether through a pro forma adjustment or otherwise, for such period; plus

 

21


(i) the amount of loss or discount on sale of receivables, Securitization Assets and related assets to any Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Securitization Facility; plus

(j) any costs or expense incurred by the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary or a direct or indirect parent entity of the Lead Borrower to the extent paid by the Borrowers pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement, any severance agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such cost or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Lead Borrower or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) solely to the extent that such cash proceeds or net cash proceeds are excluded from the calculation of the Cumulative Credit; plus

(k) 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

(l) any net losses, charges, expenses, costs or other payments (including all fees, expenses or charges related thereto) (i) from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations, (ii) in respect of facilities no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Lead Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries, abandoned, closed, disposed or discontinued operations and any losses on disposal of abandoned, closed or discontinued operations and (iii) attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions (other than in the ordinary course of business) as determined in good faith by the Lead Borrower; plus

(m) at the option of the Lead Borrower with respect to any quarterly period, an amount equal to the net change in deferred revenue at the end of such period from the deferred revenue at the end of the previous period; plus

(n) compensation expense attributable to positive investment income with respect to funded deferred compensation account balances; plus

(o) any other adjustments, exclusions and add-backs reflected in (i) the Sponsor’s model delivered to the Lead Arrangers on or about October 11, 2019 and the quality of earnings summaries delivered to the Lead Arrangers on or about October 8, 2019 and (ii) any quality of earnings analysis prepared by independent registered public accountants of recognized national standing or any other accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and delivered to the Administrative Agent in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment; plus

(p) the amount of any gains or losses arising from embedded derivatives in the customer contracts of the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary and any gain or loss attributable to mark-to-market adjustments in the valuation of pension liabilities, including actuarial gain or loss on pension and post-retirement plans, curtailments and settlements;

 

22


(2) decreased (without duplication) by the following, in each case to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

(a) non-cash gains (including non-cash gains on the sale of assets) increasing Consolidated Net Income of the Lead Borrower 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 and any non-cash gains with respect to cash actually received in a prior period so long as such cash did not increase Consolidated EBITDA in such prior period; plus

(b) any net income from disposed, abandoned, closed or discontinued operations or attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions (other than in the ordinary course of business) as determined in good faith by the Lead Borrower; plus

(c) the reduction in compensation expense attributable to investment loss with respect to funded deferred compensation account balances; and

(3) increased or decreased (without duplication) by, as applicable, any non-cash adjustments resulting from the application of FASB Interpretation No. 45 Guarantees.

There shall be included in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period, without duplication, (A) the Acquired EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset acquired by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (but not the Acquired EBITDA of any related Person, property, business or assets to the extent not so acquired), to the extent not subsequently sold, transferred or otherwise disposed by the Lead Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset acquired and not subsequently so disposed of, an “Acquired Entity or Business”) and the Acquired EBITDA of any Unrestricted Subsidiary that is converted into a Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each, a “Converted Restricted Subsidiary”), based on the actual Acquired EBITDA of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) and (B) for the purposes of compliance with the covenant set forth in Section 7.09 and the calculation of the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, and the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio, an adjustment in respect of each Acquired Entity or Business equal to the amount of the Pro Forma Adjustment with respect to such Acquired Entity or Business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) as specified in a certificate executed by a Responsible Officer and delivered to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent. There shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period the Disposed EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of or, closed or classified as discontinued operations (but if such operations are classified as discontinued due to the fact that they are subject to an agreement to dispose of such operations, only when and to the extent such operations are actually disposed of) by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset so sold or disposed of, a “Sold Entity or Business”) and the Disposed EBITDA of any Restricted Subsidiary that is converted into an Unrestricted Subsidiary during such period (each a “Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary”), based on the actual Disposed EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such sale, transfer or disposition).

 

23


Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, for purposes of determining Consolidated EBITDA under this Agreement for any period that includes any of the fiscal quarters ended on December 31, 2018, March 31, 2019, June 30, 2019 and September 30, 2019 Consolidated EBITDA for such fiscal quarters shall be $28,419,000, $36,219,000, $40,703,000 and $41,511,000, respectively, in each case, as may be subject to any adjustment set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph for any four-quarter period with respect to any acquisitions, dispositions or conversions occurring after the Closing Date.

Consolidated First Lien Net Debt” means Consolidated Total Net Debt minus the sum of (i) the portion of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary included in Consolidated Total Net Debt that is not secured by any Lien on the Collateral and (ii) the portion of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary included in Consolidated Total Net Debt that is secured by Liens on the Collateral, which Liens are expressly subordinated or junior to the Liens securing the Obligations.

Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any four-quarter period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated First Lien Net Debt as of the last day of such period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period.

Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any four-quarter period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense for the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, the sum, without duplication,

of:

(1) consolidated interest expense of the Lead Borrower 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 OID 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 Swap Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP), (d) the interest component of Financing Lease Obligations, and (e) net payments, if any made (less net payments, if any, received), pursuant to interest rate Swap Obligations with respect to Indebtedness, and excluding (o) annual agency or similar fees paid to the administrative agents and collateral agents and other agents under this Agreement or other credit facilities, (p) any additional interest with respect to failure to comply with any registration rights agreement owing with respect to any securities, (q) costs associated with obtaining Swap Obligations, (r) any expense resulting from the discounting of any Indebtedness in

 

24


connection with the application of recapitalization accounting or, if applicable, purchase accounting in connection with the Transactions or any acquisition, (s) penalties and interest relating to taxes, (t) any “additional interest” or “liquidated damages” with respect to other securities for failure to timely comply with registration rights obligations, (u) amortization or expensing of deferred financing fees, amendment and consent fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees, expenses and discounted liabilities and any other amounts of non-cash interest, (v) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees and any other fees related to the Transactions or any acquisitions after the Closing Date, (w) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Qualified Securitization Facility, (x) any accretion of accrued interest on discounted liabilities and any prepayment, make-whole or breakage premium, cost or penalty, (y) interest expense attributable to a parent entity resulting from push-down accounting, and (z) any lease, rental or other expense in connection with a Non-Financing Lease Obligation; plus

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

(3) interest income of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period.

For purposes of this definition, interest on a Financing Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower to be the rate of interest implicit in such Financing Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP (or, if not implicit, as otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP).

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (loss) of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis, and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends; provided, however, that, without duplication,

(1) any after-Tax effect of extraordinary, exceptional, unusual or nonrecurring gains or losses less all fees and expenses relating thereto (including any extraordinary, exceptional, unusual or nonrecurring operating expenses directly attributable to the implementation of cost savings initiatives and any accruals or reserves in respect of any extraordinary, exceptional unusual or nonrecurring items, charges or expenses (including relating to any multi-year strategic initiatives)), Transaction Expenses, restructuring and duplicative running costs, restructuring charges or reserves, relocation costs, start-up or initial costs for any project or new production line, division or new line of business, integration and facilities opening costs, 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 Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary or a parent entity of the Lead Borrower had entered into with employees of the Lead Borrower, a Restricted Subsidiary or a parent entity of the Lead Borrower, costs relating to pre-opening, opening and conversion costs for facilities,

 

25


losses, costs or cost inefficiencies related to facility or property disruptions or shutdowns, signing, retention and completion bonuses, recruiting costs, costs incurred in connection with any strategic initiatives, transition costs, litigation and arbitration costs and charges, expenses in connection with one-time rate changes, costs incurred in connection with acquisitions, investments and dispositions (including travel and out-of-pocket costs, professional fees for legal, accounting and other services, human resources costs (including relocation bonuses), litigation and arbitration costs, charges, fees and expenses (including settlements), management transition costs, advertising costs, losses associated with temporary decreases in work volume and expenses related to maintaining underutilized personnel) and non-recurring product and IP Rights development, other business optimization expenses or reserves (including costs and expenses relating to business optimization programs and new systems design and costs or reserves associated with improvements to IT and accounting functions, retention charges (including charges or expenses in respect of incentive plans), system establishment costs and implementation costs) and operating expenses attributable to the implementation of cost-savings initiatives, and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans shall be excluded;

(2) at the election of the Lead Borrower with respect to any quarterly period, the cumulative after-Tax effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies shall be excluded;

(3) any net after-Tax effect of gains or losses on disposal, abandonment or discontinuance of disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations, as applicable, shall be excluded;

(4) any net after-Tax effect of gains or losses (less all fees, expenses and charges relating thereto) attributable to asset dispositions or abandonments or the sale or other disposition of any Equity Interests of any Person other than in the ordinary course of business shall be excluded;

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

(6) solely for purposes of determining the amount of Excess Cash Flow, the net income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Guarantor) shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of its net income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders (other than restrictions in this

 

26


Agreement), unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived or released (or such Person reasonably believes such restriction could be waived or released and is using commercially reasonable efforts to pursue such waiver or release); provided that the Consolidated Net Income of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash or Cash Equivalents (or to the extent converted, or having the ability to be converted, into cash or Cash Equivalents) to the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein;

(7) effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries) in the Lead Borrower’s consolidated financial statements pursuant to GAAP (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 and leases, goodwill, intangible assets, in-process research and development, deferred revenue and debt line items thereof) resulting from the application of recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting, as the case may be, in relation to the Transactions or any consummated acquisition or joint venture investment or the amortization or write-off or write-down of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, shall be excluded;

(8) any after-Tax effect of income (loss) from the extinguishment or conversion of (i) Indebtedness, (ii) Swap Obligations or (iii) other derivative instruments shall be excluded;

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

(10) any equity-based or non-cash compensation or similar charge or expense or reduction of revenue including any such charge, expense or amount arising from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, profits interests or other rights or equity or equity-based incentive programs (“equity incentives”), any one-time cash charges associated with the equity incentives or other long-term incentive compensation plans (including under deferred compensation arrangements of the Lead Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parent entities or subsidiaries), rollover, acceleration, or payout of Equity Interests by management, future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, members, partners, independent contractors or consultants or business partners of the Borrowers or any of their direct or indirect parent entities or subsidiaries, and any cash awards granted to future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, members, partners, independent contractors or consultants or business partners of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries in replacement for forfeited equity awards, shall be excluded;

 

27


(11) any fees, expenses or charges incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, recapitalization, investment, asset sale, disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness (including such fees, expenses or charges related to the offering and issuance of any securities and the syndication and incurrence of any Facility) (including such fees, expenses or charges relating to any rating by the Rating Agencies), issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrowers or their direct or indirect parent entities, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument (including any amendment or other modification of any securities and any Facility) and including, in each case, any such transaction consummated on or prior to the Closing Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed, and any charges or non-recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction, in each case whether or not successful or consummated (including, for the avoidance of doubt the effects of expensing all transaction related expenses in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 805, Business Combinations), shall be excluded;

(12) accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted in connection with the Transactions or within twenty-four months after the closing of any acquisition that are so required to be established or adjusted as a result of such acquisition in accordance with GAAP or changes as a result of modifications of accounting policies shall be excluded;

(13) any expenses, charges or losses to the extent covered by insurance or indemnity and actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Lead Borrower has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer or indemnifying party and only to the extent that such amount is in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of the insurable or indemnifiable event (net of any amount so added back in any prior period to the extent not so reimbursed within the applicable 365-day period), shall be excluded;

(14) any non-cash compensation expense resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, shall be excluded;

(15) any net pension or post-employment benefit costs representing amortization of unrecognized prior service costs, actuarial losses, including amortization of such amounts arising in prior periods, amortization of the unrecognized net obligation (and loss or cost) existing at the date of initial application of Statement on Financial Accounting Standards No. 87, 106 and 112; and any other items of a similar nature, shall be excluded;

(16) the following items shall be excluded:

(a) any unrealized net gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from Swap Obligations and the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 815, Derivatives and Hedging,

 

28


(b) any net gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from currency translation gains or losses including those related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net gain or loss resulting from Swap Obligations for currency exchange risk) and any other foreign currency translation gains and losses to the extent such gains or losses are non-cash items,

(c) any adjustments resulting for the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 460, Guarantees, or any comparable regulation,

(d) at the election of the Lead Borrower with respect to any quarterly period, effects of adjustments to accruals and reserves during a prior period relating to any change in the methodology of calculating reserves for returns, rebates and other chargebacks, and

(e) 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; and

(17) the amount of distributions actually made to any direct or indirect parent company of such Person in respect of such period in accordance with Section 7.06(i)(iii) shall be included in calculating Consolidated Net Income as though such amounts had been paid as taxes directly by such Person for such period.

In addition, to the extent not already included in the Consolidated Net Income of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Consolidated Net Income shall include the amount of proceeds received or due from business interruption insurance and reimbursements of any expenses and charges that are covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any acquisition, investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement.

Consolidated Secured Net Debt” means Consolidated Total Net Debt minus the portion of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary included in Consolidated Total Net Debt that is not secured by any Liens on the Collateral.

Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any four-quarter period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Secured Net Debt as of the last day of such period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period.

Consolidated Total Net Debt” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, in an amount that would be reflected on a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (but excluding the effects of any discounting of Indebtedness resulting from the application of purchase accounting in connection with the Transactions or any Permitted Acquisition), consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money, purchase money indebtedness, Attributable Indebtedness, and debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes, bonds, debentures, loan agreements or similar instruments, minus the aggregate amount of all unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents on the balance sheet of the Lead

 

29


Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date; provided that Consolidated Total Net Debt shall not include Indebtedness (i) in respect of letters of credit (including Letters of Credit), except to the extent of unreimbursed amounts thereunder; provided, further, that any unreimbursed amount under commercial letters of credit shall not be counted as Consolidated Total Net Debt until three Business Days after such amount is drawn and (ii) of Unrestricted Subsidiaries; it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that obligations under Swap Contracts or in respect of Non-Financing Lease Obligations do not constitute Consolidated Total Net Debt.

Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any four-quarter period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Net Debt as of the last day of such period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period.

Consolidated Working Capital” means, with respect to the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at any date of determination, Current Assets at such date of determination minus Current Liabilities at such date of determination; provided that increases or decreases in Consolidated Working Capital shall be calculated without regard to any changes in Current Assets or Current Liabilities as a result of (a) any reclassification in accordance with GAAP of assets or liabilities, as applicable, between current and noncurrent or (b) the effects of purchase accounting.

Contract Consideration” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Excess Cash Flow.”

Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

Control” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Affiliate.”

Controlled Investment Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person, other than the Investors, 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 Lead Borrower and/or other companies.

Converted Restricted Subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

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).

 

30


Covered Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.25.

Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness” means (a) Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt, (b) Permitted Junior Lien Refinancing Debt, (c) Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt or (d) other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment, in each case, issued, incurred or otherwise obtained (including by means of the extension or renewal of existing Indebtedness) in exchange for, or to extend, renew, replace, repurchase, retire or refinance, in whole or part, existing Term Loans and Revolving Credit Loans (or Commitments in respect of Revolving Credit Loans), or any then-existing Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (“Refinanced Debt”); provided that (i) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, such Indebtedness has a maturity no earlier, and, in the case of Refinancing Term Loans, a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Refinanced Debt, (ii) such Indebtedness shall not have a greater principal amount than the principal amount of the Refinanced Debt plus accrued interest, fees, premiums (if any) and penalties thereon and reasonable fees and expenses associated with the refinancing, (iii) the other terms and conditions of such Indebtedness shall either, at the option of the Lead Borrower (I) reflect terms and conditions that are otherwise as agreed between the Lead Borrower and the lender, holder or other provider of such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (provided that to the extent any more restrictive financial maintenance covenant is added for the benefit of such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, such financial maintenance covenant shall be added for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Facility that then benefits from such financial maintenance covenant and is remaining outstanding (except to the extent such financial maintenance covenant is applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of such Revolving Credit Facility)) or (II) if not consistent with the terms of the Refinanced Debt being refinanced or replaced, shall not be materially more restrictive (taken as a whole) on the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined by the Lead Borrower) than those applicable to the Refinanced Debt being refinanced or replaced (except for (x) pricing, premiums, fees, rate floors and prepayment and redemption terms and (y) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness and it being understood that to the extent any terms or conditions that are more restrictive than the applicable Facilities is added for the benefit of such (A) Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in the form of Refinancing Term Loans or refinancing notes or other debt securities (whether issued in a public offering, Rule 144A, private placement or otherwise), no consent shall be required from the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders to the extent that such terms or conditions are also added for the benefit of each Facility remaining outstanding after the incurrence or issuance of such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or (B) Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in the form of Other Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Loans, no consent shall be required from the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders to the extent that such terms or conditions (x) are also added for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Facility or (y) applies only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of such Revolving Credit Facility) (in each case, provided that a certificate of a Responsible Officer delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that the Lead Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the requirement of this clause (iii) shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy such requirement), and (iv) such Refinanced Debt shall be repaid, repurchased, retired, defeased or satisfied and discharged, all accrued interest, fees, premiums (if any) and penalties in connection therewith shall be paid, and all commitments thereunder terminated, on the date such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness is issued, incurred or obtained.

 

31


Credit Extension” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

Cumulative Credit” means, at any date, an amount, not less than zero in the aggregate, determined on a cumulative basis equal to, without duplication:

(a) the greater of (x) $70,000,000 and (y) 50% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA; plus

(b) the greatest of (x) the Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount at such time, (y) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for each fiscal quarter following the Closing Date for which financial statements are internally available, commencing with the fiscal quarter in which the Closing Date occurs and (z) (A) cumulative Consolidated EBITDA of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the period (taken as one accounting period, but without duplication for any adjustments made to Consolidated EBITDA during an earlier period for expected gains or losses that are actually realized and later added back to Consolidated EBITDA in a subsequent period) from the beginning of the fiscal quarter in which the Closing Date occurs to the end of the Lead Borrower’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements are internally available, minus (B) 1.5x cumulative Fixed Charges for the same period; plus

(c) the Cumulative Retained Asset Sale Proceeds Amount at such time; plus

(d) the cumulative amount of cash and Cash Equivalent proceeds (other than Excluded Contributions) and/or the fair market value of assets received from (i) the sale or transfer of Equity Interests (other than any Disqualified Equity Interests and other than any Designated Equity Contribution or the Equity Investment) of Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Lead Borrower after the Closing Date and on or prior to such time (including upon exercise of warrants or options) which proceeds or assets have been contributed as common equity to the capital of the Lead Borrower or (ii) the common Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower (or Holdings or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings) (other than Disqualified Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent of the Lead Borrower) and other than any Designated Equity Contribution or the Equity Investment) issued upon conversion of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness that is contractually subordinated to the Obligations) of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower owed to a Person other than a Loan Party or a Restricted Subsidiary of a Loan Party, in each case, not previously applied for a purpose other than use in the Cumulative Credit (including, for the avoidance of doubt, for the purposes of Section 7.03(m)(y)); plus

(e) 100% of the aggregate amount of contributions to the common capital (other than from a Restricted Subsidiary and other than any Designated Equity Contribution or the Equity Investment) of the Lead Borrower received after the Closing Date (other than Excluded Contributions or the Equity Investment), excluding any such amount that has been applied in accordance with Section 7.03(m)(y); plus

 

32


(f) 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from:

(A) the sale or transfer (other than to the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) of the Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, joint venture or any minority investments, or

(B) any dividend or other distribution by an Unrestricted Subsidiary or received in respect of any minority investment (except to the extent increasing Consolidated Net Income and excluding Excluded Contributions or the Equity Investment), or

(C) any interest, returns of principal payments and similar payments by an Unrestricted Subsidiary or joint venture or received in respect of any minority investments (except to the extent increasing Consolidated Net Income); plus

(g) in the event any Unrestricted Subsidiary has been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, the fair market value of the Investments of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation, combination or transfer (or of the assets transferred or conveyed, as applicable) so long as such Investments were originally made pursuant to Section 7.02(n)(y); plus

(h) to the extent not already included in Consolidated Net Income, an amount equal to any returns in cash and Cash Equivalents (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Investments made pursuant to Section 7.02(n)(y); plus

(i) 100% of the aggregate amount of any Declined Proceeds; minus

(j) any amount of the Cumulative Credit used to make Investments pursuant to Section 7.02(n)(y) after the Closing Date and prior to such time; minus

(k) any amount of the Cumulative Credit used to pay dividends or make distributions pursuant to Section 7.06(h)(y) after the Closing Date and prior to such time; minus

(l) any amount of the Cumulative Credit used to make payments or distributions in respect of Junior Financings pursuant to Section 7.10(a)(v)(y) after the Closing Date and prior to such time.

Cumulative Retained Asset Sale Proceeds Amount” means the cumulative portion (since the Closing Date) of the Net Proceeds of Dispositions not required to be applied to prepay the Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ii) due to the Applicable Asset Sale Percentage being less than 100%.

 

33


Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount” means the cumulative portion (since the Closing Date), not less than zero, of Excess Cash Flow not required to be applied to prepay the Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(i) due to the Applicable ECF Percentage being less than 100%.

Current Assets” means, with respect to the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at any date of determination, all assets (other than cash and Cash Equivalents) of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries that would, in accordance with GAAP, be classified on a consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as current assets at such date of determination, other than amounts related to current or deferred Taxes based on income or profits (but excluding assets held for sale, loans (permitted) to third parties, pension assets, deferred bank fees and derivative financial instruments).

Current Liabilities” means, with respect to the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at any date of determination, all liabilities of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries that would, in accordance with GAAP, be classified on a consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as current liabilities at such date of determination, other than (a) the current portion of any Indebtedness, (b) accruals of Consolidated Interest Expense (excluding Consolidated Interest Expense that is past due and unpaid), (c) accruals for current or deferred Taxes based on income or profits, (d) accruals of any costs or expenses related to restructuring reserves, and (e) any Revolving Credit Exposure.

Debt Fund Affiliate” means (i) any fund or client managed by, or under common management with GSO Capital Partners LP, Blackstone Real Estate Special Situations Advisors L.L.C. and Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Fund L.P., (ii) any fund or client managed by an adviser within the credit focused division of The Blackstone Group Inc. or Blackstone ISG-I Advisors L.L.C., (iii) The Blackstone Strategic Opportunity Funds (including masters, feeders, onshore, offshore and parallel funds), (iv) funds and accounts managed by Blackstone Alternative Solutions, L.L.C. or its Affiliates and (v) any other Affiliate of the Investors or Holdings that is a bona fide debt fund or an investment vehicle that is engaged in the making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course.

Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Declined Proceeds” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b)(viii).

 

34


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

Default Rate” means an interest rate equal to (a) the Base Rate plus (b) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Revolving Credit Loans that are Base Rate Loans plus (c) 2.0% per annum; provided that with respect to the overdue principal or interest in respect of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan, plus 2.0% per annum, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

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 any Lender whose acts or failure to act, whether directly or indirectly, cause it to meet any part of the definition of “Lender Default.”

Delaware Divided LLC” means any Delaware LLC which has been formed upon the consummation of a Delaware LLC Division.

Delaware LLC” means any limited liability company organized or formed under the laws of the State of Delaware.

Delaware LLC Division” means the statutory division of any Delaware LLC into two or more Delaware LLCs pursuant to Section 18-217 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.

Designated Equity Contribution” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05(a).

Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(1).

Discount Range” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1).

Discount Range Prepayment Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1).

Discount Range Prepayment Notice” means a written notice of a Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offers made pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1) substantially in the form of Exhibit L-4.

Discount Range Prepayment Offer” means the irrevocable written offer by a Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit L-5, submitted in response to an invitation to submit offers following the Auction Agent’s receipt of a Discount Range Prepayment Notice.

Discount Range Prepayment Response Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1).

Discount Range Proration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(3).

 

35


Discounted Prepayment Determination Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(3).

Discounted Prepayment Effective Date” means in the case of a Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment, Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offer or Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offer, five (5) Business Days following the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date, the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date or the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date, as applicable, in accordance with Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(1), Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1) or Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1), respectively, unless a shorter period is agreed to between the Lead Borrower and the Auction Agent.

Discounted Term Loan Prepayment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(A).

Disposed EBITDA” means, with respect to any Sold Entity or Business or any Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business (determined as if references to the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA (and in the component definitions used therein) were references to such Sold Entity or Business and its Subsidiaries or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries) or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Sold Entity or Business or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction and any sale or issuance of Equity Interests in a Restricted Subsidiary) of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith and including any disposition of property to a Delaware Divided LLC pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division; provided that “Disposition” and “Dispose” shall not be deemed to include any issuance by Holdings of any of its Equity Interests to another Person.

Disqualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) matures or is 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 Commitments and the termination or expiration of all outstanding Letters of Credit (unless the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations related thereto has been Cash Collateralized, backstopped by a letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer or deemed reissued under another agreement reasonably acceptable to the applicable L/C Issuer)), (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests and other than 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 Commitments and the expiration or

 

36


termination of all outstanding Letters of Credit (unless the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations related thereto has been Cash Collateralized, backstopped by a letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer or deemed reissued under another agreement reasonably acceptable to the applicable L/C Issuer)), in whole or in part, (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash, or (d) is or becomes 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 ninety-one (91) days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of issuance of such Equity Interests; provided that if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Lead Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Lead Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.

Disqualified Lenders” means (i) those Persons identified by the Lead Borrower (or one of its Affiliates) or the Sponsor to the Administrative Agent in writing prior to November 8, 2019, (ii) competitors (and such competitors’ sponsors and Affiliates identified in writing or reasonably identifiable as such solely on the basis of their names) of the Lead Borrower identified by the Lead Borrower to the Administrative Agent in writing (x) from time to time prior to the date of the bank meeting in connection with the Initial Term Loans and (y) thereafter (including after the Closing Date) from time to time and (iii) any Affiliate of any Person described in clause (i) or competitor described in clause (ii) that is identified by the Lead Borrower to the Administrative Agent in writing from time to time or reasonably identifiable solely by name as an Affiliate of such Person, other than an Affiliate of such Person that is a Bona Fide Debt Fund; provided that (x) no updates to the list of Disqualified Lenders shall be deemed to retroactively disqualify any parties that have previously validly acquired an assignment or participation in respect of the Loans from continuing to hold or vote such previously acquired assignments and participations on the terms set forth herein for Lenders that are not Disqualified Lenders and (y) notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Lead Borrower may withhold consent for any assignments to any Affiliate of a Disqualified Lender (to the extent such consent is otherwise required under Section 10.07) regardless of whether such assignee is reasonably identifiable as an Affiliate of a Disqualified Lender solely on the basis of its name (other than with respect to Affiliates that are Bona Fide Debt Funds). The list of Disqualified Lenders shall be made available to any Lender upon request to the Administrative Agent, subject to customary confidentiality requirements.

Distressed Person” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Lender-Related Distress Event.”

Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.

Dollar Denominated Letter of Credit” means any Letter of Credit incurred in Dollars.

Dollar Denominated Loan” means any Loan incurred in Dollars.

 

37


Dollar Equivalent” means, with respect to an amount of an Approved Currency other than Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date or other relevant date of determination) for the purchase of Dollars with such Approved Currency.

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

ECF Payment Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b).

EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent;

EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

Effective Yield” means, as to any Loans of any Class, the effective yield on such Loans in an amount equal to the sum of (a) the applicable margin, (b) the interest rate (exclusive of applicable margin) after giving effect to any interest rate floors or similar devices and (c) all upfront or similar fees and OID (amortized over the shorter of (x) the original stated life of such Loans and (y) the four years following the date of incurrence thereof) payable generally to Lenders making such Loans, but excluding amendment fees, arrangement fees, structuring fees, commitment fees, underwriting fees or other fees payable to any lead arranger (or its affiliates) in connection with the commitment or syndication of such Indebtedness, consent fees paid to consenting Lenders, ticking fees on undrawn commitments and any other fees not paid or payable generally to all Lenders in the primary syndication of such Indebtedness.

Eligible Assignee” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(a).

Environment” means indoor air, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, land surface, subsurface strata and natural resources such as wetlands, flora and fauna.

Environmental Laws” means any applicable Law relating to pollution, protection of the Environment and natural resources, Hazardous Materials, or the protection of human health and safety as it relates to exposure to Hazardous Materials, including any applicable provisions of CERCLA.

 

38


Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of investigation and remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of or relating to the Loan Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of, or liability under or relating to, any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials or (d) the actual or alleged presence, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials, including, in each case of (a) through (d), any such liability which any Loan Party has retained or assumed pursuant to any written contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement.

Environmental Permit” means any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.

Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares, interests, rights, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests or units in) such Person and all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase, acquisition or exchange from such Person of any of the foregoing (including through convertible securities).

Equity Investment” means the direct or indirect contribution by the Sponsor and the Investors and certain other Persons (including the Management Stockholders) to the Lead Borrower (or Holdings or other direct or indirect parent company of the Lead Borrower) of an aggregate amount of cash and the fair market value of the equity of the seller and Management Stockholders rolled over or invested in Holdings (or other direct or indirect parent company of the Lead Borrower) that represents not less than 40% of the sum of (1) the aggregate gross proceeds received from the Initial Term Loans, excluding any gross proceeds received from any increase in the Initial Term Loans to fund original issue discount or upfront fees on the Closing Date resulting from the exercise of “market flex” under the Fee Letter, (2) the aggregate gross proceeds received from Revolving Credit Loans, if any, made on the Closing Date, excluding any Revolving Credit Loans to fund original issue discount or upfront fees under the “market flex” provisions of the Fee Letter or working capital needs on the Closing Date and (3) the amount of such cash contribution by the Sponsor and the Investors and certain other Persons (including the Management Stockholders) to the Lead Borrower (or Holdings or other direct or indirect parent company of the Lead Borrower) and the fair market value of the equity of the seller and Management Stockholders rolled over or invested in the Lead Borrower (or Holdings or other direct or indirect parent company of the Lead Borrower), in each case of clauses (1) through (4), as of the Closing Date.

Equityholding Vehicle” means any direct or indirect parent entity of Holdings and any equityholder thereof through which Management Stockholders hold Equity Interests of Holdings or such parent entity.

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

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with a Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code, or solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(m) or (o) of the Code.

 

39


ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event; (b) a withdrawal by a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan, in each case, resulting in liability pursuant to Section 4063 of ERISA; (d) the filing by the PBGC of a notice of intent to terminate any Pension Plan, the treatment of a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041(c) or Section 4041A of ERISA, respectively, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) appointment of a trustee to administer any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (f) with respect to a Pension Plan, the failure to satisfy the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) applicable to such Pension Plan, whether or not waived; (g) any Foreign Benefit Event that is reasonably likely to result in a lien on any assets of, or otherwise result in a material liability of, any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary; or (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate.

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

euro” means the single currency of participating member states of the economic and monetary union in accordance with the Treaty of Rome 1957, as amended by the Single European Act 1986, the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 and the Amsterdam Treaty of 1998.

Eurocurrency Rate” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in any Approved Currency, for any Interest Period, the LIBO Screen Rate (or any applicable successor page or such other commercially available published source providing such quotations as may be approved by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that, if (i) the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent reasonably determine in good faith that an interest rate is not ascertainable pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this definition and the inability to ascertain such rate is unlikely to be temporary or (ii) the circumstances set forth in the preceding clause (i) have not arisen but the supervisor for the administrator of the LIBO Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the LIBO Screen Rate shall no longer be made available or used for determining interest rates for loans, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Lenders in writing (the occurrence of either of the foregoing conditions, a “Benchmark Discontinuation Event”) and the “Eurocurrency Rate” shall be an alternate benchmark floating term rate of interest established by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower that is generally accepted as the then prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest for similar syndicated loans in the United States at such time and shall include (A) the spread or method for determining a spread or other adjustment or modification that is generally accepted as the then prevailing market convention for determining such spread, method, adjustment or modification and (B) other

 

40


adjustments to such alternate term rate and this Agreement (x) to not increase or decrease pricing in effect for the Interest Period on the Business Day immediately preceding the Business Day on which such alternate rate is selected pursuant to this provision (but for the avoidance of doubt which would not reduce the Applicable Rate) and (y) other changes necessary to reflect the available interest periods for such alternate rate) for similar syndicated leveraged loans of this type in the United States at such time (any such rate, the “Successor Benchmark Rate”), and the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower shall enter into an amendment to this Agreement to reflect such alternate rate of interest and such other related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 10.01, such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement; provided, further that if a Successor Benchmark Rate has not been established pursuant to the immediately preceding proviso after the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent have reached such a determination, the Lead Borrower and the Required Lenders may select a different alternate rate as long as it is reasonably practicable for the Administrative Agent to administer such different rate and, upon not less than 15 Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders and the Lead Borrower shall enter into an amendment to this Agreement to reflect such alternate rate of interest and such other related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 10.01, such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Eurocurrency Rate in respect of any applicable Interest Period will be deemed to be zero if the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period calculated pursuant to the foregoing provisions would otherwise be less than zero. For the avoidance of doubt, if a Benchmark Discontinuation Event occurs, the Applicable Rate for any Loan shall be determined in accordance with Section 3.06(c) until the date a Successor Benchmark Rate or other alternate term rate determined pursuant to the proviso above has been established in accordance with the requirements of this definition.

Eurocurrency Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurocurrency Rate.

Eurocurrency Rate Revolving Loan” means a Revolving Credit Loan bearing interest at a rate based on the Eurocurrency Rate. Eurocurrency Rate Revolving Loans may be denominated in any Approved Currency.

Event of Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01.

Excess Cash Flow” means, for any period, an amount (which shall not be less than zero) equal to (a) the sum, without duplication, of (i) Consolidated Net Income for such period, (ii) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash charges to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, (iii) decreases in Consolidated Working Capital and long-term accounts receivable of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period (other than any such decreases arising from acquisitions or dispositions by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries completed during such period or the application of purchase accounting), and (iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash loss on Dispositions by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than sales in the ordinary course of business) or any cash gain, in each case to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, minus (b) the sum, without duplication, of (i) an amount equal to the

 

41


amount of all non-cash credits included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income and cash charges included in clauses (1) through (17) of the definition of “Consolidated Net Income,” (ii) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash gain on Dispositions by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than Dispositions in the ordinary course of business) to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, (iii) increases in Consolidated Working Capital and long-term accounts receivable of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period (other than any such increases arising from acquisitions or dispositions by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period or the application of purchase accounting), (iv) without duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in prior periods or that would reduce any Excess Cash Flow payment pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(i), the aggregate consideration required to be paid in cash by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to binding contracts (the “Contract Consideration”) entered into prior to or during such period relating to acquisitions that constitute Investments permitted under this Agreement or Capital Expenditures or acquisitions of IP Rights to the extent expected to be consummated or made, plus any restructuring cash expenses, pension payments or tax contingency payments that have been added to Excess Cash Flow pursuant to clause (a)(ii) above required to be made, in each case during the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Lead Borrower following the end of such period; provided that to the extent the aggregate amount of internally generated cash actually utilized to finance such Investment, Capital Expenditures or acquisitions of IP Rights during such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters is less than the Contract Consideration, the amount of such shortfall shall be added to the calculation of Excess Cash Flow at the end of such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, (v) cash expenditures in respect of Swap Contracts during such period to the extent not deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income and (vi) any payment of cash to be amortized or expensed over a future period and recorded as a long-term asset. Notwithstanding anything in the definition of any term used in the definition of Excess Cash Flow to the contrary, all components of Excess Cash Flow shall be computed for the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

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

Excluded Assets” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.”

Excluded Contribution” means net cash proceeds, marketable securities or Qualified Proceeds received by the Lead Borrower from:

(1) contributions to its common equity capital;

(2) dividends, distributions, fees and other payments (A) from Unrestricted Subsidiaries and any of their Subsidiaries, (B) received in respect of any minority investments and (C) from any joint ventures that are not Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(3) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower or to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Lead Borrower) of Equity Interest (other than Disqualified Equity Interests, the Equity Investment and preferred stock) of the Borrowers (or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrowers to the extent contributed as common Equity Interests to the Borrowers);

 

42


in each case to the extent designated as Excluded Contributions by the Lead Borrower.

Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) any Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary of a Borrower or any other Subsidiary Guarantor, (b) any Subsidiary that does not have total assets in excess of 5% of Total Assets in the aggregate together with all other Subsidiaries excluded via this clause (b), (c) any Securitization Subsidiary, (d) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by applicable Law (whether on the Closing Date or thereafter) or Contractual Obligations existing on the Closing Date (or, in the case of any newly acquired Subsidiary, in existence at the time of acquisition but not entered into in contemplation thereof) from guaranteeing the Obligations or if guaranteeing the Obligation would require governmental (including regulatory) or other third-party (other than a Loan Party) consent, approval, license or authorization (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been obtained), (e) any other Subsidiary with respect to which the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower mutually agree that the burden or cost or other consequences (including any material adverse tax consequences) of providing a Guarantee shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom, (f) any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrowers organized in a jurisdiction other than an Agreed Security Jurisdiction, (g) any Subsidiary with respect to which the provision of a guarantee by it would result in material adverse tax consequences to Holdings, the Borrower, any direct or indirect parent entity of the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s direct or indirect Subsidiaries, in each case as reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, (h) any not-for-profit Subsidiaries, (i) any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (j) any direct or indirect Subsidiary (x) that is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC, (y) that is a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC, or (z) substantially all of the assets of which consist of capital stock and/or indebtedness of (i) one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs or (ii) other Subsidiaries described in this clause (j)(z) (any Subsidiary described in this clause (j)(z), a “FSHCO”), (k) any special purpose entities, (l) any captive insurance subsidiaries and (m) any Subsidiary which is not required to become a Guarantor pursuant to the Agreed Security Principles. For the avoidance of doubt, no Borrower shall constitute an Excluded Subsidiary; provided that for the avoidance of doubt (x) at the option of the Lead Borrower, any Excluded Subsidiary may issue a Guaranty and become a Guarantor as described in clause (iv) of the definition of “Guarantors” and (y) any Person that becomes a Guarantor pursuant to clause (iv) of the definition of “Guarantors” shall cease to constitute an Excluded Subsidiary and shall be released from its obligations under the Guaranty, solely on the basis that, prior to becoming a Guarantor, such Person constituted an Excluded Subsidiary.

Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, (a) any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guaranty of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guaranty thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation, or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) (i) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure to constitute an “eligible contract participant,” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder (determined after giving effect to Section 11.12 and any other applicable agreement for the

 

43


benefit of such Guarantor and any and all applicable guarantees of such Guarantor’s Swap Obligations by other Loan Parties), at the time the guarantee of (or grant of such security interest by, as applicable) such Guarantor becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or (ii) in the case of a Swap Obligation that is subject to a clearing requirement pursuant to section 2(h) of the Commodity Exchange Act, because such Guarantor is a “financial entity,” as defined in section 2(h)(7)(C) of the Commodity Exchange Act, at the time the guarantee of (or grant of such security interest by, as applicable) such Guarantor becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or (b) any other Swap Obligation designated as an “Excluded Swap Obligation” of such Guarantor as specified in any agreement between the relevant Loan Parties and the Approved Counterparty applicable to such Swap Obligations. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one Swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to the Swap for which such guarantee or security interest is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.

Existing Revolver Tranche” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(b).

Existing Term Loan Tranche” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).

Expiring Credit Commitment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(g).

Extended Revolving Credit Commitments” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(b).

Extended Revolving Credit Loans” means one or more Classes of Revolving Credit Loans that result from an Extension Amendment.

Extended Term Loans” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).

Extending Revolving Credit Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(c).

Extending Term Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(c).

Extension” means the establishment of an Extension Series by amending a Loan pursuant to Section 2.16 and the applicable Extension Amendment.

Extension Amendment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(d).

Extension Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(c).

Extension Request” means any Term Loan Extension Request or a Revolver Extension Request, as the case may be.

Extension Series” means any Term Loan Extension Series or a Revolver Extension Series, as the case may be.

 

44


Facility” means the Initial Term Loans, a given Class of Incremental Term Loans, a given Refinancing Series of Refinancing Term Loans, a given Extension Series of Extended Term Loans, the Revolving Credit Facility, a given Class of Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, a given Refinancing Series of Other Revolving Credit Commitments or a given Extension Series of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as the context may require.

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code as of the Closing Date (or any amended or successor version thereof that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future Treasury Regulations or other published administrative guidance promulgated thereunder or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to current Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code (or any amended or successor version described above), any intergovernmental agreements implementing the foregoing, and any laws, fiscal or regulatory legislation, or official guidance, notes or practices, in each case, adopted by a non-U.S. jurisdiction to implement the foregoing.

Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Citi on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent. If the Federal Funds Effective Rate is less than zero, it shall be deemed to be zero hereunder.

Fee Letter” means that certain Amended and Restated Fee Letter, dated as of December 13, 2019, by and among Buzz Holdings L.P., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Bank PLC, HSBC Bank PLC, Royal Bank of Canada, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise, modified from time to time.

Financial Covenant” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.09.

Financial Covenant Event of Default” has the meaning provided in Section 8.01(b).

Financing Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a Financing Lease; provided that any obligations of the Lead Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries either existing on the Closing Date or created prior to any recharacterization described below (i) that were not included on the consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower as financing or capital lease obligations and (ii) that are subsequently recharacterized as financing or capital lease obligations or indebtedness due to a change in accounting treatment or otherwise, shall for all purposes under this Agreement (including, without limitation, the calculation of Consolidated Net Income and Consolidated EBITDA) not be treated as financing or capital lease obligations, Financing Lease Obligations or Indebtedness.

 

45


Financing Leases” means all leases that have been or are required to be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as a financing or capital leases (and, for the avoidance of doubt, not a straight-line or operating lease) on both the balance sheet and income statement for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP (or to the extent then applicable, IFRS) as in effect on January 1, 2015; provided that for all purposes hereunder the amount of obligations under any Financing Lease shall be the amount thereof accounted for as a liability on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP as in effect on January 1, 2015.

FIRREA” means the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, as amended.

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means an intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit J-1 (which agreement in such form or with immaterial changes thereto the Collateral Agent is authorized to enter into) among Holdings, the Borrowers, the Subsidiaries of the Borrowers from time to time party thereto, the Collateral Agent and one or more collateral agents or representatives for the holders of Indebtedness that is permitted under Section 7.03 to be, and intended to be, secured on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the Obligations.

Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc. or any successor by merger or consolidation to its business.

Fixed Charges” means, with respect to the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the sum of, without duplication:

(1) Consolidated Interest Expense of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period;

(2) all cash dividends or other distributions paid (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of preferred stock during such period; and

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

Flood Insurance Laws” means, collectively, (i) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statue thereto, (iii) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (iv) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and (v) the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto.

Foreign Benefit Event” means, with respect to any Foreign Pension Plan, (a) the existence of unfunded liabilities in excess of the amount permitted under any applicable Law or in excess of the amount that would be permitted absent a waiver from any applicable Governmental Authority or (b) the failure to make the required contributions or payments, under any applicable Law, on or before the due date for such contributions or payments.

 

46


Foreign Currency Denominated Letter of Credit” means any Letter of Credit denominated in an Approved Foreign Currency, other than, with respect to each L/C Issuer, those Approved Foreign Currencies not authorized to be issued by such L/C Issuer as notified to the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower from time to time.

Foreign Currency Denominated Loan” means any Loan incurred in any Approved Foreign Currency.

Foreign Disposition” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b)(x).

Foreign Loan Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.15.

Foreign Pension Plan” means any benefit plan that under applicable Law is required to be funded through a trust or other funding vehicle other than a trust or funding vehicle maintained exclusively by a Governmental Authority.

Foreign Security Documents” means security documents in favor of the Collateral Agent or any of the Secured Parties, granted by any Loan Party which is organized under the laws of Bermuda or England and Wales.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

Foreign Subsidiary Total Assets” means the total assets of the Foreign Subsidiaries, as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP in good faith by a Responsible Officer.

FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

Free and Clear Incremental Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(d)(v).

Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to the L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the outstanding L/C Obligations other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) with respect to the Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of Swing Line Loans other than Swing Line 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.

FSHCO” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Excluded Subsidiary”.

Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course.

 

47


GAAP” means at the election of the Lead Borrower (such election to be made no more than three times during the term of this Agreement), (a) the accounting standards and interpretations adopted by the International Accounting Standard Board, as in effect from time to time (“IFRS”) if the Lead Borrower’s financial statements are at such time prepared in accordance with IFRS or (b) generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, as in effect from time to time (“U.S. GAAP”) if the Lead Borrower’s financial statements are at such time prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP; provided, however, that (i) that if the Lead Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Lead Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change in accounting principles or change as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies (including, but not limited to, the impact of Accounting Standards Update 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) or similar revenue recognition policies or any change in the methodology of calculating reserves for returns, rebates and other chargebacks) occurring after the Closing Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Lead Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith, (ii) GAAP shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to any election under FASB ASC Topic 825 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries at “fair value,” as defined therein, and Indebtedness shall be measured at the aggregate principal amount thereof, (iii) the accounting for operating leases and financing or capital leases under (x) GAAP as in effect on January 1, 2015 (including, without limitation, Accounting Standards Codification 840) and (y) IFRS, as in effect prior to giving effect to IFRS 16 on December 31, 2018, in each case shall apply for the purposes of determining compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, including the definition of Financing Leases and obligations in respect thereof, (iv) all references to codified accounting standards specifically named in this Agreement shall be deemed to include any successor, replacement, amendment or updated accounting standard under IFRS or U.S. GAAP, as applicable, (v) neither IFRS nor U.S. GAAP shall include the policies, rules and regulations of the SEC, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the International Accounting Standards Board or any other applicable regulatory or governing body applicable only to public companies, (vi) any calculation or determination in this Agreement that requires the application of GAAP across multiple quarters need not be calculated or determined using the same accounting standard for each constituent quarter. The Lead Borrower will give notice of any such election made in accordance with this definition to the Administrative Agent. 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.

GAAP Accounting Changes” has the meaning specified in Section 1.03.

Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, administrative tribunal, central bank, self-regulatory organization or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

 

48


Granting Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(i).

Guarantee” means, as to any Person, without duplication, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien); provided that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit, in either case in the ordinary course of business, or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Closing Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets not prohibited under this Agreement (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01.

Guarantors” means, collectively, (i) Holdings, (ii) each Borrower (other than in respect of its own Obligations), (iii) any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower (other than any Excluded Subsidiary), (iv) those wholly owned Subsidiaries organized in an Agreed Security Jurisdiction that issue a Guaranty of the Obligations after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6.11 or any other Person (including any Excluded Subsidiary) organized under the laws of the an Agreed Security Jurisdiction or, to the extent reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent any other jurisdiction that, at the option of the Lead Borrower, issues a Guaranty of the Obligations after the Closing Date and (v) solely in respect of any Secured Hedge Agreement or Treasury Services Agreement to which the Borrowers are not a party, the Borrowers, in each case, until the Guaranty thereof is released in accordance with this Agreement.

Guaranty” means, collectively, the guaranty of the Obligations by the Guarantors pursuant to this Agreement.

Hazardous Materials” means all materials, pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, compounds, constituents, substances or wastes, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, lead, radon gas, pesticides, fungicides, or toxic mold, in each case that are regulated pursuant to, or which would give rise to liability under, applicable Environmental Law.

 

49


Holding Company” means any Person so long as such Person directly or indirectly holds 100% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings, and at the time such Person acquired such voting power, no Person and no group (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the Closing Date), including any such group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) (other than any Permitted Holder), shall have beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of such Person.

Holdings” means Holdings, if it is the direct parent of the Lead Borrower, or, if not, any Domestic Subsidiary of Holdings that directly owns 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrowers and issues a Guaranty of the Obligations and agrees to assume the obligations of “Holdings” pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents pursuant to one or more instruments in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Honor Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c)(i).

Identified Participating Lenders” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(3).

Identified Qualifying Lenders” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(3).

IFRS” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “GAAP”.

Immaterial Subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.03.

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 estates 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.

Incremental Amendment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(f).

Incremental Base Amount” means the greater of (x) $135,000,000 and (y) an amount equal to 100% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA.

Incremental Commitments” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

 

50


Incremental Equivalent Debt” means Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt, Incremental Equivalent Junior Lien Debt and/or Incremental Equivalent Unsecured Debt.

Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.03(q).

Incremental Equivalent Junior Lien Debt” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.03(q).

Incremental Equivalent Unsecured Debt” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.03(w).

Incremental Facility” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Facility Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(d).

Incremental Lenders” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(c).

Incremental Loan Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Loans” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(b).

Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Revolving Credit Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(c).

Incremental Revolving Credit Loan” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(b).

Incremental Revolving Facility” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Term Commitments” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Term Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(c).

Incremental Term Loan” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(b).

Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(d)(v).

Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following:

(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

 

51


(b) the maximum amount (after giving effect to any prior drawings or reductions which may have been reimbursed) of all outstanding letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds and similar instruments issued or created by or for the account of such Person;

(c) net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;

(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property (including Financing Lease Obligations) or services (other than (i) trade accounts and accrued expenses payable in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any earn-out obligation (x) until sixty (60) days after such obligation becomes due and payable or (y) otherwise not treated as a liability on the balance sheet and (iii) accruals for payroll and other liabilities accrued in the ordinary course);

(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements and mortgage, industrial revenue bond, industrial development bond and similar financings), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

(f) all Attributable Indebtedness;

(g) all obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests;

if and to the extent that any of the foregoing would constitute indebtedness or a liability in accordance with GAAP; provided that Indebtedness of any direct or indirect parent of the Lead Borrower appearing on the balance sheet of the Lead Borrower solely by reason of push-down accounting under GAAP shall be excluded; and

(h) to the extent not otherwise included above, all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall (A) include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation, company or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, except to the extent such Person’s liability for such Indebtedness is otherwise expressly limited and only to the extent such Indebtedness would be included in the calculation of Consolidated Total Net Debt, (B) in the case of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, exclude all intercompany Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business, (C) exclude contingent obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, obligations under or in respect of Non-Financing Lease Obligations, Qualified Securitization Facilities, straight-line leases, operating leases, Sale and Lease-Back Transactions (except any resulting Financing Lease Obligations) or lease lease-back transactions, (D) exclude obligations under any license, permit or other approval (or guarantees given in respect of such obligations) incurred prior to the Closing Date or in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and (E) exclude (i) deferred or prepaid revenue, (ii) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the seller, (iii) any obligations attributable to the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect

 

52


thereto, (iv) accrued expenses and royalties, (v) in connection with the purchase by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any business, any 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) any obligations in respect of workers’ compensation claims, retirement, post-employment or termination obligations (including pensions and retiree medical care), pension fund obligations or contributions or similar claims, or social security or wage taxes or contributions, (vii) any liability for taxes and (viii) asset retirement obligations and other pension and other post-employment benefit related obligations (including pensions and retiree medical care). The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of Indebtedness of any Person for purposes of clause (e) shall be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness (not to exceed the maximum amount of such Indebtedness for which such Person could be liable) and (ii) the fair market value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith. Notwithstanding anything in this definition to the contrary, Indebtedness shall be calculated without giving effect to the effects of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 815 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose hereunder as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness.

Indemnified Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05.

Indemnified Taxes” means, with respect to any Agent or any Lender, all Taxes imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, other than (i) Taxes imposed on or measured by its net income, however denominated, and franchise (and similar) Taxes imposed in lieu of net income Taxes, by a jurisdiction (A) as a result of such Agent’s or Lender’s being organized in or having its principal office (or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable Lending Office) in such jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof), or (B) as a result of a present or former connection between such Lender or Agent and such jurisdiction other than any connections arising from executing, delivering, being a party to, engaging in any transactions pursuant to, performing its obligations under, receiving payments under, enforcing, or having sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or any Loan Document, (ii) Taxes attributable to the failure by such Lender or Agent to deliver the documentation required to be delivered pursuant to Section 3.01(d) or (g), (iii) any branch profits Taxes imposed by the United States or any similar Tax, imposed by any jurisdiction described in clause (i) above, (iv) in the case of any Lender, any U.S. federal withholding Tax that is imposed pursuant to a law in effect on the date such Lender (A) acquires an interest in the applicable Commitment (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrowers under Section 3.07) (or, in the case of an applicable interest in a Loan not funded by such Lender pursuant to a prior Commitment, the date such Lender acquired such interest in such Loan), or (B) designates a new Lending Office, except in both cases to the extent such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled immediately prior to the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment) to receive additional amounts with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 3.01 and (v) any withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Lender” for purposes of this definition shall include each L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender.

 

53


Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05.

Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.08.

Initial Term Commitment” means, as to each Term Lender, its obligation to make an Initial Term Loan to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(a) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Term Lender’s name in Schedule 1.01A under the caption “Initial Term Commitment.” The initial aggregate principal amount of the Initial Term Commitments is $575,000,000.

Initial Term Loans” means the term loans made by the Lenders on the Closing Date to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(a).

Intellectual Property Security Agreements” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

Intercompany License Agreement” means any cost-sharing agreement, commission or royalty agreement, license or sub-license agreement, distribution agreement, services agreement, IP Rights transfer agreement or any related agreements, in each case where all the parties to such agreement are one or more of the Lead Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary thereof.

Intercompany Note” means a promissory note substantially in the form of Exhibit I.

Intercreditor Agreements” means any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, collectively, in each case to the extent in effect.

Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made; provided that if any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.

Interest Period” means, as to each Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter or, to the extent agreed by each Lender of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, twelve months or less than one month thereafter, as selected by the Lead Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice; provided that:

(i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall, subject to clause (iii) below, be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

 

54


(ii) any Interest Period (other than an Interest Period having a duration of less than one month) that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

(iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.

Interpolated Rate” means, in relation to the LIBO Screen Rate, the rate which results from interpolating on a linear basis between:

(a) the applicable LIBO Screen Rate for the longest period (for which that LIBO Screen Rate is available) which is less than the Interest period of the Loan; and

(b) the applicable LIBO Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that LIBO Screen Rate is available) which exceeds the Interest Period of that Loan;

each as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period of that Loan.

Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests or debt or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of Indebtedness of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person (excluding, in the case of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (i) intercompany advances arising from their cash management, tax, and accounting operations, in each case, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and (ii) intercompany loans, advances, or Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice) or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of another Person or assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of such Person. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment at any time shall be the amount actually invested (measured at the time made), without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment but less all returns, distributions and similar amounts received on such Investment.

Investors” means each of (a) the Blackstone Funds and any of their Affiliates (other than any portfolio operating companies) and (b) certain other Persons that have rolled over or invested equity in Holdings (or other direct or indirect parent company of the Lead Borrower) as of the Closing Date and any of their Affiliates or Immediate Family Members.

IP Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.15.

IPO Entity” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Qualified IPO.”

 

55


IPO Listco” means a wholly owned Subsidiary of Holdings formed in contemplation of any Qualified IPO to become an IPO Entity.

ISP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

Junior Financing” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.10(a).

Junior Financing Documentation” means any documentation governing any Junior Financing.

Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means an intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit J-2 hereto (which agreement in such form or with immaterial changes thereto the Collateral Agent is authorized to enter into) between the Collateral Agent and one or more collateral agents or representatives for the holders of Indebtedness that is not prohibited under Section 7.03 to be, and intended to be, secured on a junior lien basis to the Liens securing the Obligations.

L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Revolving Credit Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement.

L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the applicable Honor Date or refinanced as a Revolving Credit Borrowing. All L/C Borrowings shall be denominated in Dollars.

L/C Commitment” means, with respect to each L/C Issuer, the commitment of such L/C Issuer to issue Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.03, as such commitment is set forth on Schedule 1.01A or if an L/C Issuer has entered into an Assignment and Assumption, the amount set forth for such L/C Issuer as its L/C Commitment in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent.

L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the renewal or increase of the amount thereof.

L/C Disbursement” means any payment made by an L/C Issuer pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

L/C Issuer” means each of (a) Citi, (b) each other Person with a L/C Commitment set forth on Schedule 1.01A and (c) any other Lender that becomes an L/C Issuer in accordance with Sections 2.03(k) or 10.07(k), in each case in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder. Each L/C Issuer may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of similar creditworthiness to such L/C Issuer, in which case the term “L/C Issuer” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate and for all purposes of the Loan Documents. If there is more than one L/C Issuer at any given time, the term L/C Issuer shall refer to the relevant L/C Issuer(s). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, unless separately agreed with the Borrower, Citi shall only be required to issue standby letters of credit denominated in Dollars.

 

56


L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 2.03(l). For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP or Rule 36 of UCP 600, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

Latest Maturity Date” means, at any date of determination, the latest Maturity Date applicable to any Loan or Commitment hereunder at such time, including the latest maturity date of any Refinancing Term Loan, any Refinancing Term Commitment, any Extended Term Loan, any Extended Revolving Credit Commitment, any Incremental Term Loans, any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments or any Other Revolving Credit Commitments, in each case as extended in accordance with this Agreement from time to time.

Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents, orders, decrees, injunctions or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority.

LCT Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.02(h).

LCT Test Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.02(h).

Lead Arrangers” means Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Bank PLC, HSBC Bank PLC, RBC Capital Markets LLC, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and, if applicable, certain Affiliates of the foregoing, in their respective capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners under this Agreement.

Lead Borrower” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

Lender” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement and, as the context requires, includes an L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, and their respective successors and assigns as permitted hereunder, each of which is referred to herein as a “Lender”.

Lender Default” means (i) the refusal (which may be given verbally or in writing and has not been retracted) or failure of any Lender to make available its portion of any incurrence of revolving loans or reimbursement obligations required to be made by it, which refusal or failure is not cured within two Business Days after the date of such refusal or failure; (ii) the failure of

 

57


any Lender to pay over to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date when due, unless subject to a good faith dispute; (iii) a Lender has notified the Lead Borrower or the Administrative Agent that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations, or has made a public statement to that effect with respect to its funding obligations, under the Revolving Credit Facility or under other agreements generally in which it commits to extend credit; (iv) a Lender has failed, within three Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm that it will comply with its funding obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility; or (v) a Lender has admitted in writing that it is insolvent or such Lender becomes subject to a Lender-Related Distress Event or a Bail-In Action. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender Default has occurred under any one or more of clauses (i) through (v) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and the applicable Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.17(b)) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Lead Borrower, each L/C Issuer, each Swing Line Lender and each Lender.

Lender-Related Distress Event” means, with respect to any Lender or any person that directly or indirectly controls such Lender (each, a “Distressed Person”), as the case may be, a voluntary or involuntary case with respect to such Distressed Person under any Debtor Relief Law, or a custodian, conservator, receiver or similar official is appointed for such Distressed Person or any substantial part of such Distressed Person’s assets, or such Distressed Person or any person that directly or indirectly controls such Distressed Person is subject to a forced liquidation, or such Distressed Person makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or is otherwise adjudicated as, or determined by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Distressed Person or its assets to be, insolvent or bankrupt; provided that a Lender-Related Distress Event shall not be deemed to have occurred solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interests in any Lender or any person that directly or indirectly controls such Lender by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof.

Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued hereunder. A Letter of Credit may be a commercial letter of credit or a standby letter of credit and may be issued in any Approved Currency.

Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is five (5) Business Days prior to the scheduled Maturity Date then in effect for the applicable Revolving Credit Facility (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

Letter of Credit Issuance Request” means a letter of credit request substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $25,000,000 and (b) the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

58


LIBO Screen Rate” means, for any day and time, with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan for any applicable currency and for any Interest Period, (i) the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration for the relevant currency for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on such day and time on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Bloomberg screen that displays such rate or (ii) in the event the rate referenced in the preceding clause (i) does not appear on such page or service or if such page or service shall cease to be available, the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the offered rate on such other page or other service which displays the LIBO Screen Rate for deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period in such currency; provided that if LIBO Screen Rates are quoted under either of the preceding clauses (i) or (ii), but there is no such quotation for the Interest Period elected, the LIBO Screen Rate shall be equal to the Interpolated Rate.

Lien” means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment by way of security, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to Real Property, and any Financing Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing); provided that in no event shall a Non-Financing Lease Obligation be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Limited Condition Transaction” means any acquisition or similar permitted Investment, including by way of merger, amalgamation or consolidation, by one or more of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries of any assets, business or Person permitted by this Agreement the consummation of which is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party acquisition financing.

Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrowers under Article 2 in the form of a Term Loan, a Revolving Credit Loan or a Swing Line Loan (including any Incremental Term Loan and any extensions of credit under any Revolving Commitment Increase).

Loan Documents” means, collectively, (i) this Agreement, (ii) the Notes, (iii) the Collateral Documents, (iv) each Intercreditor Agreement to the extent then in effect, (v) each Letter of Credit Issuance Request, (vi) the Agency Fee Letter and (vii) any Refinancing Amendment, Incremental Amendment or Extension Amendment.

Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrowers and each Guarantor.

LTM Consolidated EBITDA” means Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ended prior to the date of determination for which financial statements are internally available, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

Management Stockholders” means the future, present and former members of management, employees, directors, officers, managers, members or partners (and their Controlled Investment Affiliates and Immediate Family Members) of Holdings, the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries who are investors in Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any direct or indirect parent thereof including any such future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, members or partners owning through an Equityholding Vehicle.

 

59


Margin Stock” has the meaning set forth in Regulation U issued by the FRB.

Market Capitalization” means an amount equal to (i) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common Equity Interests of the IPO Entity on the date of the declaration of a Restricted Payment multiplied by (ii) the arithmetic mean of the closing prices per share of such common Equity Interests on the principal securities exchange on which such common Equity Interests are traded for the 30 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of declaration of such Restricted Payment.

Master Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Swap Contract.”

Material Adverse Effect” means a (a) material adverse effect on the business, operations, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent) or financial condition of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (b) material adverse effect on the ability of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) to fully and timely perform any of their payment obligations under any Loan Document to which the Borrowers or any of the other Loan Parties is a party; or (c) material adverse effect on the rights and remedies available to the Lenders or any Agent under any Loan Document.

Material Real Property” means any fee owned Real Property located in the United States that is owned by any Loan Party with a fair market value in excess of $10,000,000 (at the Closing Date or, with respect to fee owned Real Property acquired after the Closing Date, at the time of acquisition, in each case, as reasonably estimated by the Lead Borrower in good faith).

Maturity Date” means (i) with respect to the Initial Term Loans, the date that is seven years after the Closing Date, (ii) with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments, the date that is five years after the Closing Date, (iii) with respect to any tranche of Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, the final maturity date applicable thereto as specified in the applicable Extension Request accepted by the respective Lender or Lenders, (iv) with respect to any Refinancing Term Loans or Other Revolving Credit Commitments, the final maturity date applicable thereto as specified in the applicable Refinancing Amendment and (v) with respect to any Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, the final maturity date applicable thereto as specified in the applicable Incremental Amendment; provided, in each case, that if such date is not a Business Day, then the applicable Maturity Date shall be the next succeeding Business Day.

Maximum Rate” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.10.

Merger Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preliminary Statements to this Agreement.

MFN Excluded Loans” means any Incremental Term Loans (a) of up to the greater of (x) $135,000,000 and (y) an amount equal to 100% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA (the “MFN Trigger Amount”) in an aggregate principal amount as designated in writing by the Lead Borrower to the Administrative Agent, (b) with a maturity date on or after the date that is 12

 

60


months after the Maturity Date of the Initial Term Loans (the “MFN Maturity Limitation”), (c) that are denominated in a currency other than Dollars, (d) not secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Loans, (e) incurred other than pursuant to the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount, (f) incurred for the purpose of funding a Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment not prohibited hereunder, (g) consisting of customary bridge facilities or term loan A facilities (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith) and/or (h) established following the date that is six (6) months after the Closing Date.

MFN Maturity Limitation” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “MFN Excluded Loans.”

MFN Protection” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(e)(iii).

MFN Trigger Amount” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “MFN Excluded Loans”.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Mortgage Policies” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.”

Mortgaged Property” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.”

Mortgages” means collectively, the deeds of trust, trust deeds, deeds to secure debt, hypothecs and mortgages made by the Loan Parties in favor or for the benefit of the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties creating and evidencing a Lien on a Mortgaged Property in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent with such terms and provisions as may be required by the applicable Laws of the relevant jurisdiction, and any other mortgages executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.11 or 6.13, in each case, as the same may from time to time be amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified.

Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 3(37) or Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which any Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the six years preceding the applicable date of reference, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

Net Proceeds” means:

(a) 100% of the cash proceeds actually received by the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise and including casualty insurance settlements and condemnation awards, but in each case only as and when received) from any Disposition or Casualty Event, net of (i) attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, consultants’ fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes, other customary expenses and brokerage, consultant and other customary fees actually incurred in

 

61


connection therewith, (ii) the principal amount, premium or penalty, if any, interest and other amounts on any Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien (other than a Lien that ranks pari passu with or subordinated to the Liens securing the Obligations) on the asset subject to such Disposition or Casualty Event and that is required to be repaid (and is timely repaid) in connection with such Disposition or Casualty Event (other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents), (iii) in the case of any Disposition or Casualty Event by a non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary, the pro rata portion of the Net Proceeds thereof (calculated without regard to this clause (iii)) attributable to minority interests and not available for distribution to or for the account of the Lead Borrower or a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary as a result thereof, (iv) any costs associated with unwinding any related Swap Obligations in connection with such transaction, (v) Taxes (including Tax distributions paid pursuant to Section 7.06(i)(iii)) paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof, and (vi) the amount of any reasonable reserve established in accordance with GAAP against any adjustment to the sale price or any liabilities (other than any taxes deducted pursuant to clause (i) above) (x) related to any of the applicable assets and (y) retained by the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations (however, the amount of any subsequent reduction of such reserve (other than in connection with a payment in respect of any such liability) shall be deemed to be Net Proceeds of such Disposition or Casualty Event occurring on the date of such reduction); provided that so long as no Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a) or, solely with respect to the Borrowers, Section 8.01(f) has occurred and is continuing, the Borrowers may reinvest any portion of such proceeds in assets useful for their business (which shall include any Investment permitted by this Agreement) within 18 months of such receipt and such portion of such proceeds shall not constitute Net Proceeds except to the extent not, within 18 months of such receipt, so reinvested or contractually committed to be so reinvested (it being understood that if any portion of such proceeds are not so used within such 18-month period but within such 18-month period are contractually committed to be used, then upon the termination of such contract or if such Net Proceeds are not so used within 24 months of initial receipt, such remaining portion shall constitute Net Proceeds as of the date of such termination or expiry without giving effect to this proviso); it being further understood that such proceeds shall constitute Net Proceeds notwithstanding any investment notice if an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) or, solely with respect to the Borrowers, Section 8.01(f) has occurred and is continuing at the time of a proposed reinvestment, unless such proposed reinvestment is made pursuant to a binding commitment entered into at a time when no such Event of Default was continuing; provided, further, that (x) the proceeds realized in any single transaction or series of related transactions shall not constitute Net Proceeds unless the amount of such proceeds exceeds the greater of (i) $20,000,000 and (ii) 15% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA and (y) only the aggregate amount of proceeds (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Net Proceeds described in the preceding clause (x)) in excess of the greater of (i) $40,000,000 and (ii) 30% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA in any fiscal year shall constitute Net Proceeds under this clause (a); and

 

62


(b) 100% of the cash proceeds from the incurrence, issuance or sale by the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness, net of all taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof and fees (including investment banking fees and discounts), commissions, costs and other expenses, in each case incurred in connection with such incurrence, issuance or sale.

For purposes of calculating the amount of Net Proceeds, fees, commissions and other costs and expenses payable to the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall be disregarded.

Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07(d).

Non-Debt Fund Affiliate” means any Affiliate of Holdings other than (a) Holdings, the Borrowers or any Subsidiary of the Borrowers, (b) any Debt Fund Affiliates and (c) any natural person.

Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, a Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender.

Non-Expiring Credit Commitment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(g).

Non-Extension Notice Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(b)(iii).

Non-Financing Lease Obligation” means a lease obligation that is not required to be accounted for as a financing or capital lease on both the balance sheet and the income statement for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. For the avoidance of doubt, a straight-line or operating lease shall be considered a Non-Financing Lease Obligation.

Not Otherwise Applied” means, with reference to any amount of proceeds of any transaction or event, that such amount (a) was not required to be applied to prepay the Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b), (b) was not previously (and is not concurrently being) applied in determining the permissibility of a transaction under the Loan Documents where such permissibility was or is (or may have been) contingent on receipt of such amount or utilization of such amount for a specified purpose, (c) was not utilized pursuant to Section 8.05, (d) was not applied to incur Indebtedness pursuant to Section 7.03(m)(y), (e) was not utilized to make Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 7.06 (other than pursuant to Section 7.06(h)(y)), (f) was not utilized to make Investments pursuant to Sections 7.02(n), (p), (v), (w) or (z), (g) was not utilized to make prepayments of any Junior Financing pursuant to Section 7.10 (other than Section 7.10(a)(iv)(y)) or (h) was not utilized to increase availability under clause (d) of the definition of Cumulative Credit. The Lead Borrower shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of any application of such amount as contemplated by (b) above.

Note” means a Term Note, a Revolving Credit Note or a Swing Line Note, as the context may require.

Obligations” means all (x) advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party and its Restricted Subsidiaries arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming

 

63


such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding and (y) obligations of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary arising under any Secured Hedge Agreement or any Treasury Services Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents (and of their Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent they have obligations under the Loan Documents) include (a) the obligation (including guarantee obligations) to pay principal, interest, Letter of Credit fees, reimbursement obligations, charges, expenses, fees, Attorney Costs, indemnities and other amounts payable by any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) the obligation of any Loan Party to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the foregoing that any Lender, in its sole discretion, may elect to pay or advance on behalf of such Loan Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary under any Secured Hedge Agreement or any Treasury Services Agreement shall be secured and guaranteed pursuant to the Collateral Documents and the Guaranty only to the extent that, and for so long as, the other Obligations are so secured and guaranteed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations of any Guarantor shall in no event include any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor.

OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.

Offered Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1).

Offered Discount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1).

OID” means original issue discount.

Organizational Documents” means (a) with respect to any corporation or company, the certificate or articles of incorporation, the memorandum of association (if applicable) or the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any applicable jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

Other Applicable Indebtedness” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b)(ii).

Other Borrower Party” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

Other Debt Representative” means, with respect to any series of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred hereunder on a pari passu or junior lien basis to the Lien securing the Obligations, the trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, security agent or similar agent under the indenture or agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained, as the case may be, and each of their successors in such capacities.

 

64


Other Revolving Credit Commitments” means one or more Classes of revolving credit commitments hereunder that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Other Revolving Credit Loans” means one or more Classes of Revolving Credit Loans that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Other Taxes” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(b).

Outstanding Amount” means (a) with respect to the Term Loans, Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding Principal Amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Term Loans, Revolving Credit Loans (including any refinancing of outstanding unpaid drawings under Letters of Credit or L/C Credit Extensions as a Revolving Credit Borrowing) and Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; and (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the aggregate outstanding Principal Amount thereof on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes thereto as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements of outstanding unpaid drawings under any Letters of Credit (including any refinancing of outstanding unpaid drawings under Letters of Credit or L/C Credit Extensions as a Revolving Credit Borrowing) or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.

Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(f).

Participant Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(f).

Participating Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(2).

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate or to which any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding six years.

Perfection Certificate” means with respect to any Loan Party organized in the United States and each Foreign Grantor (as defined in the Security Agreement and other than any Foreign Grantor organized under the laws of England and Wales), a certificate in the form of Exhibit H hereto or any other form reasonably approved by the Collateral Agent, as the same shall be supplemented from time to time.

Perfection Requirements” means the making or the procuring of the applicable registrations, filings, endorsements, notarizations, recordings, stampings and/or notifications of the Foreign Security Documents (and/or the Liens created thereunder) necessary for the validity, enforceability or perfection thereof.

Permitted Acquisition” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02(i).

 

65


Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception” means, with respect to the incurrence of any Incremental Term Loans, Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, Permitted Ratio Debt and any Indebtedness incurred under Section 7.03(g), (q) or (w) permitted to be incurred hereunder, (a) up to an aggregate principal amount of the greater of (i) $135,000,000 and (ii) 100% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA, in each case determined at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness, (b) incurred for the purpose of funding a Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment not prohibited hereunder or (c) consisting of customary bridge facilities or term loan A facilities (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith) (collectively, the “Specified Debt”) may have a maturity date that is earlier than and a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is shorter than, the Indebtedness with respect to which the Specified Debt is otherwise required to have a later maturity date.

“Permitted First Lien Ratio Debt” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Ratio Debt”.

Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt” means any Permitted First Priority Refinancing Notes and any Permitted First Priority Refinancing Loans.

Permitted First Priority Refinancing Loans” means any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in the form of secured loans incurred by a Borrower and/or the Subsidiary Guarantors in the form of one or more tranches of loans not under this Agreement; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Liens securing the Obligations and is not secured by any property or assets of Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (ii) such Indebtedness is not at any time guaranteed by any Subsidiaries other than Subsidiaries that are Guarantors, (iii) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, such Indebtedness does not mature on or prior to the date that is the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred or issued or have a shorter Weighted Average Life to Maturity than the Initial Term Loans and (iv) an Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to each Intercreditor Agreement then in effect.

Permitted First Priority Refinancing Notes” means any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in the form of secured Indebtedness (including any Registered Equivalent Notes) incurred by a Borrower and/or the Subsidiary Guarantors in the form of one or more series of senior secured notes (whether issued in a public offering, Rule 144A, private placement or otherwise); provided that (i) such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Liens securing the Obligations and is not secured by any property or assets of Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (ii) such Indebtedness is not at any time guaranteed by any Subsidiaries other than Subsidiaries that are Guarantors, (iii) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, such Indebtedness does not mature or have scheduled amortization or payments of principal (other than customary offers to repurchase upon a change of control, asset sale or event of loss and a customary acceleration right after an event of default) on or prior to the date that is the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred or issued and (iv) an Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to each Intercreditor Agreement then in effect. Permitted First Priority Refinancing Notes will include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.

 

66


Permitted Holders” means each of (a) the Investors, (b) the Management Stockholders (including any Management Stockholders holding Equity Interests through an Equityholding Vehicle), (c) any Person who is acting solely as an underwriter in connection with a public or private offering of Equity Interests of a Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parent companies, acting in such capacity, (d) any group (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the Closing Date) of which any of the foregoing, any Holding Company, Permitted Plan or any Person or group that becomes a Permitted Holder specified in the last sentence of this definition are members and any member of such group; provided, that in the case of such group and without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, Persons referred to in clauses (a) through (c), collectively, have beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the total voting power of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings or any of its direct or indirect parent companies held by such group, (e) any Holding Company and (f) any Permitted Plan.

Permitted Intercompany Activities” means any transactions (A) between or among the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are entered into in the ordinary course of business of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and, in the good faith judgment of the Lead Borrower are necessary or advisable in connection with the ownership or operation of the business of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including, but not limited to, (i) payroll, cash management, purchasing, insurance and hedging arrangements, (ii) management, technology and licensing arrangements and (iii) customer loyalty and rewards programs or (B) between or among the Lead Borrower, its Restricted Subsidiaries and any captive insurance subsidiaries.

Permitted Junior Lien Refinancing Debt” means Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness constituting secured Indebtedness (including any Registered Equivalent Notes) incurred by a Borrower and/or the Subsidiary Guarantors in the form of one or more series of junior lien secured notes or junior lien secured loans; provided that (i) notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the definition of “Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness,” such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a junior priority basis to the Liens securing the Obligations and the obligations in respect of any Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt and is not secured by any property or assets of Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (ii) an Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a “Junior Priority Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement) and (iii) such Indebtedness meets the Permitted Other Debt Conditions. Permitted Junior Lien Refinancing Debt will include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.

“Permitted Junior Secured Ratio Debt” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Ratio Debt”.

 

67


Permitted Other Debt Conditions” means that such applicable Indebtedness (i) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, does not mature or have scheduled amortization payments of principal or payments of principal and is not subject to mandatory redemption, repurchase, prepayment or sinking fund obligations (except customary asset sale or change of control provisions that provide for the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations), in each case on or prior to the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred and (ii) is not at any time guaranteed by any Subsidiaries other than Subsidiaries that are Guarantors.

Permitted Plan” means any employee benefit plan of Holdings or any of its Affiliates (including any Equityholding Vehicle) and any Person acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan.

Permitted Ratio Debt” means Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as immediately after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto and to the use of the proceeds thereof (but without netting the proceeds thereof) (i) no Event of Default shall be continuing or result therefrom and (ii) (x) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the Obligations, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio is no greater than either (I) 3.75 to 1.00 or (II) in the case of any such Indebtedness being applied to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment, in each case, determined on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available (“Permitted First Lien Ratio Debt”), (y) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a junior lien basis to the Liens securing the Obligations, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio is no greater than either (I) 4.75 to 1.00 or (II) in the case of any such Indebtedness being applied to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other similar permitted Investment, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment, in each case, determined on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available (“Permitted Junior Secured Ratio Debt”) and (z) if such Indebtedness is unsecured (or not secured by all or any portion of the Collateral), either (I) the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio is no less than either (A) 2.00 to 1.00 or (B) in the case of any such Indebtedness being applied to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other similar permitted Investment, the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment or (II) the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio is no greater than either (A) 5.25 to 1.00 or (B) in the case of any such Indebtedness being applied to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment, in each case, determined on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available (“Permitted Unsecured Ratio Debt”); provided that, such Indebtedness shall (A) in the case of clause (x) above, have a maturity date that is after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, and in the case of clause (y) or (z) above, have a maturity date that is at least ninety-one (91) days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred (in each case, subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness

 

68


Exception); provided that restrictions in this clause (A) shall not apply to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes (i) a customary bridge facility, so long as the long-term Indebtedness into which such customary bridge facility is to be converted or exchanged satisfies the requirements of this clause (A) and such conversion or exchange is subject only to conditions customary for similar conversions or exchanges or (ii) term loan A facilities (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith), (B) in the case of clause (x) above, have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity not shorter than the longest remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Facilities and, in the case of clause (y) or (z) above, shall not be subject to scheduled amortization prior to maturity (in each case, subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception); provided that restrictions in this clause (B) shall not apply to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes (i) a customary bridge facility, so long as the long-term Indebtedness into which such customary bridge facility is to be converted or exchanged satisfies the requirements of this clause (B) and such conversion or exchange is subject only to conditions customary for similar conversions or exchanges or (ii) term loan A facilities (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith), (C) (x) if such Indebtedness is incurred or guaranteed on a secured basis by a Loan Party on a junior lien basis to the Liens securing the Obligations, an Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a “Junior Priority Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement) and (y) if such Indebtedness is incurred or guaranteed on a secured basis by a Loan Party on a pari passu basis to the Liens securing the Obligations, an Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to each Intercreditor Agreement, (D) have terms and conditions (other than (x) pricing, rate floors, discounts, fees, premiums and optional prepayment or redemption provisions and (y) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness and to the extent any terms or conditions that are more restrictive are added for the benefit of such Permitted Ratio Debt, to the extent that such terms or conditions are also added for the benefit of each Facility remaining outstanding after the incurrence or issuance of such Permitted Ratio Debt) (i) that in the good faith determination of the Lead Borrower are not materially less favorable (when taken as a whole) to the Borrowers than the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents (when taken as a whole) or reflect market terms and conditions (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence or issuance or (ii) that are otherwise as agreed between the Lead Borrower and the lender, holder or other provider of such Indebtedness (provided that a certificate of the Lead Borrower as to the satisfaction of the conditions described in this clause (D) delivered at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of documentation relating thereto, stating that the Lead Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirements of this clause (D), shall be conclusive evidence) and (E) in the case of Permitted First Lien Ratio Debt in the form of term loans (other than customary bridge loans or term loan A facilities as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith), be subject to the MFN Protection (but subject to the MFN Trigger Amount and MFN Maturity Limitation exceptions to such MFN Protection) as if such Indebtedness were an Incremental Term Loan; provided, further, that any such Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clauses (x), (y) or (z) above by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, together with any Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party pursuant to Sections 7.03(g), 7.03(q) or 7.03(w), does not exceed in the aggregate at any time outstanding the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 35% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA, in each case determined at the time of incurrence.

 

69


Permitted Refinancing” means, with respect to any Person, any modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension of any Indebtedness of such Person; provided that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) thereof does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon plus other reasonable amounts paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder, (b) other than with respect to a Permitted Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(e) and subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension has a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended, (c) other than with respect to a Permitted Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(e), at the time thereof, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (d) if such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended is Junior Financing, (i) to the extent such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, unless otherwise permitted under any basket or exception under Section 7.03 (with such amounts being deemed utilization of the applicable basket or exception under Section 7.03), such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended and (ii) such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension is incurred by the Person who is the obligor of the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended and (e) if the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended was subject to an Intercreditor Agreement, the holders of such modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended Indebtedness (if such Indebtedness is secured) or their representative on their behalf shall become party to the appropriate Intercreditor Agreement(s).

“Permitted Unsecured Ratio Debt” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Ratio Debt”.

Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt” means Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in the form of unsecured Indebtedness (including any Registered Equivalent Notes) incurred by a Borrower and/or the Subsidiary Guarantors in the form of one or more series of senior unsecured notes or loans; provided that such Indebtedness (i) otherwise satisfies the requirements set forth in the definition of “Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness” and (ii) meets the Permitted Other Debt Conditions. Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt will include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.

 

70


Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, but excluding any Multiemployer Plan) sponsored, maintained or contributed to by any Loan Party or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.

Platform” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02.

Pledged Debt” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

Pledged Equity” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

Post-Acquisition Period” means, with respect to any Permitted Acquisition or the conversion of any Unrestricted Subsidiary into a Restricted Subsidiary, the period beginning on the date such Permitted Acquisition or conversion is consummated and ending on the thirty-six month anniversary of the date on which such Permitted Acquisition or conversion is consummated.

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the United States or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).

Principal Amount” means (i) the stated or principal amount of each Dollar Denominated Loan or Dollar Denominated Letter of Credit or L/C Obligation with respect thereto, as applicable, and (ii) the Dollar Equivalent of the stated or principal amount of each Foreign Currency Denominated Loan and Foreign Currency Denominated Letter of Credit or L/C Obligation with respect thereto, as the context may require.

Pro Forma Adjustment” means, for any four-quarter period that includes all or any part of a fiscal quarter included in any Post-Acquisition Period, with respect to the Acquired EBITDA of the applicable Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary or the Consolidated EBITDA of the Lead Borrower, the pro forma increase or decrease in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, projected by the Lead Borrower in good faith as a result of (a) actions taken during such Post-Acquisition Period for the purposes of realizing reasonably identifiable and factually supportable “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies or (b) any additional costs incurred during such Post-Acquisition Period, in each case in connection with the combination of the operations of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary with the operations of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (i) at the election of the Borrower, such Pro Forma Adjustment shall not be required to be determined for any Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the aggregate consideration

 

71


paid in connection with such acquisition was less than $25,000,000, and (ii) so long as such actions are taken during such Post-Acquisition Period or such costs are incurred during such Post-Acquisition Period, as applicable, for purposes of projecting such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, it may be assumed that such cost savings will be realizable during the entirety of such four-quarter period, or such additional costs will be incurred or accrued during the entirety of such four-quarter period; provided, further, that any such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, shall be without duplication for cost savings or additional costs already included in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, for such four-quarter period.

Pro Forma Basis,” “Pro Forma Compliance” and “Pro Forma Effect” mean, with respect to compliance with any test hereunder, that (A) to the extent applicable, the Pro Forma Adjustment shall have been made and (B) all Specified Transactions and the following transactions in connection therewith shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement in such test: (a) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Specified Transaction, (i) in the case of a Disposition of all or substantially all Equity Interests in any Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower or any division, product line, or facility used for operations of the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, shall be excluded, and (ii) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or Investment described in the definition of “Specified Transaction,” shall be included, (b) any retirement of Indebtedness, and (c) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith and if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination; provided that (I) without limiting the application of the Pro Forma Adjustment pursuant to (A) above, the foregoing pro forma adjustments may be applied to any such test solely to the extent that such adjustments are consistent with the definition of Consolidated EBITDA and give effect to events (including operating expense reductions) that are (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith) (i) (x) directly attributable to such transaction, (y) expected to have a continuing impact on the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (z) factually supportable or (ii) otherwise consistent with the definition of Pro Forma Adjustment; (II) that when calculating the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio for purposes of (i) the definition of “Applicable Rate,” (ii) Applicable Asset Sale Percentage and (iii) determining actual compliance (and not Pro Forma Compliance or compliance on a Pro Forma Basis) with Section 7.09, the events that occurred subsequent to the end of the applicable four-quarter period shall not be given pro forma effect, (III) when calculating the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio for purposes of the Applicable ECF Percentage, such percentage shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to any prepayment of Excess Cash Flow to be made pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(i) in connection with such calculation and any other Indebtedness prepaid subsequent to the end of the applicable four-quarter period and prior to such date of determination; and (IV) in determining Pro Forma Compliance with the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio or any other incurrence test (other than in respect of Section 7.09), in connection with the incurrence (including by assumption or guarantee) of any Indebtedness, (i) the incurrence or repayment of any Indebtedness in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility or any other revolving

 

72


facility immediately prior to or in connection therewith included in the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio or such other incurrence test calculation immediately prior to, or simultaneously with, the event for which the Pro Forma Compliance determination of such ratio or other test is being made and (ii) the incurrence under the Revolving Credit Facility or under any other revolving facility used to finance working capital needs of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower), in each case, shall be disregarded; provided, further, that with respect to any incurrence of Indebtedness permitted by the provisions of this Agreement in reliance on the pro forma calculation of the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio or such other incurrence test calculation, (i) any Indebtedness being incurred (or expected to be incurred) substantially simultaneously or contemporaneously with the incurrence of any such Indebtedness or any applicable transaction or action in reliance on any “basket” set forth in this Agreement (including the Incremental Base Amount and any “baskets” measured as a percentage of Total Assets or Consolidated EBITDA), including under the Revolving Credit Facility and (ii) any Indebtedness being incurred under the Revolving Credit Facility or any other revolving facility that is used to finance working capital needs of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower) shall, in each case, be disregarded. In the event any fixed “baskets” are intended to be utilized together with any incurrence-based “baskets” in a single transaction or series of related transactions (including utilization of the Free and Clear Incremental Amount and the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount), (i) compliance with or satisfaction of any applicable financial ratios or tests for the portion of Indebtedness or any other applicable transaction or action to be incurred under any incurrence-based “baskets” shall first be calculated without giving effect to amounts being utilized pursuant to any fixed “baskets,” but giving full pro forma effect to all applicable and related transactions (including, subject to the foregoing with respect to fixed “baskets,” any incurrence and repayments of Indebtedness) and all other permitted Pro Forma Adjustments (except that (i) the incurrence of any Indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Facility or any other revolving facility immediately prior to or in connection therewith and (ii) the incurrence of any Indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Facility or any other revolving facility used to finance working capital needs of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower) shall, in each case, be disregarded), and (ii) thereafter, incurrence of the portion of such Indebtedness or other applicable transaction or action to be incurred under any fixed “baskets” shall be calculated.

Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to each Lender, at any time a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of the Commitments and, if applicable and without duplication, Term Loans of such Lender under the applicable Facility or Facilities at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Aggregate Commitments under the applicable Facility or Facilities and, if applicable and without duplication, Term Loans under the applicable Facility or Facilities at such time; provided that, in the case of the Revolving Credit Facility, if such Commitments have been terminated, then the Pro Rata Share of each Lender shall be determined based on the Pro Rata Share of such Lender immediately prior to such termination and after giving effect to any subsequent assignments made pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

73


Process Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.15.

Projections” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(c).

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 set forth in Section 6.02.

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 set forth in Section 10.25.

Qualified ECP Guarantor” means, in respect of any Swap Obligation, each Guarantor that, at the time the relevant Guaranty (or grant of the relevant security interest, as applicable) becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation, has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 or otherwise constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act and which may cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” with respect to such Swap Obligation at such time by entering into an agreement pursuant to the Commodity Exchange Act.

Qualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.

Qualified IPO” means any transaction or series of transactions that results in any common equity interests of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings or any IPO Listco that Holdings will distribute to its direct or indirect parent in connection with a Qualified IPO (an “IPO Entity”) being publicly traded on any United States national securities exchange or over the counter market, or any analogous exchange or market in Canada, the United Kingdom or any country of the European Union.

Qualified Proceeds” means the fair market value of assets that are used or useful in, or Equity Interests of any Person engaged in, a Similar Business.

Qualified Securitization Facility” means any Securitization Facility (a) constituting a securitization financing facility that meets the following conditions: (i) the board of directors or management of the Lead Borrower shall have determined in good faith that such Securitization Facility is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Borrowers, and (ii) all sales and/or contributions of Securitization Assets and related assets to the applicable Securitization Subsidiary are made at fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Lead Borrower) or (b) constituting a receivables or payables financing or factoring facility.

Qualifying Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(3).

Rating Agencies” means Moody’s, S&P and Fitch.

 

74


Real Property” means, collectively, all right, title and interest (including any leasehold, mineral or other estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned or leased by any Person, whether by lease, license or other means, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances relating thereto, all improvements and appurtenant fixtures and equipment thereon, all general intangibles and contract rights and other property and rights incidental to the ownership, lease or operation thereof.

Refinanced Debt” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness”.

Refinancing Amendment” means an amendment to this Agreement executed by each of (a) the Borrowers, (b) Holdings, (c) each Additional Refinancing Lender and (d) each Lender that agrees to provide any portion of Refinancing Term Loans, Other Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Loans incurred pursuant thereto, in accordance with Section 2.15.

Refinancing Series” means all Refinancing Term Loans, Refinancing Term Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Loans that are established pursuant to the same Refinancing Amendment (or any subsequent Refinancing Amendment to the extent such Refinancing Amendment expressly provides that the Refinancing Term Loans, Refinancing Term Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Loans provided for therein are intended to be a part of any previously established Refinancing Series) and that provide for the same Effective Yield and, in the case of Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Term Commitments, amortization schedule.

Refinancing Term Commitments” means one or more Classes of Term Commitments hereunder that are established to fund Refinancing Term Loans of the applicable Refinancing Series hereunder pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment.

Refinancing Term Loans” means one or more Classes of Term Loans hereunder that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(d).

Registered Equivalent Notes” means, with respect to any notes originally issued in an offering pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act or other private placement transaction under the Securities Act of 1933, substantially identical notes (having the same guarantees) issued in a dollar-for-dollar exchange therefor pursuant to an exchange offer registered with the SEC.

Release” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing or migrating into or through the Environment.

Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Pension Plan, other than events for which the thirty (30) day notice period has been waived.

 

75


Repricing Transaction” means the prepayment, refinancing, substitution or replacement of all or a portion of the Initial Term Loans incurred on the Closing Date with the incurrence by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any broadly syndicated term loan financing denominated in the same currency and having an All-In Yield that is less than the All-In Yield (as determined by the Administrative Agent on the same basis) of such Initial Term Loans so repaid, refinanced, substituted or replaced, including without limitation, as may be effected through any amendment, amendment or restatement or other modifications to this Agreement relating to the interest rate for, or weighted average yield of, such Term Loans or the incurrence of any Incremental Term Loans or Refinancing Term Loans, in each case the primary purpose of which was to reduce such All-In Yield and other than in connection with a Change of Control, Qualified IPO or Transformative Acquisition.

Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, continuation or conversion of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Issuance Request, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.

Required Class Lenders” means, with respect to any Class on any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of (i) the outstanding Loans under such Class and (ii) the aggregate unused Commitments under such Facility; provided that the unused Commitments of, and the portion of the outstanding Loans under such Class held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of the Required Class Lenders; provided, further, that, to the same extent set forth in Section 10.07(n) with respect to determination of Required Lenders, the Loans of any Affiliated Lender shall in each case be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Class Lenders.

Required Facility Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, with respect to any Facility, Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of (a) the Total Outstandings under such Facility (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans, as applicable, under such Facility being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition) and (b) the aggregate unused Commitments under such Facility; provided that the unused Commitments of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings under such Facility held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of the Required Facility Lenders; provided, further, that, to the same extent set forth in Section 10.07(n) with respect to determination of Required Lenders, the Loans of any Affiliated Lender shall in each case be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Facility Lenders.

Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of the (a) Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition), (b) aggregate unused Term Commitments and (c) aggregate unused Commitments in respect of Revolving Credit Loans; provided that the unused Term Commitment and unused Commitments in respect of Revolving Credit Loans of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders; provided, further, that, to the same extent set forth in Section 10.07(n) with respect to determination of Required Lenders, the Loans of any Affiliated Lender shall in each case be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

 

76


Required Revolving Credit Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Revolving Credit Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of the (a) Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Credit Loans, Swing Line Loans and all L/C Obligations (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition) and (b) aggregate unused Commitments in respect of Revolving Credit Loans; provided that such unused Commitment of, and the portion of the Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Credit Loans, Swing Line Loans and all L/C Obligations held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Revolving Credit Lenders.

Reservations” means (a) the principle that remedies may be granted or refused at the discretion of a court, the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, court schemes, moratoria, administration, examinership, reorganization and other laws generally affecting the rights of creditors; (b) the time barring of claims under applicable statutes of limitation, the possibility a court may strike out provisions of a contract as invalid for reasons of oppression, undue influence or similar reasons, the possibility that an undertaking to assume liability for or indemnify a person against non-payment of stamp duty may be void and defenses of set-off or counterclaim; (c) the principle that additional or default interest payable under any Loan Document may be held to be unenforceable on the grounds that it is a penalty; (d) the principle that in certain circumstances security interests granted by way of fixed charge may be recharacterized as a floating charge or that security interest purported to be constituted as an assignment may be recharacterized as a charge; (e) the principle that a court may not give effect to an indemnity for legal costs incurred by a litigant; (f) the principle that the creation or purported creation of a security interest over any contract or agreement which is subject to a prohibition on transfer, assignment or charging may be void, ineffective or invalid and may give rise to a breach entitling the contracting party to terminate or take any other action in relation to such contract or agreement; (g) similar principles, limitations, rights and defenses to those the foregoing clauses (a) to (f) under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction; and (h) any other matters which are set out as qualifications or reservations in any legal opinion.

Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, director, president, vice president, chief financial officer, chief legal officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer, controller or assistant controller or other similar officer of a Loan Party or designee of a Responsible Officer and in the case of a limited partnership or an exempted limited partnership, any officer or director of the general partner or ultimate general partner, as the case may be, and, as to any document delivered on the Closing Date, any secretary or assistant secretary of such Loan Party and any officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party whose signature is included on an incumbency certificate or similar certificate reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

 

77


Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to any Borrower’s or a Restricted Subsidiary’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Persons thereof).

Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower (including the Other Borrower Party) other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Revaluation Date” means (a) with respect to any Loan denominated in an Approved Currency, each of the following: (i) each date of a Borrowing of such Loan, (ii) each date of a continuation of such Loan pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Lead Borrower and (iv) in the case of a Revolving Credit Loan, the date of any voluntary reduction of a Commitment in respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.06(a); (b) with respect to any Letter of Credit denominated in an Approved Currency, each of the following: (i) each date of issuance of such Letter of Credit, (ii) each date of any amendment of such Letter of Credit that would have the effect of increasing the face amount thereof and (iii) the last day of each fiscal quarter; (c) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent or the respective L/C Issuer shall determine, or the Required Revolving Credit Lenders shall require, at any time when (i) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (ii) to the extent that, and for so long as, the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all Revolving Credit Lenders (for such purpose, using the Dollar Equivalent in effect for the most recent Revaluation Date) exceeds 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the Commitments in respect of Revolving Credit Loans; and (d) the last day of each fiscal quarter.

Revolver Extension Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(b).

Revolver Extension Series” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(b).

Revolving Commitment Increase” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

Revolving Credit Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Credit Loans of the same Type, in the same Approved Currency, and, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Revolving Credit Lenders under Section 2.01(b) of this Agreement.

Revolving Credit Commitment” means, as to each Revolving Credit Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(b), (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations in respect of Letters of Credit and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate Principal Amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.01A under the caption “Revolving Credit Commitments” or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement (including Section 2.14). The aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all Revolving Credit Lenders shall be $50,000,000, on the Closing Date, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

78


Revolving Credit Exposure” means, as to each Revolving Credit Lender, the sum of the amount of the outstanding Principal Amount of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans and its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the amount of the L/C Obligations and the Swing Line Obligations at such time.

Revolving Credit Facility” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments at such time.

Revolving Credit Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Commitment in respect of Revolving Credit Loans at such time, including Revolving Credit Commitment, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment, Extended Revolving Credit Commitment of a given Extension Series and Other Revolving Credit Commitment of a given Refinancing Series, or, if such Commitments have terminated, Revolving Credit Exposure.

Revolving Credit Loans” means any Revolving Credit Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(b), Incremental Revolving Credit Loans, Other Revolving Credit Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Loans, as the context may require.

Revolving Credit Note” means a promissory note of the Borrowers payable to any Revolving Credit Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit D-2 hereto, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrowers to such Revolving Credit Lender resulting from the Revolving Credit Loans made by such Revolving Credit Lender to the Borrowers.

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a business unit of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, and any successor thereto.

Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means any arrangement providing for the leasing (or similar arrangement) by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (in each case as lessor) of any Real Property or tangible personal property, which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Lead Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary to a third Person in contemplation of such leasing (or similar arrangement); provided that any leasing arrangement by any entity other than the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower shall not constitute a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction.

Same Day Funds” means immediately available funds.

Sanction(s)” means any international economic sanction administered or enforced by the United States government (including without limitation, OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or Her Majesty’s Treasury.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

 

79


Secured Hedge Agreement” means any Swap Contract that is entered into by and between the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Approved Counterparty (unless otherwise designated in writing by the Lead Borrower and the applicable Approved Counterparty to the Administrative Agent as unsecured, which notice may designate all Swap Contracts under a specified Master Agreement as unsecured).

Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuers, the Swing Line Lender, any Approved Counterparty party to a Secured Hedge Agreement or Treasury Services Agreement, the Supplemental Agents and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.02.

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

Securitization Assets” means the accounts receivable, royalty or other revenue streams and other rights to payment and any other assets subject to a Qualified Securitization Facility and the proceeds thereof.

Securitization Facility” means any of one or more receivables, factoring or securitization financing facilities as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated or refunded from time to time, the obligations of which are non-recourse (except for customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities made in connection with such facilities) to the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) pursuant to which the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries sells or grants a security interest in its accounts receivable, payables or Securitization Assets or assets related thereto to either (a) a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or (b) a Securitization Subsidiary that in turn sells its accounts receivable, payable or Securitization Assets or assets related thereto to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary.

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

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

Security Agreement” means the Security Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit G, dated as of the Closing Date, among Holdings, the Borrowers, certain Subsidiaries of the Borrowers and the Collateral Agent.

Security Agreement Supplement” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

 

80


Similar Business” means (1) any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date, and any reasonable extension thereof, or (2) any business or other activities that are reasonably similar, ancillary, incidental, complementary or related to, or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses in which the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged or propose to be engaged on the Closing Date.

Sold Entity or Business” has the meaning set forth in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA.

Solicited Discount Proration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(3).

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1).

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice” means a written notice of the Lead Borrower of Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers made pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1) substantially in the form of Exhibit L-6.

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer” means the irrevocable written offer by each Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit L-7, submitted following the Administrative Agent’s receipt of a Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice.

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1).

Solvent” and “Solvency” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, exceeds, on a consolidated basis, their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, (b) the present fair saleable value of the property of such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability, on a consolidated basis, of their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured, (c) such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are able to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such liabilities become absolute and matured and (d) such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are not engaged in, and are not about to engage in, business for which they have unreasonably small capital. The amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual and matured liability.

SPC” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(i).

Specified Debt” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception.”

Specified Discount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(1).

 

81


Specified Discount Prepayment Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(B).

Specified Discount Prepayment Notice” means a written notice of the Lead Borrower of a Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(B) substantially in the form of Exhibit L-8.

Specified Discount Prepayment Response” means the irrevocable written response by each Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit L-9, to a Specified Discount Prepayment Notice.

Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(B).

Specified Discount Proration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(2).

Specified Equity Contribution” means any cash contribution to the common equity of the Lead Borrower and/or any purchase or investment in an Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower other than Disqualified Equity Interests.

Specified Guarantor” means any Guarantor that is not an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act (determined prior to giving effect to Section 11.12).

Specified Merger Agreement Representations” means the representations and warranties made by the Company pursuant to clause (i) of the first sentence of Section 3.10 of the Merger Agreement as are material to the interests of the Lenders, but only to the extent that the Lead Borrower (or the Lead Borrower’s Affiliates) has the right (taking into account any applicable cure provisions) to terminate the Lead Borrower’s (or such Affiliates’) obligations under the Merger Agreement, or to decline to consummate the Acquisition (in each case, in accordance with the terms thereof), as a result of a breach of such representations and warranties.

Specified Representations” means those representations and warranties made by the Borrowers and the Subsidiary Guarantors in Sections 5.01(a) (in respect of the Borrowers and the Subsidiary Guarantors only), 5.01(b)(ii), 5.02(a), 5.02(b)(i), 5.04, 5.12, 5.16, 5.18(a)(ii), 5.18(c) and 5.19(a).

Specified Transaction” means any Investment, Disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Restricted Payment, Subsidiary designation, Business Expansion, Incremental Term Loan or Revolving Commitment Increase in respect of which the terms of this Agreement require any test to be calculated on a “Pro Forma Basis” or after giving “Pro Forma Effect”; provided that a Revolving Commitment Increase, for purposes of this “Specified Transaction” definition, shall be deemed to be fully drawn.

Sponsor” means collectively, the Blackstone Funds and/or any of its Affiliates and funds or partnerships managed or advised by them or their respective Affiliates.

 

82


Spot Rate” means, for any currency, the rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, to be the rate quoted by the Person acting in such capacity as the spot rate for the purchase by such Person of such currency with another currency through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two (2) Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided that the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer may obtain such spot rate from another financial institution designated by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer if the Person acting in such capacity does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such currency; provided, further, that the L/C Issuer may use such spot rate quoted on the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made in the case of any Letter of Credit denominated in an Approved Currency.

Submitted Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1).

Submitted Discount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1).

Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, company, partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which (i) a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, (ii) more than half of the issued share capital is at the time beneficially owned or (iii) the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Lead Borrower. For the avoidance of doubt, unless otherwise specified, any entity that is owned at a 50.0% or less level (as described above) shall not be a “Subsidiary” for any purpose under this Agreement, regardless of whether such entity is consolidated on Holdings’, the Lead Borrower’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s financial statements.

Subsidiary Guarantor” means, collectively, the Subsidiaries of the Lead Borrower (other than the Other Borrower Party) that are Guarantors.

Successor Borrower” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.04(d)(I).

Successor Holdings” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.04(d)(II).

Supplemental Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.14(a) and “Supplemental Agents” shall have the corresponding meaning.

Support and Services Agreement” means the management services or similar agreements or the management services provisions contained in an investor rights agreement or other equityholders’ agreement, as the case may be, between certain of the management companies associated with the Investors or their advisors or Affiliates, if applicable, and the Lead Borrower (and/or its direct or indirect parent companies or Subsidiaries), as in effect from time to time.

Supported QFC” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.25.

 

83


Swap” means, any agreement, contract, or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

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

Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation to pay or perform under any Swap Contract.

Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

Swing Line Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04.

Swing Line Facility” means the swing line loan facility made available by the Swing Line Lenders pursuant to Section 2.04.

Swing Line Lender” means Citi, in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans or any successor swing line lender hereunder.

Swing Line Loan” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).

Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C or such other form as approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approve by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower.

 

84


Swing Line Note” means a promissory note of the Borrowers payable to the Swing Line Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit D-3 hereto, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrowers to the Swing Line Lender resulting from the Swing Line Loans.

Swing Line Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Swing Line Loans outstanding.

Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $25,000,000 and (b) the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Commitments.

Taxes” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a).

Term Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Term Loans of the same Class and Type and, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Term Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(a), an Incremental Amendment, a Refinancing Amendment or an Extension.

Term Commitment” means, as to each Term Lender, its obligation to make a Term Loan to the Borrowers hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum principal amount of the Term Loan to be made by such Term Lender under this Agreement, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.06 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Term Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, (ii) an Incremental Amendment, (iii) a Refinancing Amendment or (iv) an Extension.

Term Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Term Commitment or a Term Loan at such time.

Term Loan Extension Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).

Term Loan Extension Series” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).

Term Loan Increase” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

Term Loan Standstill Period” has the meaning provided in Section 8.01(b).

Term Loans” means any Initial Term Loan or any Incremental Term Loan, Refinancing Term Loan or Extended Term Loan designated as a “Term Loan,” as the context may require.

Term Note” means a promissory note of the Borrowers payable to any Term Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit D-1 hereto, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrowers to such Term Lender resulting from the Term Loans of the applicable Class made by such Term Lender.

 

85


Test Period” means, for any date of determination under this Agreement, the latest four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Lead Borrower for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Closing Date and/or for which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01, as applicable.

Threshold Amount” means $90,000,000.

Total Assets” means the total assets of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Lead Borrower delivered pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) or (b).

Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.

Transaction Expenses” means any fees or expenses incurred or paid by the Investors, Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any of its (or their) Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions (including expenses in connection with hedging transactions related to the Facilities, any OID or upfront fees, payments to officers, employees and directors as change of control payments, severance payments, special or retention bonuses and charges for repurchase or rollover of, or modifications to stock option), this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Support and Services Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

Transactions” means, collectively, (a) the Acquisition and any other transactions directly or indirectly related to the consummation of the Acquisition pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (b) the funding of the Initial Term Loans on the Closing Date and the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents entered into on the Closing Date, (c) the making of the Equity Investment, (d) the payment of Transaction Expenses and (e) the consummation of any other transaction in connection with the foregoing.

Transformative Acquisition” means any acquisition or Investment by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that either (a) is not permitted by the terms of this Agreement immediately prior to the consummation of such acquisition or Investment or (b) if permitted by the terms of this Agreement immediately prior to the consummation of such acquisition or Investment, would not provide the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries with adequate flexibility under this Agreement for the continuation and/or expansion of their combined operations following such consummation, as determined by the Lead Borrower acting in good faith.

Treasury Services Agreement” means any agreement between the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Approved Counterparty relating to treasury, depository, credit card, debit card, stored value cards, purchasing or procurement cards and cash management services or automated clearinghouse transfer of funds or any overdraft or similar services.

Type” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurocurrency Rate Loan.

U.S. Person” means a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

86


U.S. Special Resolution Regimes” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.25.

UCC Filing Collateral” means any Collateral, including Collateral constituting investment property, for which a security interest can be perfected by filing a UCC-1 financing statement.

Unaudited Financial Statements” means the unaudited consolidated statements of profit or loss, other comprehensive income, financial position, changes in equity, and cash flows of the of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2019, prepared in accordance with IFRS.

Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code (or similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to any item or items of Collateral.

United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.

Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c)(i).

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (i) as of the Closing Date, each Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower listed on Schedule 1.01C, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower (other than the Other Borrower Party) designated by the Lead Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.14 subsequent to the Closing Date and (iii) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

U.S. GAAP” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “GAAP”.

USA PATRIOT Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56, as amended or modified from time to time.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (i) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) 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 (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness; provided that, for purposes of determining the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Indebtedness that is being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased, the effect of any amortization or prepayment prior to the date of the applicable extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance shall be disregarded.

wholly owned” means, with respect to a Subsidiary of a Person, a Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than (x) director’s qualifying shares and (y) shares issued to foreign nationals to the extent required by applicable Law) are owned by such Person and/or by one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

87


Withholding Agent” shall mean any Loan Party, 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.

Yield Differential” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(e)(iii).

Section 1.02. Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

(a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

(b) The words “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document shall refer to such Loan Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.

(c) Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Loan Document in which such reference appears.

(d) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.

(e) The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.

(f) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”; and the word “through” means “to and including.”

(g) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(h) In connection with any action being taken in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction (including any incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence or assumption of any Liens or the making of any Investments, Restricted Payments or fundamental changes, the repayment of any Indebtedness for which an irrevocable notice of prepayment or redemption is required or the designation of any Restricted Subsidiaries or Unrestricted Subsidiaries in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or permitted Investment, in each case, in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction), for purposes of:

(x) determining compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires the calculation of the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio or the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio; or

 

88


(y) testing availability under baskets set forth in this Agreement (including baskets measured as a percentage of Total Assets or Consolidated EBITDA, if any)

in each case, at the option of the Lead Borrower (the Lead Borrower’s election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction, an “LCT Election”), the date (the “LCT Test Date”) of determination of whether any such action is permitted hereunder shall be deemed to be either (a) the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Transaction are entered into or irrevocable prepayment or redemption notices are provided to the applicable holders, as applicable, or (b) solely in connection with an acquisition to which the United Kingdom City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the “City Code”) or similar law or practices in other jurisdictions apply, the date on which a “Rule 2.7 announcement” of a firm intention to make an offer or similar announcement or determination in another jurisdiction subject to laws similar to the City Code in respect of such target company made in compliance with the City Code or similar law or practices in other jurisdictions (a “Public Offer”), and if, after giving pro forma effect to the Limited Condition Transaction and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence or assumption of any Liens or the making of any Investments, Restricted Payments or fundamental changes, the repayment of any Indebtedness for which an irrevocable notice of prepayment or redemption is required or the designation of any Restricted Subsidiaries or Unrestricted Subsidiaries in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or permitted Investment) as if they had occurred at the beginning of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending prior to the LCT Test Date for which consolidated financial statements of the Lead Borrower are available, the Lead Borrower could have taken such action on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with such ratio or basket, such ratio or basket shall be deemed to have been complied with. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Lead Borrower has made an LCT Election and any of the ratios or baskets for which compliance was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in any such ratio or basket, including due to fluctuations in Total Assets or Consolidated EBITDA of the Lead Borrower or the Person subject to such Limited Condition Transaction, at or prior to the consummation of the relevant transaction or action, such baskets or ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether the relevant transaction or action is permitted to be consummated or taken; provided that if such ratios or baskets improve as a result of such fluctuations, such improved ratios and/or baskets may be utilized. If the Lead Borrower has made an LCT Election for any Limited Condition Transaction, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or basket availability with respect to the incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens, or the making of Restricted Payments, mergers, the conveyance, lease or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Lead Borrower, the prepayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or other satisfaction of Indebtedness, or the designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary on or following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or the definitive agreement or notice for, or, as applicable the offer in respect of a Public Offer for, such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio or basket shall be tested by calculating the availability under such ratio or basket on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith have been consummated (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and any associated Lien and the use of proceeds thereof; provided that Consolidated Interest Expense for purposes of the Consolidated

 

89


Interest Coverage Ratio will be calculated using an assumed interest rate based on the indicative interest margin contained in any financing commitment documentation with respect to such Indebtedness or, if no such indicative interest margin exists, as reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary, if the Lead Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (x) incurs Indebtedness, creates Liens, makes Investments, makes Restricted Payments, designates any Unrestricted Subsidiary or repays any Indebtedness in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction under a ratio-based basket and (y) incurs Indebtedness, creates Liens, makes Investments, makes Restricted Payments, designates any Unrestricted Subsidiary or repays any Indebtedness in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction under a non-ratio-based basket (which shall occur within five Business Days of the events in clause (x) above), then the applicable ratio will be calculated with respect to any such action under the applicable ratio-based basket without regard to any such action under such non-ratio-based basket made in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction.

In connection with any action being taken in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, for purposes of determining compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires that no Default, Event of Default or specified Event of Default, as applicable, has occurred, is continuing or would result from any such action, as applicable, such condition shall, at the option of the Lead Borrower, be deemed satisfied, so long as no Default, Event of Default or specified Event of Default, as applicable, exists on the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Transaction are entered into, irrevocable prepayment or redemption notices are provided to the applicable holders or a Public Offer is made, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Lead Borrower has exercised its option under this clause (h), and any Default, Event of Default or specified Event of Default occurs following the date the definitive agreements for the applicable Limited Condition Transaction were entered into and prior to the consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such Default, Event of Default or specified Event of Default shall be deemed to not have occurred or be continuing for purposes of determining whether any action being taken in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction is permitted hereunder.

(i) For purposes of determining whether Holdings, the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries comply with any exception to Article 7 (other than the Financial Covenant) where compliance with any such exception is based on a financial ratio or metric being satisfied as of a particular point in time, it is understood that (a) compliance shall be measured at the time when the relevant event is undertaken, as such financial ratios and metrics are intended to be “incurrence” tests and not “maintenance” tests and (b) correspondingly, any such ratio and metric shall only prohibit Holdings, the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries from creating, incurring, assuming, suffering to exist or making, as the case may be, any new, for example, Liens, Indebtedness or Investments, but shall not result in any previously permitted, for example, Liens, Indebtedness or Investments ceasing to be permitted hereunder.

(j) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, financial ratios and tests (including the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio and Consolidated EBITDA) contained in this Agreement that are calculated with respect to any Test Period during which any Specified Transaction occurs shall be calculated with respect to such Test Period and such Specified

 

90


Transaction on a Pro Forma Basis. Further, if since the beginning of any such Test Period and on or prior to the date of any required calculation of a financial ratio or test (i) a Specified Transaction shall have occurred or (ii) any Person that subsequently became a Subsidiary or was merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries since the beginning of such Test Period shall have consummated any Specified Transaction, then, in each case, any applicable financial ratio or test shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis for such Test Period as if such Specified Transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable Test Period (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that solely for purposes of calculating (x) the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio for purposes of the definitions of “Applicable Rate” and “Commitment Fee Rate” and (y) compliance with Section 7.09 (other than for the purpose of determining pro forma compliance with Section 7.09 as a condition to taking any action under this Agreement), the date of the required calculation shall be the last day of the Test Period, and no Specified Transaction occurring thereafter shall be taken into account).

(k) For purposes of Section 2.14 and the definition of “Available Incremental Amount”, (i) to the extent of availability under any applicable ratio based prong under the Available Incremental Amount, unless the Lead Borrower elects otherwise, such availability will be deemed to be used, in connection with any incurrence or establishment of any Incremental Facility or any Incremental Equivalent Debt, prior to the usage of the Free and Clear Incremental Amount, (ii) in the case of incurrence or establishment of any Incremental Facility or any Incremental Equivalent Debt in reliance in part on the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount and in part on the Free and Clear Incremental Amount prong, (A) the portion incurred in reliance on the Free and Clear Incremental Amount shall be disregarded for purposes of testing under the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount, but giving full pro forma effect to any increase in the amount of Consolidated EBITDA resulting from the application of the entire amount of such Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt and the related transactions and (B) the permissibility of the portion of such Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt to be incurred or implemented under the Free and Clear Incremental Amount shall be calculated thereafter and (iii) any portion of any Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt that is incurred or implemented under the Free and Clear Incremental Amount will be automatically reclassified as having been incurred under the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount if, at any time after the incurrence or implementation thereof, such portion of such Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt would, using the figures reflected in the financial statements internally available for the most recently ended Test Period, be permitted under the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio test, Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio test or Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio test, as applicable, set forth as part of the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount; it being understood and agreed that once such Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt is reclassified in accordance with this clause (iii), it shall not further be reclassified as having been incurred under the provision of the definition of “Available Incremental Amount” in reliance on which such Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt was originally incurred. For purposes of Sections 7.01 and 7.03, (x) to the extent of availability under any applicable ratio based basket set forth therein, such availability will be deemed to be used prior to the usage of any applicable fixed amount set forth therein and (y) in the case of any incurrence of Indebtedness or Lien in reliance on any ratio based basket set forth therein, for purposes of calculating whether such ratio has been satisfied in connection with such incurrence any other Indebtedness or Lien that is substantially concurrently incurred in reliance on any provision thereof that does not require compliance with any financial ratio or test shall be

 

91


disregarded in the calculation of such ratio, even if such other Indebtedness or Lien is of the same tranche or series (or, in the case of Liens, secures Indebtedness of the same tranche or series) as such Indebtedness being incurred in reliance on a basket that requires compliance with such ratio.

Section 1.03. 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 in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of determining compliance with any test or covenant contained in this Agreement with respect to any period during which any Specified Transaction occurs, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio and the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio shall be calculated with respect to such period and such Specified Transaction on a Pro Forma Basis.

(c) In the event that the Lead Borrower elects to change the accounting method in which it will prepare its financial statements in accordance with GAAP and such election results in a change in the method of calculation of financial covenants, standards or terms (collectively, the “GAAP Accounting Changes”) in this Agreement, the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree to enter into good faith negotiations in order to amend such provisions of this Agreement (including the levels applicable herein to any computation of the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio and the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio) so as to reflect equitably the GAAP Accounting Changes with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating the Lead Borrower’s financial condition shall be substantially the same after such change as if such change had not been made. Until such time as such an amendment shall have been executed and delivered by the Lead Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, all financial covenants, standards and terms in this Agreement shall continue to be calculated or construed in accordance with the previous accounting method (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower) (it being agreed that the reconciliation between U.S. GAAP and IFRS used in such determination shall be made available to Lenders) as if such change had not occurred. For the avoidance of doubt, solely making an election (without any other action) will not (1) be treated as an incurrence of Indebtedness and (2) have the effect of rendering invalid any Restricted Payment or Investment, the incurrence of any Indebtedness or Liens, the prepayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or other satisfaction of Indebtedness, or the designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary made prior to the date of such election conditioned on the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries having been able to satisfy any Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio or any other test or action that was previously valid under this Agreement on the date made, incurred or taken and prior to such election, as the case may be.

 

92


Section 1.04. Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Lead Borrower pursuant to this Agreement (or required to be satisfied in order for a specific action to be permitted under this Agreement) shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding up if there is no nearest number).

Section 1.05. References to Agreements, Laws, Etc. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to Organizational Documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are permitted by the Loan Documents; and (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.

Section 1.06. 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 1.07. Timing of Payment or Performance. When the payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is stated to be due or performance required on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such payment (other than as described in the definition of Interest Period) or performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day.

Section 1.08. Cumulative Credit Transactions. If more than one action occurs on any given date the permissibility of the taking of which is determined hereunder by reference to the amount of the Cumulative Credit immediately prior to the taking of such action, the permissibility of the taking of each such action shall be determined independently and in no event may any two or more such actions be treated as occurring simultaneously.

Section 1.09. Additional Approved Currencies.

(a) The Lead Borrower may from time to time request that Eurocurrency Rate Revolving Loans be made and/or Letters of Credit be issued in a currency other than those specifically listed in the definition of “Approved Currency”; provided that such requested currency is a lawful currency (other than Dollars) that is readily transferable and readily convertible into Dollars in the London interbank market. Such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Credit Lenders; and, in the case of any such request with respect to the issuance of Letters of Credit, such request shall also be subject to the approval of the applicable L/C Issuer.

(b) Any such request shall be made to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York time), five (5) Business Days prior to the date of the desired Borrowing or issuance of a Letter of Credit (or such other time or date as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent and, in the case of any such request pertaining to Letters of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer, in its or their sole discretion). In the case of any such request pertaining to Eurocurrency Rate Revolving Loans, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender thereof; and in the case of any such request pertaining to Letters of Credit, the

 

93


Administrative Agent shall also promptly notify the applicable L/C Issuer thereof. Each Revolving Credit Lender and the applicable L/C Issuer (in the case of a request pertaining to Letters of Credit) shall notify the Administrative Agent, not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York time), two (2) Business Days after receipt of such request whether it consents, in its sole discretion, to the making of Eurocurrency Rate Revolving Loans or the issuance of Letters of Credit, as the case may be, in such requested currency.

(c) Any failure by a Revolving Credit Lender or an L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to respond to such request within the time period specified in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be a refusal by such Revolving Credit Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to permit Eurocurrency Rate Revolving Loans to be made or Letters of Credit to be issued in such requested currency. If the Administrative Agent and all the Revolving Credit Lenders consent to making Eurocurrency Rate Revolving Loans in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify Lead Borrower and such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Approved Currency hereunder for purposes of any Borrowing of Eurocurrency Rate Revolving Loans; and if the applicable L/C Issuer also consents to the issuance of Letters of Credit in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Lead Borrower and such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Approved Currency hereunder for purposes of any Letter of Credit issuances. If the Administrative Agent shall fail to obtain consent to any request for an additional currency under this Section 1.09, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Lead Borrower.

ARTICLE 2

THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

Section 2.01. The Loans. (a) The Initial Term Loan Borrowings. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Term Lender severally agrees to make to the Lead Borrower on the Closing Date loans denominated in Dollars in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount of such Term Lender’s Term Commitment. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01(a) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Initial Term Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

(b) The Revolving Credit Borrowings. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make revolving credit loans denominated in an Approved Currency to the Borrowers from its applicable Lending Office (each such loan, a “Revolving Credit Loan”) from time to time as elected by the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.02, on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Maturity Date with respect to such Revolving Credit Lender’s applicable Revolving Credit Commitment, in an aggregate Principal Amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment at such time; provided that after giving effect to any Revolving Credit Borrowing, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitments, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.01(b), prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01(b). Revolving Credit Loans denominated in Dollars may be Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

 

 

94


Section 2.02. Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans. (a) Each Term Borrowing, each Revolving Credit Borrowing, each conversion of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be made upon the Lead Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than (i) 1:00 p.m. New York City time three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans or any conversion of Base Rate Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans, and (ii) 11:00 a.m. New York City time on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans; provided that the notice referred to in subclause (i) above may be delivered no later than one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing Date in the case of initial Credit Extensions. Each telephonic notice by the Lead Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower. Except as provided in Section 2.14(a), each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000, or a whole multiple of $250,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c), 2.04(c), 2.14(a), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Lead Borrower is requesting a Term Borrowing of a particular Class, a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a conversion of Term Loans of any Class or Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Term Loans of a Class or Revolving Credit Loans are to be converted (v) in the case of a Revolving Credit Borrowing, the relevant Approved Currency in which such Revolving Credit Borrowing is to be denominated and (vi) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Lead Borrower fails to specify an Approved Currency of a Loan in a Committed Loan Notice, such Loan shall be made in Dollars. If the Lead Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans shall be made as or converted to (x) in the case of any Loan denominated in Dollars, Base Rate Loans or (y) in the case of any Loan denominated in an Approved Foreign Currency, Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the Approved Currency having an Interest Period of one month, as applicable. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans or one-month Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans. If the Lead Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month. No Loan may be converted into or continued as a Loan denominated in another Approved Currency, but instead must be prepaid in the original Approved Currency or reborrowed in another Approved Currency.

 

95


(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount (and Approved Currency) of its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the applicable Class of Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Lead Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion or continuation described in Section 2.02(a). In the case of each Borrowing, each Appropriate Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than (i) 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice for any Borrowing of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, (ii) the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice for any Borrowing of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in an Approved Foreign Currency and (iii) 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice for any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. The Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrowers in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent by wire transfer of such funds in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Lead Borrower.

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurocurrency Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Rate Loan unless the Borrowers pay the amount due, if any, under Section 3.05 in connection therewith.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Lead Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurocurrency Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the Eurocurrency Rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Lead Borrower and the Lenders of any change in the Prime Rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the announcement of such change.

(e) After giving effect to all Term Borrowings, all Revolving Credit Borrowings, all conversions of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than fifteen (15) Interest Periods in effect.

(f) The failure of any Lender to make the Loan to be made by it as part of any Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Loan on the date of such Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Loan to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing.

Section 2.03. Letters of Credit. (a) The Letter of Credit Commitment.

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) each L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date to issue Letters of Credit at sight denominated in any Approved Currency for the account of the Lead Borrower or any

 

96


Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower and to amend or renew Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with Section 2.03(b), and (2) to honor drafts under the Letters of Credit and (B) the Revolving Credit Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued pursuant to this Section 2.03; provided that no L/C Issuer shall be obligated to make any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, and no Lender shall be obligated to participate in any Letter of Credit if as of the date of such L/C Credit Extension, (x) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Revolving Credit Lender would exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, (y) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations in respect of Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer would exceed such L/C Issuer’s L/C Commitment or (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Lead Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Lead Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.

(ii) An L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to such L/C Issuer or any directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or direct that such L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date (for which such L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder);

(B) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii) and Section 2.03(a)(ii)(C), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur later than the earlier of (x) twelve months after the date of issuance or last renewal or (y) the fifth Business Day prior to the Maturity Date of the Revolving Credit Facility, unless (1) each Appropriate Lender has approved of such expiration date or (2) the L/C Issuer thereof has approved of such expiration date and the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations in respect of such requested Letter of Credit has been Cash Collateralized or backstopped pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer;

(C) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Revolving Credit Lenders have approved such expiry date;

(D) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate any Laws binding upon such L/C Issuer;

 

97


(E) the L/C Issuer does not as of the issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit issue Letters of Credit in the requested currency or type; or

(F) any Revolving Credit Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless such L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion) with the Lead Borrower or such Lender to eliminate such L/C Issuer’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv)) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations as to which such L/C Issuer has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion.

(iii) An L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) such L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.

(iv) Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and each L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article 9 with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and any Letter of Credit Issuance Request (and any other document, agreement or instrument entered into by such L/C Issuer and the Lead Borrower or in favor of such L/C Issuer) pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article 9 included such L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to each L/C Issuer.

(v) The Lead Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, reduce the L/C Commitment of any L/C Issuer with the consent of such L/C Issuer; provided that the Lead Borrower shall not reduce the L/C Commitment of any L/C Issuer if, after giving effect to such reduction, the conditions set forth in clause (i) above would not be satisfied.

(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit.

(i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Lead Borrower delivered to an L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Issuance Request, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower or his/her delegate or designee. Such Letter of Credit Issuance Request must be received by the relevant L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) at least three Business Days prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be; or, in each case, such other date and time as the relevant L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in its sole discretion. In the case of a request for an initial

 

98


issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Issuance Request shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the relevant Approved Currency in which such Letter of Credit is to be denominated; and (H) such other matters as the relevant L/C Issuer may reasonably request. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Issuance Request shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer (1) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (2) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (3) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (4) such other matters as the relevant L/C Issuer may reasonably request.

(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Issuance Request, the relevant L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Issuance Request from the Lead Borrower and, if not, such L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Upon receipt by the relevant L/C Issuer of confirmation from the Administrative Agent that the requested issuance or amendment is permitted in accordance with the terms hereof, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, such L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Lead Borrower or, if applicable, the Restricted Subsidiary, or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the relevant L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share provided for under this Agreement times the amount of such Letter of Credit.

(iii) If the Lead Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Issuance Request, the relevant L/C Issuer shall agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the relevant L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a number of days (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) prior to the last day of such twelve month period to be agreed upon by the relevant L/C Issuer and the Lead Borrower at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the relevant L/C Issuer, the Lead Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the relevant L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the applicable Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the relevant L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided that the relevant L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the relevant L/C Issuer has determined that it would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its extended form under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Section

 

99


2.03(a)(ii) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is five (5) Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent, any Revolving Credit Lender or the Lead Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied.

(iv) Promptly after issuance of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit, the relevant L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

(c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.

(i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the relevant L/C Issuer shall notify promptly the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. In the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Approved Foreign Currency, the Borrowers shall reimburse the L/C Issuer in such Approved Foreign Currency, unless the L/C Issuer (at its option) shall have specified in such notice that it will require reimbursement in Dollars. In the case of any such reimbursement in Dollars of a drawing under a Letter of Credit denominated in an Approved Foreign Currency, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Lead Borrower of the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of the drawing promptly following the determination thereof. Not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time), in the case of a drawing in Dollars, or 2:00 p.m. (London time) (or, if earlier, 9:00 a.m. New York city time), in the case of a drawing in an Approved Foreign Currency, on (1) the next Business Day immediately following the date of any honoring of a drawing by an L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit that the Lead Borrower receives notice thereof (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the Borrowers shall reimburse such L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing in the relevant Approved Currency; provided that the Lead Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with this Section 2.03 that such payment be financed with a Revolving Credit Borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility or a Swing Line Borrowing under the Swing Line Facility in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrowers’ obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting Revolving Credit Borrowing or Swing Line Borrowing, as applicable. If the Borrowers fails to so reimburse such L/C Issuer by such time, such L/C Issuer shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (expressed in Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof) (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Appropriate Lender’s Pro Rata Share provided for under this Agreement thereof. In such event, the Lead Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as applicable, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Appropriate Lenders and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice). Any notice given by an L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

 

100


(ii) Each Appropriate Lender (including any Lender acting as an L/C Issuer) shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer in Dollars at the Administrative Agent’s Office for Dollar-denominated payments in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Appropriate Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Revolving Credit Loan that is a Base Rate Loan or Eurocurrency Rate Loan, as applicable, to the Borrowers in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall promptly remit the funds so received to the relevant L/C Issuer in Dollars.

(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as applicable, because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have incurred from the relevant L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest (which begins to accrue upon funding by the L/C Issuer) at the Default Rate for Revolving Credit Loans. In such event, each Appropriate Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.

(iv) Until each Appropriate Lender funds its Revolving Credit Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of such amount shall be solely for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer.

(v) Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse an L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, the payment of all other Obligations and the resignation of the applicable L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, and shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the relevant L/C Issuer, the Borrowers or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided that each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans pursuant

 

101


to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the Lead Borrower of a Committed Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrowers to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by such L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

(vi) If any Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), such L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate from time to time in effect, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by such L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. A certificate of the relevant L/C Issuer submitted to any Revolving Credit Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.03(c)(vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) Repayment of Participations.

(i) If, at any time after an L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Revolving Credit Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), the Administrative Agent receives for the account of such L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrowers or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement hereof (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s L/C Advance was outstanding) in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of an L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Appropriate Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing.

 

102


(e) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the Borrowers to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit issued by it and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;

(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that any Loan Party may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the relevant L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;

(iv) any payment by the relevant L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the relevant L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;

(v) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any Collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from the Guaranty or any other guarantee, for all or any of the Obligations of any Loan Party in respect of such Letter of Credit;

(vi) any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of Dollars or the relevant Approved Foreign Currency to the Lead Borrower or any Subsidiary or in the relevant currency markets generally; and

(vii) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Loan Party;

provided that the foregoing shall not excuse any L/C Issuer from liability to the Borrowers to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are waived by the Lead Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable Law) suffered by the Borrowers that are caused by such L/C Issuer’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof.

 

103


(f) Role of L/C Issuers. Each Lender and the Borrowers agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the relevant L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuers, any Agent-Related Person nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of any L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Lenders holding a majority of the Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit Issuance Request. The Borrowers hereby assume all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrowers’ pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuers, any Agent-Related Person, nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of any L/C Issuer, shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (vii) of Section 2.03(e) or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of such L/C Issuer; provided that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrowers may have a claim against an L/C Issuer, and such L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrowers, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrowers which are caused by such L/C Issuer’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of willful misconduct or gross negligence on the part of the relevant L/C Issuer or such L/C Issuer’s willful or grossly negligent failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit, in each case, as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction, such L/C Issuer shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and no L/C Issuer shall be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

(g) Cash Collateral. If (i) as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any Letter of Credit may for any reason remain outstanding and partially or wholly undrawn (and without limiting the requirements of Section 2.03(a)(ii)(C)), (ii) any Event of Default occurs and is continuing and the Administrative Agent or the Lenders holding a majority of the Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, require the Borrowers to Cash Collateralize the L/C

 

104


Obligations pursuant to Section 8.02 or (iii) an Event of Default set forth under Section 8.01(f) occurs and is continuing, the Borrowers shall Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to such Outstanding Amount determined as of the date of such Event of Default or the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, as the case may be), and shall do so not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time on (x) in the case of the immediately preceding clauses (i) and (ii), (1) the Business Day that the Lead Borrower receives notice thereof, if such notice is received on such day prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time or (2) if clause (1) above does not apply, the Business Day immediately following the day that the Lead Borrower receives such notice and (y) in the case of the immediately preceding clause (iii), the Business Day on which an Event of Default set forth under Section 8.01(f) occurs or, if such day is not a Business Day, the Business Day immediately succeeding such day. At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, immediately upon the request of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, the Borrowers shall deliver to the Administrative Agent Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to cover all Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender). For purposes hereof, “Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the relevant L/C Issuer and the Appropriate Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances (“Cash Collateral”) pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the relevant L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by the Appropriate Lenders). Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. The Borrowers hereby grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuers and the Revolving Credit Lenders of the applicable Facility, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing. Cash Collateral shall be maintained in a Cash Collateral Account and may be invested in readily available Cash Equivalents as directed by the Lead Borrower. If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that any funds held as Cash Collateral are expressly subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent (on behalf of the Secured Parties) or that the total amount of such funds is less than the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, the Borrowers will, forthwith upon demand by the Administrative Agent to the Lead Borrower, pay to the Administrative Agent, as additional funds to be deposited and held in the Cash Collateral Account, an amount equal to the excess of (a) such aggregate Outstanding Amount over (b) the total amount of funds, if any, then held as Cash Collateral that the Administrative Agent reasonably determines to be free and clear of any such right and claim. Upon the drawing of any Letter of Credit for which funds are on deposit as Cash Collateral, such funds shall be applied, to the extent permitted under applicable Law, to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer. To the extent the amount of any Cash Collateral exceeds the then Outstanding Amount of such L/C Obligations and so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the excess shall be refunded to the Borrowers. To the extent any Event of Default giving rise to the requirement to Cash Collateralize any Letter of Credit pursuant to this Section 2.03(g) is cured or otherwise waived by the Required Lenders, then so long as no other Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, all Cash Collateral pledged to Cash Collateralize such Letter of Credit shall be refunded to the Borrowers.

(h) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders for the applicable Revolving Credit Facility (in accordance with their Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement) a Letter of Credit fee in Dollars for each Letter of Credit issued pursuant to this

 

105


Agreement equal to the Applicable Rate for Revolving Credit Loans times the Dollar Equivalent of the daily maximum amount then available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit (whether or not such maximum amount is then in effect under such Letter of Credit if such maximum amount increases periodically pursuant to the terms of such Letter of Credit); provided, however, any Letter of Credit fees otherwise payable for the account of a Defaulting Lender with respect to any Letter of Credit as to which such Defaulting Lender has not provided Cash Collateral satisfactory to the L/C Issuer pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall be payable, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, to the other Lenders in accordance with the upward adjustments in their respective Pro Rata Shares allocable to such Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.17(a)(iv), with the balance of such fee, if any, payable to the L/C Issuer for its own account. Such Letter of Credit fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such Letter of Credit fees shall be due and payable in Dollars on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. If there is any change in any Applicable Rate for Revolving Credit Loans during any quarter, the daily maximum amount of each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by such Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

(i) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuers. The Borrowers shall pay directly to each L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars, a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by it equal to 0.125% per annum of the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate face amount of such Letter of Credit. Such fronting fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fees shall be due and payable in Dollars on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. In addition, the Borrowers shall pay directly to each L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars, with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by it the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of such L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable within ten (10) Business Days of demand and are nonrefundable.

(j) Conflict with Letter of Credit Issuance Request. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this Agreement or any Letter of Credit Issuance Request, in the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Letter of Credit Issuance Request, the terms hereof shall control.

(k) Addition of an L/C Issuer. A Revolving Credit Lender may become an additional L/C Issuer hereunder pursuant to a written agreement among the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and such Revolving Credit Lender. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Revolving Credit Lenders of any such additional L/C Issuer.

(l) Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

 

106


(m) Reporting. Each L/C Issuer will report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) on the first Business Day of each calendar month, the aggregate face amount of Letters of Credit issued by it and outstanding as of the last Business Day of the preceding calendar month (and on such other dates as the Administrative Agent may request), (ii) on or prior to each Business Day on which such L/C Issuer expects to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance or amendment, and the aggregate face amount of Letters of Credit to be issued, amended, renewed or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (and such L/C Issuer shall advise the Administrative Agent on such Business Day whether such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension occurred and whether the amount thereof changed), (iii) on each Business Day on which such L/C Issuer makes any L/C Disbursement, the date and amount of such L/C Disbursement and (iv) on any Business Day on which the Borrowers fail to reimburse an L/C Disbursement required to be reimbursed to such L/C Issuer on such day, the date and amount of such failure.

(n) Provisions Related to Letters of Credit in respect of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments. If the Letter of Credit Expiration Date in respect of any tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments occurs prior to the expiry date of any Letter of Credit, then (i) if consented to by the L/C Issuer which issued such Letter of Credit, if one or more other tranches of Revolving Credit Commitments in respect of which the Letter of Credit Expiration Date shall not have so occurred are then in effect, such Letters of Credit for which consent has been obtained shall automatically be deemed to have been issued (including for purposes of the obligations of the Revolving Credit Lenders to purchase participations therein and to make Revolving Credit Loans and payments in respect thereof pursuant to Sections 2.03(c) and (d)) under (and ratably participated in by Lenders pursuant to) the Revolving Credit Commitments in respect of such non-terminating tranches up to an aggregate amount not to exceed the aggregate amount of the unutilized Revolving Credit Commitments thereunder at such time (it being understood that no partial face amount of any Letter of Credit may be so reallocated) and (ii) to the extent not reallocated pursuant to immediately preceding clause (i), the Borrowers shall Cash Collateralize any such Letter of Credit in accordance with Section 2.03(g). Upon the maturity date of any tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments, the sublimit for Letters of Credit may be reduced as agreed between the L/C Issuers and the Lead Borrower, without the consent of any other Person.

(o) 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 Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrowers shall be obligated to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrowers hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Restricted Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrowers, and that the Borrowers’ business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Restricted Subsidiaries. In the event that the Borrowers request any Letter of Credit to be issued for the benefit or account of a Restricted Subsidiary, such Restricted Subsidiary shall deliver documentation (including, without limitation, customary letter of credit requests and reimbursement agreements) as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer.

 

107


(p) Provisions Related to Extended Revolving Credit Commitments. In connection with the establishment of any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Commitments and subject to the availability of unused Commitments with respect to such Class and the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02, the Lead Borrower may with the written consent of the applicable L/C Issuer designate any outstanding Letter of Credit to be a Letter of Credit issued pursuant to such Class of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Commitments. Upon such designation such Letter of Credit shall no longer be deemed to be issued and outstanding under such prior Class and shall instead be deemed to be issued and outstanding under such Class of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Commitments.

(q) Replacement of an L/C Issuer. An L/C Issuer may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the replaced L/C Issuer and the successor L/C Issuer. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of an L/C Issuer. From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (x) the successor L/C Issuer shall have all the rights and obligations of the L/C Issuer being replaced under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (y) references herein to the term “L/C Issuer” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous L/C Issuer, or to such successor and all current and previous L/C Issuers, as the context shall require. After the replacement of an L/C Issuer hereunder, the replaced L/C Issuer shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an L/C Issuer under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

(r) Resignation of an L/C Issuer. Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor L/C Issuer, any L/C Issuer may resign as an L/C Issuer at any time upon thirty days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Lead Borrower and the Lenders, in which case, such L/C Issuer shall be replaced in accordance with Section 2.03(q) above.

Section 2.04. Swing Line Loans. (a) The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Citi, in its capacity as Swing Line Lender, agrees to make loans in Dollars to the Borrowers (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”), from time to time on any Business Day during the period beginning on the Business Day after the Closing Date and until the Maturity Date of the Revolving Credit Facility in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Credit Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Swing Line Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment; provided that, after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Revolving Credit Exposure shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the Outstanding Amount of

 

108


all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment then in effect; provided, further, that the Borrowers shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04. Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.

(b) Borrowing Procedures. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Lead Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone or Swing Line Loan Notice. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time on the requested borrowing date and shall specify (i) the principal amount to be borrowed, which principal amount shall be a minimum of $500,000 (and any amount in excess of $500,000 shall be in integral multiples of $100,000) and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any Swing Line Loan Notice (by telephone or in writing), the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Revolving Credit Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. New York City time on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 3:00 p.m. New York City time on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrowers at its office by crediting the account of the Borrowers on the books of the Swing Line Lender in immediately available funds. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.04 or elsewhere in this Agreement, the Swing Line Lender shall not be obligated to make any Swing Line Loan at a time when a Revolving Credit Lender is a Defaulting Lender unless the Swing Line Lender has entered into arrangements reasonably satisfactory to it and the Lead Borrower to eliminate the Swing Line Lender’s Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv)) with respect to the Defaulting Lender’s or Defaulting Lenders’ participation in such Swing Line Loans, including by Cash Collateralizing, or obtaining a backstop letter of credit from an issuer reasonably satisfactory to the Swing Line Lender to support, such Defaulting Lender’s or Defaulting Lenders’ Pro Rata Share of the outstanding Swing Line Loans.

 

109


(c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.

(i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrowers (which hereby irrevocably authorizes such Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Revolving Credit Lender make a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Lead Borrower with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Revolving Credit Lender shall make an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office for Dollar-denominated payments not later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time on the day specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Revolving Credit Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrowers in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.

(ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Revolving Credit Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Base Rate Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Revolving Credit Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Revolving Credit Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

(iii) If any Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by the Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate from time to time in effect, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(iv) Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right

 

110


which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrowers or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided that each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) (but not to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrowers to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

(d) Repayment of Participations.

(i) At any time after any Revolving Credit Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of such payment (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s risk participation was funded) in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.

(ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Revolving Credit Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender.

(e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Lead Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Revolving Credit Lender funds its Base Rate Loan, Eurocurrency Rate Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Pro Rata Share shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.

(f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. The Borrowers shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.

(g) Provisions Related to Extended Revolving Credit Commitments. If the maturity date shall have occurred in respect of any tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments (the “Expiring Credit Commitment”) at a time when another tranche or tranches of Revolving Credit Commitments is or are in effect with a longer maturity date (each a “Non-Expiring Credit Commitment” and collectively, the “Non-Expiring Credit Commitments”), then with

 

111


respect to each outstanding Swing Line Loan, if consented to by the applicable Swing Line Lender, on the earliest occurring maturity date such Swing Line Loan shall be deemed reallocated to the tranche or tranches of the Non-Expiring Credit Commitments on a pro rata basis; provided that (x) to the extent that the amount of such reallocation would cause the aggregate credit exposure to exceed the aggregate amount of such Non-Expiring Credit Commitments, immediately prior to such reallocation the amount of Swing Line Loans to be reallocated equal to such excess shall be repaid or Cash Collateralized and (y) notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrowers shall still be obligated to pay Swing Line Loans allocated to the Revolving Credit Lenders holding the Expiring Credit Commitments at the maturity date of the Expiring Credit Commitment or if the Loans have been accelerated prior to the maturity date of the Expiring Credit Commitment. Upon the maturity date of any tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments, the sublimit for Swing Line Loans may be reduced as agreed between the Swing Line Lender and the Lead Borrower, without the consent of any other Person.

(h) Replacement of the Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Lead Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Swing Line Lender and the successor Swing Line Lender. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of a Swing Line Lender. From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (x) the successor Swing Line Lender shall have all the rights and obligations of the replaced Swing Line Lender under this Agreement with respect to Swing Line Loans made thereafter and (y) references herein to the term “Swing Line Lender” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Swing Line Lender, or to such successor and all previous Swing Line Lenders, as the context shall require. After the replacement of a Swing Line Lender hereunder, the replaced Swing Line Lender shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of a Swing Line Lender under this Agreement with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it prior to its replacement, but shall not be required to make additional Swing Line Loans.

(i) Resignation of the Swing Line Lender. Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Swing Line Lender, the Swing Line Lender may resign as a Swing Line Lender at any time upon thirty days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Lead Borrower and the Lenders, in which case, such Swing Line Lender shall be replaced in accordance with Section 2.04(h) above.

Section 2.05. Prepayments. (a) Optional.

(i) The Borrowers may, upon, subject to clause (iii) below, written notice to the Administrative Agent by the Lead Borrower, from time to time voluntarily prepay Term Loans of any Class and Revolving Credit Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty (subject to Section 2.05(a)(iv)); provided that (1) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans and (B) one Business Day prior to any prepayment of Base Rate Loans, in each case, unless the Administrative Agent agrees to a shorter period in its discretion; (1) any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000, or a whole multiple of $250,000 in excess thereof; and (2) any prepayment of Base Rate

 

112


Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire Principal Amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Class(es) and Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of such prepayment. Subject to Section 2.05(iii) below, if such notice is given by the Lead Borrower, the Borrowers shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon to such date, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. In the case of each prepayment of the Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(a), the Lead Borrower may in its sole discretion select the Borrowing or Borrowings (and the order of maturity of principal payments) to be repaid, and such payment shall be paid to the Appropriate Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares or other applicable share as provided for under this Agreement.

(ii) The Borrowers may, upon, subject to clause (iii) below, written notice to the Swing Line Lender from the Lead Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (1) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time on the date of the prepayment, and (2) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Lead Borrower, the Borrowers shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, subject to the payment of any amounts owing pursuant to Section 3.05, the Lead Borrower may rescind any notice of prepayment under Sections 2.05(a)(i) or 2.05(a)(ii) if such prepayment would have resulted from a refinancing of all or a portion of the applicable Facility, which refinancing shall not be consummated or shall otherwise be delayed. Each prepayment of any Class of Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(a) shall be applied as directed by the Lead Borrower (which may be applied to any specific Class, tranche or facility of Indebtedness) and, absent such direction, shall be applied in direct order of maturity to repayments thereof required pursuant to Section 2.07(a).

(iv) In the event that, on or prior to the six-month anniversary of the Closing Date, the Borrowers (x) prepay, refinance, substitute or replace any Initial Term Loans pursuant to a Repricing Transaction (including, for avoidance of doubt, any prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(iii) that constitutes a Repricing Transaction), or (y) effects any amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification of this Agreement resulting in a Repricing Transaction, the Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of each of the applicable Term Lenders, (1) in the case of clause (x) above, a prepayment premium of 1.00% of the aggregate

 

113


principal amount of the Initial Term Loans incurred on the Closing Date so prepaid, refinanced, substituted or replaced and (2) in the case of clause (y) above, a fee equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Initial Term Loans amended or otherwise modified pursuant to such amendment. If, on or prior to the six-month anniversary of the Closing Date, any Term Lender that is a Non-Consenting Lender and is replaced pursuant to Section 3.07(a) in connection with any amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification of this Agreement resulting in a Repricing Transaction, such Term Lender (and not any Person who replaces such Term Lender pursuant to Section 3.07(a)) shall receive its pro rata portion (as determined immediately prior to it being so replaced) of the prepayment premium or fee described in the preceding sentence. Such amounts shall be due and payable on the date of effectiveness of such Repricing Transaction.

(v) Notwithstanding anything in any Loan Document to the contrary, so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing and, only to the extent funded at a discount, no proceeds of Revolving Credit Borrowings are applied to fund any such repayment, any Company Party may prepay the outstanding Term Loans (which shall, for the avoidance of doubt, be automatically and permanently canceled immediately upon such prepayment) (or Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may purchase such outstanding Term Loans and immediately cancel them) on the following basis:

(A) Any Company Party shall have the right to make a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a discount to par pursuant to a Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment, Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offers or Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers (any such prepayment, the “Discounted Term Loan Prepayment”), in each case made in accordance with this Section 2.05(a)(v); provided that no Company Party shall initiate any action under this Section 2.05(a)(v) in order to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment unless (I) at least ten (10) Business Days shall have passed since the consummation of the most recent Discounted Term Loan Prepayment as a result of a prepayment made by a Company Party on the applicable Discounted Prepayment Effective Date; or (II) at least three Business Days shall have passed since the date the Company Party was notified that no Term Lender was willing to accept any prepayment of any Term Loan at the Specified Discount, within the Discount Range or at any discount to par value, as applicable, or in the case of Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers, the date of any Company Party’s election not to accept any Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers.

(B) (I) Subject to the proviso to subsection (A) above, any Company Party may from time to time offer to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment by providing the Auction Agent with five (5) Business Days’ notice in the form of a Specified Discount Prepayment Notice; provided that (II) any such offer shall be made available, at the sole discretion of the Company Party, to (x) each Term Lender and/or (y) each Term Lender with respect to any Class of Term Loans on an individual tranche basis, (III) any such offer shall specify the aggregate principal amount offered to be prepaid (the “Specified Discount Prepayment

 

114


Amount”) with respect to each applicable tranche, the tranche or tranches of Term Loans subject to such offer and the specific percentage discount to par (the “Specified Discount”) of such Term Loans to be prepaid (it being understood that different Specified Discounts and/or Specified Discount Prepayment Amounts may be offered with respect to different tranches of Term Loans and, in such event, each such offer will be treated as a separate offer pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)), (IV) the Specified Discount Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate principal amount not less than $10,000,000 and whole increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (V) each such offer shall remain outstanding through the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date. The Auction Agent will promptly provide each Appropriate Lender with a copy of such Specified Discount Prepayment Notice and a form of the Specified Discount Prepayment Response to be completed and returned by each such Term Lender to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time), on the third Business Day after the date of delivery of such notice to such Lenders (the “Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date”).

(1) Each Term Lender receiving such offer shall notify the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date whether or not it agrees to accept a prepayment of any of its applicable then outstanding Term Loans at the Specified Discount and, if so (such accepting Lender, a “Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender”), the amount and the tranches of such Lender’s Term Loans to be prepaid at such offered discount. Each acceptance of a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment by a Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender shall be irrevocable. Any Term Lender whose Specified Discount Prepayment Response is not received by the Auction Agent by the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date shall be deemed to have declined to accept the applicable Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment.

(2) If there is at least one Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender, the relevant Company Party will make a prepayment of outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this paragraph (B) to each Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender in accordance with the respective outstanding amount and tranches of Term Loans specified in such Lender’s Specified Discount Prepayment Response given pursuant to subsection (1) above; provided that if the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans accepted for prepayment by all Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders exceeds the Specified Discount Prepayment Amount, such prepayment shall be made pro rata among the Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders in accordance with the respective principal amounts accepted to be prepaid by each such Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender and the Auction Agent (in consultation with such Company Party and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its reasonable discretion) will calculate such proration (the “Specified Discount Proration”). The Auction Agent shall promptly, and in any case within three Business Days following the Specified Discount

 

115


Prepayment Response Date, notify (I) the relevant Company Party of the respective Term Lenders’ responses to such offer, the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date and the aggregate principal amount of the Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and the tranches to be prepaid, (II) each Term Lender of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, and the aggregate principal amount and the tranches of Term Loans to be prepaid at the Specified Discount on such date and (III) each Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender of the Specified Discount Proration, if any, and confirmation of the principal amount, tranche and Type of Term Loans of such Lender to be prepaid at the Specified Discount on such date. Each determination by the Auction Agent of the amounts stated in the foregoing notices to the Company Party and such Term Lenders shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The payment amount specified in such notice to the Company Party shall be due and payable by such Company Party on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (F) below (subject to subsection (J) below).

(C) (1) Subject to the proviso to subsection (A) above, any Company Party may from time to time solicit Discount Range Prepayment Offers by providing the Auction Agent with five (5) Business Days’ notice in the form of a Discount Range Prepayment Notice; provided that (I) any such solicitation shall be extended, at the sole discretion of such Company Party, to (x) each Term Lender and/or (y) each Term Lender with respect to any Class of Term Loans on an individual tranche basis, (II) any such notice shall specify the maximum aggregate principal amount of the relevant Term Loans (the “Discount Range Prepayment Amount”), the tranche or tranches of Term Loans subject to such offer and the maximum and minimum percentage discounts to par (the “Discount Range”) of the principal amount of such Term Loans with respect to each relevant tranche of Term Loans willing to be prepaid by such Company Party (it being understood that different Discount Ranges and/or Discount Range Prepayment Amounts may be offered with respect to different tranches of Term Loans and, in such event, each such offer will be treated as a separate offer pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)), (III) the Discount Range Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate principal amount not less than $10,000,000 and whole increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (IV) each such solicitation by a Company Party shall remain outstanding through the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date. The Auction Agent will promptly provide each Appropriate Lender with a copy of such Discount Range Prepayment Notice and a form of the Discount Range Prepayment Offer to be submitted by a responding Lender to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time), on the third Business Day after the date of delivery of such notice to such Lenders (the “Discount Range Prepayment Response Date”). Each Term Lender’s Discount Range Prepayment Offer shall be irrevocable and shall specify a discount to par within the Discount Range (the “Submitted Discount”) at which such Lender is willing to allow prepayment of any or all of its then outstanding Term Loans of the applicable tranche or tranches and the maximum aggregate principal amount and

 

116


tranches of such Lender’s Term Loans (the “Submitted Amount”) such Term Lender is willing to have prepaid at the Submitted Discount. Any Term Lender whose Discount Range Prepayment Offer is not received by the Auction Agent by the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date shall be deemed to have declined to accept a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment of any of its Term Loans at any discount to their par value within the Discount Range.

(2) The Auction Agent shall review all Discount Range Prepayment Offers received on or before the applicable Discount Range Prepayment Response Date and shall determine (in consultation with such Company Party and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) the Applicable Discount and Term Loans to be prepaid at such Applicable Discount in accordance with this subsection (C). The relevant Company Party agrees to accept on the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date all Discount Range Prepayment Offers received by Auction Agent by the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date, in the order from the Submitted Discount that is the largest discount to par to the Submitted Discount that is the smallest discount to par, up to and including the Submitted Discount that is the smallest discount to par within the Discount Range (such Submitted Discount that is the smallest discount to par within the Discount Range being referred to as the “Applicable Discount”) which yields a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment in an aggregate principal amount equal to the lower of (I) the Discount Range Prepayment Amount and (II) the sum of all Submitted Amounts. Each Term Lender that has submitted a Discount Range Prepayment Offer to accept prepayment at a discount to par that is larger than or equal to the Applicable Discount shall be deemed to have irrevocably consented to prepayment of Term Loans equal to its Submitted Amount (subject to any required proration pursuant to the following subsection (3)) at the Applicable Discount (each such Term Lender, a “Participating Lender”).

(3) If there is at least one Participating Lender, the relevant Company Party will prepay the respective outstanding Term Loans of each Participating Lender in the aggregate principal amount and of the tranches specified in such Lender’s Discount Range Prepayment Offer at the Applicable Discount; provided that if the Submitted Amount by all Participating Lenders offered at a discount to par greater than or equal to the Applicable Discount exceeds the Discount Range Prepayment Amount, prepayment of the principal amount of the relevant Term Loans for those Participating Lenders whose Submitted Discount is a discount to par greater than or equal to the Applicable Discount (the “Identified Participating Lenders”) shall be made pro rata among the Identified Participating Lenders in accordance with the Submitted Amount of each such Identified Participating Lender and the Auction Agent (in consultation with such Company Party and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion)

 

117


will calculate such proration (the “Discount Range Proration”). The Auction Agent shall promptly, and in any case within five (5) Business Days following the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date, notify (I) the relevant Company Party of the respective Term Lenders’ responses to such solicitation, the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, the Applicable Discount, and the aggregate principal amount of the Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and the tranches to be prepaid, (II) each Term Lender of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, the Applicable Discount, and the aggregate principal amount and tranches of Term Loans to be prepaid at the Applicable Discount on such date, (III) each Participating Lender of the aggregate principal amount and tranches of such Term Lender to be prepaid at the Applicable Discount on such date, and (IV) if applicable, each Identified Participating Lender of the Discount Range Proration. Each determination by the Auction Agent of the amounts stated in the foregoing notices to the relevant Company Party and Term Lenders shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The payment amount specified in such notice to the Company Party shall be due and payable by such Company Party on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (F) below (subject to subsection (J) below).

(D) (1) Subject to the proviso to subsection (A) above, any Company Party may from time to time solicit Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers by providing the Auction Agent with five (5) Business Days’ notice in the form of a Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice; provided that (I) any such solicitation shall be extended, at the sole discretion of such Company Party, to (x) each Term Lender and/or (y) each Lender with respect to any Class of Term Loans on an individual tranche basis, (II) any such notice shall specify the maximum aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans (the “Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount”) and the tranche or tranches of Term Loans the Borrowers are willing to prepay at a discount (it being understood that different Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amounts may be offered with respect to different tranches of Term Loans and, in such event, each such offer will be treated as a separate offer pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)), (III) the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate principal amount not less than $10,000,000 and whole increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (IV) each such solicitation by a Company Party shall remain outstanding through the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date. The Auction Agent will promptly provide each Appropriate Lender with a copy of such Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice and a form of the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer to be submitted by a responding Lender to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time), on the third Business Day after the date of delivery of such notice to such Term Lenders (the “Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date”). Each Term Lender’s Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer shall (x) be irrevocable, (y) remain outstanding until the Acceptance Date, and (z) specify both a discount to par (the “Offered Discount”) at which such Term Lender is willing to allow

 

118


prepayment of its then outstanding Term Loan and the maximum aggregate principal amount and tranches of such Term Loans (the “Offered Amount”) such Term Lender is willing to have prepaid at the Offered Discount. Any Term Lender whose Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer is not received by the Auction Agent by the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date shall be deemed to have declined prepayment of any of its Term Loans at any discount.

(2) The Auction Agent shall promptly provide the relevant Company Party with a copy of all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received on or before the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date. Such Company Party shall review all such Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers and select the largest of the Offered Discounts specified by the relevant responding Term Lenders in the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers that is acceptable to the Company Party (the “Acceptable Discount”), if any. If the Company Party elects to accept any Offered Discount as the Acceptable Discount, then as soon as practicable after the determination of the Acceptable Discount, but in no event later than by the third Business Day after the date of receipt by such Company Party from the Auction Agent of a copy of all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers pursuant to the first sentence of this subsection (2) (the “Acceptance Date”), the Company Party shall submit an Acceptance and Prepayment Notice to the Auction Agent setting forth the Acceptable Discount. If the Auction Agent shall fail to receive an Acceptance and Prepayment Notice from the Company Party by the Acceptance Date, such Company Party shall be deemed to have rejected all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers.

(3) Based upon the Acceptable Discount and the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received by Auction Agent by the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date, within three Business Days after receipt of an Acceptance and Prepayment Notice (the “Discounted Prepayment Determination Date”), the Auction Agent will determine (in consultation with such Company Party and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) the aggregate principal amount and the tranches of Term Loans (the “Acceptable Prepayment Amount”) to be prepaid by the relevant Company Party at the Acceptable Discount in accordance with this Section 2.05(a)(v)(D). If the Company Party elects to accept any Acceptable Discount, then the Company Party agrees to accept all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received by Auction Agent by the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date, in the order from largest Offered Discount to smallest Offered Discount, up to and including the Acceptable Discount. Each Term Lender that has submitted a Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer with an Offered Discount that is greater than or equal to the Acceptable Discount shall be deemed to have irrevocably consented to prepayment of Term Loans equal to its Offered Amount (subject to any required pro rata reduction pursuant to the

 

119


following sentence) at the Acceptable Discount (each such Lender, a “Qualifying Lender”). The Company Party will prepay outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this subsection (D) to each Qualifying Lender in the aggregate principal amount and of the tranches specified in such Lender’s Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer at the Acceptable Discount; provided that if the aggregate Offered Amount by all Qualifying Lenders whose Offered Discount is greater than or equal to the Acceptable Discount exceeds the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount, prepayment of the principal amount of the Term Loans for those Qualifying Lenders whose Offered Discount is greater than or equal to the Acceptable Discount (the “Identified Qualifying Lenders”) shall be made pro rata among the Identified Qualifying Lenders in accordance with the Offered Amount of each such Identified Qualifying Lender and the Auction Agent (in consultation with such Company Party and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) will calculate such proration (the “Solicited Discount Proration”). On or prior to the Discounted Prepayment Determination Date, the Auction Agent shall promptly notify (I) the relevant Company Party of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date and Acceptable Prepayment Amount comprising the Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and the tranches to be prepaid, (II) each Term Lender of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, the Acceptable Discount, and the Acceptable Prepayment Amount of all Term Loans and the tranches to be prepaid to be prepaid at the Applicable Discount on such date, (III) each Qualifying Lender of the aggregate principal amount and the tranches of such Term Lender to be prepaid at the Acceptable Discount on such date, and (IV) if applicable, each Identified Qualifying Lender of the Solicited Discount Proration. Each determination by the Auction Agent of the amounts stated in the foregoing notices to such Company Party and Term Lenders shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The payment amount specified in such notice to such Company Party shall be due and payable by such Company Party on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (F) below (subject to subsection (J) below).

(E) In connection with any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment, the Company Parties and the Term Lenders acknowledge and agree that the Auction Agent may require as a condition to any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment, the payment of customary fees and expenses from a Company Party in connection therewith.

(F) If any Term Loan is prepaid in accordance with paragraphs (B) through (D) above, a Company Party shall prepay such Term Loans on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date. The relevant Company Party shall make such prepayment to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders, Participating Lenders, or Qualifying Lenders, as applicable, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in immediately available funds

 

120


not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date and all such prepayments shall be applied to the remaining principal installments of the relevant tranche of Loans on a pro rata basis across such installments. The Term Loans so prepaid shall be accompanied by all accrued and unpaid interest on the par principal amount so prepaid up to, but not including, the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date. Each prepayment of the outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(a)(v) shall be paid to the Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders, Participating Lenders, or Qualifying Lenders, as applicable, and shall be applied to the relevant Loans of such Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Share. The aggregate principal amount of the tranches and installments of the relevant Term Loans outstanding shall be deemed reduced by the full par value of the aggregate principal amount of the tranches of Term Loans prepaid on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment. In connection with each prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.05(a)(v), the relevant Company Party shall waive any right to bring any action against the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such, in connection with any such Discounted Term Loan Prepayment.

(G) To the extent not expressly provided for herein, each Discounted Term Loan Prepayment shall be consummated pursuant to procedures consistent with the provisions in this Section 2.05(a)(v), established by the Auction Agent acting in its reasonable discretion and as reasonably agreed by the Lead Borrower.

(H) Notwithstanding anything in any Loan Document to the contrary, for purposes of this Section 2.05(a)(v), each notice or other communication required to be delivered or otherwise provided to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) shall be deemed to have been given upon Auction Agent’s (or its delegate’s) actual receipt during normal business hours of such notice or communication; provided that any notice or communication actually received outside of normal business hours shall be deemed to have been given as of the opening of business on the next Business Day.

(I) Each of the Company Parties and the Term Lenders acknowledge and agree that the Auction Agent may perform any and all of its duties under this Section 2.05(a)(v) by itself or through any Affiliate of the Auction Agent and expressly consents to any such delegation of duties by the Auction Agent to such Affiliate and the performance of such delegated duties by such Affiliate. The exculpatory provisions pursuant to this Agreement shall apply to each Affiliate of the Auction Agent and its respective activities in connection with any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment provided for in this Section 2.05(a)(v) as well as activities of the Auction Agent.

(J) Each Company Party shall have the right, by written notice to the Auction Agent, to revoke in full (but not in part) its offer to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and rescind the applicable Specified Discount Prepayment Notice, Discount Range Prepayment Notice or Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice therefor at its discretion at any time on or prior to the

 

121


applicable Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date (and if such offer is revoked pursuant to the preceding clauses, any failure by such Company Party to make any prepayment to a Lender, as applicable, pursuant to this Section 2.05(a)(v) shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 8.01 or otherwise).

(b) Mandatory.

(i) Within five (5) Business Days after financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) (commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021) and the related Compliance Certificate has been delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a), the Borrowers shall cause to be offered to be prepaid in accordance with clause (b)(vi) and (ix) below, an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans in an amount equal to (the “ECF Payment Amount”) (A) the Applicable ECF Percentage of Excess Cash Flow, if any, for the fiscal year covered by such financial statements minus (B) the sum of (1) at the Lead Borrower’s option, all voluntary prepayments, repurchases or redemptions of Term Loans made during such fiscal year or after year-end and prior to when such Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (including, in the case of Term Loans prepaid pursuant to (x) Section 2.05(a)(v), the actual purchase price paid in cash pursuant to a “Dutch Auction” and (y) open-market purchases pursuant to Section 10.07(l), the actual purchase price paid in cash pursuant to such purchase), (2) at the Lead Borrower’s option, all voluntary prepayments, repurchases or redemptions of Revolving Credit Loans during such fiscal year or after year-end and prior to when such Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due to the extent the Revolving Credit Commitments are permanently reduced by the amount of such payments, (3) at the Lead Borrower’s option, all voluntary prepayments, repurchases or redemptions of any Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt, Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, Permitted Ratio Debt, incurred Indebtedness under Section 7.03(g) and any other Indebtedness (in the case of any revolving credit facilities, to the extent accompanied by a permanent reduction of the corresponding commitment) in each case, secured on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Loans and repurchased or redeemed on a pro rata basis or less than pro rata basis with the Initial Term Loans (except to the extent financed with proceeds of long-term funded Indebtedness (other than revolving loans)) during such fiscal year or after year-end and prior to when such Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (provided that, any such voluntary prepayments described in the foregoing clauses (1) through (3) that have not been applied to reduce the prepayments which may be due from time to time pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(i) shall be carried over to subsequent fiscal years, and may reduce the prepayments due from time to time pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(i) during such fiscal years, until such time as such voluntary prepayments have been used to reduce such prepayments which may be due from time to time), (4) the amount of Capital Expenditures or acquisitions of IP Rights to the extent not expensed and Capitalized Software Expenditures accrued or made (or committed to be made) in cash during such period or, at the option of the Lead Borrower, made after such period and prior to the date the Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (it being understood that to the extent such Capital Expenditures or acquisitions are not actually made as committed in a subsequent period, such amount shall be added back in calculating Excess Cash Flow for such subsequent period, to the extent financed with internally generated cash or Borrowings

 

122


under the Revolving Credit Facility), (5) the aggregate amount of all principal payments of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries made (or committed to be made) during such period or, at the option of the Lead Borrower, made after such period and prior to the date the Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (it being understood that to the extent such payments are not actually made as committed in a subsequent period, such amount shall be added back in calculating Excess Cash Flow for such subsequent period) (including (A) the principal component of payments in respect of Financing Leases, (B) the amount of any scheduled repayment of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.07, and (C) any mandatory prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ii) to the extent required due to a Disposition that resulted in an increase to Consolidated Net Income and not in excess of the amount of such increase but excluding (X) all other voluntary and mandatory prepayments of Term Loans and all prepayments and repayments of Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans and (Y) all prepayments in respect of any other revolving credit facility, except in the case of clause (Y) to the extent there is an equivalent permanent reduction in commitments thereunder to the extent financed with internally generated cash), (6) cash payments by the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries made (or committed to be made) during such period or, at the option of the Lead Borrower, made after such period and prior to the date the Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (it being understood that to the extent such payments are not actually made as committed in a subsequent period, such amount shall be added back in calculating Excess Cash Flow for such subsequent period) in respect of long-term liabilities of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries other than Indebtedness, to the extent financed with internally generated cash, (7) the amount of Investments and acquisitions made (or committed to be made) by the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period or, at the option of the Lead Borrower, made after such period and prior to the date the Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (it being understood that to the extent such Investments and acquisitions are not actually made as committed in a subsequent period, such amount shall be added back in calculating Excess Cash Flow for such subsequent period) and paid (or committed to be paid) in cash pursuant to Section 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(a), (c) or (x)), to the extent financed with internally generated cash or Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, (8) the amount of Restricted Payments paid in cash (or committed to be paid) during such period or, at the option of the Lead Borrower, paid after such period and prior to the date the Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (it being understood that to the extent such payments are not actually paid as committed in a subsequent period, such amount shall be added back in calculating Excess Cash Flow for such subsequent period), to the extent financed with internally generated cash or Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, (9) the aggregate amount of expenditures made (or committed to be made) by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in cash during such period or, at the option of the Lead Borrower, made after such period and prior to the date the Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (it being understood that to the extent such expenditures are not actually made as committed in a subsequent period, such amount shall be added back in calculating Excess Cash Flow for such subsequent period) (including expenditures for the payment of financing fees) to the extent that such expenditures are not expensed during such period, to the extent financed with internally generated cash, (10) the aggregate amount of any premium, make-whole or penalty

 

123


payments paid (or committed to be paid) in cash by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period or, at the option of the Lead Borrower, paid after such period and prior to the date the Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (it being understood that to the extent such premium, make-whole or penalty payments are not actually paid as committed in a subsequent period, such amount shall be added back in calculating Excess Cash Flow for such subsequent period) that are required to be made in connection with any prepayment of Indebtedness, to the extent financed with internally generated cash and (11) the amount of cash taxes paid (or committed to be paid) in such period or, at the option of the Lead Borrower, paid after such period and prior to the date the Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (it being understood that to the extent such taxes are not actually paid as committed in a subsequent period, such amount shall be added back in calculating Excess Cash Flow for such subsequent period) to the extent they exceed the amount of tax expense deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, in the case of each of the immediately preceding clauses (1) through (11), without duplication of any deduction from Excess Cash Flow in any prior period; provided that prepayments pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(i) shall only be required for any fiscal year if the amount of ECF Payment Amount for such fiscal year is greater than the greater of (A) $25,000,000 and (B) 15% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA at the time of such prepayment; provided, further, that, for the avoidance of doubt, only amounts in excess of the greater of (A) $25,000,000 and (B) 15% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA shall be prepaid pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(i).

(ii) If (1) the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower Disposes of any property or assets constituting Collateral pursuant to Sections 7.05(f), (i), (j) or (t)(i) or (2) any Casualty Event occurs, which results in the realization or receipt by the Lead Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary of Net Proceeds, the Borrowers shall cause to be offered to be prepaid in accordance with clause (b)(vi) and (ix) below, on or prior to the date which is ten (10) Business Days after the date of the realization or receipt by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Net Proceeds, subject to clause (b)(xi) below, an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans in an amount equal to the Applicable Asset Sale Percentage of all Net Proceeds received (such amount, the “Applicable Proceeds”); provided that if at the time that any such prepayment would be required, the Borrowers are required to offer to repurchase Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt, Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, Permitted Ratio Debt, incurred Indebtedness under Section 7.03(g) or any other Indebtedness outstanding at such time that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral ranking pari passu with the Lien securing the Term Loans pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Indebtedness with the Net Proceeds of such Disposition or Casualty Event (such Indebtedness required to be offered to be so repurchased, “Other Applicable Indebtedness”), then the Borrowers may apply the Applicable Proceeds on a pro rata basis (determined on the basis of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and Other Applicable Indebtedness at such time) and the remaining Net Proceeds so received to the prepayment of such Other Applicable Indebtedness; provided, further, that (A) the portion of the Applicable Proceeds (but not the other Net Proceeds received) allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of Applicable Proceeds required to be allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof, and the remaining amount, if any, of such Net Proceeds shall be allocated to the

 

124


Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof to the prepayment of the Term Loans and to the repurchase or prepayment of Other Applicable Indebtedness, and the amount of prepayment of the Term Loans that would have otherwise been required pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(ii) shall be reduced accordingly and (B) to the extent the holders of Other Applicable Indebtedness decline to have such indebtedness repurchased or prepaid, the declined amount shall promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the date of such rejection) be applied to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof.

(iii) If the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs or issues any Indebtedness after the Closing Date (other than Indebtedness not prohibited under Section 7.03), the Borrowers shall cause to be offered to be prepaid in accordance with clause (b)(vi) below an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans in an amount equal to 100% of all Net Proceeds received therefrom on or prior to the date which is five (5) Business Days after the receipt by the Lead Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary of such Net Proceeds; provided that if at the time that any such prepayment would be required, the Borrowers are required to offer to repurchase any Other Applicable Indebtedness with the Net Proceeds of such Indebtedness, then the Borrowers may apply such Net Proceeds on a pro rata basis (determined on the basis of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and Other Applicable Indebtedness at such time); provided, further, that (A) the portion of such Net Proceeds allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of such Net Proceeds required to be allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof, and the remaining amount, if any, of such Net Proceeds shall be allocated to the Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof to the prepayment of the Term Loans and to the repurchase or prepayment of Other Applicable Indebtedness, and the amount of prepayment of the Term Loans that would have otherwise been required pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(iii) shall be reduced accordingly and (B) to the extent the holders of Other Applicable Indebtedness decline to have such indebtedness repurchased or prepaid, the declined amount shall promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the date of such rejection) be applied to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof. If any Borrower or any other Loan Party incurs any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, the Net Proceeds of such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness shall be used pursuant to clause (iv) of the definition thereof.

(iv) If for any reason the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures at any time exceeds the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect (including, for the avoidance of doubt, as a result of the termination of any Class of Revolving Credit Commitments on the Maturity Date with respect thereto), the Borrowers shall promptly prepay or cause to be promptly prepaid Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(iv) unless after the prepayment in full of the Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans such aggregate Outstanding Amount exceeds the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect.

 

125


(v) Except with respect to Loans incurred in connection with any Refinancing Amendment, Term Loan Extension Request, Revolver Extension Request or any Incremental Amendment (which may be prepaid on a less than pro rata basis in accordance with its terms), (A) each prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) shall be applied as between series, Classes or tranches of Term Loans as directed by the Lead Borrower (provided that (i) any prepayment of Term Loans with the Net Proceeds of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness shall be applied solely to each applicable Class of Refinanced Debt, (ii) any Class of Incremental Term Loans may specify that one or more other Classes of Term Loans and Incremental Term Loans may be prepaid prior to such Class of Incremental Term Loans and (iii) prepayments of Term Loans may not be directed to the payment of later maturing Classes or tranches without at least a pro rata repayment of any earlier maturing Class or tranche of Term Loans); (B) with respect to each Class of Term Loans, each prepayment pursuant to clauses (i) through (iv) of this Section 2.05(b) shall be applied to the scheduled installments of principal thereof following the date of prepayment pursuant to Section 2.07(a) in direct order of maturity (without premium or penalty), unless otherwise directed by the Lead Borrower; and (C) each such prepayment shall be paid to the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares of such prepayment.

(vi) The Lead Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any mandatory prepayment of Term Loans required to be made pursuant to clauses (i) through (iv) of this Section 2.05(b) at least four (4) Business Days prior to the date of such prepayment. Each such notice shall specify the date of such prepayment and provide a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount of such prepayment. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of the contents of the Lead Borrower’s prepayment notice and of such Appropriate Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the prepayment.

(vii) Funding Losses, Etc. All prepayments under this Section 2.05 shall be made together with, in the case of any such prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan on a date prior to the last day of an Interest Period therefor, any amounts owing in respect of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan pursuant to Section 3.05. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Section 2.05, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans is required to be made under this Section 2.05, prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, each Borrower may, in its sole discretion, deposit the amount of any such prepayment otherwise required to be made thereunder into a Cash Collateral Account until the last day of such Interest Period, at which time the Administrative Agent shall be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Lead Borrower or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of such Loans in accordance with this Section 2.05. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall also be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Lead Borrower or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of the outstanding Loans in accordance with this Section 2.05.

 

126


(viii) Term Opt-out of Prepayment. With respect to each prepayment of Term Loans required pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(i) or (ii), (A) each Lender of Term Loans will have the right to refuse such offer of prepayment by giving written notice of such refusal to the Administrative Agent within one (1) Business Day after such Lender’s receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent of such offer of prepayment (“Declined Proceeds”) (in which case the Borrowers shall not prepay any Term Loans of such Lender on the date that is specified in clause (B) below), (B) the Borrowers will make all such prepayments not so refused upon the fourth Business Day after delivery of notice by the Lead Borrower pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(vii) and (C) any Declined Proceeds may be retained by the Borrowers.

(ix) In connection with any mandatory prepayments by the Borrowers of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(b), such prepayments shall be applied on a pro rata basis to the then outstanding Term Loans of the applicable Class or Classes being prepaid irrespective of whether such outstanding Term Loans are Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans; provided that if no Lenders exercise the right to waive a given mandatory prepayment of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(viii), then, with respect to such mandatory prepayment, the amount of such mandatory prepayment within any tranche of Term Loans shall be applied first to Term Loans of such tranche that are Base Rate Loans to the full extent thereof before application to Term Loans of such tranche that are Eurocurrency Rate Loans in a manner that minimizes the amount of any payments required to be made by the Borrowers pursuant to Section 3.05.

(x) Foreign Dispositions and Excess Cash Flow. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 2.05, (i) to the extent that any or all of the Net Proceeds of any Disposition by a Restricted Subsidiary that is organized in a jurisdiction other than an Agreed Security Jurisdiction (“Foreign Disposition”) or Excess Cash Flow attributable to Restricted Subsidiaries that are organized in a jurisdiction other than an Agreed Security Jurisdiction are prohibited or delayed by applicable local law from being repatriated to the jurisdictions of the Loan Parties or, with respect to a Foreign Disposition or Excess Cash Flow attributable to Foreign Subsidiaries that are Subsidiaries of a Domestic Subsidiary, to a Domestic Subsidiary, an amount equal to the portion of such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Term Loans at the times provided in this Section 2.05 so long, but only so long, as the applicable local law will not permit repatriation to the jurisdiction of the Loan Parties or, with respect to a Foreign Disposition or Excess Cash Flow attributable to Foreign Subsidiaries that are Subsidiaries of a Domestic Subsidiary, to a Domestic Subsidiary (the Lead Borrower hereby agreeing to cause the applicable Restricted Subsidiary that is organized in a jurisdiction other than an Agreed Security Jurisdiction to promptly take all actions reasonably required by the applicable local law to permit such repatriation), and once such repatriation of any of such affected Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow that, in each case, would otherwise be required to be used to make an offer of prepayment pursuant to Sections 2.05(b)(i) or 2.05(b)(ii), is permitted under the applicable local law, an amount equal to such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow will be promptly (and in any event not later than two Business Days after such repatriation is permitted) applied (net of additional taxes payable or reserved against as a result thereof) to the repayment of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05 and (ii) to the extent that the Lead Borrower has reasonably determined in good faith that repatriation of any of or all the Net Proceeds of any Foreign Disposition or the Excess Cash Flow attributable to Restricted

 

127


Subsidiaries that are organized in a jurisdiction other than an Agreed Security Jurisdiction would have material adverse tax cost consequences to Holdings (taking into account any foreign tax credit or benefit actually realized in connection with such repatriation), the Lead Borrower, any direct or indirect parent entity of the Lead Borrower or any of the Lead Borrower’s direct or indirect Subsidiaries with respect to such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow, an amount equal to such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Term Loans at the times provided in this Section 2.05(i); provided that in the case of this clause (ii), on or before the date on which any such Net Proceeds so retained would otherwise have been required to be applied to reinvestments or prepayments pursuant to Section 2.05(b) or any such Excess Cash Flow would have been required to be applied to prepayments pursuant to Section 2.05(b), the Borrowers apply an amount equal to such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow to such reinvestments or prepayments, as applicable, as if such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow had been received by the Borrowers rather than such Foreign Subsidiary, less the amount of additional taxes that would have been payable or reserved against if such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow had been repatriated (or, if less, the Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow that would be calculated if received by such Foreign Subsidiary).

Section 2.06. Termination or Reduction of Commitments. (a) Optional. The Borrowers may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent by the Lead Borrower, terminate the unused Commitments of any Class, or from time to time permanently reduce the unused Commitments of any Class, in each case without premium or penalty; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent three Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction (unless the Administrative Agent agrees to a shorter period in its discretion), (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in a minimum aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000, or any whole multiple of $250,000, in excess thereof or, if less, the entire amount thereof and (iii) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Revolving Credit Facility, such sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. The amount of any such Commitment reduction shall not otherwise be applied to the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit unless otherwise specified by the Lead Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Lead Borrower may rescind or postpone any notice of termination of the Commitments if such termination would have resulted from a refinancing of all of the applicable Facility, which refinancing shall not be consummated or otherwise shall be delayed.

(b) Mandatory. The Initial Term Commitment of each Term Lender shall be automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the funding of the Initial Term Loans to be made by it on the Closing Date. The Revolving Credit Commitment of each Class shall automatically and permanently terminate on the Maturity Date with respect to such Class of Revolving Credit Commitments.

(c) Application of Commitment Reductions; Payment of Fees. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Appropriate Lenders of any termination or reduction of unused portions of the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit or the unused Commitments of any Class under this Section 2.06. Upon any reduction of unused Commitments of any Class, the Commitment of each Lender of such Class shall be reduced by such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the amount by which such Commitments are reduced (other than the termination of the Commitment of any Lender as provided in Section 3.07). All commitment fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

 

128


Section 2.07. Repayment of Loans. (a) Term Loans. The Borrowers shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Term Lenders (i) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with June 30, 2020, an aggregate principal amount of Initial Term Loans incurred on the Closing Date equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all Initial Term Loans outstanding on the Closing Date (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.05) and (ii) on the Maturity Date for the Initial Term Loans, the aggregate principal amount of all Initial Term Loans outstanding on such date. In the event that any Incremental Term Loans, Refinancing Term Loans or Extended Term Loans are made, such other Incremental Term Loans, Refinancing Term Loans or Extended Term Loans, as applicable, shall be repaid by the Borrowers in the amounts and on the dates set forth in the Incremental Amendment, Refinancing Amendment or Extension Amendment with respect thereto and on the applicable Maturity Date thereof.

(b) Revolving Credit Loans. The Borrowers shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Appropriate Lenders on the applicable Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facilities of a given Class the aggregate principal amount of all of its Revolving Credit Loans of such Class outstanding on such date.

(c) Swing Line Loans. The Borrowers shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the date that is five (5) Business Days after such Loan is made and (ii) the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facility (although Swing Line Loans may thereafter be reborrowed, in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, if there are one or more Classes of Revolving Credit Commitments which remain in effect).

Section 2.08. Interest. (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(b), (i) each Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Loan (other than a Swing Line Loan) shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; and (iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Revolving Credit Loans.

(b) During the continuance of a Default under Section 8.01(a) or 8.01(f), the Borrowers shall pay interest on past due amounts owing by it hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws; provided that no interest at the Default Rate shall accrue or be payable to a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender. Accrued and unpaid interest on such amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

 

129


(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

Section 2.09. Fees. In addition to certain fees described in Sections 2.03(h) and (i):

(a) Commitment Fee. The Borrowers agree to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender under the applicable Revolving Credit Facility in accordance with its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement, a commitment fee in Dollars equal to the Commitment Fee Rate with respect to Revolving Credit Loan, times the actual daily amount by which the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments for the applicable Revolving Credit Facility exceeds the sum of (A) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Credit Loans for such Facility, and (B) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations for such Facility; provided that any commitment fee accrued with respect to any of the Commitments of a Defaulting Lender during the period prior to the time such Lender became a Defaulting Lender and unpaid at such time shall not be payable by the Borrowers so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender, except to the extent that such commitment fee shall otherwise have been due and payable by the Borrowers prior to such time; and provided, further, that no commitment fee shall accrue on any of the Commitments of a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender. The commitment fee on each Revolving Credit Facility shall accrue at all times from the Closing Date until the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Commitments, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article 4 is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing March 31, 2020 and on the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Commitments. The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Commitment Fee Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Commitment Fee Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Commitment Fee Rate was in effect.

(b) [Reserved].

(c) Other Fees. The Borrowers shall pay to the Agents such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing (including, but not limited to, as set forth in the Fee Letter) in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever (except as expressly agreed between the Lead Borrower and the applicable Agent).

Section 2.10. Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans shall be made on the basis of a year of three hundred sixty-five (365) days, or three hundred sixty-six (366) days, as applicable, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year and actual days elapsed. Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid; provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one (1) day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

130


Section 2.11. Evidence of Indebtedness. (a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and evidenced by one or more entries in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent, acting solely for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 5f.103-1(c) and Section 1.163-5(b) of the United States Proposed Treasury Regulations, as agent for the Borrowers, in each case in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by each Lender shall be prima facie evidence absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrowers and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrowers hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender 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 Borrowers shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note payable to such Lender and its registered assignees, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount, currency and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

(b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in Section 2.11(a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records and, in the case of the Administrative Agent, entries in the Register, evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

(c) Entries made in good faith by each Lender in its account or accounts pursuant to Sections 2.11(a) and (b), shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of principal and interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrowers to such Lender, under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, absent manifest error; provided that the failure of such Lender to make an entry, or any finding that an entry is incorrect, in such account or accounts shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Section 2.12. Payments Generally. (a) All payments to be made by the Borrowers shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein and except with respect to an Approved Foreign Currency, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office for Dollar-denominated payments and in Same Day Funds not later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time on the date specified herein. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder in an Approved Foreign Currency shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office in such Approved Foreign Currency and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m. (London time) (or, if earlier, 9:00 a.m. New York city time) on the dates specified herein. If, for any reason, the Borrowers

 

131


are prohibited by any Law from making any required payment hereunder in an Approved Foreign Currency, the Borrowers shall make such payment in Dollars in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of such Approved Foreign Currency payment amount. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Appropriate Lender its Pro Rata Share (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s applicable Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after the time specified above shall in each case be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.

(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, if any payment to be made by the Borrowers shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be; provided that if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Eurocurrency Rate Loans to be made in the next succeeding calendar month, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day.

(c) Unless the Lead Borrower or any Lender has notified the Administrative Agent, prior to the date any payment is required to be made by it to the Administrative Agent hereunder, that the Borrowers or such Lender, as the case may be, will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrowers or such Lender, as the case may be, has timely made such payment and may (but shall not be so required to), in reliance thereon, make available a corresponding amount to the Person entitled thereto. If and to the extent that such payment was not in fact made to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds, then:

(i) if the Borrowers failed to make such payment, each Lender shall forthwith on demand repay to the Administrative Agent the portion of such assumed payment that was made available to such Lender in Same Day Funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Federal Funds Effective Rate, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing; and

(ii) if any Lender failed to make such payment (including, without limitation, failure to fund participations in respect of any Letter of Credit or Swing Line Loan), such Lender shall forthwith on demand pay to the Administrative Agent the amount thereof in Same Day Funds, together with interest thereon for the period from the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrowers to the date such amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent (the “Compensation Period”) at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing. When such Lender makes payment to the Administrative Agent (together with all accrued interest thereon), then such payment amount (excluding the amount of any interest which may have accrued and been paid in respect of such late payment) shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in the applicable Borrowing. If such Lender does not pay such amount (including, without limitation, failure to fund participations in respect of any Letter of Credit or Swing Line Loan) forthwith upon the

 

132


Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent may make a demand therefor upon the Lead Borrower, and the Borrowers shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent, together with interest thereon for the Compensation Period at a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest applicable to the applicable Borrowing. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Administrative Agent or the Borrowers may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Lead Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this Section 2.12(c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(d) If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article 2, and such funds are not made available to the Borrowers by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article 4 or in the applicable Incremental Amendment, Extension Amendment or Refinancing Amendment are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

(e) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to fund any such participation on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan or purchase its participation.

(f) Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

(g) Whenever any payment received by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents is insufficient to pay in full all amounts due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under or in respect of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents on any date, such payment shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent and applied by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in the order of priority set forth in Section 8.04. If the Administrative Agent receives funds for application to the Obligations of the Loan Parties under or in respect of the Loan Documents under circumstances for which the Loan Documents do not specify the manner in which such funds are to be applied, the Administrative Agent may (to the fullest extent permitted by mandatory provisions of applicable Law), but shall not be obligated to, elect to distribute such funds to each of the Lenders in accordance with such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the sum of (a) the Outstanding Amount of all Loans outstanding at such time and (b) the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations outstanding at such time, in repayment or prepayment of such of the outstanding Loans or other Obligations then owing to such Lender.

 

133


Section 2.13. Sharing of Payments. (a) If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Lender shall obtain on account of the Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans held by it, any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of setoff, or otherwise) in excess of its ratable share (or other share contemplated hereunder) thereof, such Lender shall immediately (b) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (c) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loans made by them and/or such subparticipations in the participations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans held by them, as the case may be, as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment in respect of such Loans or such participations, as the case may be, pro rata with each of them; provided that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the purchasing Lender in its discretion), such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each other Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount equal to such paying Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such paying Lender’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered, without further interest thereon. For avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by the Borrowers pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement as in effect from time to time (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender) or (B) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant permitted hereunder. The Borrowers agree that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender may, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of setoff, but subject to Section 10.09) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrowers in the amount of such participation. The Administrative Agent will keep records (which shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error) of participations purchased under this Section 2.13 and will in each case notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments. Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section 2.13 shall from and after such purchase have the right to give all notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications under this Agreement with respect to the portion of the Obligations purchased to the same extent as though the purchasing Lender were the original owner of the Obligations purchased.

Section 2.14. Incremental Credit Extensions. (a) Incremental Commitments. The Borrowers may, at any time or from time to time after the Closing Date, by notice to the Administrative Agent from the Lead Borrower (an “Incremental Loan Request”), request (A) one or more new commitments which may be in the same Facility as any outstanding Term Loans of an existing Class (a “Term Loan Increase”) or a new Class of Term Loans (each, an “Incremental Term Facility”, collectively with any Term Loan Increase, the “Incremental Term Commitments”) and/or (B) one or more increases in the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments or any Incremental Revolving Facility (a “Revolving Commitment Increase”) or the establishment of one or more new revolving credit commitments (each, an “Incremental Revolving Facility” and collectively with any Incremental Term Facility, an “Incremental Facility” and any such new commitments, collectively with any Revolving Commitment Increases, the “Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments” and the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, collectively with any Incremental Term Commitments, the “Incremental

 

134


Commitments”), whereupon the Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Lenders. Incremental Commitments and Incremental Loans shall be (A) secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the Initial Term Loans, (B) secured by the Collateral on a junior lien basis to the Liens securing the Initial Term Loans or (C) unsecured or not secured by the Collateral. For the avoidance of doubt, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments and Incremental Revolving Credit Loans shall be secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the Initial Term Loans.

(b) Incremental Loans. Any Incremental Commitments effected through the establishment of one or more new revolving credit commitments or new Term Loans not in the same Facility of any existing Class of Term Loans made on an Incremental Facility Closing Date shall be designated a separate Class of Incremental Commitments for all purposes of this Agreement. On any Incremental Facility Closing Date on which any Incremental Term Commitments of any Class are effected (including through any Term Loan Increase), subject to the satisfaction of the terms and conditions in this Section 2.14, (i) each Incremental Term Lender of such Class shall make a Loan to the Borrowers (or any Loan Party organized in an Agreed Borrower Jurisdiction may be designated as a borrower in respect thereof so long as all obligors under such Incremental Facility are the same as with respect to the Loans hereunder) (an “Incremental Term Loan”) in an amount equal to its Incremental Term Commitment of such Class and (ii) each Incremental Term Lender of such Class shall become a Lender hereunder with respect to the Incremental Term Commitment of such Class and the Incremental Term Loans of such Class made pursuant thereto. On any Incremental Facility Closing Date on which any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments of any Class are effected through the establishment of one or more new revolving credit commitments (including through any Revolving Commitment Increase), subject to the satisfaction of the terms and conditions in this Section 2.14, (i) each Incremental Revolving Credit Lender of such Class shall make its Commitment available to the Borrowers (or any Loan Party organized in an Agreed Borrower Jurisdiction may be designated as a borrower in respect thereof so long as all obligors under such Incremental Facility are the same as with respect to the Loans hereunder) (when borrowed, “Incremental Revolving Credit Loans” and collectively with Incremental Term Loans, an “Incremental Loans”) in an amount equal to its Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment of such Class and (ii) each Incremental Revolving Credit Lender of such Class shall become a Lender hereunder with respect to the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment of such Class and the Incremental Revolving Credit Loans of such Class made pursuant thereto. For the avoidance of doubt, Incremental Term Loans may have identical terms to any of the Term Loans and be treated as the same Class as any of such Term Loans.

(c) Incremental Loan Request. Each Incremental Loan Request from the Lead Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall set forth the requested amount, the Approved Currency and proposed terms of the relevant Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments. Incremental Term Loans may be made, and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments may be provided, by any existing Lender (but each existing Lender will not have an obligation to make any Incremental Commitment, nor will the Borrowers have any obligation to approach any existing lenders to provide any Incremental Commitment) or by any other bank or other financial institution or other institutional lender (any such other bank or other financial institution or other institutional lender being called an “Additional Lender”) (each such existing Lender or Additional Lender providing such, an “Incremental Revolving Credit Lender” or

 

135


Incremental Term Lender,” as applicable, and, collectively, the “Incremental Lenders”); provided that (i) the Administrative Agent and, in the case of an Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment, each Swing Line Lender and each L/C Issuer shall have consented (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to such Lender’s or Additional Lender’s making such Incremental Term Loans or providing such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments to the extent such consent, if any, would be required under Section 10.07(b) for an assignment of Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, to such Lender or Additional Lender, (ii) with respect to Incremental Term Commitments, any Affiliated Lender providing an Incremental Term Commitment shall be subject to the same restrictions set forth in Section 10.07(l) as they would otherwise be subject to with respect to any purchase by or assignment to such Affiliated Lender of Term Loans and (iii) Affiliated Lenders may not provide Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, unless subsequently purchased from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.07(l).

(d) Effectiveness of Incremental Amendment. The effectiveness of any Incremental Amendment, and the Incremental Commitments thereunder, shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof (the “Incremental Facility Closing Date”) of each of the following conditions:

(i) (x) if the proceeds of such Incremental Commitments are being used to finance a Permitted Acquisition, Investment, or irrevocable repayment, repurchase or redemption of any Indebtedness, no Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a) or, solely with respect to any Borrower, Section 8.01(f), shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist after giving effect to such Incremental Commitments, or (y) if otherwise, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist after giving effect to such Incremental Commitments;

(ii) after giving effect to such Incremental Commitments, the conditions of Section 4.02(i) shall be satisfied (it being understood that all references to “the date of such Credit Extension” or similar language in such Section 4.02 shall be deemed to refer to the effective date of such Incremental Amendment); provided that if the proceeds of such Incremental Commitments are being used to finance a Permitted Acquisition, Investment, or irrevocable repayment, repurchase or redemption of any Indebtedness, there shall be no requirement to satisfy any or all conditions of Section 4.02(i), instead, the accuracy of the representations and warranties shall refer to the accuracy of the representations and warranties that would constitute Specified Representations, in each case, subject to the provisions set forth herein in connection with Limited Condition Transactions; provided, further, that the Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Commitments may waive the requirement regarding the accuracy of Specified Representations;

(iii) [reserved];

(iv) each Incremental Term Commitment shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $10,000,000 and shall be in increments of $1,000,000 (provided that such amount may be less than $10,000,000 if such amount represents all remaining availability under the limit set forth in Section 2.14(d)(v)) and each

 

136


Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $5,000,000 and shall be in increments of $1,000,000 (provided that such amount may be less than $5,000,000 if such amount represents all remaining availability under the limit set forth in Section 2.14(d)(v));

(v) the aggregate principal amount of the Incremental Term Loans and the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments shall not exceed the sum of (A) the Incremental Base Amount plus (B) all voluntary prepayments, repurchases, redemptions and other retirements of Term Loans, Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt and all voluntary prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans accompanied by corresponding voluntary permanent reductions of Commitments in respect of such Revolving Credit Loans prior to or simultaneous with the Incremental Facility Closing Date (including through (x) “Dutch Auctions” open to all Lenders of the applicable Class on a pro rata basis in accordance with procedures of the type described in Section 2.05(a)(v) or (y) open-market purchases pursuant to Section 10.07(l), which shall be credited to the extent of the actual purchase price paid in cash for such Loans purchased or retired in connection with such “Dutch Auction” or open-market purchase) (excluding voluntary prepayments, repurchases, redemptions and other retirements of Incremental Term Loans and all voluntary prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans accompanied by corresponding voluntary permanent reductions of Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, to the extent such Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments were obtained pursuant to clause (C) below or to the extent funded with a contemporaneous incurrence of long-term funded Indebtedness (other than revolving loans)), plus (C) additional amounts (including at any time prior to the utilization of amounts under clauses (A) and (B) above) so long as (1) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the Initial Term Loans, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, determined on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available, does not exceed (x) 3.75 to 1.00 or (y) in the case of any such Indebtedness being applied to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment not prohibited hereunder, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment, (2) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a junior lien basis to the Liens securing the Initial Term Loans, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, determined on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available, does not exceed (x) 4.75 to 1.00 or (y) in the case of any such Indebtedness being applied to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment not prohibited hereunder, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment and (3) if such Indebtedness is unsecured (or not secured by any portion of the Collateral), either (I) the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, determined on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available, does not exceed (x) 5.25 to 1.00 or (y) in the case of any such Indebtedness being applied to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment not prohibited hereunder, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior

 

137


to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment or (II) the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio, determined on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available, is not less than (x) 2.00 to 1.00 or (y) in the case of any such Indebtedness being applied to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment not prohibited hereunder, the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment (the amounts under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B) are herein referred to as the “Free and Clear Incremental Amount,” and the amounts under the foregoing clause (C) are herein referred to as the “Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount” (the Free and Clear Incremental Amount, together with the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount, less the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(q) and Section 7.03(w) at or prior to such time, are herein referred to as the “Available Incremental Amount”)); and

(vi) such other conditions as the Lead Borrower and each Incremental Lender providing such Incremental Commitments shall agree.

The Lead Borrower may elect to use the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount prior to the Free and Clear Incremental Amount or any combination thereof, and any portion of any Incremental Facility incurred in reliance on the Free and Clear Incremental Amount shall be reclassified, as the Lead Borrower may elect from time to time, as incurred under the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount if the Lead Borrower meets the applicable ratio for the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount at such time on a Pro Forma Basis, and if any applicable ratio for the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount would be satisfied on a Pro Forma Basis as of the end of any subsequent fiscal quarter after the initial incurrence of such Incremental Facility, such reclassification shall be deemed to have automatically occurred whether or not elected by the Lead Borrower.

For purposes of determining Pro Forma Compliance and any testing of any ratios in the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount, (a) it shall be assumed that all commitments under any Incremental Facility then being established are fully drawn, (b) the cash proceeds of any Incremental Facility shall be excluded from any calculation of “net” Indebtedness in determining whether such Incremental Facility can be incurred (provided that the use of proceeds thereof and any other Pro Forma Adjustments shall be included) and (c) the incurrence (including by assumption or guarantee) or repayment of any Indebtedness in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility (and/or any Incremental Revolving Facility and any other revolving facilities included in such calculation) prior to, or simultaneously with, the event for which the Pro Forma Compliance determination of such ratio or other test is being made, and/or any incurrence of Indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Facility or any other revolving facility that is used to finance working capital needs of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower) shall, in each case, be disregarded.

 

138


(e) Required Terms. The terms, provisions and documentation of the Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Term Commitments or the Incremental Revolving Credit Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, as the case may be, of any Class shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or as are otherwise as agreed between the Lead Borrower and the applicable Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Commitments (and for the avoidance of doubt, no consent of any Agent shall be required except to the extent affecting the rights and duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, such Agent); provided that to the extent any more restrictive financial maintenance covenant is added for the benefit of such Incremental Loans, such financial maintenance covenant shall be added for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Facility that then benefits from such financial maintenance covenant and is remaining outstanding (except to the extent such financial maintenance covenant is applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of such Revolving Credit Facility). In any event:

(i) the Incremental Term Loans:

(A) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, shall not mature earlier than the Maturity Date of the Initial Term Loans; provided that Incremental Term Loans (x) incurred for purposes of consummating a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment not prohibited hereunder (y) constituting customary bridge facilities, so long as the long-term Indebtedness into which such customary bridge facilities are to be converted or exchanged satisfies the requirements of this clause (A) and such conversion or exchange is subject only to conditions customary for similar conversions or exchanges or (z) constituting term loan A facilities (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith), in each case, shall only be required to not mature earlier than the Maturity Date of the Revolving Credit Commitments,

(B) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, shall have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity not shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Initial Term Loans; provided that Incremental Term Loans (x) incurred for purposes of consummating a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment not prohibited hereunder (y) constituting customary bridge facilities, so long as the long-term Indebtedness into which such customary bridge facilities are to be converted or exchanged satisfies the requirements of this clause (B) and such conversion or exchange is subject only to conditions customary for similar conversions or exchanges or (z) constituting term loan A facilities (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith), in each case, shall only require that the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity not be shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Revolving Credit Commitments,

(C) shall have an Applicable Rate, and subject to clauses (e)(i)(A) and (e)(i)(B) above and clause (e)(iii) below, amortization determined by the Lead Borrower and the applicable Incremental Term Lenders, and

(D) the Incremental Term Loans may participate on a pro rata basis or less than pro rata basis (but not on a greater than pro rata basis) in any mandatory prepayments of Term Loans hereunder, as specified in the applicable Incremental Amendment; provided that the Borrowers shall be permitted to prepay any Class of Term Loans on a better than a pro rata basis as compared to any other Class of Term Loans with a later maturity date than such Class;

 

139


(ii) the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments and Incremental Revolving Credit Loans shall be identical to the Revolving Credit Commitments and the Revolving Credit Loans, other than the Maturity Date and as set forth in this Section 2.14(e)(ii); provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.14 or otherwise:

(A) any such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments or Incremental Revolving Credit Loans shall not mature, require scheduled amortization or provide for mandatory commitment reductions earlier than the Latest Maturity Date of any Revolving Credit Commitments outstanding at the time of incurrence of such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments,

(B) the borrowing and repayment (except for (1) payments of interest and fees at different rates on Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments (and related outstandings), (2) repayments required upon the maturity date of the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments and (3) repayments made in connection with a permanent repayment and termination of commitments (subject to clause (D) below)) of Loans with respect to Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments after the associated Incremental Facility Closing Date shall be made on a pro rata basis (or, in the case of repayment, on a pro rata basis or less than a pro rata basis) with all other Revolving Credit Commitments on the Incremental Facility Closing Date,

(C) subject to the provisions of Sections 2.03(n) and 2.04(g) to the extent dealing with Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit which mature or expire after a maturity date when there exists Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments with a longer maturity date, all Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit shall be participated on a pro rata basis by all Lenders with Commitments in accordance with their percentage of the Revolving Credit Commitments on the Incremental Facility Closing Date (and except as provided in Section 2.03(n) and Section 2.04(g), without giving effect to changes thereto on an earlier maturity date with respect to Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit theretofore incurred or issued),

(D) the permanent repayment of Revolving Credit Loans with respect to, and termination of, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments after the associated Incremental Facility Closing Date shall be made on a pro rata basis or less than pro rata basis (but not on a greater than pro rata basis) with all other Revolving Credit Commitments on the Incremental Facility Closing Date, except that the Borrowers shall be permitted to permanently repay and terminate commitments of any such Class on a better than a pro rata basis as compared to any other Class with a later maturity date than such Class,

 

140


(E) assignments and participations of Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments and Incremental Revolving Credit Loans shall be governed by the same assignment and participation provisions applicable to Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Loans on the Incremental Facility Closing Date, and

(F) any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments may constitute a separate Class or Classes, as the case may be, of Commitments from the Classes constituting the applicable Revolving Credit Commitments prior to the Incremental Facility Closing Date; and

(iii) the amortization schedule applicable to any Incremental Term Loans and the All-In Yield applicable to the Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Loans of each Class shall be determined by the Lead Borrower and the applicable Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments and shall be set forth in each applicable Incremental Amendment; provided, however, if the All-In Yield applicable to any Incremental Term Loans (other than Incremental Term Loans which constitute MFN Excluded Loans) shall be greater than the applicable All-In Yield payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement as amended through the date of such calculation with respect to such applicable Initial Term Loans by more than 75 basis points per annum (the amount of such excess of the All-In Yield applicable to such Incremental Term Loans over the sum of the All-In Yield applicable to the applicable Initial Terms Loans plus 75 basis points per annum, the “Yield Differential”) then the interest rate (together with the Eurocurrency Rate or Base Rate floor, as applicable) with respect to the applicable Initial Term Loans shall be increased by the applicable Yield Differential (this proviso, the “MFN Protection”); provided further that notwithstanding the foregoing, the MFN Protection shall not apply to Incremental Terms Loans consisting of customary bridge facilities or term loan A facilities (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith).

(f) Incremental Amendment. Commitments in respect of Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments shall become Commitments under this Agreement pursuant to an amendment (an “Incremental Amendment”) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrowers, any Loan Party organized in an Agreed Borrower Jurisdiction that may be designated as a borrower in respect thereof (if any), and each Incremental Lender providing such Commitments. The Incremental Amendment may, without the consent of any other Loan Party, Agent or Lender, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Lead Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.14. The Lead Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent prompt written notice of any Incremental Amendment pursuant to this Section 2.14 and the Administrative Agent hereby agrees to (and is directed by each Lender to) acknowledge such Incremental Amendment as promptly as practicable following such written notice; it being acknowledged and agreed by each Lender that the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such, shall have no liability with respect to such acknowledgment and each Lender hereby irrevocably waives to the fullest extent permitted by Law any claims with respect to such acknowledgment; provided that failure to obtain such acknowledgment shall in no way affect the effectiveness of any Incremental Amendment. The

 

141


Borrowers (or any Loan Party organized in an Agreed Borrower Jurisdiction that may be designated as a borrower in respect thereof) will use the proceeds of the Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments for any purpose not prohibited by this Agreement. No Lender shall be obligated to provide any Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, unless it so agrees.

(g) Reallocation of Revolving Credit Exposure. Upon any Incremental Facility Closing Date on which Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments are effected through an increase in the Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.14, (a) if the increase relates to the Revolving Credit Facility, each of the Revolving Credit Lenders shall assign to each of the Incremental Revolving Credit Lenders, and each of the Incremental Revolving Credit Lenders shall purchase from each of the Revolving Credit Lenders, at the principal amount thereof, such interests in the Incremental Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on such Incremental Facility Closing Date as shall be necessary in order that, after giving effect to all such assignments and purchases, such Revolving Credit Loans will be held by existing Revolving Credit Lenders and Incremental Revolving Credit Lenders ratably in accordance with their Revolving Credit Commitments after giving effect to the addition of such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments to the Revolving Credit Commitments, (b) each Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment shall be deemed for all purposes a Revolving Credit Commitment and each Loan made thereunder shall be deemed, for all purposes, a Revolving Credit Loan and (c) each Incremental Revolving Credit Lender shall become a Lender with respect to the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments and all matters relating thereto. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that the minimum borrowing and prepayment requirements in Sections 2.02 and 2.05(a) of this Agreement shall not apply to the transactions effected pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence.

(h) This Section 2.14 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

(i) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Incremental Term Facilities and Incremental Revolving Facilities may be established and incurred as a means of effectively extending the maturity or effecting a repricing or a refinancing, in whole or in part, without utilizing any of the Available Incremental Amount, without regard to whether an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and, without regard to the minimums set forth in Section 2.14(d)(iv), to the extent that the net cash proceeds from the Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Loans, as applicable, are used to either (x) prepay Term Loans or (y) permanently reduce the Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that (i) the Lenders with respect to any Class of Loans or Commitments being prepaid are offered the opportunity to participate in such transaction on a pro rata basis (and on the same terms) and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of such Class of Loans or Commitments, as the case may be, does not exceed the sum of (A) the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Class of Loans or Commitments being prepaid, extended, repriced or refinanced, (B) fees and expenses associated with the such prepayment (including any prepayment premium, penalties or other call protection) and (C) fees and expenses (including any OID, upfront fees, commitment fees, amendment fees, arrangement fees, underwriting fees or other fees) related to the establishment and incurrence of such Incremental Term Facilities and Incremental Revolving Facilities, as applicable.

 

142


Section 2.15. Refinancing Amendments. (a) On one or more occasions after the Closing Date, the Borrowers may obtain, from any Lender or any other bank, financial institution or other institutional lender or investor that agrees to provide any portion of Refinancing Term Loans or Other Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment in accordance with this Section 2.15 (each, an “Additional Refinancing Lender”) (provided that (i) solely with respect to Other Revolving Credit Commitments, the Administrative Agent, each Swing Line Lender and each L/C Issuer, if applicable, shall have consented (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to such Lender’s or Additional Refinancing Lender’s providing such Other Revolving Credit Commitments to the extent such consent, if any, would be required under Section 10.07(b) for an assignment of Revolving Credit Commitments to such Lender or Additional Refinancing Lender, (ii) with respect to Refinancing Term Loans, any Affiliated Lender providing Refinancing Term Loans shall be subject to the same restrictions set forth in Section 10.07(l) as they would otherwise be subject to with respect to any purchase by or assignment to such Affiliated Lender of Term Loans and (iii) Affiliated Lenders may not provide Other Revolving Credit Commitments), Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of all or any portion of any Class, as selected by the Lead Borrower in its sole discretion, of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans (or unused Commitments in respect thereof) then outstanding under this Agreement, in the form of Refinancing Term Loans, Refinancing Term Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Commitments, or Other Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment; provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.15 or otherwise, (1) the borrowing and repayment (except for (A) payments of interest and fees at different rates on Other Revolving Credit Commitments (and related outstandings), (B) repayments required upon the maturity date of the Other Revolving Credit Commitments and (C) repayment made in connection with a permanent repayment and termination of commitments (subject to clause (3) below)) of Loans with respect to Other Revolving Credit Commitments after the date of obtaining any Other Revolving Credit Commitments shall be made on a pro rata basis with all other Revolving Credit Commitments, (2) subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(n) and Section 2.04(g) to the extent dealing with Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit which mature or expire after a maturity date when there exist Other Revolving Credit Commitments with a longer maturity date, all Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit shall be participated on a pro rata basis by all Lenders with Commitments in accordance with their percentage of the Commitments in respect of Revolving Credit Loans (and except as provided in Section 2.03(n) and Section 2.04(g), without giving effect to changes thereto on an earlier maturity date with respect to Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit theretofore incurred or issued), (3) the permanent repayment of Revolving Credit Loans with respect to, and termination of, Other Revolving Credit Commitments after the date of obtaining any Other Revolving Credit Commitments shall be made on a pro rata basis with all other Commitments in respect of Revolving Credit Loans, except that the Borrowers shall be permitted to permanently repay and terminate commitments of any such Class on a better than a pro rata basis as compared to any other Class with a later maturity date than such Class and (4) assignments and participations of Other Revolving Credit Commitments and Other Revolving Credit Loans shall be governed by the same assignment and participation provisions applicable to Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Loans.

 

143


(b) The effectiveness of any Refinancing Amendment shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof of each of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 and, to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, receipt by the Administrative Agent of (i) customary legal opinions, board resolutions and officers’ certificates consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date other than changes to such legal opinion resulting from a change in law, change in fact or change to counsel’s form of opinion and (ii) reaffirmation agreements and/or such amendments to the Collateral Documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in order to ensure that such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness is provided with the benefit of the applicable Loan Documents. For the avoidance of doubt, no consent of any Agent shall be required except to the extent affecting the rights and duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, such Agent.

(c) Each issuance of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness under Section 2.15(a) shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is (x) not less than $10,000,000 and (y) an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.

(d) Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be amended pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment, without the consent of any other Lenders or any Agent, to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to (i) reflect the existence and terms of the Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness incurred pursuant thereto and (ii) make such other changes to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents consistent with the provisions and intent of the third paragraph of Section 10.01 (without the consent of the Required Lenders called for therein) and (iii) effect such other amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Lead Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.15.

(e) This Section 2.15 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

Section 2.16. Extension of Term Loans; Extension of Revolving Credit Loans. (a) Extension of Term Loans. The Lead Borrower may at any time and from time to time, in its sole discretion, request that all or a portion of the Term Loans of a given Class (or series or tranche thereof) (each, an “Existing Term Loan Tranche”) be amended to extend the scheduled maturity date(s) with respect to all or a portion of any principal amount of such Term Loans (any such Term Loans which have been so amended, “Extended Term Loans”) and to provide for other terms consistent with this Section 2.16. In order to establish any Extended Term Loans, the Lead Borrower shall provide a notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall provide a copy of such notice to each of the Lenders under the applicable Existing Term Loan Tranche) (each, a “Term Loan Extension Request”) setting forth the proposed terms of the Extended Term Loans to be established, which shall (x) be identical as offered to each Lender under such Existing Term Loan Tranche (including as to the proposed interest rates and fees payable) and offered pro rata to each Lender under such Existing Term Loan Tranche and (y) be identical to the Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche from which such Extended Term Loans are to be amended, except that: (i) all or any of the scheduled amortization payments of principal of the Extended Term Loans may be delayed to later dates than the scheduled amortization payments of principal of the Term Loans of such Existing Term Loan Tranche, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment; (ii) the Effective Yield with respect to the Extended Term

 

144


Loans may be different than the Effective Yield for the Term Loans of such Existing Term Loan Tranche, in each case, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment; (iii) the Extension Amendment may provide for other covenants and terms that apply solely to any period after the Latest Maturity Date that is in effect on the effective date of the Extension Amendment (immediately prior to the establishment of such Extended Term Loans); and (iv) Extended Term Loans may have prepayment premiums or call protection as may be agreed by the Lead Borrower and the Lenders thereof; provided that no Extended Term Loans may be optionally prepaid prior to the date on which the Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche from which such Extended Term Loans were amended are repaid in full, unless such optional prepayment is accompanied by at least a pro rata optional prepayment of such Existing Term Loan Tranche; provided, further, that (A) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, in no event shall the final maturity date of any Extended Term Loans of a given Term Loan Extension Series at the time of establishment thereof be earlier than the then Latest Maturity Date of any Existing Term Loan Tranche hereunder, (B) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Extended Term Loans of a given Term Loan Extension Series at the time of establishment thereof shall be no shorter (other than by virtue of amortization or prepayment of such Indebtedness prior to the time of incurrence of such Extended Term Loans) than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the applicable Existing Term Loan Tranche, (C) all documentation in respect of such Extension Amendment shall be consistent with the foregoing and (D) any Extended Term Loans may participate on a pro rata basis or less than a pro rata basis (but not greater than a pro rata basis) in any mandatory repayments or prepayments hereunder, in each case as specified in the respective Term Loan Extension Request. Any Extended Term Loans amended pursuant to any Term Loan Extension Request shall be designated a series (each, a “Term Loan Extension Series”) of Extended Term Loans for all purposes of this Agreement; provided that any Extended Term Loans amended from an Existing Term Loan Tranche may, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment, be designated as an increase in any previously established Term Loan Extension Series with respect to such Existing Term Loan Tranche. Each Term Loan Extension Series of Extended Term Loans incurred under this Section 2.16 shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $5,000,000.

(b) Extension of Revolving Credit Commitments. The Lead Borrower may at any time and from time to time, in its sole discretion, request that all or a portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments of a given Class (or series or tranche thereof) (each, an “Existing Revolver Tranche”) be amended to extend the Maturity Date with respect to all or a portion of any principal amount of such Revolving Credit Commitments or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments (any such Revolving Credit Commitments or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments which have been so amended, “Extended Revolving Credit Commitments”) and to provide for other terms consistent with this Section 2.16. In order to establish any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, the Lead Borrower shall provide a notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall provide a copy of such notice to each of the Lenders under the applicable Existing Revolver Tranche) (each, a “Revolver Extension Request”) setting forth the proposed terms of the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments to be established, which shall (x) be identical as offered to each Lender under such Existing Revolver Tranche (including as to the proposed interest rates and fees

 

145


payable) and offered pro rata to each Lender under such Existing Revolver Tranche and (y) be identical to the Revolving Credit Commitments under the Existing Revolver Tranche from which such Extended Revolving Credit Commitments are to be amended, except that: (i) the Maturity Date of the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments may be delayed to a later date than the Maturity Date of the Revolving Credit Commitments of such Existing Revolver Tranche, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment; (ii) the Effective Yield with respect to extensions of credit under the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments (whether in the form of interest rate margin, upfront fees, commitment fees, OID or otherwise) may be different than the Effective Yield for extensions of credit under the Revolving Credit Commitments of such Existing Revolver Tranche, in each case, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment; (iii) the Extension Amendment may provide for other covenants and terms that apply solely to any period after the Latest Maturity Date that is in effect on the effective date of the Extension Amendment (immediately prior to the establishment of such Extended Revolving Credit Commitments); and (iv) all borrowings under the applicable Revolving Credit Commitments (i.e., the Existing Revolver Tranche and the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments of the applicable Revolver Extension Series) and repayments thereunder shall be made on a pro rata basis (except for (I) payments of interest and fees at different rates on Extended Revolving Credit Commitments (and related outstandings) and (II) repayments required upon the Maturity Date of the non-extending Revolving Credit Commitments); provided, further, that (A) in no event shall the final maturity date of any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments of a given Revolver Extension Series at the time of establishment thereof be earlier than the then Latest Maturity Date of any other Revolving Credit Commitments hereunder and (B) all documentation in respect of such Extension Amendment shall be consistent with the foregoing. Any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments amended pursuant to any Revolver Extension Request shall be designated a series (each, a “Revolver Extension Series”) of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments for all purposes of this Agreement; provided that any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments amended from an Existing Revolver Tranche may, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment, be designated as an increase in any previously established Revolver Extension Series with respect to such Existing Revolver Tranche. Each Revolver Extension Series of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments incurred under this Section 2.16 shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $1,000,000.

(c) Extension Request. The Lead Borrower shall provide the applicable Extension Request at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date on which Lenders under the Existing Term Loan Tranche or Existing Revolver Tranche, as applicable, are requested to respond, and shall agree to such procedures, if any, as may be established by, or acceptable to, the Administrative Agent, in each case acting reasonably to accomplish the purposes of this Section 2.16. No Lender shall have any obligation to agree to have any of its Term Loans of any Existing Term Loan Tranche amended into Extended Term Loans or any of its Revolving Credit Commitments amended into Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, pursuant to any Extension Request. Any Lender holding a Loan under an Existing Term Loan Tranche (each, an “Extending Term Lender”) wishing to have all or a portion of its Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche subject to such Extension Request amended into Extended Term Loans and any Revolving Credit Lender (each, an “Extending Revolving Credit Lender”) wishing to have all or a portion of its Revolving Credit Commitments under the Existing Revolver Tranche subject to such Extension Request amended into Extended Revolving

 

146


Credit Commitments, as applicable, shall notify the Administrative Agent (each, an “Extension Election”) on or prior to the date specified in such Extension Request of the amount of its Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche or Revolving Credit Commitments under the Existing Revolver Tranche, as applicable, which it has elected to request be amended into Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable (subject to any minimum denomination requirements imposed by the Administrative Agent). In the event that the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche or Revolving Credit Commitments under the Existing Revolver Tranche, as applicable, in respect of which applicable Term Lenders or Revolving Credit Lenders, as the case may be, shall have accepted the relevant Extension Request exceeds the amount of Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, requested to be extended pursuant to the Extension Request, Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, subject to Extension Elections shall be amended to Extended Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, on a pro rata basis (subject to rounding by the Administrative Agent, which shall be conclusive) based on the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, included in each such Extension Election.

(d) Extension Amendment. Extended Term Loans and Extended Revolving Credit Commitments shall be established pursuant to an amendment (each, an “Extension Amendment”) to this Agreement among the Borrowers and each Extending Term Lender or Extending Revolving Credit Lender, as applicable, providing an Extended Term Loan or Extended Revolving Credit Commitment, as applicable, thereunder, which shall be consistent with the provisions set forth in Sections 2.16(a) or (b) above, respectively (but which shall not require the consent of the Administrative Agent or any other Lender). The effectiveness of any Extension Amendment shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof of each of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02(i) and, to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, receipt by the Administrative Agent of (i) legal opinions, board resolutions and officers’ certificates consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date other than changes to such legal opinion resulting from a change in law, change in fact or change to counsel’s form of opinion and (ii) reaffirmation agreements and/or such amendments to the Collateral Documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in order to ensure that the Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, are provided with the benefit of the applicable Loan Documents. For the avoidance of doubt, no consent of any Agent shall be required except to the extent affecting the rights and duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, such Agent. The Lead Borrower may, at its election, specify as a condition to consummating any Extension Amendment that a minimum amount (to be determined and specified in the relevant Extension Request in the Lead Borrower’s sole discretion and as may be waived by the Lead Borrower) of Term Loans, Revolving Credit Commitments or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments (as applicable) of any or all applicable Classes be tendered. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Extension Amendment. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be amended pursuant to an Extension Amendment, without the consent of any Agent or any other Lenders, to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to (i) reflect the existence and terms of the Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, incurred pursuant thereto, (ii) modify the scheduled repayments set forth in Section 2.07 with respect to any Existing Term Loan Tranche subject to an Extension Election to reflect a reduction in the principal amount of

 

147


the Term Loans thereunder in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Extended Term Loans amended pursuant to the applicable Extension (with such amount to be applied ratably to reduce scheduled repayments of such Term Loans required pursuant to Section 2.07), (iii) modify the prepayments set forth in Section 2.05 to reflect the existence of the Extended Term Loans and the application of prepayments with respect thereto, (iv) make such other changes to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents consistent with the provisions and intent of the second paragraph of Section 10.01 (without the consent of any Agent and the Required Lenders called for therein) and (v) effect such other amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Lead Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.16.

(e) No conversion of Loans pursuant to any Extension in accordance with this Section 2.16 shall constitute a voluntary or mandatory payment or prepayment for purposes of this Agreement.

(f) This Section 2.16 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

Section 2.17. Defaulting Lenders. (a) Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:

(i) Waivers and Amendments. That 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 Section 10.01.

(ii) Reallocation of Payments. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of that Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article 8 or otherwise), shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to L/C Issuers or Swing Line Lender hereunder; third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent or requested by any L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, to be held as Cash Collateral for future funding obligations of that Defaulting Lender of any participation in any Swing Line Loan or Letter of Credit; fourth, as the Lead Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower, to be held in a non-interest bearing deposit account and released in order to satisfy obligations of that Defaulting Lender to fund Loans under this Agreement; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers or the Swing Line Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its

 

148


obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrowers as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrowers against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to that Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Borrowings in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (y) such Loans or L/C Borrowings were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Borrowings owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Borrowings owed to, that Defaulting Lender. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.17(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(iii) Certain Fees. That Defaulting Lender (x) shall not be entitled to receive any commitment fee pursuant to Section 2.09(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrowers shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender) and (y) shall be limited in its right to receive Letter of Credit fees as provided in Section 2.03(h).

(iv) Reallocation of Pro Rata Share to Reduce Fronting Exposure. During any period in which there is a Defaulting Lender, for purposes of computing the amount of the obligation of each Non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans pursuant to Sections 2.03 and 2.04, the Pro Rata Share of each Non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans and L/C Obligations shall be computed without giving effect to the Commitment of that Defaulting Lender; provided that (i) each such reallocation shall be given effect only if, at the date the applicable Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and (ii) the aggregate obligation of each Non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the positive difference, if any, of (1) the Revolving Credit Commitment of that Non-Defaulting Lender minus (2) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Loans of that Lender. 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. If the allocation described in this clause (iv) cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrowers shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under law, (x) first, prepay Swing Line Loans in an amount equal to the Swing Line Lenders’ Fronting Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion).

 

149


(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Lead Borrower, the Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuers agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Revolving Credit Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Share (without giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv)), whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrowers while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

ARTICLE 3

TAXES, INCREASED COSTS PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

Section 3.01. Taxes. (a) Except as provided in this Section 3.01, any and all payments made by or on account of the Borrowers (the term Borrowers under this Article 3 being deemed to include any Subsidiary for whose account a Letter of Credit is issued) or any Guarantor under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, assessments, deductions or withholdings (including backup withholding) or similar charges imposed by any Governmental Authority including interest, penalties and additions to tax (collectively “Taxes”), except as required by applicable Law. If any Borrower, any Guarantor or other applicable Withholding Agent shall be required by any Laws to deduct or withhold any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document to any Agent or any Lender, (A) to the extent the Tax in question is an Indemnified Tax, the sum payable by the Borrowers or such Guarantor shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions or withholdings (including deductions or withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01), each of such Agent and such Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made, (B) the applicable Withholding Agent shall make such deductions or withholdings, (C) the applicable Withholding Agent shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws, and (D) within thirty (30) days after the date of such payment (or, if receipts or evidence are not available within thirty (30) days, as soon as possible thereafter), if any Borrower or any Guarantor is the applicable Withholding Agent, such Borrower or such Guarantor, as applicable, shall furnish to such Agent or Lender (as the case may be) the original or a copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof or other evidence reasonably acceptable to such Agent or Lender.

(b) In addition, each Loan Party agrees to pay, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse for the payment of, any and all present or future stamp, court or documentary taxes and any other excise, property, intangible or mortgage recording taxes, or charges or levies of the same character, imposed by any Governmental Authority, that arise from

 

150


any payment made under any Loan Document or 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 (including additions to tax, penalties and interest related thereto) excluding, in each case, such taxes or charges that result from an Agent or Lender’s Assignment and Assumption, grant of a participation, transfer or assignment to or designation of a new applicable Lending Office or other office for receiving payments under any Loan Document (collectively, “Assignment Taxes”) to the extent such Assignment Taxes result from a connection that the assignor and/or the assignee has with the taxing jurisdiction other than a connection arising out of the Loan Documents or the transactions therein, except for such Assignment Taxes resulting from an assignment, participation or change in Lending Office that is requested or required in writing by a Borrower (all such non-excluded Taxes described in this Section 3.01(b) being hereinafter referred to as “Other Taxes”).

(c) Each Loan Party agrees to indemnify each Agent and each Lender for (i) the full amount of Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and Other Taxes payable or paid by such Agent or such Lender and (ii) any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, in each case 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 prepared in good faith by such Agent or Lender (or by an Agent on behalf of such Lender), accompanied by a written statement thereof setting forth in reasonable detail the basis and calculation of such amounts shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) Each Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respects to payment made under any Loan Document shall, at such times as are reasonably requested by a Borrower or the Administrative Agent, provide such Borrower and the Administrative Agent with any documentation prescribed by Law or reasonably requested by such Borrower or the Administrative Agent certifying as to any entitlement of such Lender to an exemption from, or reduction in, withholding Tax with respect to any payments to be made to such Lender under any Loan Document. Each such Lender shall, whenever a lapse in time or change in circumstances renders any such documentation expired, obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect, deliver promptly to such Borrower and the Administrative Agent updated or other appropriate documentation (including any new documentation reasonably requested by such Borrower or the Administrative Agent) or promptly notify such Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal ineligibility to do so. Unless the applicable Withholding Agent has received forms or other documents satisfactory to it indicating that payments under any Loan Document to or for a Lender are not subject to withholding Tax or are subject to such Tax at a rate reduced by an applicable tax treaty, the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent or other applicable Withholding Agent may withhold amounts required to be withheld by applicable Law from such payments at the applicable statutory rate. Notwithstanding any other provision of this clause (d), a Lender shall not be required to deliver any form pursuant to this clause (d) (other than such documentation set forth in paragraphs (A), (B) and (D) of this clause (d)) if in such Lender’s reasonable judgment, the completion, execution or submission of such form would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender. Without limiting the foregoing:

 

151


(A) Each Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or Administrative Agent) two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or any successor form) certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding.

(B) Each Lender that is not a U.S. Person shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time upon the reasonable request of the Lead Borrower or Administrative Agent) whichever of the following is applicable:

(I) two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN-E (or any successor forms) claiming eligibility for the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party, and such other documentation as required under the Code,

(II) two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or any successor forms),

(III) a United States Tax Compliance Certificate in the form of Exhibit M claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, and two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN-E (or any successor form) or

(IV) to the extent a Lender is not the beneficial owner (for example, where the Lender is a partnership or a participating Lender), Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY (or any successor forms) of the Lender, accompanied by a Form W-8ECI, Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN-E, United States Tax Compliance Certificate, Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, and/or any other required information from each beneficial owner, as applicable and to the extent required under this Section 3.01(d) as if such beneficial owner were a Lender hereunder (provided that if the Lender is a partnership and not a participating Lender, and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, the United States Tax Compliance Certificate may be provided by such Lender on behalf of such partner(s)).

(C) Any Lender that is not a U.S. Person shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or about the date on which such Lender becomes a party to this agreement (and from time to time upon the reasonable request of the Lead Borrower or Administrative

 

152


Agent), properly completed and duly signed copies of executed forms and in such number as prescribed by applicable U.S. federal income tax laws (including the Treasury Regulations) and reasonably requested by any Borrower or the Administrative Agent as a basis for claiming a complete exemption from, or a reduction in, U.S. federal withholding Tax on any payments to such Lender under the Loan Documents, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit any Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding, deduction or reduction required to be made.

(D) Without limiting the provisions of clause (d)(A), (B), (C) or (E) of this Section 3.01, if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Lead 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 Lead Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA, to determine whether such Lender has or has not complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA and to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this Section 3.01(d)(D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the Closing Date.

(E) Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to deliver to the Loan Parties and to any successor Administrative Agent any documentation provided by such Lender to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 3.01(d).

(e) Any Lender claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section 3.01 or Section 3.04(a) shall, if requested by a Borrower, use its reasonable efforts to change the jurisdiction of its Lending Office (or take any other measures reasonably requested by such Borrower) if such a change or other measures would reduce any such additional amounts (including any such additional amounts that may thereafter accrue) and would not, in the sole determination of such Lender, result in any unreimbursed cost or expense or be otherwise materially disadvantageous to such Lender.

(f) If any Lender or Agent determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund in respect of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which indemnification or additional amounts have been paid to it by any Loan Party pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall promptly remit such refund to such Loan Party (but only to the extent of indemnification or additional amounts paid by such Loan Party under this Section 3.01 with respect to Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including any Taxes) of the Lender or Agent, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such

 

153


refund); provided that such Loan Party, upon the request of the Lender or Agent, as the case may be, agrees promptly to return such refund (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to such Lender or Agent in the event such Lender or Agent is required to repay such refund to the relevant Governmental Authority. This section shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to Taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrowers or any other person.

(g) The Administrative Agent and each Supplemental Agent, if any, shall deliver to the Lead Borrower, on or prior to the Closing Date (or, in the case of a Supplemental Agent or a successor Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.09 hereof, on or before the date on which it becomes a Supplemental Agent or the Administrative Agent, as applicable), a properly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY (indicating “Qualified Intermediary” or U.S. branch status) or Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, as applicable; provided that no Administrative Agent or Supplemental Agent shall be required to provide any documentation under this Section 3.01(g) that such person is legally ineligible to deliver as a result of a change in Law after the date hereof.

(h) For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Lender” for purposes of this Section 3.01 shall include each L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender and the term “applicable Law” shall include FATCA.

(i) Each party’s obligations under this Section 3.01 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations under any Loan Document.

Section 3.02. Illegality. If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurocurrency Rate Loans (whether denominated in Dollars or any other Approved Currency), or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Lead Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies, or, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice by the Lead Borrower, the Borrowers shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable and such Loans are denominated in Dollars, convert all applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans to such day, or promptly, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrowers shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted and all amounts due, if any, in connection with such prepayment or conversion under Section 3.05. Each Lender agrees to designate a different Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for such notice and will not, in the good faith judgment of such Lender, otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.

 

154


Section 3.03. Inability to Determine Rates. If either the Required Lenders or the Administrative Agent reasonably determines in good faith that for any reason adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the applicable Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan in a given Approved Currency, or that the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan in such Approved Currency does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, or that deposits in the applicable Approved Currency in which such proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan is to be denominated are not being offered to banks in the applicable offshore interbank market for the applicable amount and the Interest Period of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan in the applicable Approved Currency, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Lead Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected Approved Currency shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent at its discretion (or upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice by the Lead Borrower, the Borrowers may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in the affected Approved Currency or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request, if applicable, into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loan (without giving effect to clause (c) in the definition thereof) in the amount specified therein.

Section 3.04. Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans. (a) If any Lender reasonably determines that as a result of the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any Law, in each case after the Closing Date, or such Lender’s compliance therewith, there shall be any increase in the cost (including Taxes) to such Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining any Eurocurrency Rate Loans or (as the case may be) issuing or participating in Letters of Credit, or a reduction in the amount received or receivable by such Lender in connection with any of the foregoing (excluding for purposes of this Section 3.04(a) any such increased costs or reduction in amount resulting from (i) Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, or any Taxes excluded from the definition of Indemnified Taxes under exceptions (i) through (v) thereof or (ii) reserve requirements contemplated by Section 3.04(c)) and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining the Eurocurrency Rate Loan (or of maintaining its obligations to make any Loan), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, then from time to time within fifteen (15) days after demand by such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail such increased costs (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent given in accordance with Section 3.06), the Borrowers shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduction. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, for all purposes under this Agreement, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a change in law, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

 

155


(b) If any Lender determines that the introduction of any Law regarding capital adequacy or any change therein or in the interpretation thereof, in each case after the Closing Date, or compliance by such Lender (or its Lending Office) therewith, has the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or any Person controlling such Lender as a consequence of such Lender’s obligations hereunder (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy and such Lender’s desired return on capital), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail the charge and the calculation of such reduced rate of return (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent given in accordance with Section 3.06), the Borrowers shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such demand.

(c) The Borrowers shall pay to each Lender, (i) as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves, capital or liquidity with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits, additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loan of the Borrowers equal to the actual costs of such reserves, capital or liquidity allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error), and (ii) as long as such Lender shall be required to comply with any reserve ratio, capital or liquidity requirement or analogous requirement of any other central banking or financial regulatory authority imposed in respect of the maintenance of the Commitments or the funding of any Eurocurrency Rate Loans of the Borrowers, such additional costs (expressed as a percentage per annum and rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest five decimal places) equal to the actual costs allocated to such Commitment or Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) which in each case shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan; provided the Lead Borrower shall have received at least fifteen (15) days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest or cost from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice fifteen (15) days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest or cost shall be due and payable fifteen (15) days from receipt of such notice.

(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation.

(e) If any Lender requests compensation under this Section 3.04, then such Lender will, if requested by the Lead Borrower, use commercially reasonable efforts to designate another Lending Office for any Loan or Letter of Credit affected by such event; provided that such efforts are made on terms that, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its Lending Office(s) to suffer no material economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, and provided, further, that nothing in this Section 3.04(e) shall affect or postpone any of the Obligations of the Borrowers or the rights of such Lender pursuant to Sections 3.04(a), (b), (c) or (d).

 

156


(f) Notwithstanding anything set forth in clauses (a) through (c) above, any Lender shall be compensated pursuant to this Section 3.04 only if such Lender certifies that it imposes such costs or charges under other syndicated credit facilities involving similarly situated borrowers that such Lender is a lender under.

Section 3.05. Funding Losses. Upon written demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) to the Lead Borrower from time to time, the Borrowers shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense actually incurred by it as a result of:

(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Eurocurrency Rate Loan of the Borrowers on a day prior to the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan;

(b) any failure by the Borrowers (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Eurocurrency Rate Loan of the Borrowers on the date or in the amount notified by the Lead Borrower, including any loss or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits) arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained; or

(c) any failure by the Borrowers to make payment of any Loan or drawing under any Letter of Credit (or interest due thereon) denominated in an Approved Foreign Currency on its scheduled due date or any payment thereof in a different currency.

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrowers to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurocurrency Rate Loan made by it at the Eurocurrency Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the offshore interbank market for the applicable currency for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurocurrency Rate Loan was in fact so funded; provided, that in the case of Section 3.05(a), if any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan has an Eurocurrency Rate floor, any amount owing by the Borrowers to the Lender shall be reduced by the amount of interest income accrued during the completed portion of the Interest Period at a rate equal to the Eurocurrency Rate floor over the applicable Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period.

Section 3.06. Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation. (a) Any Agent or any Lender claiming compensation under this Article 3 shall deliver a certificate to the Lead Borrower setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder which shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, such Agent or such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

(b) With respect to any Lender’s claim for compensation under Sections 3.01, 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04, the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate such Lender for any amount incurred more than one hundred and eighty (180) days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Lead Borrower of the event that gives rise to such claim; provided that if the circumstance giving rise to such claim is retroactive, then such 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof. If any Lender requests compensation

 

157


by the Borrowers under Section 3.04, the Borrowers may, by notice from the Lead Borrower to such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), suspend the obligation of such Lender to make or continue from one Interest Period to another applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or, if applicable, to convert Base Rate Loans into Eurocurrency Rate Loans, until the event or condition giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 3.06(c) shall be applicable); provided that such suspension shall not affect the right of such Lender to receive the compensation so requested.

(c) If the obligation of any Lender to make or continue any Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or to convert Base Rate Loans into Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be suspended pursuant to Section 3.06(b) hereof, such Lender’s applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be automatically converted into Base Rate Loans (or, if such conversion is not possible, repaid) on the last day(s) of the then current Interest Period(s) for such Eurocurrency Rate Loans (or, in the case of an immediate conversion required by Section 3.02, on such earlier date as required by Law) and, unless and until such Lender gives notice as provided below that the circumstances specified in Sections 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04 hereof that gave rise to such conversion no longer exist:

(i) to the extent that such Lender’s Eurocurrency Rate Loans have been so converted, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise be applied to such Lender’s applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be applied instead to its Base Rate Loans; and

(ii) all Loans that would otherwise be made or continued from one Interest Period to another by such Lender as Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be made or continued instead as Base Rate Loans (if possible), and all Base Rate Loans of such Lender that would otherwise be converted into Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall remain as Base Rate Loans.

(d) If any Lender gives notice to the Lead Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) that the circumstances specified in Sections 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04 hereof that gave rise to the conversion of any of such Lender’s Eurocurrency Rate Loans pursuant to this Section 3.06 no longer exist (which such Lender agrees to do promptly upon such circumstances ceasing to exist) at a time when Eurocurrency Rate Loans made by other Lenders under the applicable Facility are outstanding, if applicable, such Lender’s Base Rate Loans shall be automatically converted, on the first day(s) of the next succeeding Interest Period(s) for such outstanding Eurocurrency Rate Loans, to the extent necessary so that, after giving effect thereto, all Loans held by the Lenders holding Eurocurrency Rate Loans under such Facility and by such Lender are held pro rata (as to principal amounts, interest rate basis, and Interest Periods) in accordance with their respective Commitments for the applicable Facility.

Section 3.07. Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances. (a) If at any time (i) any Loan Party becomes obligated to pay additional amounts or indemnity payments described in Section 3.01 (with respect to Indemnified Taxes) or Section 3.04 as a result of any condition described in such Sections or any Lender ceases to make any Eurocurrency Rate Loans as a result of any condition described in Section 3.02 or Section 3.04, (ii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender or (iii) any Lender becomes a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrowers may, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, at its sole cost and expense,

 

158


on five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and such Lender, (x) replace such Lender by causing such Lender to (and such Lender shall be obligated to) assign pursuant to Section 10.07(b) (with the assignment fee to be paid by the Borrowers in such instance) all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (in respect of any applicable Facility only in the case of clause (i) or (ii) or, with respect to a Class vote, clause (iii) above) to one or more Eligible Assignees (or with respect to any assignment to any Affiliated Lender, pursuant to Section 10.07(l)); provided that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to the Borrowers to find a replacement Lender or other such Person; and provided, further, that (A) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01 (with respect to Indemnified Taxes), such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments and (B) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable Eligible Assignees shall have agreed to, and shall be sufficient (together with all other consenting Lenders) to cause the adoption of, the applicable departure, waiver or amendment of the Loan Documents; or (y) terminate the Commitment of such Lender or L/C Issuer (in respect of any applicable Facility only in the case of clauses (i) - (iii)), as the case may be, and (1) in the case of a Lender (other than an L/C Issuer), repay all Obligations of the Borrowers owing to such Lender relating to the Loans and participations held by such Lender as of such termination date and (2) in the case of an L/C Issuer, repay all Obligations of the Borrowers owing to such L/C Issuer relating to the Loans and participations held by the L/C Issuer as well as all Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer as of such termination date and cancel or backstop on terms satisfactory to such L/C Issuer any Letters of Credit issued by it; provided that in the case of any such termination of a Non-Consenting Lender such termination shall be sufficient (together with all other consenting Lenders) to cause the adoption of the applicable departure, waiver or amendment of the Loan Documents and such termination shall be in respect of any applicable Facility only in the case of clause (i) or (ii) or, with respect to a Class vote, clause (iii).

(b) Any Lender being replaced pursuant to Section 3.07(a)(x) above shall (i) execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such Lender’s applicable Commitment and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans in respect thereof, and (ii) deliver any Notes evidencing such Loans to the Borrowers or Administrative Agent. Pursuant to such Assignment and Assumption, (A) the assignee Lender shall acquire all or a portion, as the case may be, of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans, (B) all obligations of the Borrowers owing to the assigning Lender relating to the Loans, Commitments and participations so assigned shall be paid in full by the assignee Lender to such assigning Lender concurrently with such Assignment and Assumption and (C) upon such payment and, if so requested by the assignee Lender, delivery to the assignee Lender of the appropriate Note or Notes executed by the Borrowers, the assignee Lender shall become a Lender hereunder and the assigning Lender shall cease to constitute a Lender hereunder with respect to such assigned Loans, Commitments and participations, except with respect to indemnification provisions under this Agreement, which shall survive as to such assigning Lender. In connection with any such replacement, if any such Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender does not execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly executed Assignment and Assumption reflecting such replacement on the date on which the assignee Lender executes and delivers such Assignment

 

159


and Assumption to such Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender, then such Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Assumption without any action on the part of the Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above, any Lender that acts as an L/C Issuer may not be replaced hereunder at any time that it has any Letter of Credit outstanding hereunder unless arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (including the furnishing of a backup standby letter of credit in form and substance, and issued by an issuer reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer or the depositing of cash collateral into a cash collateral account in amounts and pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer) have been made with respect to each such outstanding Letter of Credit and the Lender that acts as the Administrative Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 9.09.

(d) In the event that (i) the Lead Borrower or the Administrative Agent has requested that the Lenders consent to a departure or waiver of any provisions of the Loan Documents or agree to any amendment thereto, (ii) the consent, waiver or amendment in question requires the agreement of each Lender, each affected Lender or each affected Lender of a certain Class in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 or all the Lenders with respect to a certain Class of the Loans and (iii) the Required Lenders (or, in the case of a consent, waiver or amendment involving all affected Lenders of a certain Class, the Required Class Lenders as applicable) have agreed to such consent, waiver or amendment, then any Lender who does not agree to such consent, waiver or amendment shall be deemed a “Non-Consenting Lender.

Section 3.08. Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Article 3 shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

ARTICLE 4

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

Section 4.01. Conditions to Initial Credit Extension. The obligation of each Lender to make a Credit Extension hereunder on the Closing Date is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent, except as otherwise agreed between the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent:

(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or pdf copies or other facsimiles (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its legal counsel:

(i) a Committed Loan Notice in accordance with the requirements hereof;

(ii) executed counterparts of this Agreement;

(iii) each Collateral Document set forth on Schedule 1.01B required to be executed on the Closing Date as indicated on such schedule, duly executed by each Loan Party thereto, together with (subject to the last paragraph of this Section 4.01):

 

160


(A) certificates, if any, representing the Pledged Equity in the Borrowers and, to the extent received from the seller after the Lead Borrower’s use of commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such Pledged Equity, in each wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower (other than those described under clause (b) of the definition of “Excluded Subsidiary”), accompanied by undated stock or membership interest powers executed in blank and instruments evidencing the Pledged Debt (including the Intercompany Note) indorsed in blank (or confirmation in lieu thereof reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or its counsel that such certificates, powers and instruments have been sent for overnight delivery to the Collateral Agent or its counsel);

(B) copies of proper financing statements, filed or duly prepared for filing under the Uniform Commercial Code in all United States jurisdictions or comparable filing, register entry or registration under any applicable jurisdiction that the Administrative Agent may deem reasonably necessary in order to perfect and protect the Liens created under the Security Agreement on assets of Holdings, the Borrowers and each Subsidiary Guarantor that is party to the Security Agreement or applicable Foreign Security Document, covering the Collateral described in the Security Agreement or applicable Foreign Security Document; and

(C) evidence that all other actions, recordings and filings required by the Collateral Documents as of the Closing Date or that the Administrative Agent may deem reasonably necessary to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall have been taken, completed or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being understood that no insurance certificate, including evidence of flood insurance, shall be required to be delivered on or prior to the Closing Date);

(iv) subject to the last paragraph of this Section 4.01 and Section 6.16, all actions necessary to cause the Collateral Agent to have a perfected first priority security interest in the Collateral (subject to Liens permitted under Section 7.01 which by operation of law or contract would have priority over the Liens securing the Obligations) shall have been taken;

(v) such certificates of good standing (or certificates of compliance) (in each case to the extent such concept exists) from the applicable secretary of state (or other Governmental Authority) of the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of each Loan Party, certificates of resolutions or other action (including board resolutions), incumbency certificates, certificates of incorporation and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party and copies of the Organizational Documents of each Loan Party, as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party or is to be a party on the Closing Date;

 

161


(vi) (A) an opinion from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, special counsel to the Loan Parties and (B) an opinion from Walkers (Bermuda) Limited, special counsel in Bermuda to the Secured Parties;

(vii) a solvency certificate from the chief financial officer, chief accounting officer or other officer with equivalent duties of the Lead Borrower (after giving effect to the Transactions) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E-2 (or, at the sole option and discretion of the Lead Borrower, a third-party opinion as to the solvency of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis issued by a nationally recognized firm);

(viii) a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower, confirming satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections 4.01(c) and (f); and

(ix) the Perfection Certificate, duly completed and executed by the Lead Borrower.

(b) The Closing Fees and all fees and expenses due to the Lead Arrangers, the Co-Manager and their respective Affiliates required to be paid on the Closing Date and (in the case of expenses) invoiced at least three Business Days before the Closing Date (except as otherwise reasonably agreed by the Lead Borrower) shall have been paid from the proceeds of the initial funding under the Facilities.

(c) The Equity Investment shall have been consummated, or shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the borrowing of the Initial Term Loans on the Closing Date.

(d) The Lead Arrangers shall have received the Audited Financial Statements and the Unaudited Financial Statements.

(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date all documentation and other information about the Borrowers and the Guarantors required under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act that has been requested by the Administrative Agent in writing at least 10 Business Days prior to the Closing Date. If a Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, such Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, a Beneficial Ownership Certification to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent at least 10 Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

(f) Since December 31, 2018, there has been no Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement).

(g) The Acquisition shall have been consummated, or shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the initial borrowing under any Facility on the Closing Date, in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement. No provision of the Merger Agreement, as the Merger Agreement was in effect on November 8, 2019, shall have been waived or amended or consented to in any material respect in a manner that is materially adverse to the Lenders (in their capacities as such) without the consent of the Lead Arrangers (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned).

 

162


(h) The Specified Merger Agreement Representations and the Specified Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects on the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date).

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.03(b), for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, it is understood that other than with respect to the execution and delivery of those certain Collateral Documents required to be delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(iii) and any UCC Filing Collateral, to the extent any Lien on any Collateral is not provided and/or perfected on the Closing Date after the Lead Borrower’s use of commercially reasonable efforts to do so, the provision and/or perfection of a Lien on such Collateral shall not constitute a condition precedent for purposes of this Section 4.01, but instead shall be required to be provided and/or perfected within 90 days after the Closing Date in accordance with Section 6.16 (subject to extensions as agreed by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion); provided that the Administrative Agent shall have received certificates of all Pledged Equity, if any, referred to in Section 4.01(a)(iv)(A) (subject to the limitations set forth therein).

Section 4.02. Conditions to All Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans and other than a Request for Credit Extension in connection with an Incremental Amendment, which shall be governed by Section 2.14(d)), other than on the Closing Date, is subject to the following conditions precedent in each case, subject to the provisions set forth herein in connection with Limited Condition Transactions:

(i) The representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in Article 5 and in each other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects (except that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” shall be true and correct in all respects as so qualified) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension with the same effect as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date.

(ii) No Default shall exist or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds therefrom.

 

163


(iii) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the relevant L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans) submitted by the Lead Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(i) and (ii) (or, in the case of a Request for Credit Extension in connection with an Incremental Amendment, the conditions specified in Section 2.14(d)) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

ARTICLE 5

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrowers, Holdings (solely to the extent applicable to it) and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors party hereto represent and warrant to the Agents and the Lenders at the time of each Credit Extension that:

Section 5.01. Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws. Each Loan Party and each Restricted Subsidiary (a) is a Person duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing (where relevant) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business as currently conducted and (ii) in the case of the Loan Parties, execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) is duly qualified and in good standing (where relevant) under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, (d) is in compliance with all Laws, orders, writs and injunctions and (e) has all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to operate its business as currently conducted; except in each case, referred to in clause (a) (other than with respect to the Borrowers), (b)(i) (other than with respect to the Borrowers), (c), (d) and (e), to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.02. Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is a party are within such Loan Party’s corporate or other powers, (a) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and (b) do not (i) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organizational Documents, (ii) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under (other than as permitted by Section 7.01), or require any payment to be made under (x) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (y) any material order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject, or (iii) violate any applicable Law; except with respect to any conflict, breach or contravention, payment (but not creation of Liens) or violation referred to in clause (b)(ii) and (b)(iii) above, to the extent that such violation, conflict, breach, contravention or payment would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

164


Section 5.03. Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. Subject to, solely with respect to the Foreign Security Documents, the Reservations and the Perfection Requirements, no material approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is necessary or required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for the consummation of the Transactions, (b) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents, (c) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Collateral Documents (including the priority thereof) or (d) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of its rights under the Loan Documents or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents, except for (i) filings, recordings and registrations with Governmental Authorities necessary to perfect or protect the priority of the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Secured Parties, (ii) the approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations, actions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect (except to the extent not required to be obtained, taken, given or made or be in full force and effect pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the Agreed Security Principles) and (iii) those approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations or other actions, notices or filings, the failure of which to obtain or make would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.04. Execution, Delivery and Enforceability. This Agreement and each other Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is a party thereto. Subject to, solely with respect to the Foreign Security Documents, the Reservations and the Perfection Requirements, this Agreement and each other Loan Document constitutes, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is a party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity, (ii) the need for filings, recordations and registrations necessary to create, perfect or protect priority of the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Secured Parties and (iii) the effect of foreign Laws, rules and regulations as they relate to pledges, if any, of Equity Interests in Foreign Subsidiaries.

Section 5.05. Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

(a) The Audited Financial Statements and the Unaudited Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their results of operations for the periods covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein.

(b) The forecasts of consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of income and cash flow of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries which have been furnished to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date have been prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation of such forecasts, it being understood that actual results may vary from such forecasts and that such variations may be material.

 

165


(c) Since the Closing Date, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) As of the Closing Date, none of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries has any Indebtedness or other obligations or liabilities, direct or contingent (other than (i) the liabilities reflected on Schedule 5.05, (ii) obligations arising under the Loan Documents and (iii) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business that, either individually or in the aggregate, have not had nor would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect).

Section 5.06. Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.06, there are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, threatened in writing, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.07. Ownership of Property; Liens; Real Property. (a) The Lead Borrower and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries has good record title to, or valid leasehold interests in, or easements or other limited property interests in, all Real Property necessary in the ordinary conduct of its business, free and clear of all Liens except as set forth on Schedule 5.07 hereto and except for minor defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to conduct its business or to utilize such assets for their intended purposes and Liens permitted by Section 7.01 and except where the failure to have such title or other interest would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) As of the Closing Date, Schedule 7 to the Perfection Certificate dated as of the Closing Date contains a true and complete list of each Material Real Property owned by the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

Section 5.08. Environmental Matters. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect:

(a) each Loan Party and its Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective properties and operations are and, other than any matters which have been finally resolved without further liability or obligation, have been in compliance with all Environmental Laws, which includes obtaining, maintaining and complying with all applicable Environmental Permits required under such Environmental Laws to carry on the business of the Loan Parties and their respective Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) none of the Loan Parties or their respective Restricted Subsidiaries have received any written notice that alleges any of them is in violation of or potentially liable under any Environmental Laws and none of the Loan Parties or their respective Restricted Subsidiaries nor any of the Real Property owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or its Restricted Subsidiaries is the subject of any claims, investigations, liens, demands, or judicial, administrative or arbitral proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, threatened, under or relating to any Environmental Law;

 

166


(c) there has been no Release of Hazardous Materials on, at, under or from any Real Property or facilities currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or its Restricted Subsidiaries, or arising out of the conduct of the Loan Parties or their respective Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case that would reasonably be expected to result in any Environmental Liability;

(d) there are no facts, circumstances or conditions arising out of or relating to the Loan Parties or their respective Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their respective operations or any facilities currently or, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, formerly owned, leased or operated by any of the Loan Parties or their respective Restricted Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to require investigation, remedial activity, corrective action or cleanup by, or on behalf of, any Loan Party or its Restricted Subsidiaries or would reasonably be expected to result in any Environmental Liability; and

(e) the Lead Borrower has made available to the Administrative Agent all environmental reports, studies, assessments, audits, or other similar documents containing information regarding any Environmental Liability that are in the possession of any Loan Party or its Subsidiary.

Section 5.09. Taxes. Except as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries have filed all Tax returns required to be filed, and have paid all Taxes levied or imposed upon them or their properties, that are due and payable, except those that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP. Except as described on Schedule 5.09, there is no proposed Tax deficiency or assessment known to any of the Loan Parties against any of the Loan Parties that would, if made, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Other Borrower Party is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Section 5.10. ERISA Compliance. (a) Except as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Plan maintained by a Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder and other federal or state Laws.

(b) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred and is continuing; (ii) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iii) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (iv) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that would be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA, except, with respect to each of the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) of this Section 5.10(b), as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

167


(c) With respect to each Pension Plan, the adjusted funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 436 of the Code), as determined by the applicable Pension Plan’s Enrolled Actuary under Sections 436(j) and 430(d)(2) of the Code and all applicable regulatory guidance promulgated thereunder, would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to a Plan that is, or is expected to be, in at-risk status (as defined in Section 303(i)(4) of ERISA or Section 430(i)(4) of the Code) in each case, except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.11. Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. As of the Closing Date (after giving effect to the Transactions), no Loan Party has any Subsidiaries (other than Excluded Subsidiaries pursuant to clause (b) of the definition thereof) other than those specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.11, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests owned by the Loan Parties (or a Subsidiary of any Loan Party) in such material Subsidiaries have been validly issued and are fully paid and all Equity Interests owned by a Loan Party in such material Subsidiaries are owned free and clear of all Liens except (i) those created under the Collateral Documents and (ii) any Lien that is permitted under Section 7.01. As of the Closing Date, Schedules 1(a) and 9(a) to the Perfection Certificate (a) set forth the name and jurisdiction of each Domestic Subsidiary that is a Loan Party and (b) set forth the ownership interest of the Borrowers and any other Guarantor in each wholly owned Subsidiary (other than Excluded Subsidiaries pursuant to clause (b) of the definition thereof), including the percentage of such ownership.

Section 5.12. Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act. (a) (i) No Borrower is engaged nor will it engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of (1) purchasing or carrying Margin Stock or (2) extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, in each case of the foregoing clauses (1) and (2) in a manner that violates Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System, and (ii) no proceeds of any Borrowings or drawings under any Letter of Credit will be used for any purpose that violates Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System.

(b) No Loan Party is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Section 5.13. Disclosure. To the best of the Lead Borrower’s knowledge, no report, financial statement, certificate or other written information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party (other than projected financial information, pro forma financial information and information of a general economic or industry nature) to any Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), when taken as a whole, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein (when taken as a whole), in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading. With respect to projected financial information and pro forma financial information, the Lead Borrower represents that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation; it being understood that such projections may vary from actual results and that such variances may be material.

 

168


Section 5.14. Labor Matters. Except as, in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, as of the Closing Date (a) there are no strikes or other labor disputes against the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, threatened, (b) hours worked by and payment made to employees of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Laws, (c) the Lead Borrower and the other Loan Parties have complied with all applicable labor Laws including work authorization and immigration and (d) all payments due from the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on account of employee wages and health and welfare and other benefits insurance have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of the relevant party.

Section 5.15. Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. The Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries own, license or possess the right to use all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, licenses, technology, software, know-how database rights, design rights and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “IP Rights”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted, and, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, such IP Rights do not conflict with the rights of any Person, except to the extent such failure to own, license or possess or such conflicts, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, the business of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries as currently conducted does not infringe upon, misappropriate or otherwise violate any IP Rights held by any Person except for such infringements, misappropriations and violations, individually or in the aggregate, which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation regarding any of the IP Rights, is filed and presently pending or, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, presently threatened in writing against any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, which, either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Except pursuant to licenses and other user agreements entered into by each Loan Party in the ordinary course of business, as of the Closing Date, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, all registrations and applications for registration of IP Rights listed in Schedule 8 to the Perfection Certificate are valid and subsisting, except, in each case, to the extent failure of such registrations and applications for registration of IP Rights to be valid and subsisting would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.16. Solvency. On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

Section 5.17. Subordination of Junior Financing. The Obligations are “Senior Debt,” “Senior Indebtedness,” “Guarantor Senior Debt” or “Senior Secured Financing” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in, any Junior Financing Documentation.

 

169


Section 5.18. OFAC; USA PATRIOT Act; FCPA. (a) To the extent applicable, each of Holdings, the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries is in compliance, in all material respects, with (i) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto and (ii) the USA PATRIOT Act.

(b) Neither the Lead Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower and the other Loan Parties, any director, officer, employee, agent or controlled affiliate of the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is currently the target of any Sanctions, nor is the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries located, organized or resident in any country or territory that is the target of Sanctions, except to the extent authorized under applicable Sanctions laws.

(c) No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, by the Borrowers (i) in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended or (ii) for the purpose of financing any activities or business of or with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such financing, is the target of any Sanctions, except to the extent authorized under applicable Sanctions laws.

Section 5.19. Security Documents. (a) Valid Liens. Subject to Section 5.19(d), each Collateral Document delivered pursuant to Section 4.01 and Sections 6.11, 6.13 and 6.16 will, upon execution and delivery thereof, be effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, legal, valid and enforceable Liens on, and security interests in, the Collateral described therein to the extent intended to be created thereby, and (i) when financing statements and other filings in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 4 to the Perfection Certificate and (ii) upon the taking of possession or control by the Collateral Agent of such Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected only by possession or control (which possession or control shall be given to the Collateral Agent to the extent possession or control by the Collateral Agent is required by the Security Agreement), the Liens created by the Collateral Documents (other than the Mortgages) shall constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in (to the extent intended to be created thereby), all right, title and interest of the grantors in such Collateral to the extent perfection can be obtained by filing financing statements or the taking of possession or control, in each case subject to no Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

(b) PTO Filing; Copyright Office Filing. When the Intellectual Property Security Agreements are properly filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, to the extent such filings may perfect such interests, the Liens created by the Security Agreement shall constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the grantors thereunder in Patents and Trademarks (each as defined in the Security Agreement) registered or applied for with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and Copyrights (as defined in the Security Agreement) registered or applied for with the United States Copyright Office, as the case may be, in each case subject to no Liens other than Liens permitted hereunder (it being understood that subsequent recordings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office may be necessary to perfect the Collateral Agent’s Lien on registered Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights (each as defined in the Security Agreement) acquired by the grantors thereof after the Closing Date).

 

170


(c) Mortgages. Upon recording thereof in the appropriate recording office, each Mortgage is effective to create, in favor of the Collateral Agent, for its benefit and the benefit of the Secured Parties, legal, valid and enforceable perfected Liens on, and security interest in, all of the Loan Parties’ right, title and interest in and to the Mortgaged Property thereunder and the proceeds thereof, subject only to Liens permitted by Section 7.01 and when the Mortgages are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 7 to the Perfection Certificate dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of any Mortgage executed and delivered after the date thereof in accordance with the provisions of Sections 6.11, 6.13 and 6.16, when such Mortgage is filed in the offices specified in the local counsel opinion delivered with respect thereto in accordance with the provisions of Sections 6.11, 6.13 and 6.16), such Mortgage shall constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in the Mortgaged Property thereunder and the proceeds thereof, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

(d) Solely with respect to each Foreign Security Document, subject to the Reservations, the Perfection Requirements and the terms of the relevant Collateral Document, each Collateral Document to which it is a party to grant Liens and delivered by it pursuant to Section 4.01 and Sections 6.11, 6.13 and 6.16 will, upon execution and delivery thereof, create the legal, valid and enforceable Liens which that Collateral Document purports to create (to the extent intended to be created thereby).

Notwithstanding anything herein (including this Section 5.19) or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, neither the Lead Borrower nor any other Loan Party makes any representation or warranty as to (A) the effects of perfection or non-perfection, the priority or the enforceability of any pledge of or security interest in any Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary that is outside the Agreed Security Jurisdictions, or as to the rights and remedies of the Agents or any Lender with respect thereto, under the Law of a jurisdiction that is not an Agreed Security Jurisdiction or (B) the pledge or creation of any security interest, or the effects of perfection or non-perfection, the priority or the enforceability of any pledge of or security interest to the extent such pledge, security interest, perfection or priority is not required pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the Agreed Security Principles.

ARTICLE 6

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation (other than obligations under Treasury Services Agreements or obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements) hereunder which is accrued and payable shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding (unless the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations related thereto has been Cash Collateralized or a backstop letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer is in place), then from and after the Closing Date, the Lead Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 6.03) cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to:

 

171


Section 6.01. Financial Statements. (a) Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender, on or before the date that is within 180 days after the end of the fiscal year ending on or about December 31, 2019, on or before the date that is within 150 days after the end of the fiscal year ending on or about December 31, 2020, and within 120 days after the end of each subsequent fiscal year, a consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries (but with respect to the fiscal year December 31, 2019, for the Company and its Subsidiaries) as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year (other than in respect of the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending on or about December 31, 2019), all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of Ernst & Young LLP or any independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not contain any qualifications or exceptions as to the scope of such audit or any “going concern” explanatory paragraph or like qualification (excluding any “emphasis of matter” paragraph) (other than resulting from (w) activities, operations, financial results or liabilities of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (x) the impending maturity of any Indebtedness, (y) with respect to the Term Loans, any actual or prospective default under any financial covenant and (z) with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, any prospective default under any financial covenant).

(b) Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender, on or before the date that is within 60 days (or seventy-five (75) days in the case of the fiscal quarters ending on or about March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020) after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Lead Borrower, an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year then ended, setting forth in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year (other than in respect of the unaudited financial statements for the 2020 fiscal year), and statements of stockholders’ equity for the current fiscal quarter and consolidated statement of cash flows for the portion of the fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year (other than in respect of the unaudited financial statements for the 2020 fiscal year), all in reasonable detail and certified by a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

(c) Until the consummation of a Qualified IPO, deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender, no later than 150 days after the end of the fiscal year ending on or about December 31, 2020 and within 120 days after the end of each subsequent fiscal year, a detailed consolidated budget for the following fiscal year on a quarterly basis in form customarily prepared by the Lead Borrower or otherwise as provided to its direct or indirect equityholders (including a projected consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the following fiscal year, the related consolidated statements of projected cash flow and projected income and a summary of the material underlying

 

172


assumptions applicable thereto) (collectively, the “Projections”), which Projections shall in each case be accompanied by a certificate of a Responsible Officer stating that such Projections have been prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation of such Projections, it being understood that actual results may vary from such Projections and that such variations may be material; and

(d) Deliver to the Administrative Agent with each set of consolidated financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and 6.01(b) above, supplemental financial information necessary to eliminate the accounts of Unrestricted Subsidiaries (if any) from such consolidated financial statements.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6.01 may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Lead Borrower and the Subsidiaries by furnishing (A) the applicable financial statements of the Lead Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent of the Lead Borrower) or (B) the Lead Borrower’s (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), as applicable, Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC; provided that with respect to clauses (A) and (B), (i) to the extent such information relates to a parent of the Lead Borrower, such information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to the Lead Borrower (or such parent), on the one hand, and the information relating to the Lead Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a stand-alone basis, on the other hand and (ii) to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 6.01(a), such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion of any independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and, except as permitted in Section 6.01(a), shall not contain any qualifications or exceptions as to the scope of such audit or any “going concern” explanatory paragraph or like qualification.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 and Sections 6.02(b) and (c) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Lead Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent of the Lead Borrower) posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the website on the Internet at the Lead Borrower’s website; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Lead Borrower’s behalf on Debtdomain, Roadshow Access (if applicable) or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that:

(i) upon written request by the Administrative Agent, the Lead Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent for further distribution to each Lender until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent; and

(ii) the Lead Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such documents from the Administrative Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

173


Section 6.02. Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:

(a) no later than five (5) days after the actual delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower and, to the extent resulting in any change to the Applicable ECF Percentage, Applicable Asset Sale Percentage or Applicable Rate, setting forth the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio (but without the requirement to provide any calculations thereof) as of the most recently ended Test Period;

(b) promptly after the same are publicly available, copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary files with the SEC or with any Governmental Authority that may be substituted therefor (other than amendments to any registration statement (to the extent such registration statement, in the form it became effective, is delivered), exhibits to any registration statement and, if applicable, any registration statement on Form S-8) and in any case not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in this Section 6.02(b) may be satisfied so long as such information is publicly available on the SEC’s EDGAR website;

(c) promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any material requests or material notices received by any Loan Party (other than in the ordinary course of business) or material statements or material reports furnished to any holder of debt securities (other than in connection with any board observer rights) of any Loan Party or of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any Junior Financing Documentation with a principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount and, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing thereof, and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to any other clause of this Section 6.02;

(d) together with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 6.02(a), (i) in the case of annual Compliance Certificates only, a report setting forth the information required by sections describing the legal name and the jurisdiction of formation of each Loan Party and the location of the chief executive office of each Loan Party of the Perfection Certificate or confirming that there has been no change in such information since the later of the Closing Date or the date of the last such report, (ii) a description of each event, condition or circumstance during the last fiscal quarter covered by such Compliance Certificate requiring a mandatory prepayment under Section 2.05(b) and (iii) a list of each Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower that identifies each Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, an Unrestricted Subsidiary or an Excluded Subsidiary as of the date of delivery of such Compliance Certificate or confirmation that there has been no change in such information since the later of the Closing Date or the date of the last such list; and

(e) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, legal, financial or corporate affairs of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender through the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request.

 

174


The Borrowers hereby acknowledge that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arrangers will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrowers hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on Debtdomain, Roadshow Access (if applicable) or another similar electronic system (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 any Borrower or its securities) (each, a “Public Lender”). The Borrowers hereby agree to make all Borrower Materials that the Borrowers intend to be made available to Public Lenders clearly and conspicuously designated as “PUBLIC.” By designating Borrower Materials as “PUBLIC,” the Borrowers authorize such Borrower Materials to be made available to a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor,” which is intended to contain only information that is publicly available or not material information (though it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to any Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws or is of a type that would be publicly available if such Borrower were a public reporting company (as reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrowers shall not be under any obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC.” The Borrowers agree that (i) any Loan Documents, (ii) any financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, 6.01(c)) and (iii) any Compliance Certificates delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a) and (iv) notices delivered pursuant to Section 6.03(a) will be deemed to be “public-side” Borrower Materials and may be made available to Public Lenders.

Each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable law, including United States federal and state securities laws, to make reference to communications 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 Borrowers or their securities for purposes of United States federal or state securities laws.

Section 6.03. Notices. Promptly after a Responsible Officer of Holdings or the Lead Borrower has obtained knowledge thereof, notify the Administrative Agent for further distribution to each Lender:

(a) of the occurrence of any Default;

(b) of any matter that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and

(c) of the filing or commencement of any action, suit, litigation or proceeding, whether at law or in equity by or before any Governmental Authority, (i) against Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries thereof that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) with respect to any Loan Document affecting the rights and obligations of the Lead Borrower or any other Loan Party.

 

175


Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower (x) that such notice is being delivered pursuant to Sections 6.03(a), (b) or (c) (as applicable) and (y) setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Lead Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.

Section 6.04. Taxes. Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy as the same shall become due and payable in the normal conduct of its business, all of its obligations and liabilities in respect of Taxes imposed upon it or upon its income or profits or in respect of its property, except, in each case, (i) to the extent any such Tax is being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings for which appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP or (ii) if such failure to pay or discharge such obligations and liabilities would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. While this Agreement remains in force, the Other Borrower Party will remain a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Section 6.05. Preservation of Existence, Etc.. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or incorporation except (x) in a transaction permitted by Sections 7.04 or 7.05 and (y) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with any other Restricted Subsidiary; and

(b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges (including its good standing where applicable in the relevant jurisdiction), permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except, in the case of (a) (other than with respect to the Borrowers) or (b), (i) to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) pursuant to a transaction permitted by Article 7 or clause (a)(y) of this Section 6.05.

Section 6.06. Maintenance of Properties. Except if the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, maintain, preserve and protect all of its material tangible or intangible properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order, repair and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and fire, casualty or condemnation excepted.

Section 6.07. Maintenance of Insurance. (a) Generally. Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its properties and business, against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance reasonable and customary for similarly situated Persons engaged in the same or similar businesses as the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons.

 

176


(b) Requirements of Insurance. All such insurance shall (i) provide that no cancellation, material reduction in amount or material change in coverage thereof shall be effective until at least 10 days (or, to the extent reasonably available, 30 days) after receipt by the Collateral Agent of written notice thereof (the Lead Borrower shall deliver a copy of the policy (and to the extent any such policy is cancelled or renewed, a renewal or replacement policy) or other evidence thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, or insurance certificate with respect thereto) and (ii) name the Collateral Agent as loss payee (in the case of property insurance) or additional insured on behalf of the Secured Parties (in the case of liability insurance) (it being understood that, absent an Event of Default, any proceeds of any such property insurance shall be delivered by the insurer(s) to the Lead Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries and applied in accordance with this Agreement), as applicable.

(c) Flood Insurance. If any portion of any Mortgaged Property is at any time located in an area identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) as a special flood hazard area with respect to which flood insurance has been made available under the Flood Insurance Laws, then the Lead Borrower shall, or shall cause each Loan Party to (i) maintain, or cause to be maintained, with a financially sound and reputable insurer, flood insurance in an amount and on such terms sufficient to comply with all applicable rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the Flood Insurance Laws and (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent evidence of such compliance in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent. Following the Closing Date, the Lead Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent annual renewals of such flood insurance. As a condition precedent to any amendment to this Agreement pursuant to which any increase, extension, or renewal of Loans is contemplated, the Lead Borrower shall cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent for any Mortgaged Property, a completed “life of the loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood Hazard Determination, duly executed and acknowledged by the appropriate Loan Parties, and evidence of flood insurance, as may be required pursuant to the Flood Insurance Laws.

Section 6.08. Compliance with Laws. Comply with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except if the failure to comply therewith would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 6.09. Books and Records. Maintain proper books of record and account, in which entries that are full, true and correct in all material respects and are in conformity with GAAP consistently applied and which reflect all material financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be (it being understood and agreed that certain Foreign Subsidiaries maintain individual books and records in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in their respective countries of organization or incorporation and that such maintenance shall not constitute a breach of the representations, warranties or covenants hereunder).

Section 6.10. Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants (subject to such accountants’ customary policies and procedures), all at the reasonable expense of the Borrowers and at such reasonable times during normal business hours

 

177


and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrowers; provided that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Section 6.10 and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than two times during any calendar year and only one (1) such time shall be at the Borrowers’ expense; provided, further, that when an Event of Default exists, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrowers at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice.

The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall give the Borrowers the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrowers’ independent public accountants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.10, none of the Lead Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary shall be required to disclose, permit the inspection, examination or making copies or abstracts of, or discussion of, any document, information or other matter that (i) constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) is prohibited by Law or (iii) is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work-product.

Section 6.11. Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors. At the Borrowers’ expense, take all action either necessary or as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to ensure that the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement continues to be satisfied, including:

(a) Upon (i)(x) the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary (in each case, other than an Excluded Subsidiary) by the Lead Borrower (including, without limitation, upon the formation of any Subsidiary that is a Delaware Divided LLC and is not otherwise an Excluded Subsidiary), (y) any Excluded Subsidiary ceasing to constitute an Excluded Subsidiary or (z) the designation in accordance with Section 6.14 of an existing direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) as a Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) the acquisition of any property by any Loan Party, which property is contemplated under the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement but is not automatically subject to a valid and perfected (or equivalent under foreign law) Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Party under the then existing Collateral Documents ((x) other than Excluded Assets and (y) in the case of any Loan Party organized outside of the United States, subject to the Agreed Security Principles):

(i) within sixty (60) days after such formation, acquisition, cessation or designation, or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing in its discretion, notify the Administrative Agent thereof and:

(A) cause each such Subsidiary or Loan Party to duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (as appropriate) joinders to this Agreement as Guarantors, Security Agreement Supplements, Intellectual Property Security Agreements, Mortgages, a counterpart of the Intercompany Note, each Intercreditor Agreement, if applicable, and other

 

178


security agreements and documents (including, with respect to such Mortgages, the documents listed in clause (g) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement”), as reasonably requested by and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (consistent to the extent applicable, with the, Security Agreement and other security agreements in effect on the Closing Date), in each case granting Liens required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and, with respect to any Foreign Security Documents, the Agreed Security Principles, as applicable;

(B) cause each such Subsidiary (and the parent of each such Subsidiary that is a Guarantor) to deliver any and all certificates representing Equity Interests (to the extent certificated) and intercompany notes (to the extent certificated) that are required to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the Agreed Security Principles, as applicable, accompanied by (if relevant in the applicable jurisdiction), accompanied by undated stock powers or other appropriate instruments of transfer executed in blank;

(C) take and cause such Subsidiary and each direct or indirect parent of such Subsidiary or other Loan Party, as applicable, to take whatever action (including the recording of Mortgages, the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or any comparable filing under any applicable jurisdiction and Intellectual Property Security Agreements, and delivery of stock and membership interest certificates) as may be necessary in the reasonable opinion of the Collateral Agent to vest in the Collateral Agent (or in any representative of the Collateral Agent designated by it) valid and perfected Liens to the extent required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and, with respect to any Foreign Security Documents, the Agreed Security Principles, as applicable, and to otherwise comply with the requirements of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and, with respect to any Foreign Security Documents, the Agreed Security Principles, as applicable;

(ii) as promptly as practicable after the request therefor by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, deliver to the Collateral Agent with respect to each Material Real Property, any existing title reports, abstracts, surveys, appraisals or environmental assessment reports, to the extent available and in the possession of the Loan Parties or their respective Subsidiaries; provided, however, that there shall be no obligation to deliver to the Administrative Agent any existing environmental assessment report or appraisal whose disclosure to the Administrative Agent would require the consent of a Person other than the Loan Parties or one of their respective Subsidiaries, where, despite the commercially reasonable efforts of the Loan Parties or their respective Subsidiaries to obtain such consent, such consent cannot be obtained; and

(iii) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, within sixty (60) days after such request (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing in its discretion), deliver to the Collateral Agent any other items necessary from time to time to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement with respect to perfection and existence of security interests with respect to property of any Guarantor acquired after the Closing Date and subject to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the Agreed Security Principles, as applicable, but not specifically covered by the preceding clauses (i) or (ii) or clause (b) below.

 

179


(b) (i) Not later than forty-five (45) days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing in its discretion) after the later of (x) confirmation from the Lenders that flood due diligence and flood insurance compliance as required by Section 6.07 hereto has been completed and (y) forty-five (45) days after the acquisition by any Loan Party (including, without limitation, any acquisition pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division) of any Material Real Property as determined by the Lead Borrower (acting reasonably and in good faith) that is required to be provided as Collateral pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, cause such property to be subject to a Lien and Mortgage in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and take, or cause the relevant Loan Party to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to grant and perfect or record such Lien, in each case to the extent required by, and subject to the limitations and exceptions of, the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and to otherwise comply with the requirements of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement; and (ii) as promptly as practicable after the request therefor by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, deliver to the Collateral Agent with respect to each such acquired Material Real Property, any existing title reports, abstracts, surveys, appraisals or environmental assessment reports, to the extent available and in the possession of the Loan Parties or their respective Subsidiaries; provided, however, that there shall be no obligation to deliver to the Administrative Agent any existing environmental assessment report or appraisal whose disclosure to the Administrative Agent would require the consent of a Person other than the Loan Parties or one of their respective Subsidiaries, where, despite the commercially reasonable efforts of the Loan Parties or their respective Subsidiaries to obtain such consent, such consent cannot be obtained.

Section 6.12. Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except, in each case, to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, comply, and take all commercially reasonable actions to cause all lessees and other Persons operating or occupying its properties to comply with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; obtain, maintain and renew all Environmental Permits necessary for its operations and properties; and, in each case to the extent the Loan Parties or their respective Subsidiaries are required by Environmental Laws, conduct any investigation, remedial or other corrective action necessary to address Hazardous Materials at any property or facility in accordance with applicable Environmental Laws.

Section 6.13. Further Assurances. Promptly upon reasonable request by the Administrative Agent (i) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation of any Intercreditor Agreement or any Collateral Document or other document or instrument relating to any Collateral, and (ii) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of any Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Documents, to the extent required pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the Agreed Security Principles, as applicable. If the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent reasonably determines that it is required by applicable Law to have appraisals prepared in respect of the Real Property of any Loan Party subject to a Mortgage constituting Collateral, the Lead Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent appraisals that satisfy the applicable requirements of FIRREA.

 

180


Section 6.14. Designation of Subsidiaries. The Lead Borrower may at any time designate any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Other Borrower Party or any direct or indirect parent thereof) as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) immediately before and after such designation, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (ii) no Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it is a “Restricted Subsidiary” for the purpose of any Junior Financing with an aggregate outstanding principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount. The designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date shall constitute an Investment by the Lead Borrower therein at the date of designation in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Lead Borrower’s or its Subsidiary’s (as applicable) Investment therein. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute (i) the incurrence at the time of designation of any Investment, Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time and (ii) a return on any Investment by the Lead Borrower in Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the preceding sentence in an amount equal to the fair market value at the date of such designation of the Lead Borrower’s or its Subsidiary’s (as applicable) Investment in such Subsidiary.

Section 6.15. Maintenance of Ratings. In respect of the Lead Borrower, use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause the Term Loans to be continuously rated (but not any specific rating) by S&P and Moody’s and (ii) maintain a public corporate rating (but not any specific rating) from S&P and a public corporate family rating (but not any specific rating) from Moody’s.

Section 6.16. Post-Closing Covenants. Except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, the Lead Borrower shall, and shall cause each of the other Loan Parties to, deliver each of the documents, instruments and agreements and take each of the actions set forth on Schedule 6.16 within the time periods set forth therein (or such longer time periods as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).

Section 6.17. Change in Nature of Business. The Borrowers shall not, nor shall the Borrowers permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date or any business reasonably related, complementary, synergistic or ancillary thereto or reasonable extensions thereof.

Section 6.18. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Initial Term Loans received on the Closing Date shall not be used for any purpose other than for the Transactions and to fund cash to the Lead Borrower’s balance sheet. After the Closing Date, the proceeds of the Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans shall be used for working capital, general corporate purposes and any other purpose not prohibited by this Agreement, including Permitted Acquisitions and other Investments. The Letters of Credit shall be used to support obligations of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries incurred for working capital, general corporate purposes and any other purpose not prohibited by this Agreement (including Permitted Acquisitions and other Investments).

 

181


Section 6.19. Accounting Changes. The Lead Borrower shall not make any change in its fiscal year; provided, however, that the Lead Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, change its fiscal year to any other fiscal year reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in which case, the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent will, and are hereby authorized by the Lenders to, make any adjustments to this Agreement that are necessary to reflect such change in fiscal year.

ARTICLE 7

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (other than obligations under Treasury Services Agreements or obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements) which is accrued and payable shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding (unless the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations related thereto has been Cash Collateralized or a backstop letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer is in place), then from and after the Closing Date:

Section 7.01. Liens. Neither the Lead Borrower nor the Restricted Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien that secures any obligations under Indebtedness upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:

(a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

(b) Liens existing on the Closing Date and with respect to each such Lien securing Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5,000,000, listed on Schedule 7.01(b) and any modifications, replacements, renewals, refinancings or extensions thereof; provided that (i) the Lien does not extend to any additional property other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien or financed by Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03, and (B) proceeds and products thereof, and (ii) the replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing of the obligations secured or benefited by such Liens, to the extent constituting Indebtedness, is permitted by Section 7.03;

(c) Liens for taxes, governmental duties, levies, assessments and charges (including any Lien imposed by the PBGC or similar Liens) that are not overdue for a period of more than sixty (60) days or not yet payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate actions diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person to the extent required in accordance with GAAP (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith);

(d) statutory or common law Liens of landlords, sublandlords, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, repairmen, construction contractors or other like Liens that secure amounts not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or if more than 60 days overdue, that are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Lien or that are

 

182


being contested in good faith and by appropriate actions diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person to the extent required in accordance with GAAP (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith);

(e) (i) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation and (ii) pledges and deposits in the ordinary course of business securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance to the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(f) Liens to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, governmental contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money), statutory obligations, surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature (including (i) those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations and (ii) letters of credit and bank guarantees required or requested by any Governmental Authority in connection with any contract or Law) and letters of credit, bank guarantees or bankers acceptances and completion guarantees, in each case, issued or incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances and other minor title defects affecting Real Property, and any exceptions on the final Mortgage Policies issued in connection with the Mortgaged Properties, that do not in the aggregate materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(h) Liens securing judgments or orders for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h);

(i) (i) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice which do not interfere in any material respect with the business of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole and (ii) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses constituting a Disposition permitted under Section 7.05;

(j) Liens (i) in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of Law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and (ii) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds thereof of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods in the ordinary course of business;

(k) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodities brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) in favor of a banking or other financial institution arising as a matter of Law or under customary general terms and conditions encumbering deposits or other funds maintained with a financial institution (including the right of set-off) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

 

183


(l) Liens (i) on cash advances or Cash Equivalents in favor of (x) the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Sections 7.02(i) and (n) to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment or (y) the buyer of any property to be Disposed of pursuant to Sections 7.05(j), (o) or (t) to secure obligations in respect of indemnification, termination fee or similar seller obligations and (ii) consisting of an agreement to Dispose of any property in a Disposition permitted under Section 7.05, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or Disposition, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

(m) Liens (i) in favor of the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary on assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party securing permitted intercompany Indebtedness and (ii) in favor of a Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

(n) any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensor or sublicensor under leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses entered into by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, or with respect to IP Rights, that is not material to the conduct of the business of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(o) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice permitted by this Agreement;

(p) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements under Section 7.02;

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

(r) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off or rights of pledge (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

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

 

184


(t) ground leases in respect of Real Property on which facilities owned or leased by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries are located;

(u) Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(e); provided that (i) such Liens are created within 365 days of the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, lease, expansion, development, installation, relocation, renewal, maintenance, upgrade or improvement of such asset subject to such Liens, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber property (except for replacements, additions and accessions to such property) other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and the proceeds and products thereof and customary security deposits and (iii) with respect to Financing Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets (except for replacements, additions and accessions to such assets) other than the assets subject to such Financing Leases and the proceeds and products thereof and customary security deposits; provided that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender;

(v) Liens on property of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and that does not constitute Collateral, which Liens secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03;

(w) Liens existing on property at the time of its acquisition or existing on the property of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (other than by designation as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.14), in each case after the Closing Date (other than Liens on the Equity Interests of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary); provided that (i) such Lien was not created in contemplation of such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) such Lien does not extend to or cover any other assets or property (other than the proceeds or products thereof and other than after-acquired property subjected to a Lien securing Indebtedness and other obligations incurred prior to such time and which Indebtedness and other obligations are permitted hereunder that require, pursuant to their terms at such time, a pledge of after-acquired property, it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition), and (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby is permitted under Section 7.03;

(x) (i) zoning, building, entitlement and other land use regulations by Governmental Authorities with which the normal operation of the business complies, and (ii) 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 that does not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(y) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statement or similar filings;

(z) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

(aa) the modification, replacement, renewal or extension of any Lien permitted by clauses (u) and (w) of this Section 7.01; provided that (i) the Lien does not extend to any additional property, other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien and (B) proceeds and products thereof, and (ii) the renewal, extension or refinancing of the obligations secured or benefited by such Liens is permitted by Section 7.03 (to the extent constituting Indebtedness);

 

185


(bb) Liens with respect to property or assets of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing obligations in respect of Section 7.03(y);

(cc) Liens with respect to property or assets of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing obligations in an aggregate principal amount at the time of incurrence of such Liens not to exceed the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 35% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA, in each case determined as of the date of incurrence; provided that an Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to (i) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Obligations, a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if any) as a “Senior Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement), if applicable, and any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or (ii) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a junior lien basis to the Liens securing the Obligations, a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a “Junior Priority Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement);

(dd) Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted under Sections 7.03(g), 7.03(q) or 7.03(s); provided that an Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to (i) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Obligations, a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if any) as a “Senior Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement), if applicable, and any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or (ii) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a junior lien basis to the Liens securing the Obligations, a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a “Junior Priority Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement);

(ee) Liens on the Collateral securing obligations in respect of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness constituting Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt or Permitted Junior Lien Refinancing Debt (and any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing); provided that (x) in the case of any such Liens securing any Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt (or any Permitted Refinancing in respect of such Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt that is secured on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Loans), an Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to (i) a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a “Senior Representative” (or similar term, in each case as defined in such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement) and (ii) any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (y) in the case of any such Liens securing (1) any Permitted Refinancing of Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt that is secured on a junior lien basis to the Initial Term Loans and (2) Permitted Junior Lien Refinancing Debt (or any Permitted Refinancing in respect of such Permitted Junior Lien Refinancing Debt that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral), an Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a “Junior Priority Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement);

 

186


(ff) Liens on accounts receivable, Securitization Assets and related assets incurred in connection with a Qualified Securitization Facility;

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

(hh) Liens on cash or Cash Equivalents to secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(f) or (l), to the extent created in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(ii) Liens securing any Permitted Refinancing directly or indirectly permitted under Section 7.03 (a)(ii), (b), (g), (m), (q), (s), (t), (v) or (y) that are secured by Liens on the same assets as the Liens securing the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended by such Permitted Refinancing, plus improvements, accessions, dividends, distributions, proceeds or products thereof and after-acquired property;

(jj) any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to Equity Interests of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement;

(kk) Liens on Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary that secure Indebtedness or other obligations of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(ll) deposits of cash with the owner or lessor of premises leased and operated by the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business of the Lead Borrower and such Subsidiary or consistent with past practice to secure the performance of the Lead Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s obligations under the terms of the lease for such premises;

(mm) security given to a public utility or any municipality or governmental authority when required by such utility or authority in connection with the operations of that Person in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; and

(nn) Liens on any funds or securities held in escrow accounts established for the purpose of holding proceeds from issuances of debt securities by Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries issued after the Closing Date, together with any additional funds required in order to fund any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payment on such debt securities within 360 days of their issuance; provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than such proceeds and such additional funds.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no consensual Liens shall exist on (x) Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that constitute Collateral other than pursuant to clauses (a), (w), (dd) and (ee) above or (y) material intellectual property owned by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties.

 

187


For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.01, (A) Liens need not be incurred solely by reference to one category of Liens permitted by this Section 7.01 but are permitted to be incurred in part under any combination thereof and of any other available exemption, (B) in the event that Lien (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of Liens permitted by this Section 7.01, the Lead Borrower may, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify such Lien (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this provision, (C) in the event that a portion of Indebtedness or other obligations secured by a Lien could be classified as secured in part pursuant to Section 7.01(dd) above (giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such portion of such Indebtedness or other obligations), the Lead Borrower, in its sole discretion, may classify such portion of such Indebtedness (and any obligations in respect thereof) as having been secured pursuant to Section 7.01(dd) above and thereafter the remainder of the Indebtedness or other obligations as having been secured pursuant to one or more of the other clauses of this Section 7.01 and if any such test would be satisfied in any subsequent fiscal quarter following the relevant date of determination, then such reclassification shall be deemed to have automatically occurred at such time and (D) 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 amount permitted under Section 7.03(z) in respect of such Indebtedness. Any Liens in respect of the accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness, in each case in respect of any Indebtedness, shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of a Lien in respect of such Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 7.01.

Section 7.02. Investments. Neither the Lead Borrower nor the Restricted Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly, make any Investments, except:

(a) Investments by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in assets that were Cash Equivalents when such Investment was made;

(b) loans or advances to future, present or former officers, directors, managers, members, partners, independent contractors, consultants and employees of any Loan Party (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its Subsidiaries (i) for reasonable and customary business-related travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes, (ii) in connection with such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower or any direct or indirect parent thereof directly from such issuing entity (provided that the amount of such loans and advances shall be contributed to Holdings or the Lead Borrower, as applicable, in cash as Equity Interests other than Disqualified Equity Interests) and (iii) for any other purposes not described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii); provided that the aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time under clause (iii) above shall not exceed $20,000,000;

(c) Investments by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Person that will, upon such Investment become a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (x) any Investment made by any Person that is not a Loan Party in any Loan Party pursuant to this clause (c) shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Loans and (y) any Investment made by any Loan Party in any Person that is not a Loan Party shall either (i) be made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or (ii) be evidenced by a note pledged as Collateral on a first priority basis for the benefit of the Obligations, which note shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being understood that an Intercompany Note shall be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent);

 

188


(d) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors and other credits to suppliers in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(e) Investments (excluding loans and advances made in lieu of Restricted Payments pursuant to and limited by Section 7.02(m) below) consisting of transactions permitted under Sections 7.01 (other than 7.01(p)), 7.03 (other than 7.03(c) and (d)), 7.04 (other than 7.04(c), (d) and (e)), 7.05 (other than 7.05(e)), 7.06 (other than 7.06(e) and (i)(iv)) and 7.10, respectively;

(f) Investments (i) existing or contemplated on the Closing Date and, with respect to each such Investments in an amount in excess of $10,000,000, set forth on Schedule 7.02(f) and any modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment or extension thereof and (ii) existing on the Closing Date by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the Lead Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary and any modification, renewal or extension thereof; provided that the amount of the original Investment is not increased except by the terms of such Investment as of the Closing Date or as otherwise permitted by this Section 7.02;

(g) Investments in Swap Contracts permitted under Section 7.03(f);

(h) Investments made as part of, or in connection with, the Transactions;

(i) any acquisition of all or substantially all the assets of a Person, or any Equity Interests in a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or a division or line of business of a Person (or any subsequent Investment made in a Person, division or line of business previously acquired in a Permitted Acquisition), in a single transaction or series of related transactions, if immediately after giving effect thereto: (i) no Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a) or (f) with respect to the Borrowers shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) any acquired or newly formed Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary shall not be liable for any Indebtedness except for Indebtedness otherwise permitted by Section 7.03 and (iii) to the extent required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the Agreed Security Principles, as applicable, (A) the property, assets and businesses acquired in such purchase or other acquisition shall constitute Collateral and (B) any such newly created or acquired Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary) shall become a Guarantor, in each case, in accordance with Section 6.11 (any such acquisition, a “Permitted Acquisition”);

(j) so long as no Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a) or (f) with respect to the Borrowers has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make Investments in an unlimited amount so long as the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio calculated on a Pro Forma Basis is less than or equal to 3.25 to 1.00;

 

189


(k) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of UCC Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit and UCC Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices;

(l) Investments (including debt obligations and Equity Interests) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers or in settlement of delinquent obligations of, or other disputes with, customers and suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or upon the foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment;

(m) loans and advances to the Borrowers and any direct or indirect parent of the Borrowers, and not in excess of the amount of (after giving effect to any other loans, advances or Restricted Payments in respect thereof), Restricted Payments to the extent permitted to be made to such parent in accordance with Sections 7.06(g), (h) or (i);

(n) other Investments in an aggregate amount outstanding pursuant to this clause (n) (valued at the time of the making thereof, and without giving effect to any write-downs or write-offs thereof) at any time not to exceed (x) the greater of (i) $65,000,000 and (ii) 40% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA (in each case, net of any return in respect thereof, including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) plus (y) the portion, if any, of the Cumulative Credit on such date that the Lead Borrower elects to apply to this clause (y) plus (z) the Available RP Capacity Amount;

(o) advances of payroll payments to employees in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(p) Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made solely with Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests and the Equity Investment) of the Borrowers (or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrowers);

(q) Investments of the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date or of a Person merged or amalgamated or consolidated into the Lead Borrower or merged, amalgamated or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 7.04 after the Closing 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 or consolidation;

(r) the contribution, assignment, licensing, sub-licensing or other Investment of IP Rights or other general intangibles pursuant to any Intercompany License Agreement and any other Investments made in connection therewith;

(s) Investments constituting promissory notes or the non-cash portion of consideration received in a Disposition permitted by Section 7.05;

(t) Guarantees by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of leases (other than Financing Leases) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

 

190


(u) Investments in or relating to a Securitization Subsidiary that, in the good faith determination of the Lead Borrower are necessary or advisable to effect any Qualified Securitization Facility (including any contribution of replacement or substitute assets to such subsidiary) or any repurchase obligation in connection therewith;

(v) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (v) that are at the time outstanding, without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash or marketable securities (until such proceeds are converted to Cash Equivalents), not to exceed the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 35% of LTM Consolidated 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); provided that any Investment made by any Loan Party pursuant to this clause (v) shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Loans;

(w) any Investment in a Similar Business when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (w) that are at that time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (i) $65,000,000 and (ii) 40% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA (in each case, determined on the date such Investment is made, 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 (w) is made in any Person that is not the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (c) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (w);

(x) Investments constituting Permitted Intercompany Activities;

(y) Investments that are made in (i) an amount equal to the amount of Excluded Contributions previously received and the Lead Borrower elects to apply under this clause (y) or (ii) without duplication with clause (i), in an amount equal to the Net Proceeds from a Disposition in respect of property or assets acquired after the Closing Date, if the acquisition of such property or assets was financed with Excluded Contributions, in each case, to the extent Not Otherwise Applied;

(z) Investments in joint ventures of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (z) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 35% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA (in each case, determined on the date such Investment is made, with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

(aa) earnest money deposits required in connection with Permitted Acquisitions (or similar Investments); and

(bb) contributions to a “rabbi” trust for the benefit of employees or other grantor trusts subject to claims of creditors in the case of bankruptcy of any Borrower.

 

191


For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.02, in the event that an item of Investment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Investments above, the Lead Borrower may, in its sole discretion, classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such item of Investment or any portion thereof in a manner that complies with this Section 7.02 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Investment in one or more of the above clauses. In the event that a portion of the Investments could be classified as incurred under a “ratio-based” basket (giving pro forma effect to the making of such Investments), the Lead Borrower, in its sole discretion, may classify such portion of such Investment as having been incurred pursuant to such “ratio-based” basket and thereafter the remainder of the Investments as having been incurred pursuant to one or more of the other clauses of this Section 7.02 and if any such test would be satisfied in any subsequent fiscal quarter following the relevant date of determination, then such reclassification shall be deemed to have automatically occurred at such time.

Section 7.03. Indebtedness. Neither the Lead Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) Indebtedness of any Loan Party under the Loan Documents;

(b) (i) Indebtedness outstanding on the Closing Date and with respect to any such Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5,000,000, listed on Schedule 7.03(b) and any Permitted Refinancing thereof and (ii) Indebtedness owed to the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary outstanding on the Closing Date and any refinancing thereof with Indebtedness owed to the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in a principal amount that does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the intercompany Indebtedness so refinanced; provided that (x) any Indebtedness advanced by any Person that is not a Loan Party to any Loan Party pursuant to this clause (b) shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Loans and (y) any Indebtedness advanced by any Loan Party to any Person that is not a Loan Party shall either (i) be made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or (ii) be evidenced by a note pledged as Collateral on a first priority basis for the benefit of the Obligations, which note shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being understood that an Intercompany Note shall be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent);

(c) Guarantees by the Lead Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary otherwise permitted hereunder; provided that (A) no Guarantee in an Agreed Security Jurisdiction (other than Guarantees by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party of Indebtedness of another Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party) of any Indebtedness constituting Junior Financing with a principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount shall be permitted unless such guaranteeing party shall have also provided a Guarantee of the Obligations on the terms set forth herein and (B) if the Indebtedness being Guaranteed is subordinated to the Obligations, such Guarantee shall be subordinated to the Guarantee of the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the subordination of such Indebtedness;

 

192


(d) Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (or issued or transferred to any direct or indirect parent of a Loan Party which is substantially contemporaneously transferred to a Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary of a Loan Party) to the extent constituting an Investment permitted by Section 7.02; provided that (x) any such Indebtedness advanced by any Loan Party to any Person that is not a Loan Party shall either (i) be made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or (ii) be evidenced by an Intercompany Note and (y) any such Indebtedness advanced by any Person that is not a Loan Party to any Loan Party shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Loans (for the avoidance of doubt, any such Indebtedness owing by a Loan Party to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be deemed to be expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Loans unless the terms of such Indebtedness expressly provided otherwise);

(e) (i) Attributable Indebtedness and other Indebtedness (including Financing Leases) financing an acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, lease, expansion, development, installation, relocation, renewal, maintenance, upgrade or improvement of a fixed or capital asset incurred by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary prior to or within 365 days after the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, lease, expansion, development, installation, relocation, renewal, maintenance, upgrade or improvement of the applicable asset in an aggregate amount not to exceed (A) the amount of such Indebtedness outstanding on the Closing Date plus (B) the greater of (1) $50,000,000 and (2) 35% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA, in each case determined at the time of incurrence at any time outstanding (together with any Permitted Refinancings thereof but without giving effect to any increase in principal amount permitted under clause (a) of the proviso to the definition of “Permitted Refinancing”), (ii) Attributable Indebtedness arising out of any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction or lease lease-back transactions permitted by Section 7.05 and (iii) any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing;

(f) Indebtedness in respect of Swap Contracts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(g) Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred or assumed in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment expressly permitted hereunder; provided that after giving pro forma effect to such Permitted Acquisition or Investment and the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness, the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed (x) the greater of (1) $50,000,000 and (2) 35% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA at any time outstanding plus (y) any additional amount of such Indebtedness so long (A) if such incurred Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Facilities, either (1) the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio determined on a Pro Forma Basis would not exceed the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior thereto or (2) the Borrowers could incur $1.00 of Permitted First Lien Ratio Debt, (B) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a junior lien basis to the Facilities, either (1) the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio determined on a Pro Forma Basis would not exceed the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior thereto or (2) the Borrowers could incur $1.00 of Permitted Junior Secured Ratio Debt or (C) if such Indebtedness is unsecured or not secured by all or any portion of the Collateral (and including all such Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties), either (1) either (I) the

 

193


Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio determined on a Pro Forma Basis would be greater than or equal to the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio immediately prior thereto or (II) the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio determined on a Pro Forma Basis would not exceed the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior thereto or (2) the Borrowers could incur $1.00 of Permitted Unsecured Ratio Debt; provided that any such Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, together with any Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party pursuant to Sections 7.03(q), 7.03(s) or 7.03(w), does not exceed in the aggregate at any time outstanding the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 35% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA, in each case determined at the time of incurrence; provided, further, that any Indebtedness incurred (but not assumed) pursuant to this clause (g) shall be subject to the requirements included in the first proviso under the definition of “Permitted Ratio Debt,” and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(h) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation or similar arrangements to any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, members, partners, independent contractors or consultants of a Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(i) Indebtedness consisting of promissory notes issued by the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to future, present or former officers, managers, members, independent contractors, consultants, directors and employees, their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members, in each case, to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Borrowers or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrowers permitted by Section 7.06;

(j) Indebtedness incurred by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries prior to the Closing Date or thereafter in a Permitted Acquisition, any other Investment expressly permitted hereunder or any Disposition, in each case, constituting indemnification obligations or obligations in respect of purchase price (including earn-outs) or other similar adjustments;

(k) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under deferred purchase price, earn-outs or other similar arrangements incurred by such Person prior to the Closing Date or thereafter in connection with Permitted Acquisitions or any other Investment expressly permitted hereunder;

(l) obligations in respect of Treasury Services Agreements and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, overdraft protections and similar arrangements in each case in connection with deposit accounts;

(m) Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in an aggregate principal amount that at the time of, and after giving effect to, the incurrence thereof, would not exceed (x) the greater of (i) $65,000,000 and (ii) 40% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA at any time outstanding plus (y) 200% of the cumulative amount of the net cash proceeds and Cash Equivalent proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Excluded Contributions, proceeds of Disqualified Equity Interests, Designated Equity Contributions or sales of Equity Interests to the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) of the Lead Borrower or any direct or

 

194


indirect parent of the Lead Borrower after the Closing Date and on or prior to such time (including upon exercise of warrants or options) which proceeds have been contributed as common equity to the capital of the Lead Borrower that has been Not Otherwise Applied;

(n) Indebtedness consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(o) Indebtedness incurred by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances, warehouse receipts or similar instruments issued or created, or relating to obligations or liabilities incurred, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, including in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers compensation claims;

(p) obligations in respect of self-insurance and obligations in respect of stays, customs, performance, bid, indemnity, appeal, judgment and other similar bonds or instruments and performance, bankers’ acceptance and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments related thereto, in each case in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(q) (1) Indebtedness incurred (x) and secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Facilities (“Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt”) or (y) and secured by the Collateral on a junior lien basis with the Facilities and any Permitted Refinancing thereof (“Incremental Equivalent Junior Lien Debt”), in an aggregate principal amount under this clause (q), when aggregated with the amount of Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments incurred pursuant to Section 2.14(d)(v) and Incremental Equivalent Unsecured Debt incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(w), not to exceed the Available Incremental Amount, so long as (x) if the proceeds of such Indebtedness are being used to finance a Permitted Acquisition, Investment, or irrevocable repayment, repurchase or redemption of any Indebtedness, no Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a) or (f) with respect to any Borrower shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist after giving effect to such Indebtedness, or (y) if otherwise, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist after giving effect to such Indebtedness; provided that such Indebtedness shall (A) in the case of Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt, have a maturity date that is after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, and in the case of Incremental Equivalent Junior Lien Debt, have a maturity date that is at least ninety-one (91) days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred (and in each case subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception); provided that the foregoing requirements of this clause (A) shall not apply to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes (i) a customary bridge facility, so long as the long-term Indebtedness into which such customary bridge facility is to be converted or exchanged satisfies the requirements of this clause (A) and such conversion or exchange is subject only to conditions customary for similar conversions or exchanges or (ii) term loan A facilities (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith), (B) in the case of Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt, have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity not shorter

 

195


than the longest remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Facilities and, in the case of Incremental Equivalent Junior Lien Debt, shall not be subject to scheduled amortization prior to maturity (and in each case subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception); provided that the foregoing requirements of this clause (B) shall not apply to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes (i) a customary bridge facility, so long as the long-term Indebtedness into which such customary bridge facility is to be converted or exchanged satisfies the requirements of this clause (B) and such conversion or exchange is subject only to conditions customary for similar conversions or exchanges or (ii) term loan A facilities (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith), (C) if such Indebtedness is secured on a junior lien basis by a Loan Party with respect to Collateral, be subject to a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and, if the Indebtedness is secured on a pari passu basis with the Facilities, be subject to a First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (D) in the case of Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt in the form of term loans of the applicable currency (other than customary bridge loans or term loan A facilities as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith), be subject to the MFN Protection (but subject to the MFN Trigger Amount and MFN Maturity Limitation exceptions to such MFN Protection) as if such Indebtedness were an Incremental Term Loan of such currency and (E) have terms and conditions (other than (x) pricing, rate floors, discounts, fees, premiums and optional prepayment or redemption provisions and (y) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness and to the extent any terms or conditions that are more restrictive than the applicable Facilities are added for the benefit of such Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt or Incremental Equivalent Junior Lien Debt, to the extent that such terms or conditions are also added for the benefit of each Facility remaining outstanding after the incurrence or issuance of such Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt or Incremental Equivalent Junior Lien Debt, as applicable) that (i) in the good faith determination of the Lead Borrower are not materially less favorable (when taken as a whole) to the Borrowers than the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents (when taken as a whole) or reflect market terms and conditions (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence or issuance (provided that a certificate of the Lead Borrower as to the satisfaction of the conditions described in this clause (i) delivered at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the materials terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of documentation relating thereto, stating that the Lead Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirements of this clause (i), shall be conclusive) or (ii) are otherwise as agreed between the Lead Borrower and the lender, holder or other provider of such Indebtedness; provided, that any such Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, together with any Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party pursuant to Sections 7.03(g), 7.03(s) or 7.03(w), does not exceed in the aggregate at any time outstanding, the greater of (ii) $50,000,000 and (ii) 35% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA, in each case determined at the time of incurrence, and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(r) Indebtedness supported by a letter of credit, in a principal amount not to exceed the face amount of such letter of credit;

(s) Permitted Ratio Debt and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(t) Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness;

 

196


(u) Indebtedness attributable to (but not incurred to finance) the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect thereto;

(v) Indebtedness incurred by a Foreign Subsidiary which, when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (v) and then outstanding, does not exceed the greater of (i) $20,000,000 and (ii) 10% of Foreign Subsidiary Total Assets;

(w) (i) unsecured (or not secured by the Collateral) Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount under this clause (w), and when aggregated with the amount of Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 2.14(d)(v) and Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt and Incremental Equivalent Junior Lien Debt incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(q) not to exceed the Available Incremental Amount (“Incremental Equivalent Unsecured Debt”), so long as (x) if the proceeds of such Indebtedness are being used to finance a Permitted Acquisition, Investment, or irrevocable repayment, repurchase or redemption of any Indebtedness, no Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a) or (f) with respect to any Borrower shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist after giving effect to such Indebtedness, or (y) if otherwise, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist after giving effect to such Indebtedness; provided that such Incremental Equivalent Unsecured Debt shall (A) have a maturity date that is at least ninety-one (91) days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Incremental Equivalent Unsecured Debt is incurred, (B) have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity not shorter than the longest remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Facilities (in each case subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception) and (C) have terms and conditions (other than (x) pricing, rate floors, discounts, fees, premiums and optional prepayment or redemption provisions and (y) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness and to the extent any terms or conditions that are more restrictive than the applicable Facilities are added for the benefit of such Incremental Equivalent Unsecured Debt, to the extent that such terms or conditions are also added for the benefit of each Facility remaining outstanding after the incurrence or issuance of such Incremental Equivalent Unsecured Debt) that (1) in the good faith determination of the Lead Borrower are not materially less favorable (when taken as a whole) to the Borrowers than the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents (when taken as a whole) or reflect market terms and conditions (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence or issuance (provided that a certificate of the Lead Borrower as to the satisfaction of the conditions described in this clause (1) delivered at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the materials terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of documentation relating thereto, stating that the Lead Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirements of this clause (iii), shall be conclusive) or (2) are otherwise as agreed between the Lead Borrower and the lender, holder or other provider of such Indebtedness; provided that the foregoing requirements shall not apply to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes (i) a customary bridge facility, so long as the long-term Indebtedness into which such customary bridge facility is to be converted or exchanged satisfies the requirements of this clause (w) and such conversion or exchange is subject only to conditions customary for similar conversions or exchanges or (ii) term loan A facilities (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith);

 

197


provided, further, that any such Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, together with any Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party pursuant to Sections 7.03(g), 7.03(q) or 7.03(s), does not exceed in the aggregate at any time outstanding, the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 35% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA, in each case determined at the time of incurrence, and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(x) Indebtedness arising from Permitted Intercompany Activities;

(y) Indebtedness in an amount not to exceed the Available RP Capacity Amount; and

(z) all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest and paid-in-kind interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (a) through (y) above.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.03, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Indebtedness described above, the Lead Borrower may, in its sole discretion, classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness or any portion thereof (including as between the Free and Clear Incremental Amount and the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount) in a manner that complies with this Section 7.03 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one or more of the above clauses; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Loan Documents and any Permitted Refinancing thereof will at all times be deemed to be outstanding in reliance only on the exception in Section 7.03(a) (but without limiting the right of the Lead Borrower to classify and reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, Indebtedness incurred under Section 2.14 or Sections 7.03(q), 7.03(s) or 7.03(w)). In the event that a portion of Indebtedness or other obligations could be classified as incurred under a “ratio-based” basket (giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such portion of such Indebtedness or other obligations), the Lead Borrower, in its sole discretion, may classify such portion of such Indebtedness (and any obligations in respect thereof) as having been incurred pursuant to such “ratio-based” basket and thereafter the remainder of the Indebtedness or other obligations as having been incurred pursuant to one or more of the other clauses of this Section 7.03 and if any such test would be satisfied in any subsequent fiscal quarter following the relevant date of determination, then such reclassification shall be deemed to have automatically occurred at such time. The accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 7.03.

Section 7.04. Fundamental Changes. None of the Lead Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person (including, in each case, pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division), except that:

(a) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with (i) a Borrower (including a merger, the purpose of which is to reorganize such Borrower into a new jurisdiction); provided that such Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person and such merger does not result in such Borrower ceasing to be (1) with respect to the Lead Borrower,

 

198


organized under the laws of Bermuda or the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and (2) with respect to the Other Borrower Party, the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (ii) the Lead Borrower or (iii) one or more other Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that when any Person that is a Loan Party is merging with a Restricted Subsidiary, a Loan Party shall be the continuing or surviving Person;

(b) (i) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and (ii) any Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve or a Borrower or any Subsidiary may change its legal form (x) if the Lead Borrower determines in good faith that such action is in the best interest of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries and if not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders and (y) to the extent such Restricted Subsidiary is a Loan Party, any assets or business not otherwise disposed of or transferred in accordance with Sections 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(e)) or Section 7.05 or, in the case of any such business, discontinued, shall be transferred to otherwise owned or conducted by another Loan Party after giving effect to such liquidation or dissolution (it being understood that in the case of any change in legal form, a Subsidiary that is a Guarantor will remain a Guarantor unless such Guarantor is otherwise permitted to cease being a Guarantor hereunder);

(c) any Restricted Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Lead Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Guarantor, then (i) the transferee must be a Guarantor or a Borrower or (ii) to the extent constituting an Investment, such Investment must be a permitted Investment in or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in accordance with Sections 7.02 and 7.03, respectively;

(d) (I) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, each Borrower may merge or consolidate with any other Person; provided that (i) such Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or company or (ii) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger or consolidation is not a Borrower (any such Person, the “Successor Borrower”), (A) the Successor Borrower shall be organized, (i) with respect to the Lead Borrower, organized under the laws of Bermuda or the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and (i) with respect to the Other Borrower Party, the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (B) the Successor Borrower shall expressly assume all the obligations of the applicable Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Borrower is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (C) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have confirmed that its Guaranty shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under the Loan Documents, (D) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have by a supplement to the Security Agreement and other applicable Collateral Documents confirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under the Loan Documents, (E) if requested by the Administrative Agent, each mortgagor of a Mortgaged Property, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have by an amendment to or restatement of the applicable Mortgage (or other instrument reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) confirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under the Loan Documents, and (F) the Lead Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such merger or consolidation and

 

199


such supplement to this Agreement or any Collateral Document preserves the enforceability of this Agreement, the Guaranty and the Collateral Documents and the perfection of the Liens under the Collateral Documents; provided, further, that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Borrower will succeed to, and be substituted for, the applicable Borrower under this Agreement; and

(II) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, Holdings may merge or consolidate with any other Person; provided that (i) Holdings shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity or (ii) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger or consolidation is not Holdings (any such Person, the “Successor Holdings”), (A) the Successor Holdings shall expressly assume all the obligations of Holdings under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which Holdings is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (B) Holdings shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such merger or consolidation and such supplement to this Agreement or any Collateral Document preserves the enforceability of this Agreement, the Guaranty and the Collateral Documents and the perfection of the Liens under the Collateral Documents; provided, further, that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Holdings will succeed to, and be substituted for, Holdings under this Agreement;

(e) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom (in the case of a merger involving a Loan Party), any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with any other Person in order to effect an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.02; provided that the continuing or surviving Person shall be a Restricted Subsidiary or the Lead Borrower, which together with each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, shall have complied with the requirements of Section 6.11 to the extent required pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the Agreed Security Principles, as applicable;

(f) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, a merger, dissolution, liquidation, consolidation or Disposition, the purpose of which is to effect a Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 7.05;

(g) the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries may effect the formation, dissolution, liquidation or Disposition of any Subsidiary that is a Delaware Divided LLC, provided that upon formation of such Delaware Divided LLC, Holdings has complied with Section 6.11 to the extent applicable; and

(h) the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries may consummate Permitted Intercompany Activities.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 7.04 will not apply to the Transactions.

Section 7.05. Dispositions. Neither the Lead Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, make any Disposition, except:

(a) (i) Dispositions of obsolete, non-core, worn out or surplus property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and Dispositions of property no longer used or useful or economically practical to maintain in the conduct of the business of the Lead Borrower or any of

 

200


its Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) Dispositions of property no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries outside the ordinary course of business (and for consideration complying with the requirements applicable to Dispositions pursuant to clause (j) below) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25,000,000 and (iii) write-off or write-down of any unrecoupable loans or advances;

(b) Dispositions of inventory or goods held for sale and immaterial assets (including allowing any registrations or any applications for registration of any immaterial IP Rights to lapse or go abandoned), in each case, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(c) Dispositions of property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;

(d) Dispositions of property to the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor of such property is a Loan Party, (i) the transferee thereof must be a Loan Party or (ii) if such transaction constitutes an Investment, such transaction is permitted under Section 7.02;

(e) to the extent constituting Dispositions, transactions permitted by Sections 7.01, 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(e)), 7.04 (other than Section 7.04(f)) and 7.06;

(f) Dispositions contemplated as of the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.05(f);

(g) Dispositions of Cash Equivalents;

(h) (i) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including the provision of software under an open source license), in each case in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and which do not materially interfere with the business of the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) Dispositions of IP Rights that do not materially interfere with the business of the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(i) transfers of property subject to Casualty Events upon receipt of the Net Proceeds of such Casualty Event;

(j) Dispositions of property or assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) at the time of such Disposition, no Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) or 8.01(f) with respect to any Borrower shall exist or would result from such Disposition (other than any such Disposition made pursuant to a legally binding commitment entered into at a time when no such Event of Default exists) and (ii) with respect to any Disposition pursuant to this clause (j) for a purchase price in excess of $25,000,000, the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall receive not less than 75% of such consideration in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents (in each case, free and clear of all Liens at the time received, other than nonconsensual Liens permitted by Section 7.01 and Liens permitted by Sections 7.01(a), (f), (k), (p), (q), (r)(i), (r)(ii), (dd) (only to the extent the Obligations are secured by such cash and Cash Equivalents) and (ee) (only to the extent the Obligations are secured by such cash and Cash Equivalents)); provided, however, that for the purposes of this clause (j)(ii), the following shall be deemed to be cash:

 

201


(A) the greater of the principal amount and the carrying value any liabilities (as shown on the Lead Borrower’s (or the Restricted Subsidiaries’, as applicable) most recent balance sheet provided hereunder or in the footnotes thereto or, if incurred or increased subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, such liabilities that would have been shown on the Lead Borrower’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto if such incurrence or increase had taken place on or prior to the date of such balance sheet, as determined by the Lead Borrower) of the Lead Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities (other than intercompany liabilities owing to a Restricted Subsidiary being Disposed of) that are by their terms subordinated to the payment in cash of the Obligations, (i) assumed by the transferee of any such assets (or a third party in connection with such transfer) pursuant to a written agreement which releases or indemnifies the Lead Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from such liabilities or (ii) otherwise cancelled or terminated in connection with the transaction,

(B) any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by the Lead Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by, or reasonably expected to be converted by, the Lead Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received or expected to be received) or by their terms are required to be satisfied for cash or Cash Equivalents within 180 days following the closing of the applicable Disposition, and

(C) aggregate non-cash consideration received by the Lead Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary having an aggregate fair market value (determined as of the closing of the applicable Disposition for which such non-cash consideration is received) not to exceed the greater of $50,000,000 and 35% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA at any time (net of any non-cash consideration converted into cash and Cash Equivalents);

(k) the sale, assignment, licensing, sub-licensing or other Disposition of IP Rights or other general intangibles pursuant to any Intercompany License Agreement;

(l) Dispositions or discounts without recourse of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets or related assets, or any disposition of the Equity Interests in a Subsidiary, all or substantially all of the assets of which are Securitization Assets, in each case in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility or the disposition of an account receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof in the ordinary course of business;

(m) Dispositions of property pursuant to any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction or lease-leaseback transactions; provided that the fair market value of all property so Disposed of after the Closing Date shall not exceed $60,000,000 at any time;

 

202


(n) any swap of assets in exchange for services or other assets of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the management of the Lead Borrower;

(o) any issuance or sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries the primary assets of which are cash and/or Cash Equivalents) (or a Restricted Subsidiary which owns an Unrestricted Subsidiary so long as such Restricted Subsidiary owns no assets other than the Equity Interests of such an Unrestricted Subsidiary);

(p) the unwinding of any Swap Contract pursuant to its terms;

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

(r) the lapse or abandonment in the ordinary course of business of any registrations or applications for registration of any immaterial IP Rights;

(s) Permitted Intercompany Activities;

(t) Dispositions of assets (i) acquired pursuant to or in order to effectuate a Permitted Acquisition which assets are not used or useful to the core or principal business of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) that are made in connection with the approval of any applicable antitrust authority or otherwise necessary or advisable in the good faith determination of the Lead Borrower to consummate any acquisition;

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

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

(w) Dispositions to effect the formation of any Subsidiary that is a Delaware Divided LLC, provided that upon formation of such Delaware Divided LLC, the Lead Borrower has complied with Section 6.11, to the extent applicable;

(x) other Dispositions after the Closing Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $25,000,000 and (ii) 15% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA; and

(y) 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 Investments or Restricted Payments pursuant to Sections 7.02(y) or 7.06(p);

provided that any Disposition of any property pursuant to this Section 7.05 (except pursuant to Sections 7.05(e), (i), (k), (p), (r) and (s) and except for Dispositions from a Loan Party to any other Loan Party) shall be for no less than the fair market value of such property at the time of such Disposition as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith. To the extent any Collateral

 

203


is Disposed of as expressly permitted by this Section 7.05 to any Person other than a Loan Party, such Collateral shall be sold free and clear of the Liens created by the Loan Documents, and the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall take any actions deemed appropriate in order to effect the foregoing.

Section 7.06. Restricted Payments. Neither the Lead Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly, declare or make any Restricted Payment, except:

(a) the Borrowers and each other Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrowers, and other Restricted Subsidiaries (and, in the case of a Restricted Payment by a non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary, to the Borrowers and any other Restricted Subsidiary, as compared to the other owners of Equity Interests in such Restricted Subsidiary, on a pro rata or more than pro rata basis based on their relative ownership interests of the relevant class of Equity Interests);

(b) the Lead Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary may declare and make Restricted Payments payable solely in the Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests not otherwise permitted by Section 7.03) of such Person;

(c) Restricted Payments made on or after the Closing Date in connection with the Transactions, including the settlement of claims or actions in connection with the Acquisition, or to satisfy indemnity or other similar obligations or any other earnouts, purchase price adjustments, working capital adjustments and any other payments under the Merger Agreement;

(d) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments in an unlimited amount so long as the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio calculated on a Pro Forma Basis is less than or equal to 3.25 to 1.00;

(e) to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into and consummate transactions expressly permitted by any provision of Sections 7.02 (other than Sections 7.02(e) and (m)), 7.04 or 7.07 (other than Sections 7.07(e) and (j));

(f) repurchases of Equity Interests in any Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any Restricted Subsidiary deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;

(g) the Lead Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary may pay (or make Restricted Payments to allow the Borrowers or any other direct or indirect parent thereof to pay) for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary (or of the Borrowers or any other such direct or indirect parent thereof) from any future, present or former employee, officer, director, manager, member, partner, independent contractor or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of such Restricted Subsidiary (or the Borrowers or any other direct or indirect parent of such Restricted Subsidiary) or any of its Subsidiaries upon the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment of any such Person or pursuant to any employee or director equity plan, employee, manager, officer, member, partner, independent

 

204


contractor or director stock option plan or any other employee, manager, officer, member, partner, independent contractor or director benefit plan or any agreement (including any stock subscription or shareholder agreement) with any employee, manager, officer, director, member, partner, independent contractor or consultant of such Restricted Subsidiary (or the Borrowers or any other direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (g) shall not exceed $40,000,000 in any calendar year (which shall increase to $50,000,000 subsequent to the consummation of a Qualified IPO) (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum of $80,000,000 in any calendar year or $100,000,000 subsequent to the consummation of a Qualified IPO, respectively); provided, further, that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(i) to the extent contributed to the Lead Borrower, the net cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests or Designated Equity Contributions) of any of the Borrowers’ direct or indirect parent companies, in each case to any future, present or former employees, officers, members of management, managers, partners, independent contractors, directors or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Lead Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that occurs after the Closing Date, to the extent net cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have been Not Otherwise Applied; plus

(ii) the net cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Lead Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries; less

(iii) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 7.06(g);

(h) the Lead Borrower may make Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed, when combined with prepayment of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 7.10(a)(v), (x) the greater of (i) $65,000,000 and (ii) 40% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA, plus (y) subject to, solely in the case of the portion of the Cumulative Credit attributable to clause (b) thereof, no Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a) or (f) with respect to any Borrower having occurred and continuing or resulting therefrom, the portion, if any, of the Cumulative Credit on such date that the Lead Borrower elects to apply to this paragraph;

(i) the Borrowers may make Restricted Payments to any direct or indirect parent of the Borrowers:

(i) to pay its organizational, operating costs and other costs and expenses (including, without limitation, expenses related to auditing or other accounting or tax reporting matters) incurred in the ordinary course of business and other corporate overhead costs and expenses (including administrative, legal, accounting and similar expenses provided by third parties), which are reasonable and customary and incurred in the ordinary course of business and attributable to the ownership or operations of Holdings, the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, any costs, expenses and liabilities incurred in connection with any litigation or arbitration attributable to the

 

205


ownership or operations of Holdings, the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, Transaction Expenses and any reasonable and customary indemnification claims made by directors, managers or officers of such parent attributable to the ownership or operations of Holdings, the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, and following a Qualified IPO, listing fees and other costs and expenses attributable to being a publicly traded company;

(ii) the proceeds of which shall be used by such parent to pay franchise Taxes and other fees, Taxes and expenses required to maintain its (or any of its direct or indirect parents’) corporate existence;

(iii) with respect to any taxable period for which the Lead Borrower is a disregarded entity or partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in the form of permitted tax distributions to each direct or indirect owner of the Lead Borrower (as applicable) which shall be equal to the product of (X) such owner’s direct or indirect allocable share of the taxable income of the Lead Borrower or attributable to the Lead Borrower if the Lead Borrower is a disregarded entity (calculated as if the Lead Borrower were a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) for such taxable period, provided that any items of income, gain, loss or deduction shall be determined without regard to any adjustments pursuant to Section 743 of the Code and (Y) the highest combined marginal federal, state and local income tax rate applicable to any direct or indirect equity owner of the Lead Borrower for such taxable period (taking into account the character (long-term capital gain, qualified dividend income, tax-exempt income, etc.) of the current period taxable income); provided that any such distributions shall be made on a pro rata basis;

(iv) to finance any Investment that would be permitted to be made pursuant to Section 7.02 if such parent were subject to such Section 7.02; provided that (A) such Restricted Payment shall be made substantially concurrently with the closing of such Investment and (B) such parent shall, immediately following the closing thereof, cause (1) all property acquired (whether assets or Equity Interests) to be contributed to the Lead Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries or (2) the merger (to the extent permitted in Section 7.04) of the Person formed or acquired into the Lead Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in order to consummate such Permitted Acquisition or Investment, in each case, in accordance with the requirements of Section 6.11;

(v) the proceeds of which shall be used to pay customary salary, bonus, indemnity and other benefits payable to future, present or former officers, directors, managers, members, partners, consultants, independent contractors or employees of Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrowers to the extent such salaries, bonuses, indemnity and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(vi) the proceeds of which shall be used by Holdings or the Borrowers to pay (or to make Restricted Payments to allow any direct or indirect parent thereof to pay) fees and expenses (other than to Affiliates) related to any equity or debt offering, financing transaction, acquisition, divestiture, investment or other non-ordinary course transaction not prohibited by this Agreement (whether or not successful); provided that any such transaction was in the good faith judgment of the Lead Borrower intended to be for the benefit of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

206


(vii) the proceeds of which shall be used by Holdings or the Lead Borrower to pay (or to make Restricted Payments to allow any direct or indirect parent thereof to pay) amounts payable pursuant to the Support and Services Agreement (including any amendment thereto or replacement thereof so long as any such amendment or replacement is not materially disadvantageous in the good faith judgment of the Lead Borrower to the Lenders when taken as a whole, as compared to the Support and Services Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment or replacement), solely to the extent such amounts are not paid directly by Holdings or its Subsidiaries;

(j) payments made or expected to be made by the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of required withholding or similar Taxes payable upon or in connection with the exercise or vesting of Equity Interests or any other equity award with respect to any future, present or former employee, director, manager, officer, partner, independent consultant or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates and Immediate Family Members) and any repurchases of Equity Interests in consideration of such payments including in connection with the exercise or vesting of stock options, warrants or the issuance of restricted stock units or similar stock based awards;

(k) the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may (i) pay cash in lieu of fractional Equity Interests in connection with any dividend, distribution, split, merger, consolidation, amalgamation or combination thereof or any Permitted Acquisition and (ii) honor any conversion request by a holder of convertible Indebtedness and make cash payments in lieu of fractional shares in connection with any such conversion and may make payments on convertible Indebtedness in accordance with its terms;

(l) after a Qualified IPO and so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (i) any Restricted Payment by the Borrowers or any other direct or indirect parent of the Borrowers to pay listing fees and other costs and expenses attributable to being a publicly traded company which are reasonable and customary and (ii) Restricted Payments not to exceed up to the sum of (A) up to 7.00% per annum of the net proceeds received by (or contributed to) the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries from such Qualified IPO and (B) Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount per annum not to exceed 7.00% of Market Capitalization;

(m) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees;

(n) payments or distributions to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law (including in connection with, or as a result of, exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or action (whether actual, contingent or potential)), pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets permitted by Section 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(e)) or Section 7.04;

 

207


(o) the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, of Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary (or a Restricted Subsidiary that owns one or more Unrestricted Subsidiaries and no other material assets) or Indebtedness owed to the Lead Borrower 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 the primary assets of which are cash and/or Cash Equivalents;

(p) Restricted Payments that are made in (i) an amount equal to the amount of Excluded Contributions previously received and the Lead Borrower elects to apply under this clause (p) or (ii) without duplication with clause (i), in an amount equal to the Net Proceeds from a Disposition in respect of property or assets acquired after the Closing Date, if the acquisition of such property or assets was financed with Excluded Contributions, in each case, to the extent Not Otherwise Applied; and

(q) the payment of any dividend or other distribution or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration of the dividend or other distribution or the giving of the redemption notice, as the case may be, if at the date of declaration or notice, the dividend or other distribution or redemption payment would have complied with the provisions of this Agreement.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.06, in the event that a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments described above, the Lead Borrower may, in its sole discretion, classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such Restricted Payment or any portion thereof in a manner that complies with this Section 7.06 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Restricted Payment in one or more of the above clauses. In the event that a Restricted Payment or other obligations could be classified as incurred under a “ratio-based” basket (giving pro forma effect to the making of such portion of such Restricted Payment), the Lead Borrower, in its sole discretion, may classify such portion of such Restricted Payment (and any obligations in respect thereof) as having been made pursuant to such “ratio-based” basket and thereafter the remainder of the Restricted Payment as having been made pursuant to one or more of the other clauses of this Section 7.06 and if any such test would be satisfied in any subsequent fiscal quarter following the relevant date of determination, then such reclassification shall be deemed to have automatically occurred at such time.

Section 7.07. Transactions with Affiliates. The Lead Borrower shall not, nor shall the Lead Borrower permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Lead Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $40,000,000, other than (a) loans and other transactions among the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such loan or other transaction to the extent permitted under this Article 7, (b) on terms substantially as favorable to the Lead Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Lead Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate, (c) the Transactions and the payment of Transaction Expenses as part of or in connection with the Transactions, (d) [reserved], (e) Restricted Payments permitted under Section 7.06, Investments permitted under Section 7.02 and prepayments redemptions,

 

208


purchases, defeasances and other payments permitted by Section 7.10, (f) employment and severance arrangements between Holdings, the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and transactions pursuant to equity-based plans and employee benefit plans and arrangements in the ordinary course of business, (g) the payment of customary fees and reasonable out-of-pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, directors, managers, officers, employees and consultants of Holdings, the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (or any other direct or indirect parent of the Borrowers) in the ordinary course of business to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (h) transactions pursuant to agreements in existence on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.07 or any amendment thereto to the extent such an amendment is not materially adverse to the Lenders in any material respect, (i) (x) the payment of management, consulting, monitoring, transaction, advisory and other fees, indemnities and expenses pursuant to the Support and Services Agreement (plus any unpaid management, consulting, monitoring, transaction, advisory and other fees, indemnities and expenses accrued in any prior year) and any termination fees (including any such cash lump sum or present value fee upon the consummation of a corporate event, including an initial public equity offering) pursuant to the Support and Services Agreement, or any amendment thereto or replacement thereof so long as any such amendment or replacement is not materially disadvantageous in the good faith judgment of the Lead Borrower to the Lenders when taken as a whole, as compared to the Support and Services Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment or replacement, (y) the payment of indemnification and other similar amounts to the Investors and reimbursement of expenses of the Investors and (z) customary payments by the Lead Borrower and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Investors made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities (including in connection with acquisitions or divestitures), which payments are approved by a majority of the members of the board of directors or managers or a majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors or managers of the Lead Borrower, in good faith, (j) payments by the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any tax sharing agreements with any direct or indirect parent of the Lead Borrower to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries, but only to the extent permitted by Section 7.06(i)(iii), (k) the issuance or transfer of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of Holdings or the Borrowers to any Permitted Holder or to any former, present or future director, manager, officer, employee or consultant (or any Affiliate or any Immediate Family Member of any of the foregoing) of Holdings or the Lead Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent thereof, (l) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility, (m) Permitted Intercompany Activities, (n) a joint venture which would constitute a transaction with an Affiliate solely as a result of Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owning an equity interest or otherwise controlling such joint venture or similar entity, and (o) transactions with any Affiliated Lender in its capacity as a Lender party to any Loan Document or party to any agreement, document or instrument governing or relating to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.03 (including Permitted Refinancings thereof) to the extent such Affiliated Lender is being treated no more favorably than all other Lenders or lenders thereunder.

 

209


Section 7.08. Burdensome Agreements. The Lead Borrower shall not, nor shall the Lead Borrower permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into or permit to exist any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that prohibits (a) any Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower that is not a Guarantor to make Restricted Payments to the Borrowers or any Guarantor or to make or repay intercompany loans and advances to the Borrowers or any Guarantor or (b) any Loan Party to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person for the benefit of the Lenders with respect to the Facilities and the Obligations or under the Loan Documents; provided that the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) shall not apply to Contractual Obligations which (i) (x) exist on the Closing Date and (to the extent not otherwise permitted by this Section 7.08) are listed on Schedule 7.08 hereto and (y) to the extent Contractual Obligations permitted by clause (x) are set forth in an agreement evidencing Indebtedness, are set forth in any agreement evidencing any permitted modification, replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing of such Indebtedness so long as such modification, replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing does not expand the scope of such Contractual Obligation, (ii) are binding on a Restricted Subsidiary at the time such Restricted Subsidiary first becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower, so long as such Contractual Obligations were not entered into solely in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower; provided, further, that this clause (ii) shall not apply to Contractual Obligations that are binding on a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.14, (iii) represent Indebtedness or any other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower which is not a Loan Party which is permitted by Section 7.03, (iv) arise in connection with (x) any Lien permitted by Section 7.01 and relate to the property subject to such Lien or (y) any Disposition permitted by Sections 7.04 or 7.05 and relate solely to the assets or Person subject to such Disposition, (v) are customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures permitted under Section 7.02 and applicable solely to such joint venture entered into in the ordinary course of business, (vi) are negative pledges and restrictions on Liens in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 but solely to the extent any negative pledge relates to the property financed by such Indebtedness, (vii) are customary restrictions on leases, subleases, licenses or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby so long as such restrictions relate to the assets subject thereto, (viii) comprise restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03 and to the extent that such restrictions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness or to the Restricted Subsidiaries incurring or guaranteeing such Indebtedness, (ix) are customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or the assignment of any license or sublicense agreement, (x) are customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business, (xi) are restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, (xii) are restrictions created in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility that in the good faith determination of the Lead Borrower are necessary or advisable to effect such Qualified Securitization Facility and relate solely to the Securitization Assets subject thereto, (xiii) arise in connection with cash or other deposits permitted under Sections 7.01 and 7.02 and limited to such cash or deposit and (xiv) are customary restrictions contained in any Junior Financing Documentation or any Permitted Refinancing thereof.

 

210


Section 7.09. Financial Covenant. Except with the written consent of the Required Revolving Credit Lenders, the Lead Borrower will not permit the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of a Test Period (commencing with the Test Period ending on or about June 30, 2020) to exceed 5.75 to 1.00 (the “Financial Covenant”) (provided that the provisions of this Section 7.09 shall not be applicable to any such Test Period if on the last day of such Test Period the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans (excluding, for the first three Test Periods following the Closing Date, any Revolving Credit Loans applied to finance Transaction Expenses), Swing Line Loans and/or Letters of Credit (excluding up to $15,000,000 of Letters of Credit and other Letters of Credit which have been Cash Collateralized or backstopped by a letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer) that are issued and/or outstanding is equal to or less than 35% of the Revolving Credit Facility). In the event that any Accounting Change shall occur which would have resulted in the Financial Covenant not having been set at the same cushion to Consolidated EBITDA for the most recent Test Period then ended prior to such Accounting Change, then the Financial Covenant shall be recalculated to maintain such cushion; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Financial Covenant be adjusted to a level below 5.75 to 1.00.

Section 7.10. Prepayments, Etc. of Indebtedness. (a) The Lead Borrower shall not, nor shall the Lead Borrower permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, voluntarily prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner (it being understood that (A) payments of regularly scheduled principal and interest, (B) customary “AHYDO catchup” payments and (C) any prepayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or other retirement in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case, due within one year of such prepayment redemption, purchase, defeasance or other retirement thereof shall be permitted), any principal amount in respect of any subordinated Indebtedness incurred under Section 7.03(g), (q), (s) or (w) or any other Indebtedness that is or is required to be subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents (collectively, “Junior Financing”), in each case, in an amount in excess of the Threshold Amount or make any payment in violation of any subordination terms of any Junior Financing Documentation, except (i) the refinancing thereof with the Net Proceeds of any Indebtedness (to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes a Permitted Refinancing and, if such Indebtedness was originally incurred under Section 7.03(g), (q), (s) or (w), is permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(g), (q), (s) or (w)), to the extent not required to prepay any Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b), (ii) the conversion of any Junior Financing to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Borrowers or any of its direct or indirect parents, (iii) the prepayment of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent not prohibited by the subordination provisions contained in the Intercompany Note, (iv) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of Junior Financings prior to their scheduled maturity in (x) an amount equal to the amount of Excluded Contributions previously received and the Lead Borrower elects to apply under this clause (iv) or (y) without duplication with clause (x), in an amount equal to the Net Proceeds from a Disposition in respect of property or assets acquired after the Closing Date, if the acquisition of such property or assets was financed with Excluded Contributions, in each case, to the extent Not Otherwise Applied, (v) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances

 

211


and other payments in respect of Junior Financings prior to their scheduled maturity in an aggregate amount not to exceed, when combined with the amount of Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 7.06(h), (x) the greater of (I) $65,000,000 and (II) 40% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA plus (y) subject to, solely in the case of the portion of the Cumulative Credit attributable to clause (b) thereof, no Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a) or (f) with respect to any Borrower having occurred and continuing or resulting therefrom, the portion, if any, of the Cumulative Credit on such date that the Lead Borrower elects to apply to this clause (a), (vi) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of Junior Financings prior to their scheduled maturity in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Available RP Capacity Amount and (vii) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, prepayments, redemptions, or purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of Junior Financings prior to their scheduled maturity in an unlimited amount so long as the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio calculated on a Pro Forma Basis is less than or equal to 3.25 to 1.00.

(b) The Lead Borrower shall not, nor shall the Lead Borrower permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to amend, modify or change in any manner materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders any term or condition of any Junior Financing Documentation in respect of any Junior Financing having an aggregate outstanding principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount without the consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.10, in the event that a payment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of payments described above, the Lead Borrower may, in its sole discretion, classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such payment or any portion thereof in a manner that complies with this Section 7.10 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such payment in one or more of the above clauses. In the event that a payment or other obligations could be classified as incurred under a “ratio-based” basket (giving pro forma effect to the making of such portion of such payment), the Lead Borrower, in its sole discretion, may classify such portion of such payment (and any obligations in respect thereof) as having been made pursuant to such “ratio-based” basket and thereafter the remainder of the payment as having been made pursuant to one or more of the other clauses of this Section 7.10 and if any such test would be satisfied in any subsequent fiscal quarter following the relevant date of determination, then such reclassification shall be deemed to have automatically occurred at such time.

Section 7.11. Permitted Activities. Holdings shall not engage in any material operating or business activities; provided that the following and activities incidental thereto shall be permitted in any event: (i) its ownership of the Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries and activities incidental thereto, (ii) the maintenance of its legal existence (including the ability to incur fees, costs and expenses relating to such maintenance), (iii) the performance of its obligations with respect to the Merger Agreement, the Transactions, the Loan Documents and any other Indebtedness, (iv) any public offering of its common stock or any other issuance or sale of its Equity Interests, (v) financing activities, including the issuance of securities, payment of dividends, making contributions to the capital of the Lead Borrower, and other distributions and the making of investments, (vi) incurrence of debt and guaranteeing

 

212


the obligations of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (vii) participating in tax, accounting and other administrative matters, including as owner of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (viii) holding any cash incidental to any activities permitted under this Section 7.11, (ix) providing indemnification to officers, managers and directors and (x) any activities incidental to the foregoing.

ARTICLE 8

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

Section 8.01. Events of Default. Any of the following from and after the Closing Date shall constitute an event of default (an “Event of Default”):

(a) Non-Payment. Any Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within five (5) Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or any other amount payable hereunder or with respect to any other Loan Document; or

(b) Specific Covenants. The Lead Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or, in the case of Section 7.11, Holdings, fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.03(a), 6.05(a) (solely with respect to a Borrower) or Article 7; provided that (i) a Default as a result of a breach of Section 7.09 (a “Financial Covenant Event of Default”) is subject to cure pursuant to Section 8.05 and (ii) subsequent delivery of a notice to the Administrative Agent of the occurrence of any Default shall cure an Event of Default for failure to provide a notice under Section 6.03(a) unless a Responsible Officer of Holdings or the Lead Borrower had actual knowledge that such Default had occurred and was continuing and such failure to provide notice had a material adverse effect on the rights and remedies available to the Lenders or any Agent under any Loan Document; provided, further, that a Financial Covenant Event of Default or any breach of a financial maintenance covenant under any Incremental Revolving Credit Loan or any revolving facility that constitutes Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness shall not constitute an Event of Default with respect to any Term Loans unless and until the Revolving Credit Lenders have declared all amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility to be immediately due and payable and all outstanding Revolving Credit Commitments to be immediately terminated, in each case in accordance with this Agreement and such declaration has not been rescinded on or before such date (the “Term Loan Standstill Period”); or

(c) Other Defaults. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Sections 8.01(a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty (30) days after written notice thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Lead Borrower; or

(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Lead Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document required to be delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made and, to the extent capable of being cured, such incorrect representation or warranty shall remain incorrect for a period of 30 days after written notice thereof from the Administrative

 

213


Agent to the Lead Borrower; provided that the failure of any representation or warranty (other than Specified Representations or Specified Merger Agreement Representations) to be true and correct on the Closing Date shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Term Loans; or

(e) Cross-Default. The Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any, (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness hereunder) having an outstanding aggregate principal amount of not less than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any Indebtedness having an outstanding aggregate principal amount of not less than the Threshold Amount, or any other event occurs (other than, with respect to Indebtedness consisting of Swap Contracts, termination events or equivalent events pursuant to the terms of such Swap Contracts), the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity; provided that this clause (e)(B) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness; or

(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. Any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) Any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within sixty (60) days after its issue or levy; or

(h) Judgments. There is entered against the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary a final judgment or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer has been notified of such judgment or order and has not denied coverage) and such judgment or order shall not have been satisfied, vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded pending an appeal for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days; or

 

214


(i) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Subject to, solely with respect to the Foreign Security Documents, the Reservations and the Perfection Requirements, any material provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder (including as a result of a transaction permitted under Sections 7.04 or 7.05) or as a result of acts or omissions by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent or any Lender or the satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party contests in writing the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document or the validity or priority of a Lien as required by the Collateral Documents on a material portion of the Collateral; or any Loan Party denies in writing that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document (other than as a result of repayment in full of the Obligations and termination of the Aggregate Commitments), or purports in writing to revoke or rescind any Loan Document; or

(j) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control; or

(k) Collateral Documents. Subject to, solely with respect to the Foreign Security Documents, the Reservations and the Perfection Requirements, any Collateral Document after delivery thereof pursuant to Sections 4.01, 6.11, 6.13, 6.16 or the Security Agreement shall for any reason (other than pursuant to the terms thereof including as a result of a transaction not prohibited under this Agreement) cease to create a valid and perfected Lien, with the priority required by the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements on and security interest in any material portion of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, subject to Liens permitted under Section 7.01, (x) except to the extent that any such perfection or priority is not required pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement or the Agreed Security Principles or any loss thereof results from the failure of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to maintain possession of certificates actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Collateral Documents or to file Uniform Commercial Code continuation statements or similar statements in any applicable jurisdiction and (y) except as to Collateral consisting of Real Property to the extent that such losses are covered by a lender’s title insurance policy and such insurer has not denied coverage; or

(l) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs which has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in liability of a Loan Party or a Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate in an aggregate amount which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in liability of a Loan Party or a Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate in an aggregate amount which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, any Default or Event of Default under the Loan Documents or similarly defined term hereunder or thereunder (and any Default or Event of Default under the Loan Documents or

 

215


similarly defined term hereunder or thereunder resulting from failure to provide notice thereof) resulting from the failure to deliver a notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall cease to exist and be cured in all respects if the underlying Default or Event of Default giving rise to such notice requirement shall have ceased to exist and/or be cured.

Section 8.02. Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions (or, if a Financial Covenant Event of Default occurs and is continuing and prior to the expiration of the Term Loan Standstill Period, at the request of the Required Revolving Credit Lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility only, and in such case only with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments, Revolving Credit Loans, Swing Line Loans, L/C Obligations, any Letters of Credit and L/C Credit Extensions):

(i) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

(ii) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Lead Borrower;

(iii) require that the Borrowers Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and

(iv) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents or applicable Law;

provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to Holdings or the Borrowers under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable and the obligation of the Borrowers to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary (including in Section 8.01) or in any other Loan Document, neither the Administrative Agent nor the Required Lenders may take any of the actions described in this Section 8.02 with respect to any Default or Event of Default resulting from any action or the occurrence of any event reported publicly or otherwise disclosed to the Lenders more than two years prior to such date.

Section 8.03. Exclusion of Immaterial Subsidiaries. Solely for the purpose of determining whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred under Section 8.01(f) or (g), any reference in any such clause to any Restricted Subsidiary or Loan Party shall be deemed not to

 

216


include any Restricted Subsidiary (an “Immaterial Subsidiary”) affected by any event or circumstances referred to in any such clause that did not, as of the last day of the most recent completed fiscal quarter of the Lead Borrower, have assets with a fair market value in excess of 2.5% of Total Assets (it being agreed that all Restricted Subsidiaries affected by any event or circumstance referred to in any such clause shall be considered together, as a single consolidated Restricted Subsidiary, for purposes of determining whether the condition specified above is satisfied).

Section 8.04. Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to any Intercreditor Agreements then in effect, be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order (to the fullest extent permitted by mandatory provisions of applicable Law):

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (other than principal and interest, but including Attorney Costs payable under Section 10.04 and amounts payable under Article 3) payable to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in its capacity as such;

Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including Attorney Costs payable under Section 10.04 and amounts payable under Article 3), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans and L/C Borrowings, and any fees, premiums and scheduled periodic payments due under Treasury Services Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings (including to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit), and any breakage, termination or other payments under Treasury Services Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

Fifth, to the payment of all other Obligations of the Borrowers that are due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date; and

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrowers or as otherwise required by Law.

 

217


Subject to Section 2.03(g), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fourth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above and, if no Obligations remain outstanding, to the Borrowers as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amounts received from any Guarantor shall be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Guarantor.

Section 8.05. Right to Cure. (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Sections 8.01 or 8.02, if the Lead Borrower determines that an Event of Default under the covenant set forth in Section 7.09 has occurred or may occur, during the period commencing after the beginning of the last fiscal quarter included in such Test Period and ending ten (10) Business Days after the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered hereunder with respect to such fiscal quarter (the “Cure Expiration Date”), a Specified Equity Contribution may be made to the Lead Borrower (a “Designated Equity Contribution”), and the amount of the net cash proceeds thereof shall be deemed to increase Consolidated EBITDA with respect to such applicable quarter; provided that such net cash proceeds (i) are actually received by the Lead Borrower as cash common equity (including through capital contribution of such net cash proceeds to the Lead Borrower) during the period commencing after the beginning of the last fiscal quarter included in such Test Period by the Lead Borrower and ending on the Cure Expiration Date and (ii) are Not Otherwise Applied. The parties hereby acknowledge that this Section 8.05(a) may not be relied on for purposes of calculating any financial ratios other than as applicable to Section 7.09 and shall not result in any adjustment to any baskets or other amounts other than the amount of the Consolidated EBITDA for the purpose of Section 7.09. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 8.01 and Section 8.02, (A) upon designation of the Designated Equity Contribution by the Lead Borrower in an amount necessary to cure any Event of Default under the covenant set forth in Section 7.09, such covenant will be deemed satisfied and complied with as of the end of the relevant fiscal quarter with the same effect as though there had been no failure to comply with such covenant and any Event of Default under such covenant (and any other Default as a result thereof) will be deemed not to have occurred for purposes of the Loan Documents, and (B) from and after the date that the Lead Borrower delivers a written notice to the Administrative Agent that it intends to exercise its cure right under this Section 8.05 neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender may exercise any rights or remedies under Section 8.02 (or under any other Loan Document) on the basis of any actual or purported Event of Default under the covenant set forth in Section 7.09 with respect to such quarter (and any other Default as a result thereof), and the Borrowers shall be permitted to borrow Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans and make any request for an L/C Credit Extension, until and unless the Cure Expiration Date has occurred without the Designated Equity Contribution having been designated.

(b) (i) In each period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, there shall be at least two fiscal quarters in which no Designated Equity Contribution is made, (ii) no more than five Designated Equity Contributions may be made in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement, (iii) the amount of any Designated Equity Contribution shall be no more than the amount required to cause the Lead Borrower to be in Pro Forma Compliance with Section 7.09

 

218


for any applicable period, (iv) there shall be no pro forma reduction in Indebtedness with the proceeds of any Designated Equity Contribution for determining compliance with Section 7.09 for the fiscal quarter with respect to which such Designated Equity Contribution was made; provided that to the extent such proceeds are actually applied to prepay Indebtedness, such reduction may be credited in any subsequent fiscal quarter and (v) other than as set forth in the proviso to clause (iv) above, no Designated Equity Contribution may be included for purposes of calculating any financial ratios other than compliance with the Financial Covenant and shall not result in any adjustment to any “baskets” or other amounts other than the amount of Consolidated EBITDA referred to in clause (a) above.

ARTICLE 9

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND OTHER AGENTS

Section 9.01. Appointment and Authorization of Agents. (a) Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints Citi to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, designates and authorizes each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Lenders hereby expressly authorize the Administrative Agent to execute any and all documents (including releases) with respect to the Collateral and the rights of the Secured Parties with respect thereto, as contemplated by and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents and acknowledge and agree that any such action by any Agent shall bind the Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere herein or in any other Loan Document, neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, nor shall the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender or Participant, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” herein and in the other Loan Documents with reference to any Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

(b) Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and each such L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Agents in this Article 9 with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and the applications and agreements for letters of credit pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Agent” as used in this Article 9 and in the definition of “Agent-Related Person” included such L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to such L/C Issuer.

 

219


(c) Each of the Secured Parties (by acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral Documents) hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Collateral Agent to act as the agent of (and to hold any security interest created by the Collateral Documents for and on behalf of or on trust for) such Secured Party for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by the Loan Parties to secure any of the Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Collateral Agent (and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Collateral Agent), shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article 9 (including Section 9.07, 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.

(d) Each Lender and each other Secured Party (by acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral Documents) hereby (i) acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Intercreditor Agreements, (ii) agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements to the extent then in effect, and (iii) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Agent to enter into each Intercreditor Agreement as Collateral Agent and on behalf of such Lender or Secured Party.

(e) Except as provided in Sections 9.09 and 9.11, the provisions of this Article 9 are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, and neither the Lead Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third-party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

Section 9.02. Delegation of Duties. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents or of exercising any rights and remedies thereunder) by or through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Agent-Related Persons. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Agent-Related Persons of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the Facilities as well as activities as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent. Neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or sub-agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined in the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

Section 9.03. Liability of Agents. No Agent-Related Person shall (a) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by the final non-appealable judgment of a court

 

220


of competent jurisdiction, in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein), (b) except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity, (c) be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article 4 or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or (d) be responsible in any manner to any Lender or Participant for any recital, statement, representation or warranty made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof, contained herein or in any other Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, any failure to monitor or maintain any part of the Collateral, or the perfection or priority of any Lien or security interest created or purported to be created under the Collateral Documents, or for any failure of any Loan Party or any other party to any Loan Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Agent-Related Person shall be under any obligation to any Lender or Participant to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent 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 or Collateral Agent (as applicable) 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 or Collateral Agent (as applicable) shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent (as applicable) to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law.

Section 9.04. Reliance by Agents. Each Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, communication, signature, resolution, representation, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone message, electronic mail message, statement or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to any Loan Party), independent accountants and other experts selected by such Agent. The Administrative Agent may deem and treat the Lender specified in the Register with respect to any amount owing hereunder as the owner thereof for all purposes unless a written notice of assignment, negotiation or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Administrative Agent. Each Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under any Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and

 

221


expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Each Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Required Lenders (or such greater number of Lenders as may be expressly required hereby in any instance) and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders, provided that each Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or in the opinion of its counsel, may expose it to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law.

Section 9.05. Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal, interest and fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender or the Lead Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The Administrative Agent will notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such notice. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to any Event of Default as may be directed by the Required Lenders (or, if a Financial Covenant Event of Default occurs and is continuing and prior to the expiration of the Term Loan Standstill Period, the Required Revolving Credit Lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility only, and in such case only with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments, Revolving Credit Loans, Swing Line Loans, L/C Obligations, Letters of Credit and L/C Credit Extensions) in accordance with Article 8; provided that unless and until the Administrative Agent has received any such direction, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Event of Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of the Lenders.

Section 9.06. Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Agents. Each Lender acknowledges that no Agent-Related Person, Lead Arranger, or Co-Manager has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by any Agent, any Lead Arranger or Co-Manager hereafter taken, including any consent to and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent-Related Person, any Lead Arranger or Co-Manager to any Lender as to any matter, including whether Agent-Related Persons, Lead Arrangers or Co-Manager have disclosed material information in their possession. Each Lender represents to each Agent, each Lead Arranger and the Co-Manager that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person, any Lead Arranger or Co-Manager and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of, and investigation into, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan 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 Borrowers hereunder. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person, any Lead Arranger or Co-Manager and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make

 

222


such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by any Agent or Lead Arranger herein, such Agent, Lead Arranger or the Co-Manager, as applicable, shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Loan Parties or any of their Affiliates which may come into the possession of any Agent-Related Person, any Lead Arranger or Co-Manager.

Section 9.07. Indemnification of Agents. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify upon demand each Agent-Related Person (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of any Loan Party and without limiting the obligation of any Loan Party to do so) acting as an Agent, pro rata, and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by it; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment to any Agent-Related Person of any portion of such Indemnified Liabilities resulting from such Agent-Related Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that no action taken in accordance with the directions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be required by the Loan Documents) shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section 9.07; provided, further, that any obligation to indemnify an L/C Issuer pursuant to this Section 9.07 shall be limited to Revolving Credit Lenders only. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Liabilities, this Section 9.07 applies whether any such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Lender or any other Person. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Loan Parties and without limiting their obligation to do so. The undertaking in this Section 9.07 shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, the payment of all other Obligations and the resignation of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be.

Section 9.08. Agents in Their Individual Capacities. Citi, any Lead Arranger and any of their respective Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire Equity Interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with the Borrowers and their respective Affiliates as though it were not the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Swing Line Lender, an L/C Issuer or a Lead Arranger hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, Citi, any Lead Arranger or any of their respective Affiliates may receive information regarding the Borrowers or their Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of the

 

223


Borrowers or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent nor any Lead Arranger shall be under any obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to its Loans, Citi, any Lead Arranger and any of their respective Affiliates shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise such rights and powers as though it were not the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Swing Line Lender, an L/C Issuer or a Lead Arranger, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” include Citi in its individual capacity. Any successor to Citi as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent shall also have the rights attributed to Citi under this Section 9.08.

Section 9.09. Successor Agents. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may resign as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Lenders and the Lead Borrower and if either the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent is a Defaulting Lender, the Lead Borrower may remove such Defaulting Lender from such role upon ten (10) days’ notice to the Lenders. If the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent resigns under this Agreement or is removed by the Lead Borrower, the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for the Lenders, which successor agent shall be consented to by the Lead Borrower at all times other than during the existence of an Event of Default under Sections 8.01(f) or (g) (which consent of the Lead Borrower shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If no successor agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation or removal of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, in the case of a resignation, and the Lead Borrower, in the case of a removal may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Lead Borrower (in the case of a resignation), a successor agent from among the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor agent hereunder, the Person acting as such successor agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent or retiring Collateral Agent and the term “Administrative Agent” or “Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor administrative agent or collateral agent and/or Supplemental Agent, as the case may be, and the retiring Administrative Agent’s or Collateral Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s or the Collateral Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder as the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, the provisions of this Article 9 and the provisions of Sections 10.04 and 10.05 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent under this Agreement. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent by the date which is thirty (30) days following the retiring Administrative Agent’s or Collateral Agent’s notice of resignation or ten (10) days following the Lead Borrower’s notice of removal, the retiring Administrative Agent’s or the retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent hereunder by a successor and upon the execution and filing or recording of such financing statements, or amendments thereto, and such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary or desirable, or as the Required Lenders may request, in order to (a) continue the perfection of the Liens granted or purported to be granted by

 

224


the Collateral Documents or (b) otherwise ensure that Section 6.11 is satisfied, the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, discretion, privileges, and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Loan Documents. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s or Collateral Agent’s resignation hereunder as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, the provisions of this Article 9 and Sections 10.04 and 10.05 shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent.

Any resignation by Citi as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as a L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender pursuant to Sections 2.03(q) and 2.04(h).

Section 9.10. Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim; Credit Bidding. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Lead Borrower or the Collateral Agent) shall be (to the fullest extent permitted by mandatory provisions of applicable Law) entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due to the Lenders, the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(h) and (i), 2.09, 10.04 and 10.05) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, curator, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Agents and their respective agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under Sections 2.09, 10.04 and 10.05.

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

 

225


The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, or any similar Laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, (b) at any other sale or foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable Law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid on a ratable basis (with Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that would vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) in the asset or assets so purchased (or in the Equity Interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are used to consummate such purchase). In connection with any such bid (i) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles to make a bid, (ii) to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or Equity Interests thereof shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by the vote of the Required Lenders, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in clauses (a) through (j) of Section 10.01), and (iii) to the extent that Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of debt credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Lenders pro rata and the Equity Interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of the Obligations that had been assigned to the acquisition vehicle shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action.

Section 9.11. Collateral and Guaranty Matters. Each Lender (including in its capacity as a counterparty to a Secured Hedge Agreement or Treasury Services Agreement) and each other Secured Party by its acceptance of the Collateral Documents irrevocably agrees:

(a) that any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document shall be automatically released (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than (x) obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements and Treasury Services Agreements not yet due and payable and (y) contingent indemnification obligations not yet accrued and payable) and the expiration or termination or cash collateralization of all Letters of Credit (or if such Letters of Credit have been backstopped by letters of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuers or deemed reissued under another agreement reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuers), (ii) at the time the property subject to such Lien is Disposed or to be Disposed as part of or in connection with any Disposition permitted hereunder or under any other Loan

 

226


Document to any Person other than a Person required to grant a Lien to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under the Loan Documents, (iii) subject to Section 10.01, if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders, (iv) to the extent such asset constitutes an Excluded Asset or (v) if the property subject to such Lien is owned by a Guarantor, upon release of such Guarantor from its obligations under its Guaranty pursuant to clause (c) below; provided that, without limitation to the operation of the automatic releases described in this clause (a), a certificate of a Responsible Officer, delivered at the option of the Lead Borrower, to the Administrative Agent with respect to any release described in this clause (a) stating that the Lead Borrower has determined in good faith that such release satisfies the foregoing requirements shall be conclusive evidence that such release satisfies the foregoing requirement and such automatic release has occurred (and the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on such certificate without further inquiry);

(b) that upon the request of the Lead Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall release or subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Sections 7.01(u) or (w) (in the case of clause (w), to the extent required by the terms of the obligations secured by such Liens) pursuant to documents reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

(c) that any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically released from its obligations under the Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary or becomes an Excluded Subsidiary as a result of a transaction or designation permitted hereunder; provided that no such release shall occur if such Guarantor continues to be a guarantor in respect of any Junior Financing with a principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; provided, further that, without limitation of the operation of the automatic releases described in this clause (c), a certificate of a Responsible Officer delivered at the option of the Lead Borrower, to the Administrative Agent with respect to any such automatic release stating that such Subsidiary Guarantor has ceased to be a Restricted Subsidiary or has become an Excluded Subsidiary as a result of a transaction or designation permitted hereunder, as the case may be, shall be conclusive evidence that such release satisfies the foregoing requirement and such automatic release has occurred (and the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on such certificate without further inquiry);

(d) at the sole option of the Lead Borrower, Holdings or any existing entity constituting “Holdings” shall be released from its obligations under the Guaranty if such entity ceases to be the direct parent of the Lead Borrower as a result of a transaction or designation permitted pursuant to the definition thereof and otherwise permitted hereunder, subject to the assumption of all obligations of “Holdings” under the Loan Documents by such other Subsidiary that directly owns 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrowers pursuant to the definition thereof and satisfaction of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirements or the Agreed Security Principles, as applicable, by such by such Subsidiary; provided that 100% of the Equity Interests of the Borrowers shall be pledged to the Administrative Agent to secure the Obligations; and

 

 

 

227


(e) the Collateral Agent may, without any further consent of any Lender, enter into (i) a First Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the collateral agent or other representatives of the holders of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 that is intended to be secured on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the Obligations, in each case, where such Indebtedness is secured by Liens permitted under Section 7.01 and/or (ii) a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the collateral agent or other representatives of the holders of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 that is intended to be secured on a junior lien basis with the Liens securing the Obligations, in each case, where such Indebtedness is secured by Liens permitted under Section 7.01. The Collateral Agent may rely exclusively on a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower as to whether any such other Liens are permitted. Any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement entered into by the Collateral Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be binding on the Secured Parties.

Upon request by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s or the Collateral Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.11; provided that absent such confirmation in writing from the Required Lenders, the act of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent making such request shall not prohibit the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent from releasing or subordinating its interests if it otherwise conclusively relies on a certificate of the Lead Borrower. In each case as specified in this Section 9.11, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent will promptly upon the request of the Lead Borrower (and each Lender irrevocably authorizes and requires the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to), at the Borrowers’ expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as the Lead Borrower may reasonably request to evidence the release or subordination of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Collateral Documents, or to evidence the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.11 (and the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower to that effect provided to it by any Loan Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry). Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent. Each Lender and each other Secured Party agrees that it will take such action and execute any such documents as may be reasonably requested by the Lead Borrower, at the Borrowers’ sole cost and expense, in connection with any of the foregoing releases or any such subordination and irrevocably authorizes and requires the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such action and execute any such document and consents to such reliance by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent on a certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower certifying as the satisfaction of any of the requirements in this Section 9.11. For the avoidance of doubt, no release of Collateral or Guarantors effected in the manner permitted by this Section 9.11 shall require the consent of any holder of obligations under Secured Hedge Agreement or any Treasury Services Agreements.

Section 9.12. Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers. None of the Lenders or other Persons identified on the facing page or signature pages of this Agreement as a “bookrunner,” or “lead arranger” shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than, with respect to any Lender, those applicable to all Lenders. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders or other Persons so identified shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders or other Persons so identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder.

 

 

228


Section 9.13. Withholding Tax Indemnity. To the extent required by any applicable Law, the Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. If the Internal Revenue Service or any other authority of the United States or other jurisdiction asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold Tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender for any reason (including, without limitation, because the appropriate form was not delivered or not properly executed, or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstance that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of withholding Tax ineffective), such Lender shall, within ten days after written demand therefor, indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent (to the extent that the Administrative Agent has not already been reimbursed by the Borrowers or any Guarantor pursuant to Section 3.01 and Section 3.04 and without limiting or expanding the obligation of the Borrowers or any Guarantor to do so) for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as Taxes or otherwise, together with all expenses incurred, including legal expenses and any other out-of-pocket expenses, whether or not such Tax was correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due the Administrative Agent under this Section 9.13. The agreements in this Section 9.13 shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Lender” for purposes of this Section 9.13 shall include each L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender.

Section 9.14. Appointment of Supplemental Agents. (a) It is the purpose of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents that there shall be no violation of any Law of any jurisdiction denying or restricting the right of banking corporations or associations to transact business as agent or trustee in such jurisdiction. It is recognized that in case of litigation under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and in particular in case of the enforcement of any of the Loan Documents, or in case the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent deems that by reason of any present or future Law of any jurisdiction it may not exercise any of the rights, powers or remedies granted herein or in any of the other Loan Documents or take any other action which may be desirable or necessary in connection therewith, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent are hereby authorized to appoint an additional individual or institution selected by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion as a separate trustee, co-trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, administrative sub-agent or administrative co-agent (any such additional individual or institution being referred to herein individually as a “Supplemental Agent” and collectively as “Supplemental Agents”).

 

229


(b) In the event that the Collateral Agent appoints a Supplemental Agent with respect to any Collateral, (i) each and every right, power, privilege or duty expressed or intended by this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents to be exercised by or vested in or conveyed to the Collateral Agent with respect to such Collateral shall be exercisable by and vest in such Supplemental Agent to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to enable such Supplemental Agent to exercise such rights, powers and privileges with respect to such Collateral and to perform such duties with respect to such Collateral, and every covenant and obligation contained in the Loan Documents and necessary to the exercise or performance thereof by such Supplemental Agent shall run to and be enforceable by either the Collateral Agent or such Supplemental Agent, and (ii) the provisions of this Article 9 and of Sections 10.04 and 10.05 that refer to the Administrative Agent shall inure to the benefit of such Supplemental Agent and all references therein to the Collateral Agent shall be deemed to be references to the Collateral Agent and/or such Supplemental Agent, as the context may require.

(c) Should any instrument in writing from any Loan Party be required by any Supplemental Agent so appointed by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to him or it such rights, powers, privileges and duties, such Loan Party shall execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such instruments promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent. In case any Supplemental Agent, or a successor thereto, shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of such Supplemental Agent, to the extent permitted by Law, shall vest in and be exercised by the Administrative Agent until the appointment of a new Supplemental Agent.

Section 9.15. 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, 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, the Commitments or this Agreement,

(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement,

 

230


(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 8414 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

(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, that none of the Administrative Agent, any Lead Arranger or any of their respective Affiliates is 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 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).

ARTICLE 10

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 10.01. Amendments, Etc.. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders, or by the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders, and such Loan Party (with an executed copy thereof promptly delivered to the Administrative Agent if not otherwise a party thereto) and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that (i) any amendment or waiver contemplated in clauses (g) or (j) below, shall only require the consent of such Loan Party and the Required Revolving Credit Lenders or the Required Facility Lenders under the applicable Facility, as applicable and (ii) any amendment or waiver contemplated in clause (k) below shall only require the consent of such Loan Party and the Required Class Lenders under the applicable Class of Term Loans; provided, further, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(a) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of each Lender holding such Commitment (it being understood that a waiver of any condition precedent or of any Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute an extension or increase of any Commitment of any Lender);

 

231


(b) postpone any date scheduled for, or reduce or forgive the amount of, any payment of principal or interest under Sections 2.07 or 2.08 without the written consent of each Lender holding the applicable Obligation (it being understood that the waiver of (or amendment to the terms of) any mandatory prepayment of the Term Loans shall not constitute a postponement of any date scheduled for the payment of principal or interest and it being understood that any change to the definition of “Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio,” “Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio”, “Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio” or “Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio” or, in each case, in the component definitions thereof shall not constitute a reduction or forgiveness in any rate of interest);

(c) reduce or forgive the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iii) of the third proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document (or change the timing of payments of such fees or other amounts) without the written consent of each Lender holding such Loan, L/C Borrowing or to whom such fee or other amount is owed (it being understood that any change to the definition of “Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio,” “Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio”, “Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio” or “Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio”, in each case, in the component definitions thereof shall not constitute a reduction or forgiveness in any rate of interest); provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrowers to pay interest at the Default Rate;

(d) change any provision of Section 8.04 or this Section 10.01 or lower the percentage set forth in the definition of “Required Revolving Credit Lenders,” “Required Lenders,” “Required Facility Lenders,” “Required Class Lenders” or any other provision specifying the number of Lenders or portion of the Loans or Commitments required to take any action under the Loan Documents, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

(e) other than in connection with a transaction permitted under Sections 7.04 or 7.05, release all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions, without the written consent of each Lender;

(f) other than in connection with a transaction permitted under Sections 7.04 or 7.05, release all or substantially all of the aggregate value of the Guaranty, without the written consent of each Lender;

(g) (1) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.02 as to any Credit Extension under one or more Revolving Credit Facilities or (2) amend, waive or otherwise modify any term or provision which directly affects Lenders under one or more Revolving Credit Facilities and does not directly affect Lenders under any other Facility (including any waiver, amendment or modification of Section 7.09 or the definition of “Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio” or the component definitions thereof (but only to the extent of any such component definition’s effect on the definition of “Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio” for the purposes of Section 7.09)), in each case, without the written consent of the Required Facility Lenders under such applicable Revolving Credit Facility or Facilities (and in the case of multiple Facilities which are affected, with respect to any such Facility, such consent shall be effected by the Required Facility Lenders of such Facility); provided, however, that the waivers described in this clause (g) shall not require the consent of any Lenders other than the Required Facility Lenders under such Facility or Facilities;

 

232


(h) amend, waive or otherwise modify the portion of the definition of “Interest Period” to automatically allow intervals in excess of six months, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(i) subordinate the Revolving Credit Facility to any Term Loans without the written consent of each Revolving Credit Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

(j) amend, waive or otherwise modify any term or provision (including the availability and conditions to funding under Section 2.14 (but not the conditions to implementing Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 2.14(d)(v) and Section 2.14(e)) with respect to Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, under Section 2.15 with respect to Refinancing Term Loans and Other Revolving Credit Commitments and under Section 2.16 with respect to Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and, in each case, the rate of interest applicable thereto) which directly affects Lenders of one or more Incremental Term Loans, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, Refinancing Term Loans, Other Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and does not directly and adversely affect Lenders under any other Facility, in each case, without the written consent of the Required Facility Lenders under such applicable Incremental Term Loans, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, Refinancing Term Loans, Other Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments (and in the case of multiple Facilities which are directly affected, with respect to any such Facility, such consent shall be effected by the Required Facility Lenders of such Facility); provided, however, that the waivers described in this clause (j) shall not require the consent of any Lenders other than the Required Facility Lenders under such applicable Incremental Term Loans, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, Refinancing Term Loans, Other Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as the case may be; and provided, further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by each L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of an L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Letter of Credit Issuance Request 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 a Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of such Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; provided, however, that this Agreement may be amended to adjust the borrowing mechanics related to Swing Line Loans with only the written consent of the Swing Line Lender and the Borrowers so long as the obligations of the Revolving Credit Lenders and the Administrative Agent are not affected thereby (and the Lead Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent prompt written notice of any such amendment, and the Administrative Agent hereby agrees to acknowledge such amendment as promptly as practicable following such written notice; it being acknowledged and agreed that the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such, shall have no liability with respect to such acknowledgment; provided that, failure to obtain such acknowledgment shall in no way affect the effectiveness of any such amendment); (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable,

 

233


in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (iv) Section 10.07(i) may not be amended, waived or otherwise modified without the consent of each Granting Lender all or any part of whose Loans are being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment, waiver or other modification; and (v) the consent of Lenders holding more than 50% of any Class of Commitments or Loans shall be required with respect to any amendment that by its terms adversely affects the rights of such Class in respect of payments or Collateral hereunder in a manner different than such amendment affects other Classes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms materially and adversely affects any Defaulting Lender (if such Lender were not a Defaulting Lender) to a greater extent than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender; or

(k) amend waive or modify Section 2.05(a)(iv), the definition of “Repricing Transactions” or any other “soft-call” provisions applicable to any Class of Term Loans, in each case, without the written consent of the Required Class Lenders under such applicable Class of Term Loans (and in the case of multiple Classes of Term Loans which are affected, with respect to any such Class of Term Loans, such consent shall be effected by the Required Class Lenders of each such Class of Term Loans).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Lender consent is required to effect any amendment or supplement to any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other arrangement permitted under this Agreement that is for the purpose of adding the Other Debt Representatives, as expressly contemplated by the terms of such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, such First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or such other arrangement permitted under this Agreement, as applicable, pursuant to the terms thereof (it being understood that any such amendment or supplement may make such other changes to the applicable Intercreditor Agreement as, in the good faith determination of the Lead Borrower, are required to effectuate the foregoing); provided, further, that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement and any other Loan Document may be amended solely with the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers without the need to obtain the consent of any other Lender if such amendment is delivered in order (A) to correct or cure ambiguities, errors, omissions or defects, (B) to effect administrative changes of a technical or immaterial nature, (C) to fix incorrect cross references or similar inaccuracies in this Agreement or the applicable Loan Document, (D) to implement the “market flex” provisions set forth in the Fee Letter, (E) solely to add benefit to one or more existing Facilities, including but not limited to, increase in margin, interest rate floor, prepayment premium, call protection and reestablishment of or increase in amortization schedule, in order to cause any Incremental Facility to be fungible with any existing Facility, (F) to add any financial covenant or other terms

 

234


for the benefit of all Lenders or any Class of Lenders pursuant to the conditions imposed on the incurrence of any Indebtedness set forth elsewhere in this Agreement and (G) to make the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document more restrictive to the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined by the Lead Borrower), and in each case of clauses (A), (B) and (C), such amendment shall become effective without any further action or the consent of any other party to any Loan Document if the same is not objected to in writing by the Required Lenders within five (5) Business Days following receipt of notice thereof. The Collateral Documents and related documents in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be in a form reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and may be, together with this Agreement, amended, supplemented and waived with the consent of the Administrative Agent at the request of the Lead Borrower without the need to obtain the consent of any other Lender if such amendment, supplement or waiver is delivered in order (i) to comply with local Law or advice of local counsel, (ii) to correct or cure ambiguities, omissions, mistakes or defects or (iii) to cause such Collateral Documents or other document to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and, in each case, such amendment shall become effective without any further action or the consent of any other party to any Loan Document if the same is not objected to in writing by the Required Lenders within five (5) Business Days following receipt of notice thereof.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, the Borrowers may enter into any Incremental Amendment in accordance with Section 2.14, any Refinancing Amendment in accordance with Section 2.15 and any Extension Amendment in accordance with Section 2.16 and such Incremental Amendments, Refinancing Amendments and Extension Amendments shall be effective to amend the terms of this Agreement and the other applicable Loan Documents, in each case, without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent may enter into any amendment, waiver, consent or supplement to this Agreement and such other related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable to amend the definition of “Eurocurrency Rate” with the consents, if any, and in the manner, as set forth therein.

Section 10.02. Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies. (a) General. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications provided for hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be in writing (including by facsimile transmission or electronic mail). All such written notices shall be mailed, faxed or delivered to the applicable address, facsimile number or electronic mail address, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

(i) subject to Section 10.07(q), if to a Borrower (or any other Loan Party) or the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, an L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02(a) or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties; and

 

235


(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the Lead Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, each L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender.

All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to be given or made upon the earlier to occur of (i) actual receipt by the relevant party hereto and (ii) (A) if delivered by hand or by courier, when signed for by or on behalf of the relevant party hereto; (B) if delivered by mail, four (4) Business Days after deposit in the mails, postage prepaid; (C) if delivered by facsimile, when sent and receipt has been confirmed by telephone; and (D) if delivered by electronic mail (which form of delivery is subject to the provisions of Section 10.02(c)), when delivered; provided that notices and other communications to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, an L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Article 2 shall not be effective until actually received by such Person. In no event shall a voice mail message be effective as a notice, communication or confirmation hereunder. Any notice 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.

(b) Effectiveness of Facsimile Documents and Signatures. Loan Documents may be transmitted and/or signed by facsimile or other electronic communication. The effectiveness of any such documents and signatures shall, subject to applicable Law, have the same force and effect as manually signed originals and shall be binding on all Loan Parties, the Agents and the Lenders.

(c) Reliance by Agents and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Lead Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrowers shall indemnify each Agent-Related Person and each Lender from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Lead Borrower in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction and such indemnification obligations shall survive the resignation or removal of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations. All telephonic notices to the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

(d) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereunder may be delivered or furnished by FpML messaging and Internet or intranet websites pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent acting reasonably, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or L/C Issuer pursuant to Article 2 if such Lender or L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative

 

236


Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by such communication. The Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender, the L/C Issuers or the Lead Borrower may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by FpML messaging and Internet or intranet websites 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, 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 of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

Section 10.03. No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.

Section 10.04. Attorney Costs and Expenses. The Borrowers agree (a) if the Closing Date occurs, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lead Arrangers for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation, syndication and execution of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification of the provisions hereof and thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated thereby are consummated), and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including all Attorney Costs, which shall be limited to one primary counsel (which shall be Milbank LLP for any and all of the foregoing in connection with the Transactions and other matters, including primary syndication, to occur on or prior to or otherwise in connection with the Closing Date), one local counsel as reasonably necessary in each relevant jurisdiction material to the interests of the Lenders taken as a whole and solely in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant jurisdiction that is material to each group of similarly situated affected Persons) and (b) from and after the Closing Date, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers and each Lender for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including all such costs and expenses incurred during any legal proceeding, including any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, and including all respective Attorney Costs which shall be limited to Attorney Costs of one counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers (and one local counsel as reasonably necessary in each relevant jurisdiction material to the interests of the Lenders taken as a whole)). The foregoing costs and expenses shall include all reasonable search, filing, recording and title insurance charges and fees related thereto, and other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Agent. The agreements in this Section 10.04 shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations. All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be paid within thirty (30) days of

 

237


receipt by the Lead Borrower of an invoice relating thereto setting forth such expenses in reasonable detail including, if requested by the Lead Borrower and to the extent reasonably available, backup documentation supporting such reimbursement request; provided that with respect to the Closing Date, all amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be paid on the Closing Date solely to the extent invoiced to the Lead Borrower within three Business Days of the Closing Date. If any Loan Party fails to pay when due any costs, expenses or other amounts payable by it hereunder or under any Loan Document, such amount may be paid on behalf of such Loan Party by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 10.04 shall not apply to Taxes, except any Taxes that represent liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, prepayments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements arising from any non-Tax claims.

Section 10.05. Indemnification by the Borrowers. The Borrowers shall indemnify and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person, each Lead Arranger, the Co-Manager, each Lender, each L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, partners, agents, advisors and other representatives of each of the foregoing (collectively the “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all liabilities (including Environmental Liabilities), obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements (including Attorney Costs but limited in the case of legal fees and expenses to the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and other charges of one counsel to all Indemnitees taken as a whole and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel for all Indemnitees taken as a whole in each relevant jurisdiction that is material to the interests of the Lenders, and solely in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant jurisdiction that is material to each group of similarly situated affected Indemnitees) of any kind or nature whatsoever which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any such Indemnitee in any way arising out of or in connection with (a) the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of any Loan Document or any other agreement, letter or instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, (b) any Commitment, Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom including any refusal by an L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit or (c) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding) and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto (all the foregoing, collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”) in all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of the negligence of the Indemnitee; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulted from (x) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or of any of its Affiliates or their respective directors, officers, employees, partners, agents, advisors or other representatives, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, (y) a material breach of any obligations under any Loan Document by such Indemnitee or of any of its Affiliates or their respective directors, officers, employees, partners,

 

238


advisors or other representatives, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or (z) any dispute solely among Indemnitees (other than any claims against an Indemnitee in its capacity or in fulfilling its role as an Agent, L/C Issuer or as a Lead Arranger under any Facility and other than any claims arising out of any act or omission of Holdings, the Borrowers, the Investors or any of its Affiliates). No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of any information or other materials obtained through Debtdomain, Roadshow Access (if applicable) or other similar information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement, nor, to the extent permissible under applicable Law, shall any Indemnitee, Loan Party or any Subsidiary have any liability for any special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Closing Date) (other than, in the case of any Loan Party, in respect of any such damages incurred or paid by an Indemnitee to a third party and for any out-of-pocket expenses in each case subject to the indemnification provisions of this Section 10.05); it being agreed that this sentence shall not limit the indemnification obligations of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Subsidiary. In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 10.05 applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party, its directors, stockholders or creditors or an Indemnitee or any other Person, whether or not any Indemnitee is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not any of the transactions contemplated hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents are consummated. All amounts due under this Section 10.05 shall be paid within thirty (30) days after written demand therefor (together with backup documentation supporting such reimbursement request); provided, however, that such Indemnitee shall promptly refund the amount of any payment to the extent that there is a final judicial or arbitral determination that such Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification rights with respect to such payment pursuant to the express terms of this Section 10.05.

The agreements in this Section 10.05 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 10.05 shall not apply to Taxes, except any Taxes that represent liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, prepayments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements arising from any non-Tax claims.

Section 10.06. Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrowers is made to any Agent or any Lender, or any Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall, to the fullest extent possible under provisions of applicable Law, be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share of any amount so recovered from or repaid by any Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate from time to time in effect, in the applicable currency of such recovery or payment.

 

 

239


Section 10.07. Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrowers may not assign or otherwise transfer any of their rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (except as permitted by Section 7.04) and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Assignee pursuant to an assignment made in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(b) (such an assignee, an “Eligible Assignee”) and (A) in the case of any Assignee that, immediately prior to or upon giving effect to such assignment, is an Affiliated Lender, Section 10.07(l), (B) in the case of any Assignee that is Holdings, the Borrowers or any of its Subsidiaries, Section 2.05(a)(v) or Section 10.07(m), or (C) in the case of any Assignee that, immediately prior to or upon giving effect to such assignment, is a Debt Fund Affiliate, Section 10.07(p), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(f), (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 10.07(j) or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(i) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void); provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary, (x) no Lender may assign or transfer by participation any of its rights or obligations hereunder to (i) any Person that is a Defaulting Lender or a Disqualified Lender (and any failure of the Lead Borrower to respond to any request for consent of assignment shall not cause such Person to cease to constitute a Disqualified Lender), (ii) 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 (iii) to Holdings, the Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries (except pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v) or Section 10.07(m)) and (y) no Lender may assign or transfer by participation any of its rights or obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility or Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder without the consent of the Lead Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) unless (i) such assignment or transfer is by a Revolving Credit Lender to another Revolving Credit Lender or an Affiliate of such assigning Revolving Credit Lender of similar creditworthiness to such assigning Revolving Credit Lender or (ii) an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) or, solely with respect to any Borrower, Section 8.01(f) has occurred and is continuing; provided that the Lead Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any assignment of Term Loans unless the Lead Borrower shall have objected thereto within fifteen (15) Business Days after the Persons identified in Section 10.07(q)(i) have received the written request therefor. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in Section 10.07(f) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Indemnitees) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

If any Loans or Commitments are assigned or participated (x) to a Disqualified Lender or (y) without complying with the notice requirement under Section 10.07(q), then: (a) the Borrowers may (i) terminate any Commitment of such person and prepay any applicable outstanding Loans at a price equal to the lesser of (x) the current trading price of the Loans, (y)

 

240


par and (z) the amount such person paid to acquire such Loans, in each case, without premium, penalty, prepayment fee or breakage, and/or (ii) require such person to assign its rights and obligations to one or more Eligible Assignees at the price indicated above (which assignment shall not be subject to any processing and recordation fee) and if such person does not execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly executed Assignment and Assumption reflecting such assignment within three (3) Business Days of the date on which the assignee Lender executes and delivers such Assignment and Assumption to such person, then such person shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Assumption without any action on its part, (b) no such person shall receive any information or reporting provided by the Lead Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender, (c) for purposes of voting, any Loans or Commitments held by such person shall be deemed not to be outstanding, and such person shall have no voting or consent rights with respect to “Required Lender” or class votes or consents, (d) for purposes of any matter requiring the vote or consent of each Lender affected by any amendment or waiver, such person shall be deemed to have voted or consented to approve such amendment or waiver if a majority of the affected class (giving effect to clause (c) above) so approves, and (e) such person shall not be entitled to any expense reimbursement or indemnification rights under any Loan Documents (including Sections 10.04 and 10.05) and the Borrowers expressly reserve all rights against such person under contract, tort or any other theory and shall be treated in all other respects as a Defaulting Lender; it being understood and agreed that the foregoing provisions shall only apply to a Disqualified Lender and not to any assignee of such Disqualified Lender that becomes a Lender so long as such assignee is not a Disqualified Lender or an affiliate thereof.

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to Disqualified Lenders. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (a) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Disqualified Lender or (b) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Disqualified Lender.

(b) (i) Subject to Section 10.07(a) and the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees (“Assignees”) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this Section 10.07(b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) of:

(A) the Lead Borrower; provided that no consent of the Lead Borrower shall be required for (i) an assignment of all or any portion of the Term Loans to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, (ii) an assignment related to Revolving Credit Commitments or Revolving Credit Exposure by a Revolving Credit Lender to another Revolving Credit Lender or an Affiliate of such Revolving Credit Lender of similar creditworthiness to such assigning Revolving Credit Lender, (iii) if an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) or, solely with respect to any Borrower, Section 8.01(f) has occurred and is continuing, (iv) an assignment of all or a portion of the Commitments or Loans pursuant to Section 10.07(l), Section 10.07(m) or Section 10.07(p) or (v) any assignment made in connection with the primary syndication of the Facilities to Eligible Assignees approved by the Lead Borrower on or prior to the Closing Date;

 

241


(B) the Administrative Agent; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment (i) of all or any portion of a Term Loan to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or (ii) all or any portion of the Loans pursuant to Section 10.07(l) or Section 10.07(m);

(C) each L/C Issuer at the time of such assignment; provided that no consent of the L/C Issuers shall be required for any assignment not related to Revolving Credit Commitments or Revolving Credit Exposure; and

(D) the Swing Line Lender; provided that no consent of the Swing Line Lender shall be required for any assignment not related to Revolving Credit Commitments or Revolving Credit Exposure.

(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than an amount of $5,000,000 (in the case of each Revolving Credit Loan or Revolving Credit Commitment), $1,000,000 (in the case of a Term Loan), and shall be in increments of an amount of $500,000 (in the case of each Revolving Credit Loan or Revolving Credit Commitment) or $250,000 (in the case of Term Loans) in excess thereof (provided that simultaneous assignments to or from two or more Approved Funds shall be aggregated for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 10.07(b)(ii)(A)), unless each of the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consents; provided that such amounts shall be aggregated in respect of each Lender and its Affiliates or Approved Funds, if any;

(B) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption via an electronic settlement system acceptable to the Administrative Agent (or if previously agreed with the Administrative Agent, manually), together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (which fee may be waived or reduced in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent); provided that only one such fee shall be payable in the event of simultaneous assignments to or from two or more Approved Funds; and

(C) other than in the case of assignments pursuant to Section 10.07(m), the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire (in which the Assignee shall designate one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain

 

242


material non-public information about the Loan Parties and their Affiliates or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the Assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including federal and state securities laws) and all applicable tax forms and certificates required pursuant to Section 3.01(d).

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 Commitment or Loans assigned, except this paragraph (b) shall not prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations among separate Facilities on a non-pro rata basis among such Facilities.

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 Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans in accordance with its Pro Rata Share. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

(c) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Sections 10.07(d) and (e), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, (1) other than in connection with an assignment pursuant to Section 10.07(m), the Eligible 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 (2) the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, 10.04 and 10.05 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment). Upon request, and the surrender by the assigning Lender of its Note(s), the Borrowers (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this clause (c) shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 10.07(f).

 

243


(d) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption, each Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption delivered to it, and each notice of cancellation of any Loans delivered by the Lead Borrower to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.07(m) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and related interest amounts) of the Loans, L/C Obligations (specifying the Unreimbursed Amounts), L/C Borrowings and the amounts due under Section 2.03, owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Lead Borrower, any Agent and, with respect to such Lender’s own interest only, any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. This Section 10.07(d) and Section 2.11 shall be construed so that all Loans are at all times maintained in “registered form” within the meaning of Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2) and 881(c)(2) of the Code and any related Treasury regulations (or any other relevant or successor provisions of the Code or of such Treasury regulations). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Administrative Agent be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender is an Affiliated Lender nor shall the Administrative Agent be obligated to monitor the aggregate amount of Term Loans held by Affiliated Lenders. Upon request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers shall (i) promptly (and in any case, not less than five (5) Business Days (or shorter period as agreed to by the Administrative Agent) prior to the proposed effective date of any amendment, consent or waiver pursuant to Section 10.01) provide to the Administrative Agent, a complete list of all Affiliated Lenders holding Loans and/or Commitments at such time and (ii) not less than five (5) Business Days (or shorter period as agreed to by the Administrative Agent) prior to the proposed effective date of any amendment, consent or waiver pursuant to Section 10.01, provide to the Administrative Agent, a complete list of all Debt Fund Affiliates holding Loans and/or Commitments at such time.

(e) Upon its receipt of, and consent to, a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an Assignee, an Administrative Questionnaire completed in respect of the assignee (unless the Assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) above, if applicable, and the written consent of the Administrative Agent, if required, and, if required, the Lead Borrower, the Swing Line Lender and each L/C Issuer to such assignment and any applicable tax forms and certificates required pursuant to Section 3.01(d), the Administrative Agent shall promptly (i) accept such Assignment and Assumption and (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph (e).

(f) Any Lender may at any time sell participations to any Person, subject to clause (x) of the first proviso of Section 10.07(a) and, in the case of any participation with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility or Revolving Credit Exposure, clause (y) of the first proviso of Section 10.07(a) (each, a “Participant”), in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided

 

244


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 Borrowers, the Agents and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the second proviso to Section 10.01 that requires the affirmative vote of such Lender, in each case to the extent the Participant is directly and adversely affected thereby. Subject to Section 10.07(g), each Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 (subject to the requirements and limitations of such Sections) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 10.07(c). To the extent permitted by applicable Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.09 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant shall be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender. Each Participant and each SPC will provide any applicable tax forms and certificates required pursuant to Section 3.01(d) solely to the participating Lender or Granting Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation or grants a Loan to an SPC shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and SPC and the principal amounts (and related interest amounts) of each Participant’s and each SPC’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans or Letters of Credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) except to the extent that (w) such disclosure is necessary in connection with an audit or other proceeding 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 and Section 1.163-5(b) of the United States Proposed Treasury Regulations, (x) upon request of the Lead Borrower, to confirm no Participant or SPC of Term Loans is a Disqualified Lender, 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 (y) in connection with the request for consent for participation in respect of any Revolving Credit Facility or Revolving Credit Exposure. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive 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.

(g) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01, 3.04 or 3.05 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Lead Borrower’s prior written consent, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed (for the avoidance of doubt, the Lead Borrower shall have reasonable basis for withholding consent if any participation would result in increased indemnification obligations to the Lead Borrower at such time).

 

245


(h) [Reserved].

(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower (an “SPC”) the option to provide all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to fund any Loan, (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to make all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof and (iii) such SPC and the applicable Loan or any applicable part thereof, shall be appropriately reflected in the Participant Register. Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) an SPC shall be entitled to the benefit of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 (subject to the requirements and the limitations of such Section), but neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Lead Borrower under this Agreement except in the case of Sections 3.01 or 3.04, to the extent that the grant to the SPC was made with the prior written consent of the Lead Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrowers shall have reasonable basis for withholding consent if an exercise by SPC immediately after the grant would result in materially increased indemnification obligations to the Borrowers at such time), (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable, and (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Loan Document, remain the lender of record hereunder. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent and with the payment of a processing fee of $3,500, assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Loan to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its funding of Loans to any Rating Agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or Guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

(j) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, without the consent of the Lead Borrower or the Administrative Agent, any Lender may in accordance with applicable Law create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Note, if any, held by it (and in the case of any Fund, such security interest may be created in favor of the trustee for holders of obligations owed or securities issued, by such Fund as security for such obligations or securities), including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or any central bank having jurisdiction over such Lender; provided that unless and until such pledgee actually becomes a Lender in compliance with the other provisions of this Section 10.07, (i) no such pledge shall release the pledging Lender from any of its obligations under the Loan Documents and (ii) such pledgee shall not be entitled to exercise any of the rights of a Lender under the Loan Documents even though such pledgee may have acquired ownership rights with respect to the pledged interest through foreclosure or otherwise.

 

246


(k) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender may, upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Lead Borrower and the Lenders, resign as an L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, respectively; provided that on or prior to the expiration of such 30-day period with respect to such resignation, the relevant L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender shall have identified a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender reasonably acceptable to the Lead Borrower willing to accept its appointment as successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as applicable, unless, at the option of the Lead Borrower, the Lead Borrower shall have appointed one or more L/C Issuers or Swing Line Lenders from among the Lenders willing to accept such appointment as a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided that no failure by the Lead Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of the relevant L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, except as expressly provided above. If an L/C Issuer resigns as an L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights and obligations of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as an L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). If the Swing Line Lender resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans, Eurocurrency Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c).

(l) (1) Any Lender may, at any time, assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations with respect to Term Loans under this Agreement to a Person who is or will become, after such assignment, an Affiliated Lender through (x) “Dutch Auctions” open to all Lenders of the applicable Class on a pro rata basis in accordance with analogous procedures of the type described in Section 2.05(a)(v) or (y) open-market purchases on a pro rata or non-pro rata basis and (2) any Affiliated Lender may, at any time, purchase all or a portion of the rights and obligations of a Defaulting Lender, in each case subject to the following limitations:

(i) the assigning Lender and the Affiliated Lender purchasing such Lender’s Loans and/or Commitments shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an assignment agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit L-1 hereto (an “Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption”);

(ii) Affiliated Lenders will not receive information provided solely to Lenders by the Administrative Agent or any Lender and will not be permitted to attend or participate in conference calls or meetings attended solely by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, other than the right to receive notices of prepayments and other administrative notices in respect of its Loans or Commitments required to be delivered to Lenders pursuant to Article 2 and will not be permitted to challenge the Administrative Agent and the other Lender’ attorney-client privilege;

(iii) the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans held at any one time by Affiliated Lenders shall not exceed 25% of the principal amount of any Class of Term Loans at such time outstanding (measured at the time of purchase) (such percentage, the “Affiliated Lender Cap”); provided that to the extent any assignment to an Affiliated Lender would result in the aggregate principal amount of each such Class of Term Loans held by Affiliated Lenders exceeding the Affiliated Lender Cap, the assignment of such excess amount will be void ab initio;

 

247


(iv) with respect to Section 10.07(l)(2), any non-Defaulting Lender of the same Class willing to repurchase any Loans/Commitments of the Defaulting Lenders from the Affiliated Lenders shall have the right to make such repurchase at par plus accrued and unpaid interest or at a lower price agreed to by such Defaulting Lender on a pro rata basis based on their share of the applicable Facility; and

(v) as a condition to each assignment pursuant to this clause (l), the Administrative Agent shall have been provided an Affiliated Lender Notice to this Agreement in connection with each assignment to an Affiliated Lender or a Person that upon effectiveness of such assignment would constitute an Affiliated Lender pursuant to which such Affiliated Lender shall waive any right to bring any action in connection with such Loans and/or Commitments against the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such.

Each Affiliated Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) if it acquires any Person who is also a Lender, and each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) if it becomes an Affiliated Lender. Such notice shall contain the type of information required and be delivered to the same addressee as set forth in Exhibit L-2.

(m) Any Lender may, so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing and, only to the extent purchased at a discount, no proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans are applied to fund the consideration for any such assignment, at any time, assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations with respect to Term Loans under this Agreement to Holdings, the Borrowers or any of its Subsidiaries through (x) “Dutch Auctions” open to all Lenders on a pro rata basis in accordance with procedures of the type described in Section 2.05(a)(v) or (y) notwithstanding Sections 2.12 and 2.13 or any other provision in this Agreement, open-market purchase on a pro rata or non-pro rata basis; provided that in connection with assignments pursuant to clauses (x) and (y) above:

(i) if Holdings or any Subsidiary of a Borrower (other than the Other Borrower Party) is the assignee, upon such assignment, transfer or contribution, Holdings or such Subsidiary shall automatically be deemed to have contributed, assigned or transferred the principal amount of such Term Loans, plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to the Borrowers; or

(ii) if the assignee is a Borrower (including through contribution or transfers set forth in clause (i) above), (A) the principal amount of such Term Loans, along with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, so contributed, assigned or transferred to such Borrower shall be deemed automatically cancelled and extinguished on the date of such contribution, assignment or transfer, (B) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Term Loans of the remaining Lenders shall reflect such cancellation and extinguishing of the Term Loans then held by the Borrowers and (C) the Lead Borrower shall promptly provide notice to the Administrative Agent of such contribution, assignment or transfer of such Term Loans, and the Administrative Agent, upon receipt of such notice, shall reflect the cancellation of the applicable Term Loans in the Register.

 

248


(n) Notwithstanding anything in Section 10.01 or the definition of “Required Lenders,” “Required Class Lenders,” or “Required Facility Lenders” to the contrary, for purposes of determining whether the Required Lenders, the Required Class Lenders or the Required Facility Lenders have (i) consented (or not consented) to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action with respect to any of the terms of any Loan Document or any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, unless the action in question affects any Affiliated Lender in a disproportionately adverse manner than its effect on the other Lenders, or subject to Section 10.07(o), any plan of reorganization pursuant to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, (ii) otherwise acted on any matter related to any Loan Document, or (iii) directed or required the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to or under any Loan Document, no Affiliated Lender shall have any right to consent (or not consent), otherwise act or direct or require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to take (or refrain from taking) any such action and:

(A) all Commitments or Loans held by any Affiliated Lenders shall be deemed to be not outstanding for all purposes of calculating whether the Required Lenders, the Required Class Lenders or the Required Facility Lenders have taken any actions; and

(B) all Commitments or Loans held by Affiliated Lenders shall be deemed to be not outstanding for all purposes of calculating whether all Lenders have taken any action unless the action in question affects such Affiliated Lender in a disproportionately adverse manner than its effect on other Lenders.

(o) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to the contrary, each Affiliated Lender hereby agrees that and each Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption shall provide a confirmation that, if a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law shall be commenced by or against the Lead Borrower or any other Loan Party at a time when such Lender is an Affiliated Lender, such Affiliated Lender irrevocably authorizes and empowers the Administrative Agent to vote on behalf of such Affiliated Lender with respect to the Loans held by such Affiliated Lender in any manner in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion, unless the Administrative Agent instructs such Affiliated Lender to vote, in which case such Affiliated Lender shall vote with respect to the Loans held by it as the Administrative Agent directs; provided that such Affiliated Lender shall be entitled to vote in accordance with its sole discretion (and not in accordance with the direction of the Administrative Agent) in connection with any plan of reorganization to the extent any such plan of reorganization proposes to treat any Obligations held by such Affiliated Lender in a disproportionately adverse manner to such Affiliated Lender than the proposed treatment of similar Obligations held by Lenders that are not Affiliated Lenders.

(p) Notwithstanding anything in Section 10.01 or the definition of “Required Lenders” to the contrary, for purposes of determining whether the Required Lenders have (i) consented (or not consented) to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action with respect to any of the terms of any Loan Document or any departure by any Loan Party

 

249


therefrom, (ii) otherwise acted on any matter related to any Loan Document or (iii) directed or required the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to or under any Loan Document, all Term Loans, Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Loans held by Debt Fund Affiliates may not account for more than 49.9% (pro rata among such Debt Fund Affiliates) of the Term Loans, Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Loans of consenting Lenders included in determining whether the Required Lenders have consented to any action pursuant to Section 10.01.

(q) Any request for consent of the Lead Borrower pursuant to Section 10.07(b)(i)(A) or Section 10.07(f) (with respect to any participation with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility) and related communications shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent simultaneously to the following Persons:

(i) with respect to any request for consent in respect of any assignment of Term Loans or any assignment or participation relating to Revolving Credit Commitments or Revolving Credit Exposure, to (A) any recipient that is an employee of Holdings or the Lead Borrower, as designated in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Lead Borrower from time to time (if any) and (B) the chief financial officer of the Lead Borrower or any other Responsible Officer designated by the Lead Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent from time to time; and

(ii) in addition to the Persons set forth in clause (i) above and prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, with respect to any request for consent in respect of any assignment or participation related to Revolving Credit Commitments or Revolving Credit Exposure, to (A) the Sponsor as specified on Schedule 10.02(a) and (B) an employee of the Sponsor designated in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Sponsor from time to time.

Section 10.08. Confidentiality. Each of the Agents, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information and not to disclose such information, except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and its Affiliates’ managers, administrators, directors, officers, employees, trustees, partners, investors, investment advisors and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (excluding Affiliates, managers, administrators, directors, officers, employees, trustees, partners, investors, investment advisors and agents that are engaged (i) as principals primarily in the business of (A) asset management (B) the sale or distribution of asset management products, including, without limitation, mutual funds, in each case, other than a limited number of senior employees who are required, in accordance with such Lender’s internal policies and procedures, to act in a supervisory capacity and such Lender’s internal legal, compliance, risk management, credit or investment committee members (each, with respect to any Lender, an “Excluded Person”) or (ii) as a credit research firm, provider of indenture and loan agreement analysis or similar services) (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential); (b) to the extent requested by any Governmental Authority or self-regulatory authority having or asserting jurisdiction over such Person (including as required pursuant to the EU Risk Retention Rules or any Governmental Authority or examiner (including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any other similar organization) regulating any

 

250


Lender or its Affiliates); provided that the Administrative Agent, such Lead Arranger or such Lender, as applicable, agrees that it will notify the Lead Borrower as soon as practicable in the event of any such disclosure by such Person (other than at the request of a regulatory authority or examiner or to the extent such disclosure is required pursuant to the EU Risk Retention Rules) unless such notification is prohibited by law, rule or regulation; (c) to the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the Facilities or market data collectors, similar services providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement and the Loan Documents; (d) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; provided that the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, agrees that it will notify the Lead Borrower as soon as practicable in the event of any such disclosure by such Person (other than at the request of a regulatory authority or examiner) unless such notification is prohibited by law, rule or regulation; (e) to any other party to this Agreement or to the Investors; (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions at least as restrictive as those set forth in this Section 10.08 (or as may otherwise be reasonably acceptable to the Lead Borrower), to any pledgee referred to in Section 10.07(j), counterparty to a Swap Contract, Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective Eligible Assignee of or Participant in any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement (other than an Excluded Person that is not a Bona Fide Debt Fund) (provided that the disclosure of any such Information to any Lenders or Eligible Assignees or Participants shall be made subject to the acknowledgement and acceptance by such Lender, Eligible Assignee or Participant that such Information is being disseminated on a confidential basis (on substantially the terms set forth in this Section 10.08 or as otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Lead Borrower, including, without limitation, as agreed in any Borrower Materials) in accordance with the standard processes of the Administrative Agent or customary market standards for dissemination of such type of Information); provided that nothing in this Section 10.08 shall prohibit any Lender from disclosing any such information to an Excluded Person that is a Bona Fide Debt Fund in its capacity as an Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective Eligible Assignee of or Participant in any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement; (g) with the written consent of the Lead Borrower; (h) to the extent such Information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.08 or becomes available to the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than a Loan Party or any Investor or their respective Affiliates (so long as such source is not known to the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers, such Lender, such L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates to be bound by confidentiality obligations to any Loan Party); (i) [reserved]; (j) to any Rating Agency when required by it (it being understood that, prior to any such disclosure, such Rating Agency shall undertake to preserve the confidentiality of any Information relating to Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries received by it from such Lender) or to the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar organization; (k) in connection with establishing a “due diligence” defense or (l) to the extent such Information is independently developed by the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers, such Lender, such L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates; provided that no disclosure shall be made to any Disqualified Lender or Excluded Person (other than an Excluded Person that is a Bona Fide Debt Fund in its capacity as a prospective Eligible Assignee of or Participant in any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement). In addition, the Agents, Lead Arrangers and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and publicly

 

251


available information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Commitments, and the Credit Extensions. For the purposes of this Section 10.08, “Information” means all information received from the Loan Parties relating to any Loan Party, its Affiliates or its Affiliates’ directors, managers, officers, employees, trustees, investment advisors or agents, relating to Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries or its business, other than any such information that is publicly available to any Agent, any Lead Arranger, any L/C Issuer or any Lender prior to disclosure by any Loan Party other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.08; provided that all information received after the Closing Date from Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed confidential unless such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as not being confidential. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the avoidance of doubt, each of the Agents, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders agree that no Information shall be disclosed to any credit research firms, providers of indenture and loan agreement analysis or similar services.

Section 10.09. Setoff. In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by Law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender and its Affiliates (and the Collateral Agent, in respect of any unpaid fees, costs and expenses payable hereunder) is authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to the Lead Borrower, any such notice being waived by each Borrower (on its own behalf and on behalf of each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held by, and other Indebtedness at any time owing by, such Lender and its Affiliates or the Collateral Agent to or for the credit or the account of the respective Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries against any and all Obligations owing to such Lender and its Affiliates or the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document, now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not such Agent or such Lender or Affiliate shall have made demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or denominated in a currency different from that of the applicable deposit or Indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.17 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers, and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set off and application made by such Lender; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application. The rights of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Lender under this Section 10.09 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and such Lender may have. No amounts set off from any Guarantor shall be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor.

 

252


Section 10.10. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If any Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrowers. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by an Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

Section 10.11. Counterparts. This Agreement and each other Loan Document may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery by telecopier or other electronic transmission of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement and each other Loan Document shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement and such other Loan Document. The Agents may also require that any such documents and signatures delivered by telecopier or other electronic transmission be confirmed by an original thereof; provided that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any document or signature delivered by telecopier or other electronic transmission.

Section 10.12. Integration; Termination. This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, comprises the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on such subject matter. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and those of any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall control; provided that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Agents or the Lenders in any other Loan Document shall not be deemed a conflict with this Agreement. Each Loan Document was drafted with the joint participation of the respective parties thereto and shall be construed neither against nor in favor of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning thereof.

Section 10.13. Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by each Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by any Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that any Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

 

253


Section 10.14. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.14, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

Section 10.15. GOVERNING LAW, PROCESS AGENT. (a) THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b) ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF SUCH STATE, AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH LOAN PARTY, EACH AGENT AND EACH LENDER CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS AND AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE OR SUPPORT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION. EACH LOAN PARTY, EACH AGENT AND EACH LENDER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT RELATED THERETO. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES (OTHER THAN TELECOPIER OR OTHER ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION) IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION TO ENFORCE ANY AWARD OR JUDGMENT OR EXERCISE ANY RIGHT UNDER THE COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS AGAINST ANY COLLATERAL OR ANY OTHER PROPERTY OF ANY LOAN PARTY IN ANY OTHER FORUM IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH COLLATERAL IS LOCATED.

(c) Each of the Lead Borrower, Holdings and each Guarantor that is a Foreign Subsidiary hereby irrevocably appoints, and appoints on behalf of themselves and on behalf of each Foreign Subsidiary that is a Loan Party and the Lead Borrower (each such Loan Party, a “Foreign Loan Party”) the Other Borrower Party (the “Process Agent”) at its address set forth

 

254


on Schedule 10.02(a), as its agent to receive on behalf of each Foreign Loan Party service of the summons and complaint and any other process which may be served in any action or proceeding described above. Such service may be made by mailing or delivering a copy of such process to each Foreign Loan Party, in care of the Process Agent at the address specified for such Process Agent, and such Foreign Loan Party hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs the Process Agent to accept such service on its behalf. Each Foreign Loan Party covenants and agrees that, for so long as it shall be bound under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, it shall maintain a duly appointed agent for the service of summons and other legal process in New York, New York, United States of America, for the purposes of any legal action, suit or proceeding brought by any party in respect of this Agreement or such other Loan Document and shall keep the Agents advised of the identity and location of such agent.

Section 10.16. WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 10.16 WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

Section 10.17. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by each Lender, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuers that each Lender, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuers have executed it and thereafter this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Loan Parties, each Agent and each Lender and their respective successors and assigns, in each case in accordance with Section 10.07 (if applicable) and except that no Loan Party shall have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders except as permitted by Section 7.04.

Section 10.18. USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the USA PATRIOT Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrowers and the Guarantors that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name, address and tax identification number of such Loan Party and other information regarding such Loan Party that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act. This notice is given in accordance with the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act and is effective as to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent.

 

255


Section 10.19. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. (a) In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, each Loan 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 each Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Agents, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, and the Borrowers are 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 Agents, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other Person, (iii) none of the Agents, the Lead Arrangers or the Lenders has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrowers 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 Agent or Lead Arranger or Lender has advised or is currently advising the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates on other matters) and none of the Agents, the Lead Arrangers or the Lenders has any obligation to the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates with respect to the financing transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, (iv) the Agents, the Lead 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 Borrowers and their Affiliates, and none of the Agents, the Lead 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 Agents, the Lead 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 Loan Parties have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they have deemed appropriate. Each Loan Party hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against the Agents, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty under applicable law relating to agency and fiduciary obligations.

(b) Each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that each Lender, the Lead Arrangers and any Affiliate thereof may lend money to, invest in, and generally engage in any kind of business with, any of the Borrowers, Holdings, any Investor, 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, the Lead Arrangers or Affiliate thereof were not a Lender, the Lead Arrangers or an Affiliate thereof (or an agent or any other person with any similar role under the Facilities) and without any duty to account therefor to any other Lender, the Lead Arrangers, Holdings, the Borrowers, any Investor or any Affiliate of the foregoing. Each Lender, the Lead Arrangers and any Affiliate thereof may accept fees and other consideration from Holdings, the Borrowers, any Investor or any Affiliate thereof for services in connection with this Agreement, the Facilities or otherwise without having to account for the same to any other Lender, the Lead Arrangers, Holdings, the Borrowers, any Investor or any Affiliate of the foregoing. Some or all of the

 

256


Lenders and the Lead Arrangers may have directly or indirectly acquired certain equity interests (including warrants) in Holdings, the Borrowers, an Investor or an Affiliate thereof or may have directly or indirectly extended credit on a subordinated basis to Holdings, the Borrowers, an Investor or an Affiliate thereof. Each party hereto, on its behalf and on behalf of its Affiliates, acknowledges and waives the potential conflict of interest resulting from any such Lender, the Lead Arrangers or an Affiliate thereof holding disproportionate interests in the extensions of credit under the Facilities or otherwise acting as arranger or agent thereunder and such Lender, the Lead Arrangers or any Affiliate thereof directly or indirectly holding equity interests in or subordinated debt issued by Holdings, the Borrowers, an Investor or an Affiliate thereof.

Section 10.20. Electronic Execution of Assignments. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based record keeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

Section 10.21. Effect of Certain Inaccuracies. In the event that any financial statement or Compliance Certificate previously delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a) was inaccurate or was restated (regardless of whether this Agreement or the Commitments are in effect when such inaccuracy is discovered), and such inaccuracy, if corrected, or such restatement would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Rate for any period (an “Applicable Period”) than the Applicable Rate applied for such Applicable Period, then (i) the Lead Borrower shall as soon as practicable deliver to the Administrative Agent a corrected or restated financial statement and a corrected or updated Compliance Certificate for such Applicable Period, (ii) the Applicable Rate shall be determined based on the updated Compliance Certificate for such Applicable Period, and (iii) the Lead Borrower shall within 15 days after the delivery of the corrected or restated financial statements and the updated Compliance Certificate pay to the Administrative Agent the accrued additional interest or fees owing as a result of such increased Applicable Rate for such Applicable Period. This Section 10.21 shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders with respect to Sections 2.08(b) and 8.01; provided that any underpayment due to change in Applicable Rate shall not in itself constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 8.01 so long as such additional interest or fees are paid within the 15-day period set forth above.

Section 10.22. Judgment Currency. If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due from the Borrowers hereunder in the currency expressed to be payable herein (the “specified currency”) into another currency, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures any Lender could purchase the specified currency with such other currency at such Lender’s New York office on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligations of the Borrowers in respect of any sum due to any Lender hereunder shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than the specified currency, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business

 

257


Day following receipt by such Lender of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency such Lender may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the specified currency with such other currency; if the amount of the specified currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to such Lender in the specified currency, the Borrowers agree, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Lender against such loss, and if the amount of the specified currency so purchased exceeds the sum originally due to such Lender in the specified currency, such Lender agrees to remit such excess to the Borrowers.

Section 10.23. 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 Lender that is an 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 to any Lender that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other 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 10.24. Cashless Rollovers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, to the extent that any Lender extends the maturity date of, or replaces, renews or refinances, any of its then-existing Loans with Incremental Facilities, Facilities in connection with any Refinancing Series, Extended Term Loans, Extended Revolving Credit Loans or loans incurred under a new credit facility, in each case, to the extent such extension, replacement, renewal or refinancing is effected by means of a “cashless roll” by such Lender, such extension, replacement, renewal or refinancing shall be deemed to comply with any requirement hereunder or any other Loan Document that such payment be made “in Dollars”, “in immediately available funds”, “in cash” or any other similar requirement.

Section 10.25. Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Swap Contracts or any

 

258


other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

Section 10.26. Lead Borrower. The Other Borrower Party hereby designates the Lead Borrower as its representative and agent for all purposes under the Loan Documents, including Requests for Credit Extensions, designation of interest rates, delivery or receipt of communications, preparation and delivery of financial information, requests for waivers, amendments or other accommodations, actions under the Loan Documents (including in respect of compliance with covenants), and all other dealings with the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers or any Lender. The Lead Borrower hereby accepts such appointment. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, any notice or communication (including any Committed Loan Notice) delivered by the Lead Borrower on behalf of the Other Borrower Party. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders may give any notice or communication with the Other Borrower Party hereunder to the Lead Borrower on behalf of the Other Borrower Party. Each of the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuers and the Lenders shall have the right, in its discretion, to deal exclusively with the Lead Borrower for any or all purposes under the Loan Documents. The Other Borrower Party agrees that any notice, election, communication, representation, agreement or undertaking made on its behalf by the Lead Borrower shall be binding upon and enforceable against it.

 

259


ARTICLE 11

GUARANTY

Section 11.01. The Guaranty. Each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally with the other Guarantors guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety to each Secured Party and their respective successors and assigns, the prompt payment in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, demand, by acceleration or otherwise) of the principal of and interest (including any interest, fees, costs or charges that would accrue but for the provisions of (i) Title 11 of the United States Code after any bankruptcy or insolvency petition under Title 11 of the United States Code and (ii) any other Debtor Relief Laws) on the Loans made by the Lenders to, and the Notes held by each Lender of, the Borrowers, and all other Obligations (other than with respect to any Guarantor, Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor) from time to time owing to the Secured Parties by the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries under any Loan Document or any Secured Hedge Agreement or any Treasury Services Agreement, in each case strictly in accordance with the terms thereof (such obligations being herein collectively called the “Guaranteed Obligations”). The Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agree that if the Borrowers or other Guarantor(s) shall fail to pay in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the Guarantors will promptly pay the same in cash, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.

Section 11.02. Obligations Unconditional. The obligations of the Guarantors under Section 11.01 shall constitute a guarantee of payment and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, are absolute, irrevocable and unconditional, joint and several, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement, the Secured Hedge Agreements, the Treasury Services Agreements, the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein, or any substitution, release or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or Guarantor (except for payment in full). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of the Guarantors hereunder which shall remain absolute, irrevocable and unconditional under any and all circumstances as described above:

(i) at any time or from time to time, without notice to the Guarantors, to the extent permitted by Law, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;

(ii) any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of this Agreement or the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be done or omitted;

 

260


(iii) the maturity of any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be amended in any respect, or any right under the Loan Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be amended or waived in any respect or any other guarantee of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or except as permitted pursuant to Section 11.10 any security therefor shall be released or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with;

(iv) any Lien or security interest granted to, or in favor of, an L/C Issuer or any Lender or Agent as security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall fail to be perfected; or

(v) the release of any other Guarantor pursuant to Section 11.10.

The Guarantors hereby expressly waive diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and, to the extent permitted by Law, all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that any Secured Party exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against the Borrowers under this Agreement, the Secured Hedge Agreements, the Treasury Services Agreements or the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein, or against any other person under any other guarantee of, or security for, any of the Guaranteed Obligations. The Guarantors waive, to the extent permitted by Law, any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension, waiver, termination or accrual of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by any Secured Party upon this Guaranty or acceptance of this Guaranty, and the Guaranteed Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred in reliance upon this Guaranty, and all dealings between the Borrowers and the Secured Parties shall likewise be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon this Guaranty. This Guaranty shall be construed as a continuing, absolute, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payment without regard to any right of offset with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations at any time or from time to time held by Secured Parties, and the obligations and liabilities of the Guarantors hereunder shall not be conditioned or contingent upon the pursuit by the Secured Parties or any other person at any time of any right or remedy against the Borrowers or against any other person which may be or become liable in respect of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or against any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto. This Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect and be binding in accordance with and to the extent of its terms upon the Guarantors and the successors and assigns thereof, and shall inure to the benefit of the Lenders, and their respective successors and assigns, notwithstanding that from time to time during the term of this Agreement there may be no Guaranteed Obligations outstanding.

Section 11.03. Reinstatement. The obligations of the Guarantors under this Article 11 shall be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of the Borrowers or other Loan Party in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether as a result of any proceedings in insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise.

 

261


Section 11.04. Subrogation; Subordination. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that until the payment and satisfaction in full in cash of all Guaranteed Obligations (other than (x) obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements and Treasury Services Agreements not yet due and payable and (y) contingent indemnification obligations not yet accrued and payable) and the expiration or termination of the Commitments of the Lenders under this Agreement, it shall waive any claim and shall not exercise any right or remedy, direct or indirect, arising by reason of any performance by it of its guarantee in Section 11.01, whether by subrogation or otherwise, against the Borrowers or any other Guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations. Any Indebtedness of any Loan Party permitted pursuant to Sections 7.03(b)(ii) or 7.03(d) shall be subordinated to such Loan Party’s Obligations in the manner set forth in the Intercompany Note evidencing such Indebtedness.

Section 11.05. Remedies. The Guarantors jointly and severally agree that, as between the Guarantors and the Lenders, the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the Notes, if any, may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as provided in Section 8.02 (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances provided in Section 8.02) for purposes of Section 11.01, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such declaration (or such obligations from becoming automatically due and payable) as against the Borrowers and that, in the event of such declaration (or such obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), such obligations (whether or not due and payable by the Borrowers) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for purposes of Section 11.01.

Section 11.06. Instrument for the Payment of Money. Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges that the guarantee in this Article 11 constitutes an instrument for the payment of money, and consents and agrees that any Lender or Agent, at its sole option, in the event of a dispute by such Guarantor in the payment of any moneys due hereunder, shall have the right to bring a motion-action under New York CPLR Section 3213.

Section 11.07. Continuing Guaranty. The guarantee in this Article 11 is a continuing guarantee of payment, and shall apply to all Guaranteed Obligations whenever arising.

Section 11.08. General Limitation on Guarantee Obligations. In any action or proceeding involving any state corporate limited partnership or limited liability company law, or any applicable state, federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other Law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor under Section 11.01 would otherwise be held or determined to be void, voidable, invalid or unenforceable, or subordinated to the claims of any other creditors, on account of the amount of its liability under Section 11.01, then, notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by such Subsidiary Guarantor, any Loan Party or any other person, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount (after giving effect to the right of contribution established in Section 11.11) that is valid and enforceable and not subordinated to the claims of other creditors as determined in such action or proceeding.

Section 11.09. Information. Each Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrowers’ financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that each Guarantor assumes and incurs under this Guaranty, and agrees that none of any Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender shall have any duty to advise any Guarantor of information known to it regarding those circumstances or risks.

 

262


Section 11.10. Release of Guarantors. If, in compliance with the terms and provisions of the Loan Documents, (i) all or substantially all of the Equity Interests or property of any Subsidiary Guarantor are sold or otherwise transferred as permitted under this Agreement, to a person or persons, none of which is a Loan Party or (ii) any Subsidiary Guarantor becomes an Excluded Subsidiary, such Subsidiary Guarantor shall, upon the consummation of such sale or transfer or upon becoming an Excluded Subsidiary, be automatically released from its obligations under this Agreement (including under Section 10.05 hereof) and its obligations to pledge and grant any Collateral owned by it pursuant to any Collateral Document and the pledge of such Equity Interests to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Collateral Documents shall be automatically released, and, so long as the Lead Borrower shall have provided the Agents such certifications or documents as any Agent shall reasonably request, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall, at such Subsidiary Guarantor’s expense, take such actions as are necessary to effect each release described in this Section 11.10 in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Collateral Documents; provided that no such release shall occur if such Guarantor continues to be a guarantor in respect of any Junior Financing with a principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount.

When all Commitments hereunder have terminated, and all Loans or other Obligations (other than obligations under Treasury Services Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements) hereunder which are accrued and payable have been paid or satisfied, and no Letter of Credit remains outstanding (except any Letter of Credit the Outstanding Amount of which the Obligations related thereto has been Cash Collateralized or for which a backstop letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer has been put in place), this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the guarantees made herein shall terminate with respect to all Obligations, except with respect to Obligations that expressly survive such repayment pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents. The Collateral Agent shall, at each Guarantor’s expense, take such actions as are necessary to release any Collateral owned by such Guarantor in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Collateral Documents.

Section 11.11. Right of Contribution. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that to the extent that a Subsidiary Guarantor shall have paid more than its proportionate share of any payment made hereunder, such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be entitled to seek and receive contribution from and against any other Guarantor hereunder which has not paid its proportionate share of such payment. Each Subsidiary Guarantor’s right of contribution shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 11.04. The provisions of this Section 11.11 shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender and the Lenders, and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall remain liable to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender and the Lenders for the full amount guaranteed by such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder.

 

263


Section 11.12. Cross-Guaranty. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally, absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support to each Specified Guarantor as may be needed by such Specified Guarantor from time to time to honor all of its obligations under its Guaranty and the other Loan Documents in respect of any Swap Obligation (provided, however, that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section 11.12 for up to the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering such Qualified ECP Guarantor’s obligations and undertakings under this Section 11.12 voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or fraudulent preference, and not for any greater amount). The obligations and undertakings of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 11.12 shall remain in full force and effect until the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid and performed in full and all Commitments have been terminated. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section 11.12 constitute, and this Section 11.12 shall be deemed to constitute, an agreement for the benefit of each Specified Guarantor for all purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

 

264


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

BUZZ MERGER SUB LTD, as the Lead Borrower
By:  

/s/ Jonathan Korngold__

  Name: Jonathan Korngold
  Title: Director
BUZZ FINCO L.L.C., as the Other Borrower Party
By:  

/s/ Jonathan Korngold__

  Name: Jonathan Korngold
  Title: President
BUZZ BIDCO L.L.C., as Holdings
By:  

/s/ Jonathan Korngold

  Name: Jonathan Korngold
  Title: President

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, L/C Issuer, Swing Line Lender and a Lender

By:  

/s/ Scott Sartorius

  Name: Scott Sartorius
  Title: Managing Director

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Martin Corrigan

  Name: Martin Corrigan
  Title: Vice President

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


HSBC BANK PLC,

as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Bradley Wilson

  Name: Bradley Wilson
  Title: Director

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,

as a Lender

By:

 

/s/ Charles D. Smith

 

Name: Charles D. Smith

 

Title: Managing Director, Head of Leveraged Finance

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION,

as a Lender

By:

 

/s/ Glenn Autorino

 

Name: Glenn Autorino

 

Title: Managing Director

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


BLACKSTONE HOLDINGS FINANCE CO. L.L.C.,

as Revolving Credit Lender

By:

 

/s/ Matthew Skurbe

 

Name: Matthew Skurbe

 

Title: Managing Director and Treasurer

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]

Exhibit 10.18

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

AMENDMENT NO. 1, dated as of October 19, 2020 (this “Incremental Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2020, among Buzz BidCo L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”), Buzz Finco L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (and successor by merger to Worldwide Vision Limited, the “Borrower”), the other Guarantors party thereto from time to time, the lenders party thereto from time to time and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), Collateral Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer (as amended, restated, amended and restated, modified and supplemented from time to time, the “Credit Agreement” and as amended by this Incremental Amendment, the “Amended Credit Agreement”); capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement, any Borrower may from time to time request Incremental Term Loans, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein;

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that Citibank, N.A. provide “Incremental Term Loans” pursuant to Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement in an aggregate principal amount of $275,000,000 (such Incremental Term Loans in such principal amount referred to herein as the “Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans”), the proceeds of which will be used to (i) make a distribution to certain direct or indirect holders of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower and (ii) pay fees and expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Incremental Amendment and for working capital, general corporate purposes and for any other purpose not prohibited by the Credit Agreement;

WHEREAS, Citibank, N.A. (in such capacity, the “Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender”) is willing, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Credit Agreement, to make to the Borrower the full amount of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans;

WHEREAS, Pursuant to Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower, the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender and Administrative Agent may enter into an Incremental Amendment without the consent of any other Agents or Lenders, and amend any other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the provisions of Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested, and the Lenders constituting Required Lenders (including the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender substantially simultaneously with the making of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans) agree to provide the Borrower with a special one-time Restricted Payment basket in an amount not to exceed $75,000,000 to be made with the proceeds of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans and/or cash on the balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (the “2020 Special Dividend”) and that each of the Lenders that executes and delivers a signature page to this Incremental Amendment in the form of Annex I hereto (a “Lender Consent”) will thereby agree to the terms of this Incremental Amendment and to the Amended Credit Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof;

WHEREAS, Each of Citibank, N.A., Barclays Bank PLC, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., RBC Capital Markets1 and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation are acting as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners for the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans (the “Incremental Amendment No. 1 Lead Arrangers”);

 

 

1 

RBC Capital Markets is a brand name for the capital markets business of Royal Bank of Canada and its affiliates.


WHEREAS, Blackstone Securities Partners L.P. is acting as co-manager for the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans (the “Incremental Amendment No. 1 Co-Manager”);

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Incremental Amendment

This Incremental Amendment is an Incremental Amendment referred to in Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement, and the Borrower, the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender and the Administrative Agent hereby agree that:

A. The Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender hereby agrees to provide the full amount of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans (the “Incremental Amendment No. 1 Commitments”). The Incremental Amendment No. 1 Commitments shall be subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Amended Credit Agreement.

B. The aggregate Incremental Amendment No. 1 Commitments is $275,000,000. The Incremental Amendment No. 1 Commitments will terminate in full upon the making of the related Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans.

C. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions to the effectiveness of any Incremental Amendment set forth in Section 2.14(d) of the Credit Agreement and to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Article III below, the funding of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans will occur in one drawing on the date hereof pursuant to the Borrower’s request (even if, with respect to the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans pursuant to this Incremental Amendment only and not any other Borrowing, the deadlines for notices of Borrowing in Section 2.02 of the Credit Agreement are not strictly observed). In the event that all or any portion of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans are not borrowed on or before the date hereof, the unborrowed portion of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Commitments shall automatically terminate on the date hereof.

D. The Incremental Amendment No. 1 Commitments provided pursuant to this Incremental Amendment shall constitute Incremental Commitments referred to in Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement and, upon the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date (as hereinafter defined), the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Commitments of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender shall become the Incremental Term Loans of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender and, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, effective as of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date, for all purposes of the Loan Documents, (i) the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Commitments shall constitute ““Incremental Commitments” and “Term Commitments”, (ii) the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans shall constitute “Incremental Term Loans”, “Incremental Loans” and “Term Loans” and (iii) the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender shall constitute an “Additional Lender”, a “Term Lender” and a “Lender” and shall have all the rights and obligations of a Lender holding a Term Commitment (or, following the making of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans, a Term Loan), and other related terms will have correlative meanings mutatis mutandis. Upon execution and delivery of this Incremental Amendment, the Administrative Agent will record the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans as being a new Class of Term Loans ranking pari passu in right of payment and security with the Initial Term Loans.

 

-2-


E. Except as set forth herein, the terms and provisions of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans shall be identical to the terms and provisions of the Initial Term Loans. The Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans will constitute a new Class of Term Loans that is separate from the Initial Term Loans and ranking pari passu in right of payment and security with the Initial Term Loans for all purposes under the Amended Credit Agreement.

F. The Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender hereby (i) confirms that a copy of the Credit Agreement, the Amended Credit Agreement and the other applicable Loan Documents, together with copies of the financial statements referred to therein and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Incremental Amendment and make an Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loan has been made available to the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Lender by the Administrative Agent, (ii) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or Agent and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement, the Amended Credit Agreement or the other applicable Loan Documents, including this Incremental Amendment, (iii) appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Credit Agreement, the Amended Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto and (iv) acknowledges and agrees that, upon the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date, the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender shall be a “Lender”, under, and for all purposes of, the Amended Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and shall be subject to and bound by the terms hereof, and shall perform all the obligations of and shall have all rights of a Lender thereunder.

G. The Credit Agreement is hereby amended to delete the stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: stricken text) and to add the double-underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: double-underlined text) as set forth in Exhibit A hereto.

ARTICLE II

Representations and Warranties

Each Loan Party represents and warrants, as of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date, to the Administrative Agent and to the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender that:

A. This Incremental Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that the enforceability thereof may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity.

B. The representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in Article 5 of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, this Incremental Amendment as a Loan Document) are true and correct in all material respects (except that any such representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” are true and correct in all respects as so qualified) on and as of the date such representation and warranty is made, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties were true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date).

 

-3-


C. At the time of and immediately after giving effect to this Incremental Amendment, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

ARTICLE III

Conditions to Effectiveness

This Incremental Amendment shall become effective on the date (the “Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date”) on which each of the following conditions is satisfied:

A. the Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received a counterpart of this Incremental Amendment from each Loan Party, the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender and Lender Consents from certain other Lenders who shall, collectively with the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender, constitute (substantially simultaneously with the making of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans) Required Lenders;

B. the Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received a legal opinion from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York counsel to the Loan Parties;

C. the Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received a solvency certificate from the chief financial officer, chief accounting officer or other officer with equivalent duties of the Borrower (after giving effect to the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans) substantially in the form attached as Exhibit E-2 to the Credit Agreement;

D. the Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received such certificates of good standing (or certificates of compliance) (in each case to the extent such concept exists) from the applicable secretary of state (or other Governmental Authority) of the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of each Loan Party, certificates of resolutions or other action (including board resolutions), incumbency certificates, certificates of incorporation and/or other certificates of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Incremental Amendment;

E. the Borrower shall have paid all fees and expenses due to the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Lead Arrangers and the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Co-Manager and their respective Affiliates (including, if applicable, the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender) required to be paid on the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date, and (in the case of expenses) invoiced at least three Business Days before the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date (except as otherwise reasonably agreed by the Borrower);

F. the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender a certificate of a Responsible Officer, dated the date of borrowing, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, certifying as of Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date to the representations and warranties set forth in clauses B and C of Article II above; and

G. the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a notice of such borrowing as required by Section 2.02 of the Credit Agreement.

 

-4-


ARTICLE IV

Further Acknowledgments

A. The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that (A) (i) it shall be liable for all Obligations with respect to the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Commitments provided hereby including, without limitation, all Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans made pursuant hereto and (ii) all such Obligations (including all such Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans) shall be entitled to the benefits of the Collateral Documents and the Guaranty and (B) after giving effect to this Incremental Amendment, the Collateral Documents continue to be in full force and effect and affirms and confirms the pledge of and/or grant of security interest in its assets as Collateral to secure the Obligations, which continue in full force and effect.

B. Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees to each of the provisions of this Incremental Amendment and to the incurrence of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans to be made pursuant hereto. Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that all Obligations with respect to the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Commitments provided hereby and all Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans made pursuant hereto shall (i) be fully guaranteed pursuant to the Guaranty as, and to the extent, provided herein and in the Amended Credit Agreement, (ii) be entitled to the benefits of the Loan Documents as, and to the extent, provided herein and in the Amended Credit Agreement and (iii) after giving effect to this Incremental Amendment, agrees that the Guaranty and the Collateral Documents continue to be in full force and effect and affirms and confirms its guarantee of the Obligations and the pledge of and/or grant of security interest in its assets as Collateral to secure the Obligations, which continue in full force and effect.

C. The Borrower and each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that (i) from and after the date hereof, all Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans and all obligations in respect thereof shall be deemed to be “Obligations” under the Credit Agreement and each other Loan Document to which it is a party and (ii) the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender (and any assignee thereof) is a “Lender” and a “Secured Party” for all purposes under the Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party.

ARTICLE V

Miscellaneous

A. Credit Agreement. Except as expressly set forth herein, this Incremental Amendment shall not by implication or otherwise limit, impair, constitute a waiver of or otherwise affect the rights and remedies of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, the Borrower or any other Loan Party under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, and shall not alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect after giving effect to this Incremental Amendment. After the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date, any reference to the Credit Agreement shall mean the Credit Agreement as modified hereby. This Incremental Amendment shall constitute a “Loan Document” for all purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

B. No Novation. This Incremental Amendment shall not extinguish the Obligations for the payment of money outstanding under the Credit Agreement or discharge or release the lien or priority of any Loan Document or any other security therefor or any guarantee thereof and the liens and security interests existing immediately prior to the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties securing payment of the Obligations are in all respects continuing and in full force and effect with respect to all Obligations. Except as expressly provided, nothing

 

-5-


herein contained shall be construed as a substitution or novation, or a payment and reborrowing, or a termination, of the Obligations outstanding under the Credit Agreement or instruments guaranteeing or securing the same, which shall remain in full force and effect, except as modified hereby or by instruments executed concurrently herewith. Nothing expressed or implied in this Incremental Amendment or any other document contemplated hereby shall be construed as a release or other discharge of any Loan Party under the Credit Agreement or any Loan Document from any of its obligations and liabilities thereunder, and except as expressly provided, such obligations are in all respects continuing with only the terms being modified as provided in this Incremental Amendment.

C. Notices. The parties hereto hereby agree that this Incremental Amendment shall constitute the notice with respect to the establishment of Incremental Commitments required pursuant to Section 2.14(a) of the Credit Agreement.

D. Successors and Assigns. This Incremental Amendment shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and the successors and assigns of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender (it being understood that rights of assignment of the parties hereto are subject to the further provisions of Section 10.07 of the Credit Agreement).

E. Governing Law. THIS INCREMENTAL AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. The provisions of Sections 10.15(b) and 10.16 of the Credit Agreement are incorporated herein and apply to this Incremental Amendment mutatis mutandis.

F. Counterparts. This Incremental Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. A set of counterparts executed by all the parties hereto shall be lodged with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. This Incremental Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries 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.

G. Headings. The headings of the several sections and subsections of this Incremental Amendment are inserted for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Incremental Amendment.

H. Severability. Any provision of this Incremental Amendment held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions, the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

-6-


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Incremental Amendment to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first written above.

 

BUZZ BIDCO L.L.C., as Holdings
By:  

/s/ Anuradha Subramanian

  Name: Anuradha Subramanian
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
BUZZ FINCO L.L.C., as the Borrower
By:  

/s/ Anuradha Subramanian

  Name: Anuradha Subramanian
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page–Incremental Amendment No. 1]


BADOO US MARKETING LLC, as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Duncan Farrall

  Name: Duncan Farrall
  Title: Manager

 

SOCIAL ONLINE PAYMENTS LLC, as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Duncan Farrall

  Name: Duncan Farrall
  Title: Manager

 

CHAPPY LLC, as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Whitney Wolfe Herd

  Name: Whitney Wolfe Herd
  Title: Manager

 

BUMBLE TRADING LLC, as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Whitney Wolfe Herd

  Name: Whitney Wolfe Herd
  Title: Manager

 

[Signature Page–Incremental Amendment No. 1]


BADOO APP LIMITED, as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Idan Wallichman

  Name: Idan Wallichman
  Title: Director

 

BADOO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Idan Wallichman

  Name: Idan Wallichman
  Title: Director

 

BADOO LIMITED, as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Idan Wallichman

  Name: Idan Wallichman
  Title: Director

 

BADOO TRADING LIMITED, as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Idan Wallichman

  Name: Idan Wallichman
  Title: Director

 

CHAPPY LIMITED, as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Idan Wallichman

  Name: Idan Wallichman
  Title: Director

 

OR NOT LIMITED, as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Idan Wallichman

  Name: Idan Wallichman
  Title: Director

 

[Signature Page–Incremental Amendment No. 1]


SOCIAL ONLINE PAYMENTS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Idan Wallichman

  Name: Idan Wallichman
  Title: Director

 

WETREND MEDIA LTD, as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Idan Wallichman

  Name: Idan Wallichman
  Title: Director

 

BUMBLE HOLDING LIMITED, as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Idan Wallichman

  Name: Idan Wallichman
  Title: Director

 

[Signature Page–Incremental Amendment No. 1]


AMI HOLDINGS LIMITED, as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Idan Wallichman

  Name: Idan Wallichman
  Title: Director

 

INFLUENCER HOLDINGS LIMITED, as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Idan Wallichman

  Name: Idan Wallichman
  Title: Director

 

CHAPPY HOLDINGS LIMITED, as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Idan Wallichman

  Name: Idan Wallichman
  Title: Director

 

BADOO PARTNERCO LLC, as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Idan Wallichman

  Name: Idan Wallichman
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page–Incremental Amendment No. 1]


CITIBANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender
By:  

/s/ Scott Sartorius

  Name: Scott Sartorius
  Title: Managing Director

 

[Signature Page–Incremental Amendment No. 1]


EXHIBIT A

[Attached]


EXHIBIT A

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of January 29, 2020,

among

BUZZ BIDCO L.L.C.,

as Holdings,

BUZZ MERGER SUB LTD.,

as the Lead Borrower,

BUZZ FINCO L.L.C.,

as the Other Borrower Party,

THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swing Line Lender,

and

THE LENDERS AND L/C ISSUERS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,

BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

HSBC BANK PLC,

RBC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC1

and

SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners

BLACKSTONE HOLDINGS FINANCE CO. L.L.C.,

as Co-Manager

 

 

 

1 

RBC Capital Markets is a brand name for the capital markets business of Royal Bank of Canada and its affiliates.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

         PAGE  
ARTICLE 1   
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS   

Section 1.01.

  Defined Terms      18  

Section 1.02.

  Other Interpretive Provisions      86101  

Section 1.03.

  Accounting Terms      90105  

Section 1.04.

  Rounding      91106  

Section 1.05.

  References to Agreements, Laws, Etc.      91107  

Section 1.06.

  Times of Day      91107  

Section 1.07.

  Timing of Payment or Performance      91107  

Section 1.08.

  Cumulative Credit Transactions      91107  

Section 1.09.

  Additional Approved Currencies      91107  
ARTICLE 2   
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS   

Section 2.01.

  The Loans      92108  

Section 2.02.

  Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans      93109  

Section 2.03.

  Letters of Credit      94111  

Section 2.04.

  Swing Line Loans      106123  

Section 2.05.

  Prepayments      110128  

Section 2.06.

  Termination or Reduction of Commitments      125145  

Section 2.07.

  Repayment of Loans      126146  

Section 2.08.

  Interest      127147  

Section 2.09.

  Fees      127147  

Section 2.10.

  Computation of Interest and Fees      128148  

Section 2.11.

  Evidence of Indebtedness      128148  

Section 2.12.

  Payments Generally      129149  

Section 2.13.

  Sharing of Payments      131152  

Section 2.14.

  Incremental Credit Extensions      132152  

Section 2.15.

  Refinancing Amendments      140161  

Section 2.16.

  Extension of Term Loans; Extension of Revolving Credit Loans      141163  

Section 2.17.

  Defaulting Lenders      145167  
ARTICLE 3   
TAXES, INCREASED COSTS PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY   

Section 3.01.

  Taxes      147169  

Section 3.02.

  Illegality      151173  

Section 3.03.

  Inability to Determine Rates      152174  

Section 3.04.

  Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans      152174  

Section 3.05.

  Funding Losses      154176  

Section 3.06.

  Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation      154177  

 

i


Section 3.07.

  Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances      155178  

Section 3.08.

  Survival      157180  
ARTICLE 4   
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS   

Section 4.01.

  Conditions to Initial Credit Extension      157180  

Section 4.02.

  Conditions to All Credit Extensions      160183  
ARTICLE 5   
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES   

Section 5.01.

  Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws      161184  

Section 5.02.

  Authorization; No Contravention      161184  

Section 5.03.

  Governmental Authorization; Other Consents      161184  

Section 5.04.

  Execution, Delivery and Enforceability      162185  

Section 5.05.

  Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect      162185  

Section 5.06.

  Litigation      163186  

Section 5.07.

  Ownership of Property; Liens; Real Property      163186  

Section 5.08.

  Environmental Matters      163186  

Section 5.09.

  Taxes      164187  

Section 5.10.

  ERISA Compliance      164187  

Section 5.11.

  Subsidiaries; Equity Interests      165188  

Section 5.12.

  Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act      165188  

Section 5.13.

  Disclosure      165188  

Section 5.14.

  Labor Matters      165189  

Section 5.15.

  Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.      166189  

Section 5.16.

  Solvency      166189  

Section 5.17.

  Subordination of Junior Financing      166189  

Section 5.18.

  OFAC; USA PATRIOT Act; FCPA      166190  

Section 5.19.

  Security Documents      167190  
ARTICLE 6   
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS   

Section 6.01.

  Financial Statements      168192  

Section 6.02.

  Certificates; Other Information      170194  

Section 6.03.

  Notices      172196  

Section 6.04.

  Taxes      172196  

Section 6.05.

  Preservation of Existence, Etc.      173196  

Section 6.06.

  Maintenance of Properties      173196  

Section 6.07.

  Maintenance of Insurance      173197  

Section 6.08.

  Compliance with Laws      174197  

Section 6.09.

  Books and Records      174198  

Section 6.10.

  Inspection Rights      174198  

Section 6.11.

  Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors      175198  

Section 6.12.

  Compliance with Environmental Laws      177201  

 

ii


Section 6.13.

  Further Assurances      177201  

Section 6.14.

  Designation of Subsidiaries      177201  

Section 6.15.

  Maintenance of Ratings      178202  

Section 6.16.

  Post-Closing Covenants      178202  

Section 6.17.

  Change in Nature of Business      178202  

Section 6.18.

  Use of Proceeds      178202  

Section 6.19.

  Accounting Changes      178202  
ARTICLE 7   
NEGATIVE COVENANTS   

Section 7.01.

  Liens      178203  

Section 7.02.

  Investments      184209  

Section 7.03.

  Indebtedness      188213  

Section 7.04.

  Fundamental Changes      195220  

Section 7.05.

  Dispositions      197222  

Section 7.06.

  Restricted Payments      200226  

Section 7.07.

  Transactions with Affiliates      204231  

Section 7.08.

  Burdensome Agreements      206232  

Section 7.09.

  Financial Covenant      207233  

Section 7.10.

  Prepayments, Etc. of Indebtedness      207233  

Section 7.11.

  Permitted Activities      208235  
ARTICLE 8   
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES   

Section 8.01.

  Events of Default      209235  

Section 8.02.

  Remedies Upon Event of Default      212238  

Section 8.03.

  Exclusion of Immaterial Subsidiaries      212239  

Section 8.04.

  Application of Funds      213239  

Section 8.05.

  Right to Cure      214240  
ARTICLE 9   
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND OTHER AGENTS   

Section 9.01.

  Appointment and Authorization of Agents      215242  

Section 9.02.

  Delegation of Duties      216243  

Section 9.03.

  Liability of Agents      216243  

Section 9.04.

  Reliance by Agents      217244  

Section 9.05.

  Notice of Default      218245  

Section 9.06.

  Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Agents      218245  

Section 9.07.

  Indemnification of Agents      218246  

Section 9.08.

  Agents in Their Individual Capacities      219246  

Section 9.09.

  Successor Agents      219247  

Section 9.10.

  Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim      221248  

Section 9.11.

  Collateral and Guaranty Matters      222250  

Section 9.12.

  Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers      224252  

 

iii


Section 9.13.

  Withholding Tax Indemnity      224252  

Section 9.14.

  Appointment of Supplemental Agents      225253  

Section 9.15.

  Certain ERISA Matters      226253  
ARTICLE 10   
MISCELLANEOUS   

Section  10.01.

  Amendments, Etc.      227255  

Section  10.02.

  Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies      231259  

Section  10.03.

  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies      232261  

Section  10.04.

  Attorney Costs and Expenses      233261  

Section  10.05.

  Indemnification by the Borrowers      233262  

Section  10.06.

  Payments Set Aside      235263  

Section  10.07.

  Successors and Assigns      235264  

Section  10.08.

  Confidentiality      245275  

Section  10.09.

  Setoff      247277  

Section  10.10.

  Interest Rate Limitation      248277  

Section  10.11.

  Counterparts      248278  

Section  10.12.

  Integration; Termination      248278  

Section  10.13.

  Survival of Representations and Warranties      248278  

Section  10.14.

  Severability      249278  

Section  10.15.

  GOVERNING LAW, PROCESS AGENT      249279  

Section  10.16.

  WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY      250280  

Section  10.17.

  Binding Effect      250280  

Section  10.18.

  USA PATRIOT Act      251280  

Section  10.19.

  No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      251281  

Section  10.20.

  Electronic Execution of Assignments      252282  

Section  10.21.

  Effect of Certain Inaccuracies      252282  

Section  10.22.

  Judgment Currency      252283  

Section  10.23.

  Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEAAffected Financial Institutions      253283  

Section  10.24.

  Cashless Rollovers      253284  

Section  10.25.

  Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs      254284  

Section  10.26.

  Lead Borrower.      254285  
ARTICLE 11   
GUARANTY   

Section  11.01.

  The Guaranty      255285  

Section  11.02.

  Obligations Unconditional      255286  

Section  11.03.

  Reinstatement      256287  

Section  11.04.

  Subrogation; Subordination      257287  

Section  11.05.

  Remedies      257287  

Section  11.06.

  Instrument for the Payment of Money      257288  

Section  11.07.

  Continuing Guaranty      257288  

Section  11.08.

  General Limitation on Guarantee Obligations      257288  

Section  11.09.

  Information      257288  

 

iv


Section  11.10.

  Release of Guarantors
     258288  

Section  11.11.

  Right of Contribution      258289  

Section  11.12.

  Cross-Guaranty      258289  

 

v


SCHEDULES

 

1.01A    Commitments
1.01B    Collateral Documents
1.01C    Unrestricted Subsidiaries
5.05    Certain Liabilities
5.06    Litigation
5.07    Ownership of Property
5.09    Taxes
5.11    Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments
6.16    Post-Closing Covenants
7.01(b)    Existing Liens
7.02(f)    Existing Investments
7.03(b)    Existing Indebtedness
7.05(f)    Dispositions
7.07    Transactions with Affiliates
7.08    Certain Contractual Obligations
10.02    Administrative Agent’s Office
10.02(a)    Notice Information
11    Agreed Security Principles

EXHIBITS

Form of

 

A    Committed Loan Notice
B    Letter of Credit Issuance Request
C    Swing Line Loan Notice
D-1    Term Note
D-2    Revolving Credit Note
D-3    Swing Line Note
E-1    Compliance Certificate
E-2    Solvency Certificate
F    Assignment and Assumption
G    Security Agreement
H    Perfection Certificate
I    Intercompany Note
J-1    First Lien Intercreditor Agreement
J-2    Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement
K    Administrative Questionnaire
L-1    Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption
L-2    Affiliated Lender Notice
L-3    Acceptance and Prepayment Notice
L-4    Discount Range Prepayment Notice
L-5    Discount Range Prepayment Offer
L-6    Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice

 

vi


L-7    Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer
L-8    Specified Discount Prepayment Notice
L-9    Specified Discount Prepayment Response
M    United States Tax Compliance Certificate

 

vii


CREDIT AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AGREEMENT (as the same may be amended, modified, refinanced and/or restated from time to time, this “Agreement”) is entered into as of January 29, 2020, among Buzz Merger Sub Ltd., an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of Bermuda (the “Lead Borrower”), Buzz Finco L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the “Other Borrower Party” hereunder), Buzz BidCo L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”), the other Guarantors (such term and any other capitalized terms used but not defined in this introductory paragraph and the Preliminary Statements below are defined in Section 1.01 below) party hereto from time to time, CITIBANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swing Line Lender, each L/C Issuer and each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”).

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

Pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 8, 2019 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, and including all schedules and exhibits thereto, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Buzz Holdings L.P., the Lead Borrower, Worldwide Vision Limited (the “Company”) and Buzz SR Limited, in its capacity as the Seller Representative, the Company will merge with and into the Lead Borrower (the “Acquisition”) with the Lead Borrower as the surviving company.

The Borrowers have requested that the applicable Lenders extend credit to the Borrowers in the form of (i) the Initial Term Loans on the Closing Date in an initial aggregate principal amount of $575,000,000 and (ii) the Revolving Credit Facility in an initial aggregate principal amount of $50,000,000.

The proceeds of the Initial Term Loans, together with the proceeds of the Equity Investment will be used by the Borrowers to directly or indirectly consummate the Transactions, to pay the costs and expenses related to the Transactions and to fund cash to the Lead Borrower’s balance sheet.

The proceeds of the Revolving Credit Facility will also be used by the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries to replace, backstop or cash collateralize existing Letters of Credit, for working capital and general corporate purposes (including permitted acquisitions) subject to the terms set forth herein.

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

Section 1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement (including in the Preliminary Statements hereto), the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

2020 Special Dividend” means a special one-time Restricted Payment to be made with the proceeds of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans and/or cash on the balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $75,000,000.


Acceptable Discount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(2).

Acceptable Prepayment Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(3).

Acceptance and Prepayment Notice” means a notice of the Borrower’s acceptance of the Acceptable Discount in substantially the form of Exhibit L-3.

Acceptance Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(2).

Accounting Change” means any change in accounting principles required by the promulgation of any rule, regulation, pronouncement or opinion by the Financial Accounting Standards Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or, if applicable, the SEC.

Acquired EBITDA” means, with respect to any Acquired Entity or Business or any Converted Restricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary (determined as if references to the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA were references to such Acquired Entity or Business and its Subsidiaries or to such Converted Restricted Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries), as applicable, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable.

Acquired Entity or Business” has the meaning set forth in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA.”

Acquisition” has the meaning set forth in the Preliminary Statements to this Agreement.

Additional Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(c).

Additional Refinancing Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(a).

Administrative Agent” means Citi, in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or as applicable, such Affiliates thereof as Citi shall from time to time designate for the purpose of performing its obligations hereunder in such capacity, or any successor administrative agent.

Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Lead Borrower and the Lenders.

 

9


Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in the form of Exhibit K or such other form as may be supplied from time to time by the Administrative Agent.

Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any 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. “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.

Affiliated Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that is a direct or indirect holding company of Holdings or an Investor (including portfolio companies of the Investors notwithstanding the exclusion in the definition of “Investors”) (other than Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and other than any Debt Fund Affiliate) or a Non-Debt Fund Affiliate of an Investor at such time.

Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(l)(i).

Affiliated Lender Cap” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(l)(iii).

Affiliated Lender Notice” means the notice substantially in the form of Exhibit L-2.

Agency Fee Letter” means that certain Administrative Agency Fee Letter, dated as of January 29, 2020, by and among the Borrowers and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.

Agent-Related Persons” means the Agents, together with their respective Affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees, partners, agents, advisors, attorneys-in-fact and other representatives of such Persons and Affiliates.

Agents” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Supplemental Agents (if any).

Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.

Agreed Borrower Jurisdiction” means each of Bermuda and the United States.

Agreed Security Jurisdiction” means each of Bermuda, England and Wales and the United States.

Agreed Security Principles” means the agreed guarantee and security principles set forth on Schedule 11.

 

10


Agreement” means this Credit Agreement, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

All-In Yield” means, as to any Indebtedness, the yield thereof incurred or payable by the applicable borrower generally to all Lenders of such Indebtedness in an amount equal to the sum of (a) the applicable margin; (b) OID and upfront fees; provided that (i) OID and upfront fees shall be equated to interest rate assuming a 4-year life to maturity on a straight line basis (or, if less, the stated life to maturity at the time of incurrence of the applicable Indebtedness); and (ii) “All-In Yield” shall not include amendment fees, arrangement fees, structuring fees, commitment fees, underwriting fees and any similar fees payable to any lead arranger (or its affiliates) in connection with the commitment or syndication of such Indebtedness, consent fees paid to consenting Lenders, ticking fees on undrawn commitments and any other fees not paid or payable generally to all Lenders in the primary syndication of such Indebtedness and (c) the interest rate (excluding the applicable margin) after giving effect to any Eurocurrency Rate or Base Rate floor; provided, that if any Incremental Term Loans (or any other applicable Indebtedness) include a Eurocurrency Rate or Base Rate floor that is greater than the Eurocurrency Rate or Base Rate floor applicable to any existing Class of Term Loans, such differential between interest rate floors shall be included in the calculation of All-In Yield, but only to the extent an increase in the Eurocurrency Rate or Base Rate floor applicable to the existing Term Loans would cause an increase in the interest rate then in effect thereunder, and in such case the Eurocurrency Rate and Base Rate floors (but not the Applicable Rate, unless the Lead Borrower otherwise elects in its sole discretion) applicable to the existing Term Loans shall be increased to the extent of such differential between interest rate floors.

Applicable Asset Sale Percentage” means, (a) 100.0% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available is greater than 3.25 to 1.00, (b) 50.0% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available is equal to or less than 3.25 to 1.00 and greater than 2.75 to 1.00 and (c) 0.0% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available is equal to or less than 2.75 to 1.00, in each case, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

Applicable Discount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(2).

Applicable ECF Percentage” means, for any fiscal year, (a) 50.0% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such fiscal year is greater than 3.25 to 1.00, (b) 25.0% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such fiscal year is equal to or less than 3.25 to 1.00 and greater than 2.75 to 1.00 and (c) 0.0% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such fiscal year is equal to or less than 2.75 to 1.00, in each case, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

Applicable Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.21.

 

11


Applicable Proceeds” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b)(ii).

Applicable Rate” means:

(a) with respect to the Initial Term Loans:

(i) a percentage per annum equal to (x) for Eurocurrency Rate Loans, 2.75% and (y) for Base Rate Loans, 1.75%; and

(b) with respect to the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans:

(i) a percentage per annum equal to (x) for Eurocurrency Rate Loans, 3.25% and (y) for Base Rate Loans, 2.25%;

and

(bc) with respect to Revolving Credit Loans:

(i) until delivery of financial statements for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2020 pursuant to Section 6.01, a percentage per annum equal to: (A) for Eurocurrency Rate Loans and Letter of Credit fees, 2.75% and (B) for Base Rate Loans, 1.75%; and

(ii) at any time upon or after the delivery of the financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01 for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2020, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a):

 

     Applicable Rate  

Pricing
Level

   Consolidated First
Lien Net Leverage
Ratio
   Eurocurrency Rate
for Revolving Credit
Loans and Letter of
Credit Fees
    Base Rate for
Revolving Credit
Loans
 

1

   > 3.25 to 1.00      2.75     1.75

2

   £ 3.25 to 1.00

and

> 2.75 to 1.00

     2.50     1.50

3

   £ 2.75 to 1.00      2.25     1.25

 

12


Notwithstanding the foregoing, after the consummation of a Qualified IPO (as certified by the Lead Borrower to the Administrative Agent), the Applicable Rate at each of the categories above in this clause (bc) shall automatically be reduced further by 0.25%.

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a); provided that at the option of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, the highest pricing level (e.g., Pricing Level 1) shall apply as of (x) the first Business Day after the date on which a Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered but was not delivered, and shall continue to so apply to and including the date on which such Compliance Certificate is so delivered (and thereafter the pricing level otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply) and (y) as of the first Business Day after an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) shall have occurred and be continuing, and shall continue to so apply to but excluding the date on which such Event of Default is cured or waived (and thereafter the pricing level otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply).

Applicable Time” means, with respect to any Borrowings and payments in any Approved Foreign Currency, the local time in the place of settlement for such Approved Foreign Currency as shall be reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to be necessary for timely settlement on the relevant date in accordance with normal banking procedures in the place of payment. In advance of the initial borrowing of a Revolving Credit Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit, in each case, in any Approved Foreign Currency, the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as applicable, shall provide the Lead Borrower and Revolving Credit Lenders with written notice of the Applicable Time for any borrowings and payments in such Approved Foreign Currency. In the event no such notice is delivered by the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers and any Revolving Credit Lender shall be required to make any borrowings and payments in accordance with the times specified herein for borrowings and payments in Dollars.

Appropriate Lender” means, at any time, (a) with respect to Loans of any Class, the Lenders of such Class, (b) with respect to Letters of Credit, (i) the relevant L/C Issuer (if applicable) and (ii) the Revolving Credit Lenders and (c) with respect to the Swing Line Facility, (i) the Swing Line Lender and (ii) if any Swing Line Loans are outstanding pursuant to Section 2.04(a), the Revolving Credit Lenders.

Approved Counterparty” means (i) any Agent, Lender or any Affiliate of an Agent or Lender at the time it entered into a Swap Contract or a Treasury Services Agreement, as applicable, in its capacity as a party thereto, notwithstanding whether such Approved Counterparty may cease to be an Agent, Lender or an Affiliate of an Agent or Lender thereafter and (ii) any other Person from time to time approved in writing by the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned).

 

13


Approved Currency” means each of (i) Dollars and (ii) any other currency that is approved in accordance with Section 1.09.

Approved Foreign Currency” means any Approved Currency other than Dollars.

Approved Fund” means, with respect to any Lender, any Fund that is administered, advised or managed by (a) such Lender, (b) an Affiliate of such Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers, advises or manages such Lender.

Assignees” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(b).

Assignment and Assumption” means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto.

Assignment Taxes” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(b).

Attorney Costs” means and includes the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and other charges of any law firm or other external legal counsel.

Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, in respect of any Financing Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP.

Auction Agent” means (a) the Administrative Agent or (b) any other financial institution or advisor employed by the Lead Borrower (whether or not an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent) to act as an arranger in connection with any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v); provided that the Lead Borrower shall not designate the Administrative Agent as the Auction Agent without the written consent of the Administrative Agent (it being understood that the Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to agree to act as the Auction Agent); provided, further, that neither the Borrowers nor any of their Affiliates may act as the Auction Agent.

Audited Financial Statements” means the audited statements of profit or loss, other comprehensive income, financial position, changes in equity, and cash flows (together with any notes thereto) of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2018, December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

Auto-Extension Letter of Credit” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(b)(iii).

Available Incremental Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(d)(v).

Available RP Capacity Amount” means (i) the amount of Restricted Payments that may be made at the time of determination pursuant to Sections 7.06(d), (g), (h), (l) and (p) minus (ii) the sum of the amount of the Available RP Capacity Amount utilized by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to (A) make Restricted Payments in reliance on Sections 7.06 (g), (h), (l) or (p), (B) make Investments pursuant to Section 7.02(n), (C)

 

14


incur Indebtedness pursuant to Section 7.03(y) and (D) make prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of Junior Financings prior to their scheduled maturity utilizing the Available RP Capacity Amount pursuant to Section 7.10 plus (iii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness prepaid prior to or substantially concurrently at such time, solely to the extent such Indebtedness (A) was secured by Liens pursuant to Section 7.01(bb) or (B) was incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(y) and not secured pursuant to Section 7.01(bb) (it being understood that the amount under this clause (iii) shall only be available for use under Sections 7.01(bb) and/or 7.03(y), as applicable).

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 EEAany Affected Financial Institution.

Bail-In Legislation” means, (a) 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. and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 12 of 1%, (b) the Prime Rate in effect for such day and (c) the Eurocurrency Rate on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) for deposits in Dollars for a one-month Interest Period plus 1.00%; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, the Eurocurrency Rate for any day shall be the LIBO Screen Rate (or any applicable successor page or such other commercially available published source providing such quotations as may be approved by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower from time to time), at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to such day for deposits in Dollars with a term of one month commencing on such day. If the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that it is unable to ascertain the Federal Funds Effective Rate for any reason, including the inability or failure of the Administrative Agent to obtain sufficient quotations in accordance with the terms of the definition thereof, the Base Rate shall be determined without regard to clause (a) of the preceding sentence until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Eurocurrency Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Eurocurrency Rate, respectively. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Base Rate will be deemed to be zero if the Base Rate calculated pursuant to the foregoing provisions would otherwise be less than zero.

Base Rate Loan” means a Loan denominated in Dollars that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

 

15


Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 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 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 any Person means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such Person.

Blackstone Funds” means, individually or collectively, any investment fund, co-investment vehicles and/or other similar vehicles or accounts, in each case managed or advised by an Affiliate of The Blackstone Group Inc., or any of their respective successors.

Bona Fide Debt Fund” means any fund or investment vehicle that is primarily engaged in the making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and other similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course.

Borrower Materials” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02.

Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment” means the offer by any Company Party to make a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a Specified Discount to par pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(B).

Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offers” means the solicitation by any Company Party of offers for, and the corresponding acceptance by a Lender of, a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a specified range of discounts to par pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(C).

Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers” means the solicitation by any Company Party of offers for, and the subsequent acceptance, if any, by a Lender of, a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a discount to par pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(D).

Borrowers” means, collectively, the Lead Borrower and the Other Borrower Party; a “Borrower” shall refer to either the Lead Borrower or the Other Borrower Party.

Borrowing” means a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a Swing Line Borrowing or a Term Borrowing of a particular Class, as the context may require.

 

16


Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state of New York or the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located and if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means a day on which dealings in deposits in the applicable Approved Currency are conducted by and between banks in the applicable London interbank market.

Business Expansion” mean (a) each facility which is either a new facility, branch or office or an expansion, relocation, remodeling or substantial modernization of an existing facility, branch or office owned by the Lead Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) each creation or expansion into new markets (in one or a series of related transactions) of a business unit to the extent such business unit commences operations or each expansion (in one or a series of related transactions) of business into a new market.

Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities and including in all events all amounts expended or capitalized under Financing Leases) by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be included as capital expenditures on the consolidated statement of cash flows of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Capitalized Software Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by the Lead Borrower 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 the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Cash Collateral” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(g).

Cash Collateral Account” means a blocked account at a commercial bank specified by the Administrative Agent in the name of the Administrative Agent and under the sole dominion and control of the Administrative Agent, and otherwise established in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Cash Collateralize” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(g).

Cash Equivalents” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary:

(1) Dollars;

(2) (a) cash in such local currencies held by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from time to time in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, (b) Canadian Dollars or (c) Sterling, euros or any national currency of any participating member state of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU);

 

17


(3) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof the securities of which are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of such government with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(4) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition, demand deposits, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding 24 months and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any domestic or foreign commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $250,000,000 in the case of U.S. banks and $100,000,000 (or the dollar equivalent thereof in foreign currencies as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;

(5) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (3), (4), (7) and (8) entered into with any financial institution or recognized securities dealer meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;

(6) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes rated at least P-2 by Moody’s, at least A-2 by S&P or at least F-2 by Fitch (or, if at any time none of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical Rating Agency) and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof;

(7) marketable short-term money market and similar funds having a rating of at least P-2, A-2 or F-2 from Moody’s, S&P or Fitch, respectively (or, if at any time none of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical Rating Agency);

(8) readily marketable direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally guaranteed by, any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, in each case having an investment grade rating from either Moody’s, S&P or Fitch (or, if at any time none of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical Rating Agency) with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(9) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any foreign government or any political subdivision or public instrumentality thereof, in each case having an investment grade rating from either Moody’s, S&P or Fitch (or, if at any time none of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical Rating Agency) with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(10) Investments with average maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated A (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P, A-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s or F-2 by Fitch (or, if at any time none of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical Rating Agency);

 

18


(11) securities with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any financial institution or recognized securities dealer meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;

(12) Indebtedness or preferred stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P, “A-2” or higher from Moody’s or “F-2” or higher from Fitch with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition; and

(13) investment funds investing at least 90% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (12) above.

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 (8) and clauses (10), (11), (12) and (13) above of foreign obligors, which Investments or obligors (or the parents of such obligors) have ratings described in such clauses or equivalent ratings from comparable foreign rating agencies and (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 (13) and in this paragraph.

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

Casualty Event” means any event that gives rise to the receipt by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of any equipment, fixed assets or Real Property to replace or repair such equipment, fixed assets or Real Property.

CERCLA” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as subsequently amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

CFC” means a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Code in which the Borrower or any U.S. person (within the meaning of Section 957(c) of the Code) owns (within the meaning of 958(a) of the Code) 10% or more of the shares therein, as measured by either voting power or value.

 

19


Change of Control” shall be deemed to occur if:

(a) at any time prior to a Qualified IPO, the Permitted Holders shall fail to own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Closing Date), directly or indirectly, in the aggregate Equity Interests representing at least a majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings, other than in connection with any transaction or series of transactions in which Holdings shall become the wholly owned Subsidiary of a Holding Company;

(b) at any time after a Qualified IPO, any person or “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the Closing Date), other than (i) any combination of the Investors and/or the Permitted Holders or (ii) any “group” including any Permitted Holders (provided that Permitted Holders beneficially own more than 50% of all voting interests beneficially owned by such “group”), shall have acquired beneficial ownership of more than 50%, on a fully diluted basis, of the voting interest in Holdings’ Equity Interests, in each case, other than in connection with any transaction or series of transactions in which Holdings shall become the wholly owned Subsidiary of a Holding Company;

(c) a “change of control” (or similar event) shall occur under any Indebtedness for borrowed money permitted under Section 7.03 with an outstanding principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount or any Permitted Refinancing in respect of any of the foregoing with an outstanding principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

(d) Holdings shall cease to own (i) directly 100% of the Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower and (ii) directly or indirectly 100% of the Equity Interests of the Other Borrower Party.

Notwithstanding the preceding or any provision of Section 13d-3 or 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, (i) a Person or group shall not be deemed to beneficially own Equity Interests 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 Equity Interests in connection with the transactions contemplated by such agreement, (ii) if any group (other than a Permitted Holder) includes one or more Permitted Holders, the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of any Borrower owned, directly or indirectly, by any Permitted Holders that are part of such group shall not be treated as being beneficially owned by such group or any other member of such group for purposes of determining whether a Change of Control has occurred and (iii) a Person or group will not be deemed to beneficially own the Equity Interests of another Person as a result of its ownership of the Equity Interests 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 Equity Interests 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.

Citi” means Citibank, N.A.

City Code” has the definition in Section 1.02(h).

 

20


Class” (a) when used with respect to any Lender, refers to whether such Lender has a Loan or Commitment with respect to a particular Class of Loans or Commitments, (b) when used with respect to Commitments, refers to whether such Commitments are Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Revolving Credit Commitments of a given Extension Series, Extended Term Loans of a given Extension Series, Revolving Commitment Increases, Other Revolving Credit Commitments, Initial Term Commitments, Incremental Term Commitments (including Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Commitments) or Refinancing Term Commitments of a given Refinancing Series and (c) when used with respect to Loans or a Borrowing, refers to whether such Loans, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Credit Loans, Revolving Credit Loans under Revolving Commitment Increases, Revolving Credit Loans under Extended Revolving Credit Commitments of a given Extension Series, Revolving Credit Loans under Other Revolving Credit Commitments, Initial Term Loans, Incremental Term Loans (including Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans), Refinancing Term Loans of a given Refinancing Series or Extended Term Loans of a given Extension Series. Revolving Credit Commitments, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Commitments, Initial Term Commitments, Incremental Term Commitments (including Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Commitments) or Refinancing Term Commitments (and in each case, the Loans made pursuant to such Commitments) that have different terms and conditions shall be construed to be in different Classes. Commitments (and, in each case, the Loans made pursuant to such Commitments) that have the same terms and conditions shall be construed to be in the same Class. There shall be no more than an aggregate of four Classes of revolving credit facilities and eight Classes of term loan facilities under this Agreement at any time outstanding under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans shall constitute a separate Class from the Initial Term Loans on and after the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date.

Closing Date” means January 29, 2020, the first date on which all conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 4.01.

Closing Fees” means those fees required to be paid on the Closing Date pursuant to the Fee Letter.

Co-Manager” means Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C. and certain of its Affiliates, in its capacity as a co-manager under this Agreement.

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

Collateral” means (i) the “Collateral” as defined in the Security Agreement, (ii) all the “Collateral” or “Pledged Assets” (or similar term) as defined in any other Collateral Document, (iii) Mortgaged Property and (iv) any other assets pledged or in which a Lien is granted, in each case, pursuant to any Collateral Document.

Collateral Agent” means Citi, in its capacity as collateral agent or pledgee in its own name under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor collateral agent.

 

21


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

(a) the Administrative Agent shall have received each Collateral Document required to be delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 4.01(a) or from time to time pursuant to Section 6.11, Section 6.13, Section 6.16 or the Security Agreement or applicable Foreign Security Document, subject to the limitations and exceptions of this Agreement, duly executed by each Loan Party thereto;

(b) the Obligations shall have been guaranteed by Holdings and each Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower (other than the Excluded Subsidiaries) pursuant to the Guaranty;

(c) the Obligations and the Guaranty shall have been secured pursuant to the Security Agreement or the applicable Foreign Security Document by a first-priority perfected security interest in (i) all the Equity Interests of the Borrowers and (ii) all Equity Interests (other than any Equity Interests that are Excluded Assets) of each Restricted Subsidiary (that is not an Excluded Subsidiary (other than any Restricted Subsidiary that is an Excluded Subsidiary solely pursuant to clause (f) or (j)(y) or (j)(z) of the definition thereof)) directly owned by any Loan Party, subject to exceptions and limitations otherwise set forth in this Agreement and the Collateral Documents (to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction) (and the Collateral Agent shall have received certificates or other instruments representing all such Equity Interests (if any), together with undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank);

(d) all Pledged Debt owing to any Loan Party, that is evidenced by a promissory note shall have been delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement or the applicable Foreign Security Document and the Collateral Agent shall have received all such promissory notes, together with undated instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;

(e) with respect to any Loan Party organized in the United States, the Obligations and the Guaranty shall have been secured by a perfected security interest in substantially all now owned or at any time hereafter acquired tangible and intangible assets of each Loan Party (including Equity Interests, intercompany debt, accounts, inventory, equipment, investment property, contract rights, IP Rights, other general intangibles, Material Real Property (which in the case of Material Real Property shall include Mortgages on such Material Real Property) and proceeds of the foregoing), in each case, subject to exceptions and limitations otherwise set forth in this Agreement and the Collateral Documents (to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction), in each case with the priority required by the Collateral Documents;

(f) with respect to any assets owned by any Loan Party organized outside the United States and any Equity Interest in such Loan Party, the Obligations and Guaranty shall have been secured by a perfected security interest in and (a) pledge of all the Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower and/or direct Subsidiaries owned by such Loan Party, (b) pledge of rights arising under the Merger Agreement and (c) pledge over material long-term documented intercompany receivables (including any intercompany Swap Obligations), material intellectual property and material operating bank accounts owned by such Loan Party, in each case, subject to the terms of the Agreed Security Principles;

 

22


(g) subject to limitations and exceptions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents, to the extent a security interest in and Mortgages on any Material Real Property are required pursuant to clause (e) above or under Sections 6.11, 6.13 or 6.16 (each, a “Mortgaged Property”), the Administrative Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of a Mortgage with respect to such Mortgaged Property duly executed and delivered by the record owner of such property, together with evidence such Mortgage has been duly executed, acknowledged and delivered by a duly authorized officer of each party thereto, in form suitable for filing or recording in all filing or recording offices that the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to create a valid and subsisting perfected Lien (subject only to Liens described in clause (ii) below) on the property and/or rights described therein in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and evidence that all filing and recording taxes and fees have been paid or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being understood that if a mortgage tax or similar charge will be owed on the entire amount of the indebtedness evidenced hereby, then the amount secured by the Mortgage shall be limited to 100% of the fair market value of the property covered by such Mortgage (as reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith) at the time the Mortgage is entered into if such limitation results in such mortgage tax or similar charge being calculated based upon such fair market value), (ii) a fully paid American Land Title Association Lender’s policy of title insurance (or a marked-up title insurance commitment having the effect of a policy of title insurance) on such Mortgaged Property naming the Collateral Agent as the insured for its benefit and that of the Secured Parties and their respective successors and assigns (each, a “Mortgage Policy”, and collectively the “Mortgage Policies”) issued by a nationally recognized title insurance company reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent in form and substance and in an amount reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent (not to exceed 100% of the fair market value of the property covered thereby), insuring such Mortgage to be a valid subsisting first priority Lien on the property described therein, free and clear of all Liens other than Liens permitted pursuant to Section 7.01 or Liens otherwise consented to by the Collateral Agent, each of which shall (A) to the extent reasonably necessary, include such coinsurance and reinsurance arrangements (with provisions for direct access, if reasonably necessary) as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent, (B) contain a “tie-in” or “cluster” endorsement, if available, and applicable, under applicable law (i.e., policies which insure against losses regardless of location or allocated value of the insured property up to a stated maximum coverage amount), and (C) have been supplemented by such endorsements as shall be reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent (including endorsements on matters relating to usury, first loss, zoning, contiguity, doing business, public road access, variable rate, environmental lien, subdivision, mortgage recording tax, separate tax lot, revolving credit and so-called comprehensive coverage over covenants and restrictions), to the extent such endorsements are available in the applicable jurisdiction at commercially reasonable rates; provided, however, that in lieu of a zoning endorsement the Collateral Agent shall accept a zoning report from a nationally recognized zoning report provider, (iii) an opinion from local counsel in each jurisdiction (A) where such Mortgaged Property is located

 

23


regarding the enforceability and perfection of such Mortgage and any related fixture filings and (B) where the applicable Loan Party granting the Mortgage on such Mortgaged Property is organized, regarding the due authorization, execution and delivery of such Mortgage, and in each case, such other matters as may be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, (iv) a completed “life of the loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood Hazard Determination with respect to such Mortgaged Property (together with a notice about special flood hazard area status and flood disaster assistance), duly executed and acknowledged by the applicable Loan Party if required by Flood Insurance Laws (as defined below), together with evidence of flood insurance, to the extent required under Section 6.07(c) hereof and (v) a new ALTA or such existing surveys together with no change affidavits sufficient for the title company to remove all standard survey exceptions from such Mortgage Policy and issue the endorsements required in clause (ii) above;

(h) except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or any Collateral Document, all certificates, agreements, documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and United States Copyright Office, required by the Collateral Documents, applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to be filed, delivered, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be created by the Collateral Documents and perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the Collateral Documents and the other provisions of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement,” shall have been filed, registered or recorded or delivered to the Collateral Agent for filing, registration or recording; and

(i) after the Closing Date, (x) each Borrower (except with respect to its own Obligations) and (y) each Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower (other than the Other Borrower Party) that is not then a Guarantor and not an Excluded Subsidiary shall become a Guarantor and signatory to this Agreement pursuant to a joinder agreement in accordance with Sections 6.11 or 6.13 and a party to the Collateral Documents in accordance with Section 6.11; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower in an Agreed Security Jurisdiction that Guarantees (other than Guarantees by a non-Loan Party of Indebtedness of another non-Loan Party) any Junior Financing with a principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount or any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing shall be a Guarantor hereunder for so long as it Guarantees such Indebtedness.

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

(A) the foregoing definition shall not require, unless otherwise stated in this clause (A), the creation or perfection of pledges of, security interests in, Mortgages on, or the obtaining of title insurance or taking other actions with respect to the following (collectively, the “Excluded Assets”): (i) any property or assets owned by any Foreign Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party or any Unrestricted Subsidiary (unless such Unrestricted Subsidiary becomes a Guarantor at the option of the Lead Borrower), (ii) any lease, license, contract, agreement or other general intangible or any property subject to a purchase money

 

24


security interest, Financing Lease Obligation or similar arrangement, in each case permitted under this Agreement, to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license, contract, agreement or other general intangible, Financing Lease Obligations or purchase money arrangement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than a Loan Party) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable Law, other than proceeds and receivables thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable Law notwithstanding such prohibition, (iii) any interest in fee-owned Real Property (other than Material Real Properties), (iv) any interest in leased Real Property (including any requirement to deliver landlord waivers, estoppels and collateral access letters), (v) motor vehicles, aircrafts, airframes, aircrafts engines or helicopters and other assets subject to certificates of title, (vi) Margin Stock and Equity Interests of any Person other than the Borrowers and each wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrowers that is a Restricted Subsidiary (that is also not an Excluded Subsidiary (other than any Restricted Subsidiary that is an Excluded Subsidiary solely pursuant to clause (f) or (j)(y) or (j)(z) of the definition thereof)), (vii) any intent-to-use trademark application prior to the filing of a “statement of use” or “Amendment to Allege Use” with respect thereto, to the extent, if any, that, and solely during the period, if any, that granting a security interest in such trademark application prior to such filing would impair the enforceability or validity, or result in the voiding, of such trademark application (or any registration that may issue therefrom) under applicable federal Law, (viii) any property or assets to the extent a security interest therein would result in material adverse tax consequences to Holdings, the Borrowers, any direct or indirect parent entity of the Borrowers or any of the Borrowers’ direct or indirect Subsidiaries, as reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, (ix) any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters and authorizations, to the extent a security in any such license, franchise, charter or authorization is prohibited or restricted thereby after giving effect to the anti-assignment provision of the Uniform Commercial Code and other applicable Law, other than proceeds and receivables thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable Law notwithstanding such prohibition or restriction, (x) any assets to the extent pledges and security interests therein are prohibited or restricted by applicable Law whether on the Closing Date or thereafter (including any requirement to obtain the consent of any governmental authority or third party (other than a Loan Party)), (xi) all commercial tort claims, (xii) any deposit accounts, securities accounts or any similar accounts (including securities entitlements) (in each case, other than proceeds of Collateral) and any other accounts used solely as payroll and other employee wage and benefit accounts, tax accounts (including, without limitation, sales tax accounts) and any tax benefits accounts, escrow accounts, fiduciary or trust accounts and any funds and other property held in or maintained in any such accounts, (xiii) letter of credit rights, except to the extent constituting a supporting obligation for other Collateral as to which perfection of the security interest in such other Collateral may be accomplished by the filing of a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement (it being understood that no actions shall be required to perfect a security interest in letter of credit rights, other than the filing of a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement), (xiv) cash and Cash Equivalents (other than cash and Cash Equivalents to the extent constituting

 

25


proceeds of Collateral), (xv) any particular assets if the burden, cost or consequence of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets is excessive in relation to the benefits to be obtained therefrom by the Lenders under the Loan Documents as reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, (xvi) voting Equity Interests in any Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC or any FSHCO, in each case, representing more than 65% of the voting power of all outstanding Equity Interests of such Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC or FSHCO and (xvii) proceeds from any and all of the foregoing assets described in clauses (i) through (xvi) above to the extent such proceeds would otherwise be excluded pursuant to clauses (i) through (xvi) above;

(B) (i) the foregoing definition shall not require control agreements with respect to any cash, deposit accounts or securities accounts or any other assets requiring perfection through control agreements; (ii) no actions in any jurisdiction outside of the Agreed Security Jurisdictions shall be required in order to create any security interests in assets located or titled outside of such jurisdictions, including any intellectual property registered outside of such jurisdictions, or to perfect such security interests in assets located or titled outside such jurisdictions (it being understood that there shall be no security agreements or pledge agreements governed under the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the Agreed Security Jurisdictions) and (iii) except to the extent that perfection and priority may be achieved by the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code or comparable filing under any applicable jurisdiction or actions required in connection with the security described in clause (f) above with respect to the Borrowers or a Guarantor, the Loan Documents shall not contain any requirements as to perfection or priority with respect to any assets or property described in clause (i) or (ii) of this clause (B);

(C) the Collateral Agent in its discretion may grant extensions of time for the creation or perfection of security interests in, and Mortgages on, or obtaining of title insurance or taking other actions with respect to, particular assets (including extensions beyond the Closing Date) where it reasonably determines, in consultation with the Lead Borrower, that the creation or perfection of security interests and Mortgages on, or obtaining of title insurance or taking other actions, or any other compliance with the requirements of this definition cannot be accomplished without undue delay, burden or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement or the Collateral Documents; provided that the Collateral Agent shall have received on or prior to the Closing Date (i) Uniform Commercial Code financing statements in appropriate form for filing under the Uniform Commercial Code in the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of each Loan Party and (ii) any certificates or instruments representing or evidencing Equity Interests of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries (other than Equity Interests constituting Excluded Assets) accompanied by instruments of transfer and (if relevant in the applicable jurisdiction) stock powers undated and endorsed in blank (or confirmation in lieu thereof reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent or its counsel that such certificates, powers and instruments have been sent for overnight delivery to the Collateral Agent or its counsel); provided further that the Collateral Agent shall have received the items set forth on Schedule 6.16 on or prior to the date(s) set forth therein; and

(D) Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall be subject to exceptions and limitations (if any) set forth in this Agreement, the Collateral Documents and, with respect to any Loan Party organized outside of the United States, the Agreed Security Principles.

 

26


Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, each Foreign Security Document, the Intellectual Property Security Agreements, each of the Mortgages, collateral assignments, security agreements, pledge agreements, intellectual property security agreements or other similar agreements delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 4.01, Section 6.11, Section 6.13 or Section 6.16 and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

Commitment” means a Revolving Credit Commitment, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment, Extended Revolving Credit Commitment of a given Extension Series, Other Revolving Credit Commitment of a given Refinancing Series, Initial Term Commitment, Incremental Term Commitment (including Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Commitment) or Refinancing Term Commitment of a given Refinancing Series, as the context may require.

Commitment Fee Rate” means with respect to the unused Revolving Credit Commitments:

(i) until delivery of financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01 for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2020 and thereafter at any time at which the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a) is greater than 3.25 to 1.00, a percentage per annum equal to 0.50%; and

(ii) at any time upon or after the delivery of the of financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01 for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2020, if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a) is less than or equal to 3.25 to 1.00, a percentage per annum equal to 0.375%.

Any increase or decrease in the Commitment Fee Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a); provided that at the option of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, the highest Commitment Fee Rate (e.g., 0.50%) shall apply as of (x) the first Business Day after the date on which a Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered but was not delivered, and shall continue to so apply to and including the date on which such Compliance Certificate is so delivered (and thereafter the Commitment Fee Rate otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply) and (y) as of the first Business Day after an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) shall have occurred and be continuing, and shall continue to so apply to but excluding the date on which such Event of Default is cured or waived (and thereafter the Commitment Fee Rate otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply).

 

27


Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower.

Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.).

Company” has the meaning set forth in the Preliminary Statements to this Agreement.

Company Parties” means the collective reference to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including the Borrowers, and “Company Party” means any one of them.

Compensation Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.12(c)(ii).

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E-1.

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

(1) increased (without duplication) by the following, in each case (other than with respect to clauses (h), (k) and the applicable pro forma adjustments in clause (o)) to the extent deducted (and not added back) in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

(a) (x) provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital, including, without limitation, federal, state, municipal and foreign franchise and similar taxes (such as the Delaware franchise tax, the Pennsylvania capital tax, Texas margin tax and provincial capital taxes paid in Canada) and withholding taxes (including any future taxes or other levies which replace or are intended to be in lieu of such taxes and any penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from tax examinations), (y) the amount of distributions actually made to any direct or indirect parent company of the Lead Borrower in respect of such period in accordance with Section 7.06(i)(iii) and (z) the net tax expense associated with any adjustments made pursuant to clauses (1) through (17) of the definition of “Consolidated Net Income”; plus

(b) Fixed Charges for such period (including (w) non-cash rent expense, (x) net losses or any obligations on Swap Obligations or other derivative instruments, (y) bank fees and other financing fees and (z) costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, plus amounts excluded from Consolidated Interest Expense as set forth in clauses (1)(o) through (z) in the definition thereof); plus

 

28


(c) the total amount of depreciation and amortization expenses and capitalized fees, including, without limitation, the amortization of capitalized fees related to any Qualified Securitization Facility and the amortization of intangible assets, deferred financing costs, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, and any Capitalized Software Expenditures of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP; plus

(d) the amount of any equity-based or non-cash compensation charges or expenses, including any such charges or expenses arising from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights; plus

(e) any other non-cash charges, expenses or losses, including non-cash losses on the sale of assets and any write-offs or write-downs reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period and any non-cash expense relating to the vesting of warrants (provided that if any such non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, (A) the Lead Borrower may elect not to add back such non-cash charge in the current period and (B) to the extent the Lead Borrower elects to add back such non-cash charge, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA to such extent), and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period; plus

(f) the amount of any non-controlling interest 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

(g) the amount of (x) board fees, management, monitoring, consulting, transaction, advisory and other fees (including termination fees) and indemnities, costs and expenses paid or accrued in such period to the Investors or otherwise to any member of the board of directors of Holdings, the Lead Borrower, any Permitted Holder or any Affiliate of a Permitted Holder, in each case, to the extent permitted under Section 7.07, (y) payments made to option holders of the Lead Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parent companies in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to shareholders of such person or its direct or indirect parent companies, which payments are being made to compensate such option holders as though they were shareholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution, including any cash consideration for any repurchase of equity, in each case to the extent permitted in the Loan Documents and (z) any fees and other compensation paid to the members of the board of directors (or the equivalent thereof) of the Lead Borrower or any of its parent entities; plus

(h) the amount of (x) pro forma “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies related to the Transactions that are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable and projected by the Lead Borrower in good faith to result from actions that have been taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (in the good faith determination of the Lead Borrower) within 36 months after the Closing Date (including from any actions taken in whole or in part prior to the Closing Date), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions and (y) pro forma “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions,

 

29


synergies and Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to contracted pricing (at the highest contracted rate) related to mergers and other business combinations, acquisitions, investments, dispositions, divestitures, restructurings, operating improvements, cost savings initiatives and other similar transactions or initiatives (including the modification and renegotiation of contracts and other arrangements) that are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable and projected by the Lead Borrower in good faith to result from actions that have been taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken (in each case, including any steps or actions taken in whole or in part prior to the Closing Date or the applicable consummation date of such transaction, initiative or event) or are expected to be taken (in the good faith determination of the Lead Borrower) within 36 months after any such transaction, initiative or event is consummated, net the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions, in each case, calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions, synergies and Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to contracted pricing (at the highest contracted rate) had been realized on the first day of such period for which Consolidated EBITDA is being determined and as if such cost savings, operating expense reductions, synergies and Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to contracted pricing were realized on the first day of the applicable period for the entirety of such period; provided that no cost savings, operating expense reductions, synergies and Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to contracted pricing shall be added pursuant to this clause (h) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges otherwise added to Consolidated EBITDA, whether through a pro forma adjustment or otherwise, for such period; plus

(i) the amount of loss or discount on sale of receivables, Securitization Assets and related assets to any Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Securitization Facility; plus

(j) any costs or expense incurred by the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary or a direct or indirect parent entity of the Lead Borrower to the extent paid by the Borrowers pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement, any severance agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such cost or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Lead Borrower or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) solely to the extent that such cash proceeds or net cash proceeds are excluded from the calculation of the Cumulative Credit; plus

(k) 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

(l) any net losses, charges, expenses, costs or other payments (including all fees, expenses or charges related thereto) (i) from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations, (ii) in respect of facilities no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Lead Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries, abandoned, closed, disposed or discontinued operations and any losses on disposal of abandoned, closed or discontinued operations and (iii) attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions (other than in the ordinary course of business) as determined in good faith by the Lead Borrower; plus

 

30


(m) at the option of the Lead Borrower with respect to any quarterly period, an amount equal to the net change in deferred revenue at the end of such period from the deferred revenue at the end of the previous period; plus

(n) compensation expense attributable to positive investment income with respect to funded deferred compensation account balances; plus

(o) any other adjustments, exclusions and add-backs reflected in (i) the Sponsor’s model delivered to the Lead Arrangers on or about October 11, 2019 and the quality of earnings summaries delivered to the Lead Arrangers on or about October 8, 2019 and (ii) any quality of earnings analysis prepared by independent registered public accountants of recognized national standing or any other accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and delivered to the Administrative Agent in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment; plus

(p) the amount of any gains or losses arising from embedded derivatives in the customer contracts of the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary and any gain or loss attributable to mark-to-market adjustments in the valuation of pension liabilities, including actuarial gain or loss on pension and post-retirement plans, curtailments and settlements;

(2) decreased (without duplication) by the following, in each case to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

(a) non-cash gains (including non-cash gains on the sale of assets) increasing Consolidated Net Income of the Lead Borrower 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 and any non-cash gains with respect to cash actually received in a prior period so long as such cash did not increase Consolidated EBITDA in such prior period; plus

(b) any net income from disposed, abandoned, closed or discontinued operations or attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions (other than in the ordinary course of business) as determined in good faith by the Lead Borrower; plus

(c) the reduction in compensation expense attributable to investment loss with respect to funded deferred compensation account balances; and

(3) increased or decreased (without duplication) by, as applicable, any non-cash adjustments resulting from the application of FASB Interpretation No. 45 Guarantees.

 

31


There shall be included in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period, without duplication, (A) the Acquired EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset acquired by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (but not the Acquired EBITDA of any related Person, property, business or assets to the extent not so acquired), to the extent not subsequently sold, transferred or otherwise disposed by the Lead Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset acquired and not subsequently so disposed of, an “Acquired Entity or Business”) and the Acquired EBITDA of any Unrestricted Subsidiary that is converted into a Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each, a “Converted Restricted Subsidiary”), based on the actual Acquired EBITDA of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) and (B) for the purposes of compliance with the covenant set forth in Section 7.09 and the calculation of the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, and the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio, an adjustment in respect of each Acquired Entity or Business equal to the amount of the Pro Forma Adjustment with respect to such Acquired Entity or Business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) as specified in a certificate executed by a Responsible Officer and delivered to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent. There shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period the Disposed EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of or, closed or classified as discontinued operations (but if such operations are classified as discontinued due to the fact that they are subject to an agreement to dispose of such operations, only when and to the extent such operations are actually disposed of) by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset so sold or disposed of, a “Sold Entity or Business”) and the Disposed EBITDA of any Restricted Subsidiary that is converted into an Unrestricted Subsidiary during such period (each a “Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary”), based on the actual Disposed EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such sale, transfer or disposition).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, for purposes of determining Consolidated EBITDA under this Agreement for any period that includes any of the fiscal quarters ended on December 31, 2018, March 31, 2019, June 30, 2019 and September 30, 2019 Consolidated EBITDA for such fiscal quarters shall be $28,419,000, $36,219,000, $40,703,000 and $41,511,000, respectively, in each case, as may be subject to any adjustment set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph for any four-quarter period with respect to any acquisitions, dispositions or conversions occurring after the Closing Date.

Consolidated First Lien Net Debt” means Consolidated Total Net Debt minus the sum of (i) the portion of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary included in Consolidated Total Net Debt that is not secured by any Lien on the Collateral and (ii) the portion of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary included in Consolidated Total Net Debt that is secured by Liens on the Collateral, which Liens are expressly subordinated or junior to the Liens securing the Obligations.

Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any four-quarter period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated First Lien Net Debt as of the last day of such period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period.

 

32


Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any four-quarter period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense for the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, the sum, without duplication,

of:

(1) consolidated interest expense of the Lead Borrower 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 OID 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 Swap Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP), (d) the interest component of Financing Lease Obligations, and (e) net payments, if any made (less net payments, if any, received), pursuant to interest rate Swap Obligations with respect to Indebtedness, and excluding (o) annual agency or similar fees paid to the administrative agents and collateral agents and other agents under this Agreement or other credit facilities, (p) any additional interest with respect to failure to comply with any registration rights agreement owing with respect to any securities, (q) costs associated with obtaining Swap Obligations, (r) any expense resulting from the discounting of any Indebtedness in connection with the application of recapitalization accounting or, if applicable, purchase accounting in connection with the Transactions or any acquisition, (s) penalties and interest relating to taxes, (t) any “additional interest” or “liquidated damages” with respect to other securities for failure to timely comply with registration rights obligations, (u) amortization or expensing of deferred financing fees, amendment and consent fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees, expenses and discounted liabilities and any other amounts of non-cash interest, (v) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees and any other fees related to the Transactions or any acquisitions after the Closing Date, (w) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Qualified Securitization Facility, (x) any accretion of accrued interest on discounted liabilities and any prepayment, make-whole or breakage premium, cost or penalty, (y) interest expense attributable to a parent entity resulting from push-down accounting, and (z) any lease, rental or other expense in connection with a Non-Financing Lease Obligation; plus

 

33


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

(3) interest income of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period.

For purposes of this definition, interest on a Financing Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower to be the rate of interest implicit in such Financing Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP (or, if not implicit, as otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP).

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (loss) of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis, and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends; provided, however, that, without duplication,

(1) any after-Tax effect of extraordinary, exceptional, unusual or nonrecurring gains or losses less all fees and expenses relating thereto (including any extraordinary, exceptional, unusual or nonrecurring operating expenses directly attributable to the implementation of cost savings initiatives and any accruals or reserves in respect of any extraordinary, exceptional unusual or nonrecurring items, charges or expenses (including relating to any multi-year strategic initiatives)), Transaction Expenses, restructuring and duplicative running costs, restructuring charges or reserves, relocation costs, start-up or initial costs for any project or new production line, division or new line of business, integration and facilities opening costs, 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 Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary or a parent entity of the Lead Borrower had entered into with employees of the Lead Borrower, a Restricted Subsidiary or a parent entity of the Lead Borrower, costs relating to pre-opening, opening and conversion costs for facilities, losses, costs or cost inefficiencies related to facility or property disruptions or shutdowns, signing, retention and completion bonuses, recruiting costs, costs incurred in connection with any strategic initiatives, transition costs, litigation and arbitration costs and charges, expenses in connection with one-time rate changes, costs incurred in connection with acquisitions, investments and dispositions (including travel and out-of-pocket costs, professional fees for legal, accounting and other services, human resources costs (including relocation bonuses), litigation and arbitration costs, charges, fees and expenses (including settlements), management transition costs, advertising costs, losses associated with temporary decreases in work volume and expenses related to maintaining underutilized personnel) and non-recurring product and IP Rights development, other business optimization expenses or reserves (including costs and expenses relating to business optimization programs and new systems design and costs or reserves associated with improvements to IT and accounting functions, retention charges (including charges or expenses in respect of incentive plans), system establishment costs and implementation costs) and operating expenses attributable to the implementation of cost-savings initiatives, and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans shall be excluded;

 

34


(2) at the election of the Lead Borrower with respect to any quarterly period, the cumulative after-Tax effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies shall be excluded;

(3) any net after-Tax effect of gains or losses on disposal, abandonment or discontinuance of disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations, as applicable, shall be excluded;

(4) any net after-Tax effect of gains or losses (less all fees, expenses and charges relating thereto) attributable to asset dispositions or abandonments or the sale or other disposition of any Equity Interests of any Person other than in the ordinary course of business shall be excluded;

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

(6) solely for purposes of determining the amount of Excess Cash Flow, the net income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Guarantor) shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of its net income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders (other than restrictions in this Agreement), unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived or released (or such Person reasonably believes such restriction could be waived or released and is using commercially reasonable efforts to pursue such waiver or release); provided that the Consolidated Net Income of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash or Cash Equivalents (or to the extent converted, or having the ability to be converted, into cash or Cash Equivalents) to the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein;

 

35


(7) effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries) in the Lead Borrower’s consolidated financial statements pursuant to GAAP (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 and leases, goodwill, intangible assets, in-process research and development, deferred revenue and debt line items thereof) resulting from the application of recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting, as the case may be, in relation to the Transactions or any consummated acquisition or joint venture investment or the amortization or write-off or write-down of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, shall be excluded;

(8) any after-Tax effect of income (loss) from the extinguishment or conversion of (i) Indebtedness, (ii) Swap Obligations or (iii) other derivative instruments shall be excluded;

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

(10) any equity-based or non-cash compensation or similar charge or expense or reduction of revenue including any such charge, expense or amount arising from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, profits interests or other rights or equity or equity-based incentive programs (“equity incentives”), any one-time cash charges associated with the equity incentives or other long-term incentive compensation plans (including under deferred compensation arrangements of the Lead Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parent entities or subsidiaries), rollover, acceleration, or payout of Equity Interests by management, future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, members, partners, independent contractors or consultants or business partners of the Borrowers or any of their direct or indirect parent entities or subsidiaries, and any cash awards granted to future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, members, partners, independent contractors or consultants or business partners of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries in replacement for forfeited equity awards, shall be excluded;

(11) any fees, expenses or charges incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, recapitalization, investment, asset sale, disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness (including such fees, expenses or charges related to the offering and issuance of any securities and the syndication and incurrence of any Facility) (including such fees, expenses or charges relating to any rating by the Rating Agencies), issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrowers or their direct or indirect parent entities, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt

 

36


instrument (including any amendment or other modification of any securities and any Facility) and including, in each case, any such transaction consummated on or prior to the Closing Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed, and any charges or non-recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction, in each case whether or not successful or consummated (including, for the avoidance of doubt the effects of expensing all transaction related expenses in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 805, Business Combinations), shall be excluded;

(12) accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted in connection with the Transactions or within twenty-four months after the closing of any acquisition that are so required to be established or adjusted as a result of such acquisition in accordance with GAAP or changes as a result of modifications of accounting policies shall be excluded;

(13) any expenses, charges or losses to the extent covered by insurance or indemnity and actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Lead Borrower has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer or indemnifying party and only to the extent that such amount is in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of the insurable or indemnifiable event (net of any amount so added back in any prior period to the extent not so reimbursed within the applicable 365-day period), shall be excluded;

(14) any non-cash compensation expense resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, shall be excluded;

(15) any net pension or post-employment benefit costs representing amortization of unrecognized prior service costs, actuarial losses, including amortization of such amounts arising in prior periods, amortization of the unrecognized net obligation (and loss or cost) existing at the date of initial application of Statement on Financial Accounting Standards No. 87, 106 and 112; and any other items of a similar nature, shall be excluded;

(16) the following items shall be excluded:

(a) any unrealized net gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from Swap Obligations and the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 815, Derivatives and Hedging,

(b) any net gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from currency translation gains or losses including those related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net gain or loss resulting from Swap Obligations for currency exchange risk) and any other foreign currency translation gains and losses to the extent such gains or losses are non-cash items,

 

37


(c) any adjustments resulting for the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 460, Guarantees, or any comparable regulation,

(d) at the election of the Lead Borrower with respect to any quarterly period, effects of adjustments to accruals and reserves during a prior period relating to any change in the methodology of calculating reserves for returns, rebates and other chargebacks, and

(e) 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; and

(17) the amount of distributions actually made to any direct or indirect parent company of such Person in respect of such period in accordance with Section 7.06(i)(iii) shall be included in calculating Consolidated Net Income as though such amounts had been paid as taxes directly by such Person for such period.

In addition, to the extent not already included in the Consolidated Net Income of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Consolidated Net Income shall include the amount of proceeds received or due from business interruption insurance and reimbursements of any expenses and charges that are covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any acquisition, investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement.

Consolidated Secured Net Debt” means Consolidated Total Net Debt minus the portion of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary included in Consolidated Total Net Debt that is not secured by any Liens on the Collateral.

Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any four-quarter period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Secured Net Debt as of the last day of such period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period.

Consolidated Total Net Debt” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, in an amount that would be reflected on a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (but excluding the effects of any discounting of Indebtedness resulting from the application of purchase accounting in connection with the Transactions or any Permitted Acquisition), consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money, purchase money indebtedness, Attributable Indebtedness, and debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes, bonds, debentures, loan agreements or similar instruments, minus the aggregate amount of all unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents on the balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date; provided that Consolidated Total Net Debt shall not include Indebtedness (i) in respect of letters of credit (including Letters of Credit),

 

38


except to the extent of unreimbursed amounts thereunder; provided, further, that any unreimbursed amount under commercial letters of credit shall not be counted as Consolidated Total Net Debt until three Business Days after such amount is drawn and (ii) of Unrestricted Subsidiaries; it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that obligations under Swap Contracts or in respect of Non-Financing Lease Obligations do not constitute Consolidated Total Net Debt.

Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any four-quarter period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Net Debt as of the last day of such period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period.

Consolidated Working Capital” means, with respect to the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at any date of determination, Current Assets at such date of determination minus Current Liabilities at such date of determination; provided that increases or decreases in Consolidated Working Capital shall be calculated without regard to any changes in Current Assets or Current Liabilities as a result of (a) any reclassification in accordance with GAAP of assets or liabilities, as applicable, between current and noncurrent or (b) the effects of purchase accounting.

Contract Consideration” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Excess Cash Flow.”

Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

Control” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Affiliate.”

Controlled Investment Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person, other than the Investors, 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 Lead Borrower and/or other companies.

Converted Restricted Subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

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).

 

39


Covered Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.25.

Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness” means (a) Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt, (b) Permitted Junior Lien Refinancing Debt, (c) Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt or (d) other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment, in each case, issued, incurred or otherwise obtained (including by means of the extension or renewal of existing Indebtedness) in exchange for, or to extend, renew, replace, repurchase, retire or refinance, in whole or part, existing Term Loans and Revolving Credit Loans (or Commitments in respect of Revolving Credit Loans), or any then-existing Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (“Refinanced Debt”); provided that (i) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, such Indebtedness has a maturity no earlier, and, in the case of Refinancing Term Loans, a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Refinanced Debt, (ii) such Indebtedness shall not have a greater principal amount than the principal amount of the Refinanced Debt plus accrued interest, fees, premiums (if any) and penalties thereon and reasonable fees and expenses associated with the refinancing, (iii) the other terms and conditions of such Indebtedness shall either, at the option of the Lead Borrower (I) reflect terms and conditions that are otherwise as agreed between the Lead Borrower and the lender, holder or other provider of such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (provided that to the extent any more restrictive financial maintenance covenant is added for the benefit of such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, such financial maintenance covenant shall be added for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Facility that then benefits from such financial maintenance covenant and is remaining outstanding (except to the extent such financial maintenance covenant is applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of such Revolving Credit Facility)) or (II) if not consistent with the terms of the Refinanced Debt being refinanced or replaced, shall not be materially more restrictive (taken as a whole) on the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined by the Lead Borrower) than those applicable to the Refinanced Debt being refinanced or replaced (except for (x) pricing, premiums, fees, rate floors and prepayment and redemption terms and (y) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness and it being understood that to the extent any terms or conditions that are more restrictive than the applicable Facilities is added for the benefit of such (A) Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in the form of Refinancing Term Loans or refinancing notes or other debt securities (whether issued in a public offering, Rule 144A, private placement or otherwise), no consent shall be required from the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders to the extent that such terms or conditions are also added for the benefit of each Facility remaining outstanding after the incurrence or issuance of such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or (B) Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in the form of Other Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Loans, no consent shall be required from the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders to the extent that such terms or conditions (x) are also added for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Facility or (y) applies only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of such Revolving Credit Facility) (in each case, provided that a certificate of a Responsible Officer delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that

 

40


the Lead Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the requirement of this clause (iii) shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy such requirement), and (iv) such Refinanced Debt shall be repaid, repurchased, retired, defeased or satisfied and discharged, all accrued interest, fees, premiums (if any) and penalties in connection therewith shall be paid, and all commitments thereunder terminated, on the date such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness is issued, incurred or obtained.

Credit Extension” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

Cumulative Credit” means, at any date, an amount, not less than zero in the aggregate, determined on a cumulative basis equal to, without duplication:

(a) the greater of (x) $70,000,000 and (y) 50% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA; plus

(b) the greatest of (x) the Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount at such time, (y) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for each fiscal quarter following the Closing Date for which financial statements are internally available, commencing with the fiscal quarter in which the Closing Date occurs and (z) (A) cumulative Consolidated EBITDA of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the period (taken as one accounting period, but without duplication for any adjustments made to Consolidated EBITDA during an earlier period for expected gains or losses that are actually realized and later added back to Consolidated EBITDA in a subsequent period) from the beginning of the fiscal quarter in which the Closing Date occurs to the end of the Lead Borrower’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements are internally available, minus (B) 1.5x cumulative Fixed Charges for the same period; plus

(c) the Cumulative Retained Asset Sale Proceeds Amount at such time; plus

(d) the cumulative amount of cash and Cash Equivalent proceeds (other than Excluded Contributions) and/or the fair market value of assets received from (i) the sale or transfer of Equity Interests (other than any Disqualified Equity Interests and other than any Designated Equity Contribution or the Equity Investment) of Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Lead Borrower after the Closing Date and on or prior to such time (including upon exercise of warrants or options) which proceeds or assets have been contributed as common equity to the capital of the Lead Borrower or (ii) the common Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower (or Holdings or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings) (other than Disqualified Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent of the Lead Borrower) and other than any Designated Equity Contribution or the Equity Investment) issued upon conversion of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness that is contractually subordinated to the Obligations) of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower owed to a Person other than a Loan Party or a Restricted Subsidiary of a Loan Party, in each case, not previously applied for a purpose other than use in the Cumulative Credit (including, for the avoidance of doubt, for the purposes of Section 7.03(m)(y)); plus

 

41


(e) 100% of the aggregate amount of contributions to the common capital (other than from a Restricted Subsidiary and other than any Designated Equity Contribution or the Equity Investment) of the Lead Borrower received after the Closing Date (other than Excluded Contributions or the Equity Investment), excluding any such amount that has been applied in accordance with Section 7.03(m)(y); plus

(f) 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from:

(A) the sale or transfer (other than to the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) of the Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, joint venture or any minority investments, or

(B) any dividend or other distribution by an Unrestricted Subsidiary or received in respect of any minority investment (except to the extent increasing Consolidated Net Income and excluding Excluded Contributions or the Equity Investment), or

(C) any interest, returns of principal payments and similar payments by an Unrestricted Subsidiary or joint venture or received in respect of any minority investments (except to the extent increasing Consolidated Net Income); plus

(g) in the event any Unrestricted Subsidiary has been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, the fair market value of the Investments of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation, combination or transfer (or of the assets transferred or conveyed, as applicable) so long as such Investments were originally made pursuant to Section 7.02(n)(y); plus

(h) to the extent not already included in Consolidated Net Income, an amount equal to any returns in cash and Cash Equivalents (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Investments made pursuant to Section 7.02(n)(y); plus

(i) 100% of the aggregate amount of any Declined Proceeds; minus

(j) any amount of the Cumulative Credit used to make Investments pursuant to Section 7.02(n)(y) after the Closing Date and prior to such time; minus

(k) any amount of the Cumulative Credit used to pay dividends or make distributions pursuant to Section 7.06(h)(y) after the Closing Date and prior to such time; minus

 

42


(l) any amount of the Cumulative Credit used to make payments or distributions in respect of Junior Financings pursuant to Section 7.10(a)(v)(y) after the Closing Date and prior to such time.

Cumulative Retained Asset Sale Proceeds Amount” means the cumulative portion (since the Closing Date) of the Net Proceeds of Dispositions not required to be applied to prepay the Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ii) due to the Applicable Asset Sale Percentage being less than 100%.

Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount” means the cumulative portion (since the Closing Date), not less than zero, of Excess Cash Flow not required to be applied to prepay the Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(i) due to the Applicable ECF Percentage being less than 100%.

Current Assets” means, with respect to the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at any date of determination, all assets (other than cash and Cash Equivalents) of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries that would, in accordance with GAAP, be classified on a consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as current assets at such date of determination, other than amounts related to current or deferred Taxes based on income or profits (but excluding assets held for sale, loans (permitted) to third parties, pension assets, deferred bank fees and derivative financial instruments).

Current Liabilities” means, with respect to the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at any date of determination, all liabilities of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries that would, in accordance with GAAP, be classified on a consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as current liabilities at such date of determination, other than (a) the current portion of any Indebtedness, (b) accruals of Consolidated Interest Expense (excluding Consolidated Interest Expense that is past due and unpaid), (c) accruals for current or deferred Taxes based on income or profits, (d) accruals of any costs or expenses related to restructuring reserves, and (e) any Revolving Credit Exposure.

Debt Fund Affiliate” means (i) any fund or client managed by, or under common management with GSO Capital Partners LP, Blackstone Real Estate Special Situations Advisors L.L.C. and Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Fund L.P., (ii) any fund or client managed by an adviser within the credit focused division of The Blackstone Group Inc. or Blackstone ISG-I Advisors L.L.C., (iii) The Blackstone Strategic Opportunity Funds (including masters, feeders, onshore, offshore and parallel funds), (iv) funds and accounts managed by Blackstone Alternative Solutions, L.L.C. or its Affiliates and (v) any other Affiliate of the Investors or Holdings that is a bona fide debt fund or an investment vehicle that is engaged in the making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course.

Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

43


Declined Proceeds” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b)(viii).

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

Default Rate” means an interest rate equal to (a) the Base Rate plus (b) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Revolving Credit Loans that are Base Rate Loans plus (c) 2.0% per annum; provided that with respect to the overdue principal or interest in respect of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan, plus 2.0% per annum, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

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 any Lender whose acts or failure to act, whether directly or indirectly, cause it to meet any part of the definition of “Lender Default.”

Delaware Divided LLC” means any Delaware LLC which has been formed upon the consummation of a Delaware LLC Division.

Delaware LLC” means any limited liability company organized or formed under the laws of the State of Delaware.

Delaware LLC Division” means the statutory division of any Delaware LLC into two or more Delaware LLCs pursuant to Section 18-217 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.

Designated Equity Contribution” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05(a).

Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(1).

Discount Range” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1).

“Discount Range Prepayment Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1).

Discount Range Prepayment Notice” means a written notice of a Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offers made pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1) substantially in the form of Exhibit L-4.

Discount Range Prepayment Offer” means the irrevocable written offer by a Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit L-5, submitted in response to an invitation to submit offers following the Auction Agent’s receipt of a Discount Range Prepayment Notice.

 

44


Discount Range Prepayment Response Date has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1).

Discount Range Proration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(3).

Discounted Prepayment Determination Date has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(3).

Discounted Prepayment Effective Date” means in the case of a Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment, Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offer or Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offer, five (5) Business Days following the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date, the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date or the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date, as applicable, in accordance with Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(1), Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1) or Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1), respectively, unless a shorter period is agreed to between the Lead Borrower and the Auction Agent.

Discounted Term Loan Prepayment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(A).

Disposed EBITDA” means, with respect to any Sold Entity or Business or any Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business (determined as if references to the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA (and in the component definitions used therein) were references to such Sold Entity or Business and its Subsidiaries or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries) or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Sold Entity or Business or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction and any sale or issuance of Equity Interests in a Restricted Subsidiary) of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith and including any disposition of property to a Delaware Divided LLC pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division; provided that “Disposition” and “Dispose” shall not be deemed to include any issuance by Holdings of any of its Equity Interests to another Person.

Disqualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) matures or is 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

 

45


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 Commitments and the termination or expiration of all outstanding Letters of Credit (unless the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations related thereto has been Cash Collateralized, backstopped by a letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer or deemed reissued under another agreement reasonably acceptable to the applicable L/C Issuer)), (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests and other than 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 Commitments and the expiration or termination of all outstanding Letters of Credit (unless the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations related thereto has been Cash Collateralized, backstopped by a letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer or deemed reissued under another agreement reasonably acceptable to the applicable L/C Issuer)), in whole or in part, (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash, or (d) is or becomes 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 ninety-one (91) days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of issuance of such Equity Interests; provided that if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Lead Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Lead Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.

Disqualified Lenders” means (i) those Persons identified by the Lead Borrower (or one of its Affiliates) or the Sponsor to the Administrative Agent in writing prior to November 8, 2019, (ii) competitors (and such competitors’ sponsors and Affiliates identified in writing or reasonably identifiable as such solely on the basis of their names) of the Lead Borrower identified by the Lead Borrower to the Administrative Agent in writing (x) from time to time prior to the date of the bank meeting in connection with the Initial Term Loans and (y) thereafter (including after the Closing Date) from time to time and (iii) any Affiliate of any Person described in clause (i) or competitor described in clause (ii) that is identified by the Lead Borrower to the Administrative Agent in writing from time to time or reasonably identifiable solely by name as an Affiliate of such Person, other than an Affiliate of such Person that is a Bona Fide Debt Fund; provided that (x) no updates to the list of Disqualified Lenders shall be deemed to retroactively disqualify any parties that have previously validly acquired an assignment or participation in respect of the Loans from continuing to hold or vote such previously acquired assignments and participations on the terms set forth herein for Lenders that are not Disqualified Lenders and (y) notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Lead Borrower may withhold consent for any assignments to any Affiliate of a Disqualified Lender (to the extent such consent is otherwise required under Section 10.07) regardless of whether such assignee is reasonably identifiable as an Affiliate of a Disqualified Lender solely on the basis of its name (other than with respect to Affiliates that are Bona Fide Debt Funds). The list of Disqualified Lenders shall be made available to any Lender upon request to the Administrative Agent, subject to customary confidentiality requirements.

 

46


Distressed Person” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Lender-Related Distress Event.”

Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.

Dollar Denominated Letter of Credit” means any Letter of Credit incurred in Dollars.

Dollar Denominated Loan” means any Loan incurred in Dollars.

Dollar Equivalent” means, with respect to an amount of an Approved Currency other than Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date or other relevant date of determination) for the purchase of Dollars with such Approved Currency.

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

ECF Payment Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b).

EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent;

EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

Effective Yield” means, as to any Loans of any Class, the effective yield on such Loans in an amount equal to the sum of (a) the applicable margin, (b) the interest rate (exclusive of applicable margin) after giving effect to any interest rate floors or similar devices and (c) all upfront or similar fees and OID (amortized over the shorter of (x) the original stated life of such Loans and (y) the four years following the date of incurrence thereof) payable generally to Lenders making such Loans, but excluding amendment fees, arrangement fees, structuring fees, commitment fees, underwriting fees or other fees payable to any lead arranger (or its affiliates) in connection with the commitment or syndication of such Indebtedness, consent fees paid to consenting Lenders, ticking fees on undrawn commitments and any other fees not paid or payable generally to all Lenders in the primary syndication of such Indebtedness.

 

47


Eligible Assignee” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(a).

Environment” means indoor air, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, land surface, subsurface strata and natural resources such as wetlands, flora and fauna.

Environmental Laws” means any applicable Law relating to pollution, protection of the Environment and natural resources, Hazardous Materials, or the protection of human health and safety as it relates to exposure to Hazardous Materials, including any applicable provisions of CERCLA.

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of investigation and remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of or relating to the Loan Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of, or liability under or relating to, any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials or (d) the actual or alleged presence, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials, including, in each case of (a) through (d), any such liability which any Loan Party has retained or assumed pursuant to any written contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement.

Environmental Permit” means any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.

Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares, interests, rights, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests or units in) such Person and all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase, acquisition or exchange from such Person of any of the foregoing (including through convertible securities).

Equity Investment” means the direct or indirect contribution by the Sponsor and the Investors and certain other Persons (including the Management Stockholders) to the Lead Borrower (or Holdings or other direct or indirect parent company of the Lead Borrower) of an aggregate amount of cash and the fair market value of the equity of the seller and Management Stockholders rolled over or invested in Holdings (or other direct or indirect parent company of the Lead Borrower) that represents not less than 40% of the sum of (1) the aggregate gross proceeds received from the Initial Term Loans, excluding any gross proceeds received from any increase in the Initial Term Loans to fund original issue discount or upfront fees on the Closing Date resulting from the exercise of “market flex” under the Fee Letter, (2) the aggregate gross proceeds received from Revolving Credit Loans, if any, made on the Closing Date, excluding any Revolving Credit Loans to fund

 

48


original issue discount or upfront fees under the “market flex” provisions of the Fee Letter or working capital needs on the Closing Date and (3) the amount of such cash contribution by the Sponsor and the Investors and certain other Persons (including the Management Stockholders) to the Lead Borrower (or Holdings or other direct or indirect parent company of the Lead Borrower) and the fair market value of the equity of the seller and Management Stockholders rolled over or invested in the Lead Borrower (or Holdings or other direct or indirect parent company of the Lead Borrower), in each case of clauses (1) through (4), as of the Closing Date.

Equityholding Vehicle” means any direct or indirect parent entity of Holdings and any equityholder thereof through which Management Stockholders hold Equity Interests of Holdings or such parent entity.

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

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with a Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code, or solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(m) or (o) of the Code.

ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event; (b) a withdrawal by a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan, in each case, resulting in liability pursuant to Section 4063 of ERISA; (d) the filing by the PBGC of a notice of intent to terminate any Pension Plan, the treatment of a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041(c) or Section 4041A of ERISA, respectively, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) appointment of a trustee to administer any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (f) with respect to a Pension Plan, the failure to satisfy the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) applicable to such Pension Plan, whether or not waived; (g) any Foreign Benefit Event that is reasonably likely to result in a lien on any assets of, or otherwise result in a material liability of, any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary; or (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate.

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

 

49


euro” means the single currency of participating member states of the economic and monetary union in accordance with the Treaty of Rome 1957, as amended by the Single European Act 1986, the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 and the Amsterdam Treaty of 1998.

Eurocurrency Rate” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in any Approved Currency, for any Interest Period, the LIBO Screen Rate (or any applicable successor page or such other commercially available published source providing such quotations as may be approved by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that, if (i) the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent reasonably determine in good faith that an interest rate is not ascertainable pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this definition and the inability to ascertain such rate is unlikely to be temporary or (ii) the circumstances set forth in the preceding clause (i) have not arisen but the supervisor for the administrator of the LIBO Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the LIBO Screen Rate shall no longer be made available or used for determining interest rates for loans, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Lenders in writing (the occurrence of either of the foregoing conditions, a “Benchmark Discontinuation Event”) and the “Eurocurrency Rate” shall be an alternate benchmark floating term rate of interest established by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower that is generally accepted as the then prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest for similar syndicated loans in the United States at such time and shall include (A) the spread or method for determining a spread or other adjustment or modification that is generally accepted as the then prevailing market convention for determining such spread, method, adjustment or modification and (B) other adjustments to such alternate term rate and this Agreement (x) to not increase or decrease pricing in effect for the Interest Period on the Business Day immediately preceding the Business Day on which such alternate rate is selected pursuant to this provision (but for the avoidance of doubt which would not reduce the Applicable Rate) and (y) other changes necessary to reflect the available interest periods for such alternate rate) for similar syndicated leveraged loans of this type in the United States at such time (any such rate, the “Successor Benchmark Rate”), and the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower shall enter into an amendment to this Agreement to reflect such alternate rate of interest and such other related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 10.01, such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement; provided, further that if a Successor Benchmark Rate has not been established pursuant to the immediately preceding proviso after the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent have reached such a determination, the Lead Borrower and the Required Lenders may select a different alternate rate as long as it is reasonably practicable for the Administrative Agent to administer such different rate and, upon not less than 15 Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders and the Lead Borrower shall enter into an amendment to this Agreement to reflect such alternate rate of interest and such other related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 10.01, such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in respect of the Initial Term Loans

 

50


and the Revolving Credit Loans, the Eurocurrency Rate in respect of any applicable Interest Period will be deemed to be zero if the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period calculated pursuant to the foregoing provisions would otherwise be less than zero and (ii) solely in respect of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans, the Eurocurrency Rate in respect of any applicable Interest Period will be deemed to be 0.50% if the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period calculated pursuant to the foregoing provisions would otherwise be less than 0.50%. For the avoidance of doubt, if a Benchmark Discontinuation Event occurs, the Applicable Rate for any Loan shall be determined in accordance with Section 3.06(c) until the date a Successor Benchmark Rate or other alternate term rate determined pursuant to the proviso above has been established in accordance with the requirements of this definition.

Eurocurrency Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurocurrency Rate.

Eurocurrency Rate Revolving Loan” means a Revolving Credit Loan bearing interest at a rate based on the Eurocurrency Rate. Eurocurrency Rate Revolving Loans may be denominated in any Approved Currency.

Event of Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01.

Excess Cash Flow” means, for any period, an amount (which shall not be less than zero) equal to (a) the sum, without duplication, of (i) Consolidated Net Income for such period, (ii) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash charges to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, (iii) decreases in Consolidated Working Capital and long-term accounts receivable of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period (other than any such decreases arising from acquisitions or dispositions by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries completed during such period or the application of purchase accounting), and (iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash loss on Dispositions by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than sales in the ordinary course of business) or any cash gain, in each case to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, minus (b) the sum, without duplication, of (i) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash credits included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income and cash charges included in clauses (1) through (17) of the definition of “Consolidated Net Income,” (ii) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash gain on Dispositions by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than Dispositions in the ordinary course of business) to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, (iii) increases in Consolidated Working Capital and long-term accounts receivable of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period (other than any such increases arising from acquisitions or dispositions by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period or the application of purchase accounting), (iv) without duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in prior periods or that would reduce any Excess Cash Flow payment pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(i), the aggregate consideration required to be paid in cash by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to binding contracts (the “Contract Consideration”) entered into prior to or during such period relating to acquisitions that constitute

 

51


Investments permitted under this Agreement or Capital Expenditures or acquisitions of IP Rights to the extent expected to be consummated or made, plus any restructuring cash expenses, pension payments or tax contingency payments that have been added to Excess Cash Flow pursuant to clause (a)(ii) above required to be made, in each case during the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Lead Borrower following the end of such period; provided that to the extent the aggregate amount of internally generated cash actually utilized to finance such Investment, Capital Expenditures or acquisitions of IP Rights during such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters is less than the Contract Consideration, the amount of such shortfall shall be added to the calculation of Excess Cash Flow at the end of such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, (v) cash expenditures in respect of Swap Contracts during such period to the extent not deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income and (vi) any payment of cash to be amortized or expensed over a future period and recorded as a long-term asset. Notwithstanding anything in the definition of any term used in the definition of Excess Cash Flow to the contrary, all components of Excess Cash Flow shall be computed for the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

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

Excluded Assets” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.”

Excluded Contribution” means net cash proceeds, marketable securities or Qualified Proceeds received by the Lead Borrower from:

(1) contributions to its common equity capital;

(2) dividends, distributions, fees and other payments (A) from Unrestricted Subsidiaries and any of their Subsidiaries, (B) received in respect of any minority investments and (C) from any joint ventures that are not Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(3) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower or to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Lead Borrower) of Equity Interest (other than Disqualified Equity Interests, the Equity Investment and preferred stock) of the Borrowers (or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrowers to the extent contributed as common Equity Interests to the Borrowers);

in each case to the extent designated as Excluded Contributions by the Lead Borrower.

Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) any Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary of a Borrower or any other Subsidiary Guarantor, (b) any Subsidiary that does not have total assets in excess of 5% of Total Assets in the aggregate together with all other Subsidiaries excluded via this clause (b), (c) any Securitization Subsidiary, (d) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by applicable Law (whether on the Closing Date or thereafter) or Contractual Obligations existing on the Closing Date (or, in the case of any newly acquired Subsidiary, in existence at the time of acquisition but not entered into in contemplation thereof) from guaranteeing the Obligations or if guaranteeing the Obligation

 

52


would require governmental (including regulatory) or other third-party (other than a Loan Party) consent, approval, license or authorization (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been obtained), (e) any other Subsidiary with respect to which the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower mutually agree that the burden or cost or other consequences (including any material adverse tax consequences) of providing a Guarantee shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom, (f) any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrowers organized in a jurisdiction other than an Agreed Security Jurisdiction, (g) any Subsidiary with respect to which the provision of a guarantee by it would result in material adverse tax consequences to Holdings, the Borrower, any direct or indirect parent entity of the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s direct or indirect Subsidiaries, in each case as reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, (h) any not-for-profit Subsidiaries, (i) any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (j) any direct or indirect Subsidiary (x) that is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC, (y) that is a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC, or (z) substantially all of the assets of which consist of capital stock and/or indebtedness of (i) one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs or (ii) other Subsidiaries described in this clause (j)(z) (any Subsidiary described in this clause (j)(z), a “FSHCO”), (k) any special purpose entities, (l) any captive insurance subsidiaries and (m) any Subsidiary which is not required to become a Guarantor pursuant to the Agreed Security Principles. For the avoidance of doubt, no Borrower shall constitute an Excluded Subsidiary; provided that for the avoidance of doubt (x) at the option of the Lead Borrower, any Excluded Subsidiary may issue a Guaranty and become a Guarantor as described in clause (iv) of the definition of “Guarantors” and (y) any Person that becomes a Guarantor pursuant to clause (iv) of the definition of “Guarantors” shall cease to constitute an Excluded Subsidiary and shall be released from its obligations under the Guaranty, solely on the basis that, prior to becoming a Guarantor, such Person constituted an Excluded Subsidiary.

Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, (a) any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guaranty of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guaranty thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation, or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) (i) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure to constitute an “eligible contract participant,” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder (determined after giving effect to Section 11.12 and any other applicable agreement for the benefit of such Guarantor and any and all applicable guarantees of such Guarantor’s Swap Obligations by other Loan Parties), at the time the guarantee of (or grant of such security interest by, as applicable) such Guarantor becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or (ii) in the case of a Swap Obligation that is subject to a clearing requirement pursuant to section 2(h) of the Commodity Exchange Act, because such Guarantor is a “financial entity,” as defined in section 2(h)(7)(C) of the Commodity Exchange Act, at the time the guarantee of (or grant of such security interest by, as applicable) such Guarantor becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or (b) any other Swap Obligation designated as an “Excluded Swap Obligation” of such Guarantor as specified in any agreement between the relevant Loan Parties and the Approved Counterparty applicable to such Swap Obligations. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one Swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to the Swap for which such guarantee or security interest is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.

 

53


Existing Revolver Tranche” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(b).

Existing Term Loan Tranche” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).

Expiring Credit Commitment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(g).

Extended Revolving Credit Commitments” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(b).

Extended Revolving Credit Loans” means one or more Classes of Revolving Credit Loans that result from an Extension Amendment.

Extended Term Loans” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).

Extending Revolving Credit Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(c).

Extending Term Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(c).

Extension” means the establishment of an Extension Series by amending a Loan pursuant to Section 2.16 and the applicable Extension Amendment.

Extension Amendment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(d).

Extension Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(c).

Extension Request” means any Term Loan Extension Request or a Revolver Extension Request, as the case may be.

Extension Series” means any Term Loan Extension Series or a Revolver Extension Series, as the case may be.

Facility” means the Initial Term Loans, a given Class of Incremental Term Loans (including Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans), a given Refinancing Series of Refinancing Term Loans, a given Extension Series of Extended Term Loans, the Revolving Credit Facility, a given Class of Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, a given Refinancing Series of Other Revolving Credit Commitments or a given Extension Series of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as the context may require. For the avoidance of doubt, the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans shall constitute a separate Facility and Class from the Initial Term Loans on and after the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date.

 

54


FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code as of the Closing Date (or any amended or successor version thereof that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future Treasury Regulations or other published administrative guidance promulgated thereunder or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to current Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code (or any amended or successor version described above), any intergovernmental agreements implementing the foregoing, and any laws, fiscal or regulatory legislation, or official guidance, notes or practices, in each case, adopted by a non-U.S. jurisdiction to implement the foregoing.

Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Citi on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent. If the Federal Funds Effective Rate is less than zero, it shall be deemed to be zero hereunder.

Fee Letter” means that certain Amended and Restated Fee Letter, dated as of December 13, 2019, by and among Buzz Holdings L.P., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Bank PLC, HSBC Bank PLC, Royal Bank of Canada, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise, modified from time to time.

Financial Covenant” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.09.

Financial Covenant Event of Default” has the meaning provided in Section 8.01(b).

Financing Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a Financing Lease; provided that any obligations of the Lead Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries either existing on the Closing Date or created prior to any recharacterization described below (i) that were not included on the consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower as financing or capital lease obligations and (ii) that are subsequently recharacterized as financing or capital lease obligations or indebtedness due to a change in accounting treatment or otherwise, shall for all purposes under this Agreement (including, without limitation, the calculation of Consolidated Net Income and Consolidated EBITDA) not be treated as financing or capital lease obligations, Financing Lease Obligations or Indebtedness.

 

55


Financing Leases” means all leases that have been or are required to be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as a financing or capital leases (and, for the avoidance of doubt, not a straight-line or operating lease) on both the balance sheet and income statement for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP (or to the extent then applicable, IFRS) as in effect on January 1, 2015; provided that for all purposes hereunder the amount of obligations under any Financing Lease shall be the amount thereof accounted for as a liability on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP as in effect on January 1, 2015.

FIRREA” means the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, as amended.

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means an intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit J-1 (which agreement in such form or with immaterial changes thereto the Collateral Agent is authorized to enter into) among Holdings, the Borrowers, the Subsidiaries of the Borrowers from time to time party thereto, the Collateral Agent and one or more collateral agents or representatives for the holders of Indebtedness that is permitted under Section 7.03 to be, and intended to be, secured on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the Obligations.

Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc. or any successor by merger or consolidation to its business.

Fixed Charges” means, with respect to the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the sum of, without duplication:

(1) Consolidated Interest Expense of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period;

(2) all cash dividends or other distributions paid (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of preferred stock during such period; and

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

Flood Insurance Laws” means, collectively, (i) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statue thereto, (iii) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (iv) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and (v) the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto.

Foreign Benefit Event” means, with respect to any Foreign Pension Plan, (a) the existence of unfunded liabilities in excess of the amount permitted under any applicable Law or in excess of the amount that would be permitted absent a waiver from any applicable Governmental Authority or (b) the failure to make the required contributions or payments, under any applicable Law, on or before the due date for such contributions or payments.

 

56


Foreign Currency Denominated Letter of Credit” means any Letter of Credit denominated in an Approved Foreign Currency, other than, with respect to each L/C Issuer, those Approved Foreign Currencies not authorized to be issued by such L/C Issuer as notified to the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower from time to time.

Foreign Currency Denominated Loan” means any Loan incurred in any Approved Foreign Currency.

Foreign Disposition” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b)(x).

Foreign Loan Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.15.

Foreign Pension Plan” means any benefit plan that under applicable Law is required to be funded through a trust or other funding vehicle other than a trust or funding vehicle maintained exclusively by a Governmental Authority.

Foreign Security Documents” means security documents in favor of the Collateral Agent or any of the Secured Parties, granted by any Loan Party which is organized under the laws of Bermuda or England and Wales.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

Foreign Subsidiary Total Assets” means the total assets of the Foreign Subsidiaries, as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP in good faith by a Responsible Officer.

FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

Free and Clear Incremental Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(d)(v).

Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to the L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the outstanding L/C Obligations other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) with respect to the Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of Swing Line Loans other than Swing Line 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.

FSHCO” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Excluded Subsidiary”.

Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course.

 

57


GAAP” means at the election of the Lead Borrower (such election to be made no more than three times during the term of this Agreement), (a) the accounting standards and interpretations adopted by the International Accounting Standard Board, as in effect from time to time (“IFRS”) if the Lead Borrower’s financial statements are at such time prepared in accordance with IFRS or (b) generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, as in effect from time to time (“U.S. GAAP”) if the Lead Borrower’s financial statements are at such time prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP; provided, however, that (i) that if the Lead Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Lead Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change in accounting principles or change as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies (including, but not limited to, the impact of Accounting Standards Update 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) or similar revenue recognition policies or any change in the methodology of calculating reserves for returns, rebates and other chargebacks) occurring after the Closing Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Lead Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith, (ii) GAAP shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to any election under FASB ASC Topic 825 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries at “fair value,” as defined therein, and Indebtedness shall be measured at the aggregate principal amount thereof, (iii) the accounting for operating leases and financing or capital leases under (x) GAAP as in effect on January 1, 2015 (including, without limitation, Accounting Standards Codification 840) and (y) IFRS, as in effect prior to giving effect to IFRS 16 on December 31, 2018, in each case shall apply for the purposes of determining compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, including the definition of Financing Leases and obligations in respect thereof, (iv) all references to codified accounting standards specifically named in this Agreement shall be deemed to include any successor, replacement, amendment or updated accounting standard under IFRS or U.S. GAAP, as applicable, (v) neither IFRS nor U.S. GAAP shall include the policies, rules and regulations of the SEC, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the International Accounting Standards Board or any other applicable regulatory or governing body applicable only to public companies, (vi) any calculation or determination in this Agreement that requires the application of GAAP across multiple quarters need not be calculated or determined using the same accounting standard for each constituent quarter. The Lead Borrower will give notice of any such election made in accordance with this definition to the Administrative Agent. 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.

GAAP Accounting Changes” has the meaning specified in Section 1.03.

 

58


Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, administrative tribunal, central bank, self-regulatory organization or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

Granting Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(i).

Guarantee” means, as to any Person, without duplication, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien); provided that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit, in either case in the ordinary course of business, or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Closing Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets not prohibited under this Agreement (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01.

Guarantors” means, collectively, (i) Holdings, (ii) each Borrower (other than in respect of its own Obligations), (iii) any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower (other than any Excluded Subsidiary), (iv) those wholly owned Subsidiaries organized in an Agreed Security Jurisdiction that issue a Guaranty of the Obligations after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6.11 or any other Person (including any Excluded Subsidiary) organized under the laws of the an Agreed Security Jurisdiction or, to the extent reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent any other jurisdiction that, at the option of the Lead Borrower, issues a Guaranty of the Obligations after the Closing Date and (v) solely in respect of any Secured Hedge Agreement or Treasury Services Agreement to which the Borrowers are not a party, the Borrowers, in each case, until the Guaranty thereof is released in accordance with this Agreement.

 

59


Guaranty” means, collectively, the guaranty of the Obligations by the Guarantors pursuant to this Agreement.

Hazardous Materials” means all materials, pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, compounds, constituents, substances or wastes, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, lead, radon gas, pesticides, fungicides, or toxic mold, in each case that are regulated pursuant to, or which would give rise to liability under, applicable Environmental Law.

Holding Company” means any Person so long as such Person directly or indirectly holds 100% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings, and at the time such Person acquired such voting power, no Person and no group (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the Closing Date), including any such group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) (other than any Permitted Holder), shall have beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of such Person.

Holdings” means Holdings, if it is the direct parent of the Lead Borrower, or, if not, any Domestic Subsidiary of Holdings that directly owns 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrowers and issues a Guaranty of the Obligations and agrees to assume the obligations of “Holdings” pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents pursuant to one or more instruments in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Honor Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c)(i).

Identified Participating Lenders” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(3).

Identified Qualifying Lenders” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(3).

IFRS” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “GAAP”.

Immaterial Subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.03.

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 estates 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.

 

60


Incremental Amendment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(f).

Incremental Amendment No. 1” means the Amendment No. 1 to this Agreement, dated as of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date, among Holdings, the Other Borrower Party (as successor by merger to the Lead Borrower), each of the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender party thereto and the Administrative Agent.

Incremental Amendment No. 1 Commitments” has the meaning assigned thereto in Incremental Amendment No. 1. The aggregate amount of Incremental Amendment No. 1 Commitments as of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date is $275,000,000.

Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date” means October 19, 2020.

Incremental Amendment No. 1 Lead Arrangers” has the meaning assigned to such term in Incremental Amendment No. 1.

Incremental Amendment No. 1 Repricing Transaction” means the prepayment, refinancing, substitution or replacement of all or a portion of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans incurred on the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date with the incurrence by the Other Borrower Party or any Restricted Subsidiary of any broadly syndicated term loan financing denominated in the same currency and having an All-In Yield that is less than the All-In Yield (as determined by the Administrative Agent on the same basis) of such Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans so repaid, refinanced, substituted or replaced, including without limitation, as may be effected through any amendment, amendment or restatement or other modifications to this Agreement relating to the interest rate for, or weighted average yield of, such Term Loans or the incurrence of any Incremental Term Loans or Refinancing Term Loans, in each case the primary purpose of which was to reduce such All-In Yield and other than in connection with a Change of Control, Qualified IPO or Transformative Acquisition.

Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender” has the meaning assigned thereto in Incremental Amendment No. 1.

Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans” has the meaning assigned thereto in Incremental Amendment No. 1.

Incremental Base Amount” means the greater of (x) $135,000,000 and (y) an amount equal to 100% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA.

Incremental Commitments” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

 

61


Incremental Equivalent Debt” means Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt, Incremental Equivalent Junior Lien Debt and/or Incremental Equivalent Unsecured Debt.

Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.03(q).

Incremental Equivalent Junior Lien Debt” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.03(q).

Incremental Equivalent Unsecured Debt” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.03(w).

Incremental Facility” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Facility Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(d).

Incremental Lenders” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(c).

Incremental Loan Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Loans” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(b).

Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Revolving Credit Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(c).

Incremental Revolving Credit Loan” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(b).

Incremental Revolving Facility” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Term Commitments” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Term Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(c).

Incremental Term Loan” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(b).

Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(d)(v).

Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following:

(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

 

62


(b) the maximum amount (after giving effect to any prior drawings or reductions which may have been reimbursed) of all outstanding letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds and similar instruments issued or created by or for the account of such Person;

(c) net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;

(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property (including Financing Lease Obligations) or services (other than (i) trade accounts and accrued expenses payable in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any earn-out obligation (x) until sixty (60) days after such obligation becomes due and payable or (y) otherwise not treated as a liability on the balance sheet and (iii) accruals for payroll and other liabilities accrued in the ordinary course);

(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements and mortgage, industrial revenue bond, industrial development bond and similar financings), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

(f) all Attributable Indebtedness;

(g) all obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests;

if and to the extent that any of the foregoing would constitute indebtedness or a liability in accordance with GAAP; provided that Indebtedness of any direct or indirect parent of the Lead Borrower appearing on the balance sheet of the Lead Borrower solely by reason of push-down accounting under GAAP shall be excluded; and

(h) to the extent not otherwise included above, all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall (A) include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation, company or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, except to the extent such Person’s liability for such Indebtedness is otherwise expressly limited and only to the extent such Indebtedness would be included in the calculation of Consolidated Total Net Debt, (B) in the case of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, exclude all intercompany Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business, (C) exclude contingent obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, obligations under or in respect of Non-Financing Lease Obligations, Qualified Securitization Facilities, straight-line leases, operating leases, Sale and Lease-Back Transactions (except any resulting Financing Lease

 

63


Obligations) or lease lease-back transactions, (D) exclude obligations under any license, permit or other approval (or guarantees given in respect of such obligations) incurred prior to the Closing Date or in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and (E) exclude (i) deferred or prepaid revenue, (ii) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the seller, (iii) any obligations attributable to the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect thereto, (iv) accrued expenses and royalties, (v) in connection with the purchase by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any business, any 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) any obligations in respect of workers’ compensation claims, retirement, post-employment or termination obligations (including pensions and retiree medical care), pension fund obligations or contributions or similar claims, or social security or wage taxes or contributions, (vii) any liability for taxes and (viii) asset retirement obligations and other pension and other post-employment benefit related obligations (including pensions and retiree medical care). The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of Indebtedness of any Person for purposes of clause (e) shall be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness (not to exceed the maximum amount of such Indebtedness for which such Person could be liable) and (ii) the fair market value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith. Notwithstanding anything in this definition to the contrary, Indebtedness shall be calculated without giving effect to the effects of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 815 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose hereunder as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness.

Indemnified Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05.

Indemnified Taxes” means, with respect to any Agent or any Lender, all Taxes imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, other than (i) Taxes imposed on or measured by its net income, however denominated, and franchise (and similar) Taxes imposed in lieu of net income Taxes, by a jurisdiction (A) as a result of such Agent’s or Lender’s being organized in or having its principal office (or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable Lending Office) in such jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof), or (B) as a result of a present or former connection between such Lender or Agent and such jurisdiction other than any connections arising from executing, delivering, being a party to, engaging in any transactions pursuant to, performing its obligations under, receiving payments under, enforcing, or having sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or any Loan Document, (ii) Taxes attributable to the failure by such Lender or Agent to deliver the documentation required to be delivered pursuant to Section 3.01(d) or (g), (iii) any

 

64


branch profits Taxes imposed by the United States or any similar Tax, imposed by any jurisdiction described in clause (i) above, (iv) in the case of any Lender, any U.S. federal withholding Tax that is imposed pursuant to a law in effect on the date such Lender (A) acquires an interest in the applicable Commitment (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrowers under Section 3.07) (or, in the case of an applicable interest in a Loan not funded by such Lender pursuant to a prior Commitment, the date such Lender acquired such interest in such Loan), or (B) designates a new Lending Office, except in both cases to the extent such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled immediately prior to the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment) to receive additional amounts with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 3.01 and (v) any withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Lender” for purposes of this definition shall include each L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender.

Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05.

Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.08.

Initial Term Commitment” means, as to each Term Lender, its obligation to make an Initial Term Loan to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(a) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Term Lender’s name in Schedule 1.01A under the caption “Initial Term Commitment.” The initial aggregate principal amount of the Initial Term Commitments is $575,000,000.

Initial Term Loans” means the term loans made by the Lenders on the Closing Date to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(a).

Intellectual Property Security Agreements” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

Intercompany License Agreement” means any cost-sharing agreement, commission or royalty agreement, license or sub-license agreement, distribution agreement, services agreement, IP Rights transfer agreement or any related agreements, in each case where all the parties to such agreement are one or more of the Lead Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary thereof.

Intercompany Note” means a promissory note substantially in the form of Exhibit I.

Intercreditor Agreements” means any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, collectively, in each case to the extent in effect.

Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made; provided that if any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.

 

65


Interest Period” means, as to each Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter or, to the extent agreed by each Lender of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, twelve months or less than one month thereafter, as selected by the Lead Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice; provided that:

(i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall, subject to clause (iii) below, be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

(ii) any Interest Period (other than an Interest Period having a duration of less than one month) that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

(iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.

Interpolated Rate” means, in relation to the LIBO Screen Rate, the rate which results from interpolating on a linear basis between:

(a) the applicable LIBO Screen Rate for the longest period (for which that LIBO Screen Rate is available) which is less than the Interest period of the Loan; and

(b) the applicable LIBO Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that LIBO Screen Rate is available) which exceeds the Interest Period of that Loan;

each as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period of that Loan.

Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests or debt or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of Indebtedness of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person (excluding, in the case of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (i) intercompany advances arising from their cash management, tax, and accounting operations, in each case, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and (ii) intercompany loans, advances, or Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past

 

66


practice) or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of another Person or assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of such Person. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment at any time shall be the amount actually invested (measured at the time made), without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment but less all returns, distributions and similar amounts received on such Investment.

Investors” means each of (a) the Blackstone Funds and any of their Affiliates (other than any portfolio operating companies) and (b) certain other Persons that have rolled over or invested equity in Holdings (or other direct or indirect parent company of the Lead Borrower) as of the Closing Date and any of their Affiliates or Immediate Family Members.

IP Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.15.

IPO Entity” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Qualified IPO.”

IPO Listco” means a wholly owned Subsidiary of Holdings formed in contemplation of any Qualified IPO to become an IPO Entity.

ISP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

Junior Financing” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.10(a).

Junior Financing Documentation” means any documentation governing any Junior Financing.

Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means an intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit J-2 hereto (which agreement in such form or with immaterial changes thereto the Collateral Agent is authorized to enter into) between the Collateral Agent and one or more collateral agents or representatives for the holders of Indebtedness that is not prohibited under Section 7.03 to be, and intended to be, secured on a junior lien basis to the Liens securing the Obligations.

L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Revolving Credit Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement.

L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the applicable Honor Date or refinanced as a Revolving Credit Borrowing. All L/C Borrowings shall be denominated in Dollars.

L/C Commitment” means, with respect to each L/C Issuer, the commitment of such L/C Issuer to issue Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.03, as such commitment is set forth on Schedule 1.01A or if an L/C Issuer has entered into an Assignment and Assumption, the amount set forth for such L/C Issuer as its L/C Commitment in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent.

 

67


L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the renewal or increase of the amount thereof.

L/C Disbursement” means any payment made by an L/C Issuer pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

L/C Issuer” means each of (a) Citi, (b) each other Person with a L/C Commitment set forth on Schedule 1.01A and (c) any other Lender that becomes an L/C Issuer in accordance with Sections 2.03(k) or 10.07(k), in each case in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder. Each L/C Issuer may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of similar creditworthiness to such L/C Issuer, in which case the term “L/C Issuer” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate and for all purposes of the Loan Documents. If there is more than one L/C Issuer at any given time, the term L/C Issuer shall refer to the relevant L/C Issuer(s). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, unless separately agreed with the Borrower, Citi shall only be required to issue standby letters of credit denominated in Dollars.

L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 2.03(l). For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP or Rule 36 of UCP 600, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

Latest Maturity Date” means, at any date of determination, the latest Maturity Date applicable to any Loan or Commitment hereunder at such time, including the latest maturity date of any Refinancing Term Loan, any Refinancing Term Commitment, any Extended Term Loan, any Extended Revolving Credit Commitment, any Incremental Term Loans, any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments or any Other Revolving Credit Commitments, in each case as extended in accordance with this Agreement from time to time.

Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents, orders, decrees, injunctions or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority.

 

68


LCT Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.02(h).

LCT Test Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.02(h).

Lead Arrangers” means Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Bank PLC, HSBC Bank PLC, RBC Capital Markets LLC, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and, if applicable, certain Affiliates of the foregoing, in their respective capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners under this Agreement.

Lead Borrower” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

Lender” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement and, as the context requires, includes an L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, and their respective successors and assigns as permitted hereunder, each of which is referred to herein as a “Lender”.

Lender Default” means (i) the refusal (which may be given verbally or in writing and has not been retracted) or failure of any Lender to make available its portion of any incurrence of revolving loans or reimbursement obligations required to be made by it, which refusal or failure is not cured within two Business Days after the date of such refusal or failure; (ii) the failure of any Lender to pay over to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date when due, unless subject to a good faith dispute; (iii) a Lender has notified the Lead Borrower or the Administrative Agent that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations, or has made a public statement to that effect with respect to its funding obligations, under the Revolving Credit Facility or under other agreements generally in which it commits to extend credit; (iv) a Lender has failed, within three Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm that it will comply with its funding obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility; or (v) a Lender has admitted in writing that it is insolvent or such Lender becomes subject to a Lender-Related Distress Event or a Bail-In Action. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender Default has occurred under any one or more of clauses (i) through (v) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and the applicable Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.17(b)) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Lead Borrower, each L/C Issuer, each Swing Line Lender and each Lender.

Lender-Related Distress Event” means, with respect to any Lender or any person that directly or indirectly controls such Lender (each, a “Distressed Person”), as the case may be, a voluntary or involuntary case with respect to such Distressed Person under any Debtor Relief Law, or a custodian, conservator, receiver or similar official is appointed for such Distressed Person or any substantial part of such Distressed Person’s assets, or such Distressed Person or any person that directly or indirectly controls such Distressed Person

 

69


is subject to a forced liquidation, or such Distressed Person makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or is otherwise adjudicated as, or determined by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Distressed Person or its assets to be, insolvent or bankrupt; provided that a Lender-Related Distress Event shall not be deemed to have occurred solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interests in any Lender or any person that directly or indirectly controls such Lender by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof.

Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued hereunder. A Letter of Credit may be a commercial letter of credit or a standby letter of credit and may be issued in any Approved Currency.

Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is five (5) Business Days prior to the scheduled Maturity Date then in effect for the applicable Revolving Credit Facility (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

Letter of Credit Issuance Request” means a letter of credit request substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $25,000,000 and (b) the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Facility.

LIBO Screen Rate” means, for any day and time, with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan for any applicable currency and for any Interest Period, (i) the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration for the relevant currency for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on such day and time on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Bloomberg screen that displays such rate or (ii) in the event the rate referenced in the preceding clause (i) does not appear on such page or service or if such page or service shall cease to be available, the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the offered rate on such other page or other service which displays the LIBO Screen Rate for deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period in such currency; provided that if LIBO Screen Rates are quoted under either of the preceding clauses (i) or (ii), but there is no such quotation for the Interest Period elected, the LIBO Screen Rate shall be equal to the Interpolated Rate.

Lien” means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment by way of security, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to Real Property, and any Financing Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing); provided that in no event shall a Non-Financing Lease Obligation be deemed to constitute a Lien.

 

70


Limited Condition Transaction” means any acquisition or similar permitted Investment, including by way of merger, amalgamation or consolidation, by one or more of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries of any assets, business or Person permitted by this Agreement the consummation of which is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party acquisition financing.

Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrowers under Article 2 in the form of a Term Loan, a Revolving Credit Loan or a Swing Line Loan (including any Incremental Term Loan and any extensions of credit under any Revolving Commitment Increase).

Loan Documents” means, collectively, (i) this Agreement, (ii) the Notes, (iii) the Collateral Documents, (iv) each Intercreditor Agreement to the extent then in effect, (v) each Letter of Credit Issuance Request, (vi) the Agency Fee Letter and (vii) any Refinancing Amendment, Incremental Amendment (including Incremental Amendment No. 1) or Extension Amendment.

Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrowers and each Guarantor.

LTM Consolidated EBITDA” means Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ended prior to the date of determination for which financial statements are internally available, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

Management Stockholders” means the future, present and former members of management, employees, directors, officers, managers, members or partners (and their Controlled Investment Affiliates and Immediate Family Members) of Holdings, the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries who are investors in Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any direct or indirect parent thereof including any such future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, members or partners owning through an Equityholding Vehicle.

Margin Stock” has the meaning set forth in Regulation U issued by the FRB.

Market Capitalization” means an amount equal to (i) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common Equity Interests of the IPO Entity on the date of the declaration of a Restricted Payment multiplied by (ii) the arithmetic mean of the closing prices per share of such common Equity Interests on the principal securities exchange on which such common Equity Interests are traded for the 30 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of declaration of such Restricted Payment.

Master Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Swap Contract.”

 

71


Material Adverse Effect” means a (a) material adverse effect on the business, operations, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent) or financial condition of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (b) material adverse effect on the ability of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) to fully and timely perform any of their payment obligations under any Loan Document to which the Borrowers or any of the other Loan Parties is a party; or (c) material adverse effect on the rights and remedies available to the Lenders or any Agent under any Loan Document.

Material Real Property” means any fee owned Real Property located in the United States that is owned by any Loan Party with a fair market value in excess of $10,000,000 (at the Closing Date or, with respect to fee owned Real Property acquired after the Closing Date, at the time of acquisition, in each case, as reasonably estimated by the Lead Borrower in good faith).

Maturity Date” means (i) with respect to the Initial Term Loans and the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans, the date that is seven years after the Closing Date, (ii) with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments, the date that is five years after the Closing Date, (iii) with respect to any tranche of Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, the final maturity date applicable thereto as specified in the applicable Extension Request accepted by the respective Lender or Lenders, (iv) with respect to any Refinancing Term Loans or Other Revolving Credit Commitments, the final maturity date applicable thereto as specified in the applicable Refinancing Amendment and (v) with respect to any Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, the final maturity date applicable thereto as specified in the applicable Incremental Amendment; provided, in each case, that if such date is not a Business Day, then the applicable Maturity Date shall be the next succeeding Business Day.

Maximum Rate” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.10.

Merger Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preliminary Statements to this Agreement.

MFN Excluded Loans” means any Incremental Term Loans (a) of up to the greater of (x) $135,000,000 and (y) an amount equal to 100% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA (the “MFN Trigger Amount”) in an aggregate principal amount as designated in writing by the Lead Borrower to the Administrative Agent, (b) with a maturity date on or after the date that is 12 months after the Maturity Date of the Initial Term Loans (the “MFN Maturity Limitation”), (c) that are denominated in a currency other than Dollars, (d) not secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Loans, (e) incurred other than pursuant to the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount, (f) incurred for the purpose of funding a Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment not prohibited hereunder, (g) consisting of customary bridge facilities or term loan A facilities (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith) and/or (h) established following the date that is six (6) months after the Closing Date.

 

72


MFN Maturity Limitation” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “MFN Excluded Loans.”

MFN Protection” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(e)(iii).

MFN Trigger Amount” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “MFN Excluded Loans”.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Mortgage Policies” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.”

Mortgaged Property” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.”

Mortgages” means collectively, the deeds of trust, trust deeds, deeds to secure debt, hypothecs and mortgages made by the Loan Parties in favor or for the benefit of the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties creating and evidencing a Lien on a Mortgaged Property in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent with such terms and provisions as may be required by the applicable Laws of the relevant jurisdiction, and any other mortgages executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.11 or 6.13, in each case, as the same may from time to time be amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified.

Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 3(37) or Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which any Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the six years preceding the applicable date of reference, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

Net Proceeds” means:

(a) 100% of the cash proceeds actually received by the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise and including casualty insurance settlements and condemnation awards, but in each case only as and when received) from any Disposition or Casualty Event, net of (i) attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, consultants’ fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes, other customary expenses and brokerage, consultant and other customary fees actually incurred in connection therewith, (ii) the principal amount, premium or penalty, if any, interest and other amounts on any Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien (other than a Lien that ranks pari passu with or subordinated to the Liens securing the Obligations) on the asset subject to such Disposition or Casualty Event and that is required to be repaid (and is timely repaid) in connection with such Disposition or Casualty Event (other than Indebtedness under the Loan

 

73


Documents), (iii) in the case of any Disposition or Casualty Event by a non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary, the pro rata portion of the Net Proceeds thereof (calculated without regard to this clause (iii)) attributable to minority interests and not available for distribution to or for the account of the Lead Borrower or a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary as a result thereof, (iv) any costs associated with unwinding any related Swap Obligations in connection with such transaction, (v) Taxes (including Tax distributions paid pursuant to Section 7.06(i)(iii)) paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof, and (vi) the amount of any reasonable reserve established in accordance with GAAP against any adjustment to the sale price or any liabilities (other than any taxes deducted pursuant to clause (i) above) (x) related to any of the applicable assets and (y) retained by the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations (however, the amount of any subsequent reduction of such reserve (other than in connection with a payment in respect of any such liability) shall be deemed to be Net Proceeds of such Disposition or Casualty Event occurring on the date of such reduction); provided that so long as no Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a) or, solely with respect to the Borrowers, Section 8.01(f) has occurred and is continuing, the Borrowers may reinvest any portion of such proceeds in assets useful for their business (which shall include any Investment permitted by this Agreement) within 18 months of such receipt and such portion of such proceeds shall not constitute Net Proceeds except to the extent not, within 18 months of such receipt, so reinvested or contractually committed to be so reinvested (it being understood that if any portion of such proceeds are not so used within such 18-month period but within such 18-month period are contractually committed to be used, then upon the termination of such contract or if such Net Proceeds are not so used within 24 months of initial receipt, such remaining portion shall constitute Net Proceeds as of the date of such termination or expiry without giving effect to this proviso); it being further understood that such proceeds shall constitute Net Proceeds notwithstanding any investment notice if an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) or, solely with respect to the Borrowers, Section 8.01(f) has occurred and is continuing at the time of a proposed reinvestment, unless such proposed reinvestment is made pursuant to a binding commitment entered into at a time when no such Event of Default was continuing; provided, further, that (x) the proceeds realized in any single transaction or series of related transactions shall not constitute Net Proceeds unless the amount of such proceeds exceeds the greater of (i) $20,000,000 and (ii) 15% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA and (y) only the aggregate amount of proceeds (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Net Proceeds described in the preceding clause (x)) in excess of the greater of (i) $40,000,000 and (ii) 30% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA in any fiscal year shall constitute Net Proceeds under this clause (a); and

(b) 100% of the cash proceeds from the incurrence, issuance or sale by the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness, net of all taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof and fees (including investment banking fees and discounts), commissions, costs and other expenses, in each case incurred in connection with such incurrence, issuance or sale.

 

74


For purposes of calculating the amount of Net Proceeds, fees, commissions and other costs and expenses payable to the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall be disregarded.

Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07(d).

Non-Debt Fund Affiliate” means any Affiliate of Holdings other than (a) Holdings, the Borrowers or any Subsidiary of the Borrowers, (b) any Debt Fund Affiliates and (c) any natural person.

Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, a Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender.

Non-Expiring Credit Commitment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(g).

Non-Extension Notice Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(b)(iii).

Non-Financing Lease Obligation” means a lease obligation that is not required to be accounted for as a financing or capital lease on both the balance sheet and the income statement for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. For the avoidance of doubt, a straight-line or operating lease shall be considered a Non-Financing Lease Obligation.

Not Otherwise Applied” means, with reference to any amount of proceeds of any transaction or event, that such amount (a) was not required to be applied to prepay the Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b), (b) was not previously (and is not concurrently being) applied in determining the permissibility of a transaction under the Loan Documents where such permissibility was or is (or may have been) contingent on receipt of such amount or utilization of such amount for a specified purpose, (c) was not utilized pursuant to Section 8.05, (d) was not applied to incur Indebtedness pursuant to Section 7.03(m)(y), (e) was not utilized to make Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 7.06 (other than pursuant to Section 7.06(h)(y)), (f) was not utilized to make Investments pursuant to Sections 7.02(n), (p), (v), (w) or (z), (g) was not utilized to make prepayments of any Junior Financing pursuant to Section 7.10 (other than Section 7.10(a)(iv)(y)) or (h) was not utilized to increase availability under clause (d) of the definition of Cumulative Credit. The Lead Borrower shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of any application of such amount as contemplated by (b) above.

Note” means a Term Note, a Revolving Credit Note or a Swing Line Note, as the context may require.

 

75


Obligations” means all (x) advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party and its Restricted Subsidiaries arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding and (y) obligations of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary arising under any Secured Hedge Agreement or any Treasury Services Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents (and of their Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent they have obligations under the Loan Documents) include (a) the obligation (including guarantee obligations) to pay principal, interest, Letter of Credit fees, reimbursement obligations, charges, expenses, fees, Attorney Costs, indemnities and other amounts payable by any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) the obligation of any Loan Party to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the foregoing that any Lender, in its sole discretion, may elect to pay or advance on behalf of such Loan Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary under any Secured Hedge Agreement or any Treasury Services Agreement shall be secured and guaranteed pursuant to the Collateral Documents and the Guaranty only to the extent that, and for so long as, the other Obligations are so secured and guaranteed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations of any Guarantor shall in no event include any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor.

OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.

Offered Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1).

Offered Discount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1).

OID” means original issue discount.

Organizational Documents” means (a) with respect to any corporation or company, the certificate or articles of incorporation, the memorandum of association (if applicable) or the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any applicable jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

Other Applicable Indebtedness” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b)(ii).

Other Borrower Party” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

 

76


Other Debt Representative” means, with respect to any series of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred hereunder on a pari passu or junior lien basis to the Lien securing the Obligations, the trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, security agent or similar agent under the indenture or agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained, as the case may be, and each of their successors in such capacities.

Other Revolving Credit Commitments” means one or more Classes of revolving credit commitments hereunder that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Other Revolving Credit Loans” means one or more Classes of Revolving Credit Loans that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Other Taxes” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(b).

Outstanding Amount” means (a) with respect to the Term Loans, Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding Principal Amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Term Loans, Revolving Credit Loans (including any refinancing of outstanding unpaid drawings under Letters of Credit or L/C Credit Extensions as a Revolving Credit Borrowing) and Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; and (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the aggregate outstanding Principal Amount thereof on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes thereto as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements of outstanding unpaid drawings under any Letters of Credit (including any refinancing of outstanding unpaid drawings under Letters of Credit or L/C Credit Extensions as a Revolving Credit Borrowing) or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.

Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(f).

Participant Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(f).

Participating Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(2).

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate or to which any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding six years.

Perfection Certificate” means with respect to any Loan Party organized in the United States and each Foreign Grantor (as defined in the Security Agreement and other than any Foreign Grantor organized under the laws of England and Wales), a certificate in the form of Exhibit H hereto or any other form reasonably approved by the Collateral Agent, as the same shall be supplemented from time to time.

 

77


Perfection Requirements” means the making or the procuring of the applicable registrations, filings, endorsements, notarizations, recordings, stampings and/or notifications of the Foreign Security Documents (and/or the Liens created thereunder) necessary for the validity, enforceability or perfection thereof.

Permitted Acquisition” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02(i).

Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception” means, with respect to the incurrence of any Incremental Term Loans, Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, Permitted Ratio Debt and any Indebtedness incurred under Section 7.03(g), (q) or (w) permitted to be incurred hereunder, (a) up to an aggregate principal amount of the greater of (i) $135,000,000 and (ii) 100% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA, in each case determined at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness, (b) incurred for the purpose of funding a Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment not prohibited hereunder or (c) consisting of customary bridge facilities or term loan A facilities (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith) (collectively, the “Specified Debt”) may have a maturity date that is earlier than and a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is shorter than, the Indebtedness with respect to which the Specified Debt is otherwise required to have a later maturity date.

“Permitted First Lien Ratio Debt” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Ratio Debt”.

Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt” means any Permitted First Priority Refinancing Notes and any Permitted First Priority Refinancing Loans.

Permitted First Priority Refinancing Loans” means any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in the form of secured loans incurred by a Borrower and/or the Subsidiary Guarantors in the form of one or more tranches of loans not under this Agreement; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Liens securing the Obligations and is not secured by any property or assets of Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (ii) such Indebtedness is not at any time guaranteed by any Subsidiaries other than Subsidiaries that are Guarantors, (iii) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, such Indebtedness does not mature on or prior to the date that is the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred or issued or have a shorter Weighted Average Life to Maturity than the Initial Term Loans and (iv) an Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to each Intercreditor Agreement then in effect.

Permitted First Priority Refinancing Notes” means any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in the form of secured Indebtedness (including any Registered Equivalent Notes) incurred by a Borrower and/or the Subsidiary Guarantors in the form of one or more series of senior secured notes (whether issued in a public offering, Rule 144A,

 

78


private placement or otherwise); provided that (i) such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Liens securing the Obligations and is not secured by any property or assets of Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (ii) such Indebtedness is not at any time guaranteed by any Subsidiaries other than Subsidiaries that are Guarantors, (iii) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, such Indebtedness does not mature or have scheduled amortization or payments of principal (other than customary offers to repurchase upon a change of control, asset sale or event of loss and a customary acceleration right after an event of default) on or prior to the date that is the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred or issued and (iv) an Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to each Intercreditor Agreement then in effect. Permitted First Priority Refinancing Notes will include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.

Permitted Holders” means each of (a) the Investors, (b) the Management Stockholders (including any Management Stockholders holding Equity Interests through an Equityholding Vehicle), (c) any Person who is acting solely as an underwriter in connection with a public or private offering of Equity Interests of a Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parent companies, acting in such capacity, (d) any group (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the Closing Date) of which any of the foregoing, any Holding Company, Permitted Plan or any Person or group that becomes a Permitted Holder specified in the last sentence of this definition are members and any member of such group; provided, that in the case of such group and without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, Persons referred to in clauses (a) through (c), collectively, have beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the total voting power of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings or any of its direct or indirect parent companies held by such group, (e) any Holding Company and (f) any Permitted Plan.

Permitted Intercompany Activities” means any transactions (A) between or among the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are entered into in the ordinary course of business of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and, in the good faith judgment of the Lead Borrower are necessary or advisable in connection with the ownership or operation of the business of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including, but not limited to, (i) payroll, cash management, purchasing, insurance and hedging arrangements, (ii) management, technology and licensing arrangements and (iii) customer loyalty and rewards programs or (B) between or among the Lead Borrower, its Restricted Subsidiaries and any captive insurance subsidiaries.

Permitted Junior Lien Refinancing Debt” means Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness constituting secured Indebtedness (including any Registered Equivalent Notes) incurred by a Borrower and/or the Subsidiary Guarantors in the form of one or more series of junior lien secured notes or junior lien secured loans; provided that (i) notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the definition of “Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness,” such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a junior priority basis to the Liens securing the Obligations and the obligations in respect

 

79


of any Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt and is not secured by any property or assets of Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (ii) an Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a “Junior Priority Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement) and (iii) such Indebtedness meets the Permitted Other Debt Conditions. Permitted Junior Lien Refinancing Debt will include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.

“Permitted Junior Secured Ratio Debt” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Ratio Debt”.

Permitted Other Debt Conditions” means that such applicable Indebtedness (i) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, does not mature or have scheduled amortization payments of principal or payments of principal and is not subject to mandatory redemption, repurchase, prepayment or sinking fund obligations (except customary asset sale or change of control provisions that provide for the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations), in each case on or prior to the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred and (ii) is not at any time guaranteed by any Subsidiaries other than Subsidiaries that are Guarantors.

Permitted Plan” means any employee benefit plan of Holdings or any of its Affiliates (including any Equityholding Vehicle) and any Person acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan.

Permitted Ratio Debt” means Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as immediately after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto and to the use of the proceeds thereof (but without netting the proceeds thereof) (i) no Event of Default shall be continuing or result therefrom and (ii) (x) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the Obligations, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio is no greater than either (I) 3.75 to 1.00 or (II) in the case of any such Indebtedness being applied to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment, in each case, determined on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available (“Permitted First Lien Ratio Debt”), (y) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a junior lien basis to the Liens securing the Obligations, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio is no greater than either (I) 4.75 to 1.00 or (II) in the case of any such Indebtedness being applied to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other similar permitted Investment, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment, in each case, determined on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available (“Permitted Junior Secured Ratio Debt”) and (z) if such Indebtedness is unsecured (or not secured by all or any portion of the Collateral), either (I) the Consolidated Interest

 

80


Coverage Ratio is no less than either (A) 2.00 to 1.00 or (B) in the case of any such Indebtedness being applied to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other similar permitted Investment, the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment or (II) the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio is no greater than either (A) 5.25 to 1.00 or (B) in the case of any such Indebtedness being applied to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment, in each case, determined on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available (“Permitted Unsecured Ratio Debt”); provided that, such Indebtedness shall (A) in the case of clause (x) above, have a maturity date that is after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, and in the case of clause (y) or (z) above, have a maturity date that is at least ninety-one (91) days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred (in each case, subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception); provided that restrictions in this clause (A) shall not apply to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes (i) a customary bridge facility, so long as the long-term Indebtedness into which such customary bridge facility is to be converted or exchanged satisfies the requirements of this clause (A) and such conversion or exchange is subject only to conditions customary for similar conversions or exchanges or (ii) term loan A facilities (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith), (B) in the case of clause (x) above, have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity not shorter than the longest remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Facilities and, in the case of clause (y) or (z) above, shall not be subject to scheduled amortization prior to maturity (in each case, subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception); provided that restrictions in this clause (B) shall not apply to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes (i) a customary bridge facility, so long as the long-term Indebtedness into which such customary bridge facility is to be converted or exchanged satisfies the requirements of this clause (B) and such conversion or exchange is subject only to conditions customary for similar conversions or exchanges or (ii) term loan A facilities (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith), (C) (x) if such Indebtedness is incurred or guaranteed on a secured basis by a Loan Party on a junior lien basis to the Liens securing the Obligations, an Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a “Junior Priority Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement) and (y) if such Indebtedness is incurred or guaranteed on a secured basis by a Loan Party on a pari passu basis to the Liens securing the Obligations, an Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to each Intercreditor Agreement, (D) have terms and conditions (other than (x) pricing, rate floors, discounts, fees, premiums and optional prepayment or redemption provisions and (y) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness and to the extent any terms or conditions that are more restrictive are added for the benefit of such Permitted Ratio Debt, to the extent that such terms or conditions are also added for the benefit of each Facility remaining outstanding after the incurrence or issuance of such Permitted Ratio Debt) (i) that in the good faith determination of the Lead Borrower are not

 

81


materially less favorable (when taken as a whole) to the Borrowers than the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents (when taken as a whole) or reflect market terms and conditions (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence or issuance or (ii) that are otherwise as agreed between the Lead Borrower and the lender, holder or other provider of such Indebtedness (provided that a certificate of the Lead Borrower as to the satisfaction of the conditions described in this clause (D) delivered at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of documentation relating thereto, stating that the Lead Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirements of this clause (D), shall be conclusive evidence) and (E) in the case of Permitted First Lien Ratio Debt in the form of term loans (other than customary bridge loans or term loan A facilities as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith), be subject to the MFN Protection (but subject to the MFN Trigger Amount and MFN Maturity Limitation exceptions to such MFN Protection) as if such Indebtedness were an Incremental Term Loan; provided, further, that any such Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clauses (x), (y) or (z) above by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, together with any Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party pursuant to Sections 7.03(g), 7.03(q) or 7.03(w), does not exceed in the aggregate at any time outstanding the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 35% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA, in each case determined at the time of incurrence.

Permitted Refinancing” means, with respect to any Person, any modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension of any Indebtedness of such Person; provided that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) thereof does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon plus other reasonable amounts paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder, (b) other than with respect to a Permitted Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(e) and subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension has a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended, (c) other than with respect to a Permitted Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(e), at the time thereof, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (d) if such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended is Junior Financing, (i) to the extent such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, unless otherwise permitted under any basket or exception under Section 7.03 (with such amounts being deemed utilization of the applicable basket or exception under Section 7.03), such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended and (ii) such modification,

 

82


refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension is incurred by the Person who is the obligor of the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended and (e) if the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended was subject to an Intercreditor Agreement, the holders of such modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended Indebtedness (if such Indebtedness is secured) or their representative on their behalf shall become party to the appropriate Intercreditor Agreement(s).

“Permitted Unsecured Ratio Debt” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Ratio Debt”.

Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt” means Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in the form of unsecured Indebtedness (including any Registered Equivalent Notes) incurred by a Borrower and/or the Subsidiary Guarantors in the form of one or more series of senior unsecured notes or loans; provided that such Indebtedness (i) otherwise satisfies the requirements set forth in the definition of “Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness” and (ii) meets the Permitted Other Debt Conditions. Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt will include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, but excluding any Multiemployer Plan) sponsored, maintained or contributed to by any Loan Party or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.

Platform” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02.

Pledged Debt” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

Pledged Equity” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

Post-Acquisition Period” means, with respect to any Permitted Acquisition or the conversion of any Unrestricted Subsidiary into a Restricted Subsidiary, the period beginning on the date such Permitted Acquisition or conversion is consummated and ending on the thirty-six month anniversary of the date on which such Permitted Acquisition or conversion is consummated.

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the United States or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).

 

83


Principal Amount” means (i) the stated or principal amount of each Dollar Denominated Loan or Dollar Denominated Letter of Credit or L/C Obligation with respect thereto, as applicable, and (ii) the Dollar Equivalent of the stated or principal amount of each Foreign Currency Denominated Loan and Foreign Currency Denominated Letter of Credit or L/C Obligation with respect thereto, as the context may require.

Pro Forma Adjustment” means, for any four-quarter period that includes all or any part of a fiscal quarter included in any Post-Acquisition Period, with respect to the Acquired EBITDA of the applicable Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary or the Consolidated EBITDA of the Lead Borrower, the pro forma increase or decrease in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, projected by the Lead Borrower in good faith as a result of (a) actions taken during such Post-Acquisition Period for the purposes of realizing reasonably identifiable and factually supportable “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies or (b) any additional costs incurred during such Post-Acquisition Period, in each case in connection with the combination of the operations of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary with the operations of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (i) at the election of the Borrower, such Pro Forma Adjustment shall not be required to be determined for any Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the aggregate consideration paid in connection with such acquisition was less than $25,000,000, and (ii) so long as such actions are taken during such Post-Acquisition Period or such costs are incurred during such Post-Acquisition Period, as applicable, for purposes of projecting such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, it may be assumed that such cost savings will be realizable during the entirety of such four-quarter period, or such additional costs will be incurred or accrued during the entirety of such four-quarter period; provided, further, that any such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, shall be without duplication for cost savings or additional costs already included in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, for such four-quarter period.

Pro Forma Basis,” “Pro Forma Compliance” and “Pro Forma Effect” mean, with respect to compliance with any test hereunder, that (A) to the extent applicable, the Pro Forma Adjustment shall have been made and (B) all Specified Transactions and the following transactions in connection therewith shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement in such test: (a) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Specified Transaction, (i) in the case of a Disposition of all or substantially all Equity Interests in any Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower or any division, product line, or facility used for operations of the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, shall be excluded, and (ii) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or Investment described in the definition of “Specified Transaction,” shall be included, (b) any retirement of Indebtedness, and (c) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith and if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination; provided that (I) without

 

84


limiting the application of the Pro Forma Adjustment pursuant to (A) above, the foregoing pro forma adjustments may be applied to any such test solely to the extent that such adjustments are consistent with the definition of Consolidated EBITDA and give effect to events (including operating expense reductions) that are (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith) (i) (x) directly attributable to such transaction, (y) expected to have a continuing impact on the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (z) factually supportable or (ii) otherwise consistent with the definition of Pro Forma Adjustment; (II) that when calculating the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio for purposes of (i) the definition of “Applicable Rate,” (ii) Applicable Asset Sale Percentage and (iii) determining actual compliance (and not Pro Forma Compliance or compliance on a Pro Forma Basis) with Section 7.09, the events that occurred subsequent to the end of the applicable four-quarter period shall not be given pro forma effect, (III) when calculating the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio for purposes of the Applicable ECF Percentage, such percentage shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to any prepayment of Excess Cash Flow to be made pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(i) in connection with such calculation and any other Indebtedness prepaid subsequent to the end of the applicable four-quarter period and prior to such date of determination; and (IV) in determining Pro Forma Compliance with the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio or any other incurrence test (other than in respect of Section 7.09), in connection with the incurrence (including by assumption or guarantee) of any Indebtedness, (i) the incurrence or repayment of any Indebtedness in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility or any other revolving facility immediately prior to or in connection therewith included in the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio or such other incurrence test calculation immediately prior to, or simultaneously with, the event for which the Pro Forma Compliance determination of such ratio or other test is being made and (ii) the incurrence under the Revolving Credit Facility or under any other revolving facility used to finance working capital needs of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower), in each case, shall be disregarded; provided, further, that with respect to any incurrence of Indebtedness permitted by the provisions of this Agreement in reliance on the pro forma calculation of the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio or such other incurrence test calculation, (i) any Indebtedness being incurred (or expected to be incurred) substantially simultaneously or contemporaneously with the incurrence of any such Indebtedness or any applicable transaction or action in reliance on any “basket” set forth in this Agreement (including the Incremental Base Amount and any “baskets” measured as a percentage of Total Assets or Consolidated EBITDA), including under the Revolving Credit Facility and (ii) any Indebtedness being incurred under the Revolving Credit Facility or any other revolving facility that is used to finance working capital needs of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower) shall, in each case, be disregarded. In the event any fixed “baskets” are intended to be utilized together with any incurrence-based “baskets” in a single transaction or series of related transactions (including utilization of the Free and Clear Incremental Amount and the Incurrence-Based

 

85


Incremental Amount), (i) compliance with or satisfaction of any applicable financial ratios or tests for the portion of Indebtedness or any other applicable transaction or action to be incurred under any incurrence-based “baskets” shall first be calculated without giving effect to amounts being utilized pursuant to any fixed “baskets,” but giving full pro forma effect to all applicable and related transactions (including, subject to the foregoing with respect to fixed “baskets,” any incurrence and repayments of Indebtedness) and all other permitted Pro Forma Adjustments (except that (i) the incurrence of any Indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Facility or any other revolving facility immediately prior to or in connection therewith and (ii) the incurrence of any Indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Facility or any other revolving facility used to finance working capital needs of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower) shall, in each case, be disregarded), and (ii) thereafter, incurrence of the portion of such Indebtedness or other applicable transaction or action to be incurred under any fixed “baskets” shall be calculated.

Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to each Lender, at any time a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of the Commitments and, if applicable and without duplication, Term Loans of such Lender under the applicable Facility or Facilities at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Aggregate Commitments under the applicable Facility or Facilities and, if applicable and without duplication, Term Loans under the applicable Facility or Facilities at such time; provided that, in the case of the Revolving Credit Facility, if such Commitments have been terminated, then the Pro Rata Share of each Lender shall be determined based on the Pro Rata Share of such Lender immediately prior to such termination and after giving effect to any subsequent assignments made pursuant to the terms hereof.

Process Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.15.

Projections” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(c).

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 set forth in Section 6.02.

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 set forth in Section 10.25.

Qualified ECP Guarantor” means, in respect of any Swap Obligation, each Guarantor that, at the time the relevant Guaranty (or grant of the relevant security interest, as applicable) becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation, has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 or otherwise constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act and which may cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” with respect to such Swap Obligation at such time by entering into an agreement pursuant to the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

86


Qualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.

Qualified IPO” means any transaction or series of transactions that results in any common equity interests of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings or any IPO Listco that Holdings will distribute to its direct or indirect parent in connection with a Qualified IPO (an “IPO Entity”) being publicly traded on any United States national securities exchange or over the counter market, or any analogous exchange or market in Canada, the United Kingdom or any country of the European Union.

Qualified Proceeds” means the fair market value of assets that are used or useful in, or Equity Interests of any Person engaged in, a Similar Business.

Qualified Securitization Facility” means any Securitization Facility (a) constituting a securitization financing facility that meets the following conditions: (i) the board of directors or management of the Lead Borrower shall have determined in good faith that such Securitization Facility is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Borrowers, and (ii) all sales and/or contributions of Securitization Assets and related assets to the applicable Securitization Subsidiary are made at fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Lead Borrower) or (b) constituting a receivables or payables financing or factoring facility.

Qualifying Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(3).

Rating Agencies” means Moody’s, S&P and Fitch.

Real Property” means, collectively, all right, title and interest (including any leasehold, mineral or other estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned or leased by any Person, whether by lease, license or other means, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances relating thereto, all improvements and appurtenant fixtures and equipment thereon, all general intangibles and contract rights and other property and rights incidental to the ownership, lease or operation thereof.

Refinanced Debt” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness”.

Refinancing Amendment” means an amendment to this Agreement executed by each of (a) the Borrowers, (b) Holdings, (c) each Additional Refinancing Lender and (d) each Lender that agrees to provide any portion of Refinancing Term Loans, Other Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Loans incurred pursuant thereto, in accordance with Section 2.15.

Refinancing Series” means all Refinancing Term Loans, Refinancing Term Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Loans that are established pursuant to the same Refinancing Amendment (or any subsequent Refinancing Amendment to the extent such Refinancing Amendment expressly provides that the Refinancing Term Loans, Refinancing Term Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Loans provided for therein are intended to be a part of any previously established Refinancing Series) and that provide for the same Effective Yield and, in the case of Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Term Commitments, amortization schedule.

 

87


Refinancing Term Commitments” means one or more Classes of Term Commitments hereunder that are established to fund Refinancing Term Loans of the applicable Refinancing Series hereunder pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment.

Refinancing Term Loans” means one or more Classes of Term Loans hereunder that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(d).

Registered Equivalent Notes” means, with respect to any notes originally issued in an offering pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act or other private placement transaction under the Securities Act of 1933, substantially identical notes (having the same guarantees) issued in a dollar-for-dollar exchange therefor pursuant to an exchange offer registered with the SEC.

Release” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing or migrating into or through the Environment.

Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Pension Plan, other than events for which the thirty (30) day notice period has been waived.

Repricing Transaction” means the prepayment, refinancing, substitution or replacement of all or a portion of the Initial Term Loans incurred on the Closing Date with the incurrence by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any broadly syndicated term loan financing denominated in the same currency and having an All-In Yield that is less than the All-In Yield (as determined by the Administrative Agent on the same basis) of such Initial Term Loans so repaid, refinanced, substituted or replaced, including without limitation, as may be effected through any amendment, amendment or restatement or other modifications to this Agreement relating to the interest rate for, or weighted average yield of, such Term Loans or the incurrence of any Incremental Term Loans or Refinancing Term Loans, in each case the primary purpose of which was to reduce such All-In Yield and other than in connection with a Change of Control, Qualified IPO or Transformative Acquisition.

Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, continuation or conversion of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Issuance Request, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.

 

88


Required Class Lenders” means, with respect to any Class on any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of (i) the outstanding Loans under such Class and (ii) the aggregate unused Commitments under such Facility; provided that the unused Commitments of, and the portion of the outstanding Loans under such Class held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of the Required Class Lenders; provided, further, that, to the same extent set forth in Section 10.07(n) with respect to determination of Required Lenders, the Loans of any Affiliated Lender shall in each case be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Class Lenders.

Required Facility Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, with respect to any Facility, Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of (a) the Total Outstandings under such Facility (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans, as applicable, under such Facility being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition) and (b) the aggregate unused Commitments under such Facility; provided that the unused Commitments of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings under such Facility held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of the Required Facility Lenders; provided, further, that, to the same extent set forth in Section 10.07(n) with respect to determination of Required Lenders, the Loans of any Affiliated Lender shall in each case be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Facility Lenders.

Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of the (a) Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition), (b) aggregate unused Term Commitments and (c) aggregate unused Commitments in respect of Revolving Credit Loans; provided that the unused Term Commitment and unused Commitments in respect of Revolving Credit Loans of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders; provided, further, that, to the same extent set forth in Section 10.07(n) with respect to determination of Required Lenders, the Loans of any Affiliated Lender shall in each case be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

Required Revolving Credit Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Revolving Credit Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of the (a) Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Credit Loans, Swing Line Loans and all L/C Obligations (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition) and (b) aggregate unused Commitments in respect of Revolving Credit Loans; provided that such unused Commitment of, and the portion of the Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Credit Loans, Swing Line Loans and all L/C Obligations held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Revolving Credit Lenders.

 

89


Reservations” means (a) the principle that remedies may be granted or refused at the discretion of a court, the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, court schemes, moratoria, administration, examinership, reorganization and other laws generally affecting the rights of creditors; (b) the time barring of claims under applicable statutes of limitation, the possibility a court may strike out provisions of a contract as invalid for reasons of oppression, undue influence or similar reasons, the possibility that an undertaking to assume liability for or indemnify a person against non-payment of stamp duty may be void and defenses of set-off or counterclaim; (c) the principle that additional or default interest payable under any Loan Document may be held to be unenforceable on the grounds that it is a penalty; (d) the principle that in certain circumstances security interests granted by way of fixed charge may be recharacterized as a floating charge or that security interest purported to be constituted as an assignment may be recharacterized as a charge; (e) the principle that a court may not give effect to an indemnity for legal costs incurred by a litigant; (f) the principle that the creation or purported creation of a security interest over any contract or agreement which is subject to a prohibition on transfer, assignment or charging may be void, ineffective or invalid and may give rise to a breach entitling the contracting party to terminate or take any other action in relation to such contract or agreement; (g) similar principles, limitations, rights and defenses to those the foregoing clauses (a) to (f) under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction; and (h) any other matters which are set out as qualifications or reservations in any legal opinion.

Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, director, president, vice president, chief financial officer, chief legal officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer, controller or assistant controller or other similar officer of a Loan Party or designee of a Responsible Officer and in the case of a limited partnership or an exempted limited partnership, any officer or director of the general partner or ultimate general partner, as the case may be, and, as to any document delivered on the Closing Date, any secretary or assistant secretary of such Loan Party and any officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party whose signature is included on an incumbency certificate or similar certificate reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to any Borrower’s or a Restricted Subsidiary’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Persons thereof).

Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower (including the Other Borrower Party) other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

90


Revaluation Date” means (a) with respect to any Loan denominated in an Approved Currency, each of the following: (i) each date of a Borrowing of such Loan, (ii) each date of a continuation of such Loan pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Lead Borrower and (iv) in the case of a Revolving Credit Loan, the date of any voluntary reduction of a Commitment in respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.06(a); (b) with respect to any Letter of Credit denominated in an Approved Currency, each of the following: (i) each date of issuance of such Letter of Credit, (ii) each date of any amendment of such Letter of Credit that would have the effect of increasing the face amount thereof and (iii) the last day of each fiscal quarter; (c) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent or the respective L/C Issuer shall determine, or the Required Revolving Credit Lenders shall require, at any time when (i) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (ii) to the extent that, and for so long as, the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all Revolving Credit Lenders (for such purpose, using the Dollar Equivalent in effect for the most recent Revaluation Date) exceeds 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the Commitments in respect of Revolving Credit Loans; and (d) the last day of each fiscal quarter.

Revolver Extension Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(b).

Revolver Extension Series” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(b).

Revolving Commitment Increase” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

Revolving Credit Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Credit Loans of the same Type, in the same Approved Currency, and, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Revolving Credit Lenders under Section 2.01(b) of this Agreement.

Revolving Credit Commitment” means, as to each Revolving Credit Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(b), (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations in respect of Letters of Credit and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate Principal Amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.01A under the caption “Revolving Credit Commitments” or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement (including Section 2.14). The aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all Revolving Credit Lenders shall be $50,000,000, on the Closing Date, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Revolving Credit Exposure” means, as to each Revolving Credit Lender, the sum of the amount of the outstanding Principal Amount of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans and its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the amount of the L/C Obligations and the Swing Line Obligations at such time.

 

91


Revolving Credit Facility” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments at such time.

Revolving Credit Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Commitment in respect of Revolving Credit Loans at such time, including Revolving Credit Commitment, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment, Extended Revolving Credit Commitment of a given Extension Series and Other Revolving Credit Commitment of a given Refinancing Series, or, if such Commitments have terminated, Revolving Credit Exposure.

Revolving Credit Loans” means any Revolving Credit Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(b), Incremental Revolving Credit Loans, Other Revolving Credit Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Loans, as the context may require.

Revolving Credit Note” means a promissory note of the Borrowers payable to any Revolving Credit Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit D-2 hereto, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrowers to such Revolving Credit Lender resulting from the Revolving Credit Loans made by such Revolving Credit Lender to the Borrowers.

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a business unit of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, and any successor thereto.

Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means any arrangement providing for the leasing (or similar arrangement) by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (in each case as lessor) of any Real Property or tangible personal property, which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Lead Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary to a third Person in contemplation of such leasing (or similar arrangement); provided that any leasing arrangement by any entity other than the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower shall not constitute a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction.

Same Day Funds” means immediately available funds.

Sanction(s)” means any international economic sanction administered or enforced by the United States government (including without limitation, OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or Her Majesty’s Treasury.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

Secured Hedge Agreement” means any Swap Contract that is entered into by and between the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Approved Counterparty (unless otherwise designated in writing by the Lead Borrower and the applicable Approved Counterparty to the Administrative Agent as unsecured, which notice may designate all Swap Contracts under a specified Master Agreement as unsecured).

 

92


Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuers, the Swing Line Lender, any Approved Counterparty party to a Secured Hedge Agreement or Treasury Services Agreement, the Supplemental Agents and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.02.

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

Securitization Assets” means the accounts receivable, royalty or other revenue streams and other rights to payment and any other assets subject to a Qualified Securitization Facility and the proceeds thereof.

Securitization Facility” means any of one or more receivables, factoring or securitization financing facilities as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated or refunded from time to time, the obligations of which are non-recourse (except for customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities made in connection with such facilities) to the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) pursuant to which the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries sells or grants a security interest in its accounts receivable, payables or Securitization Assets or assets related thereto to either (a) a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or (b) a Securitization Subsidiary that in turn sells its accounts receivable, payable or Securitization Assets or assets related thereto to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary.

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

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

Security Agreement” means the Security Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit G, dated as of the Closing Date, among Holdings, the Borrowers, certain Subsidiaries of the Borrowers and the Collateral Agent.

Security Agreement Supplement” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

Similar Business” means (1) any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date, and any reasonable extension thereof, or (2) any business or other activities that are reasonably similar, ancillary, incidental, complementary or related to, or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses in which the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged or propose to be engaged on the Closing Date.

 

93


Sold Entity or Business” has the meaning set forth in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA.

Solicited Discount Proration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(3).

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1).

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice” means a written notice of the Lead Borrower of Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers made pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1) substantially in the form of Exhibit L-6.

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer” means the irrevocable written offer by each Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit L-7, submitted following the Administrative Agent’s receipt of a Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice.

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1).

Solvent” and “Solvency” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, exceeds, on a consolidated basis, their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, (b) the present fair saleable value of the property of such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability, on a consolidated basis, of their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured, (c) such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are able to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such liabilities become absolute and matured and (d) such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are not engaged in, and are not about to engage in, business for which they have unreasonably small capital. The amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual and matured liability.

SPC” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(i).

Specified Debt” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception.”

Specified Discount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(1).

Specified Discount Prepayment Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(B).

Specified Discount Prepayment Notice” means a written notice of the Lead Borrower of a Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(B) substantially in the form of Exhibit L-8.

 

94


Specified Discount Prepayment Response” means the irrevocable written response by each Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit L-9, to a Specified Discount Prepayment Notice.

Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(B).

Specified Discount Proration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(2).

Specified Equity Contribution” means any cash contribution to the common equity of the Lead Borrower and/or any purchase or investment in an Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower other than Disqualified Equity Interests.

Specified Guarantor” means any Guarantor that is not an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act (determined prior to giving effect to Section 11.12).

Specified Merger Agreement Representations” means the representations and warranties made by the Company pursuant to clause (i) of the first sentence of Section 3.10 of the Merger Agreement as are material to the interests of the Lenders, but only to the extent that the Lead Borrower (or the Lead Borrower’s Affiliates) has the right (taking into account any applicable cure provisions) to terminate the Lead Borrower’s (or such Affiliates’) obligations under the Merger Agreement, or to decline to consummate the Acquisition (in each case, in accordance with the terms thereof), as a result of a breach of such representations and warranties.

Specified Representations” means those representations and warranties made by the Borrowers and the Subsidiary Guarantors in Sections 5.01(a) (in respect of the Borrowers and the Subsidiary Guarantors only), 5.01(b)(ii), 5.02(a), 5.02(b)(i), 5.04, 5.12, 5.16, 5.18(a)(ii), 5.18(c) and 5.19(a).

Specified Transaction” means any Investment, Disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Restricted Payment, Subsidiary designation, Business Expansion, Incremental Term Loan or Revolving Commitment Increase in respect of which the terms of this Agreement require any test to be calculated on a “Pro Forma Basis” or after giving “Pro Forma Effect”; provided that a Revolving Commitment Increase, for purposes of this “Specified Transaction” definition, shall be deemed to be fully drawn.

Sponsor” means collectively, the Blackstone Funds and/or any of its Affiliates and funds or partnerships managed or advised by them or their respective Affiliates.

Spot Rate” means, for any currency, the rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, to be the rate quoted by the Person acting in such capacity as the spot rate for the purchase by such Person of such currency with another currency through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two (2) Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided that the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer may obtain

 

95


such spot rate from another financial institution designated by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer if the Person acting in such capacity does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such currency; provided, further, that the L/C Issuer may use such spot rate quoted on the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made in the case of any Letter of Credit denominated in an Approved Currency.

Submitted Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1).

Submitted Discount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1).

Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, company, partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which (i) a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, (ii) more than half of the issued share capital is at the time beneficially owned or (iii) the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Lead Borrower. For the avoidance of doubt, unless otherwise specified, any entity that is owned at a 50.0% or less level (as described above) shall not be a “Subsidiary” for any purpose under this Agreement, regardless of whether such entity is consolidated on Holdings’, the Lead Borrower’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s financial statements.

Subsidiary Guarantor” means, collectively, the Subsidiaries of the Lead Borrower (other than the Other Borrower Party) that are Guarantors.

Successor Borrower” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.04(d)(I).

Successor Holdings” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.04(d)(II).

Supplemental Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.14(a) and “Supplemental Agents” shall have the corresponding meaning.

Support and Services Agreement” means the management services or similar agreements or the management services provisions contained in an investor rights agreement or other equityholders’ agreement, as the case may be, between certain of the management companies associated with the Investors or their advisors or Affiliates, if applicable, and the Lead Borrower (and/or its direct or indirect parent companies or Subsidiaries), as in effect from time to time.

Supported QFC” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.25.

Swap” means, any agreement, contract, or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

96


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

Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation to pay or perform under any Swap Contract.

Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

Swing Line Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04.

Swing Line Facility” means the swing line loan facility made available by the Swing Line Lenders pursuant to Section 2.04.

Swing Line Lender” means Citi, in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans or any successor swing line lender hereunder.

Swing Line Loan” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).

Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C or such other form as approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approve by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower.

 

97


Swing Line Note” means a promissory note of the Borrowers payable to the Swing Line Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit D-3 hereto, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrowers to the Swing Line Lender resulting from the Swing Line Loans.

Swing Line Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Swing Line Loans outstanding.

Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $25,000,000 and (b) the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Commitments.

Taxes” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a).

Term Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Term Loans of the same Class and Type and, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Term Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(a), an Incremental Amendment, a Refinancing Amendment or an Extension.

Term Commitment” means, as to each Term Lender, its obligation to make a Term Loan to the Borrowers hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum principal amount of the Term Loan to be made by such Term Lender under this Agreement, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.06 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Term Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, (ii) an Incremental Amendment, (iii) a Refinancing Amendment or (iv) an Extension.

Term Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Term Commitment or a Term Loan at such time.

Term Loan Extension Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).

Term Loan Extension Series” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).

Term Loan Increase” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

Term Loan Standstill Period” has the meaning provided in Section 8.01(b).

Term Loans” means any Initial Term Loan or any Incremental Term Loan (including any Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loan), Refinancing Term Loan or Extended Term Loan designated as a “Term Loan,” as the context may require.

Term Note” means a promissory note of the Borrowers payable to any Term Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit D-1 hereto, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrowers to such Term Lender resulting from the Term Loans of the applicable Class made by such Term Lender.

 

98


Test Period” means, for any date of determination under this Agreement, the latest four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Lead Borrower for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Closing Date and/or for which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01, as applicable.

Threshold Amount” means $90,000,000.

Total Assets” means the total assets of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Lead Borrower delivered pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) or (b).

Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.

Transaction Expenses” means any fees or expenses incurred or paid by the Investors, Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any of its (or their) Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions (including expenses in connection with hedging transactions related to the Facilities, any OID or upfront fees, payments to officers, employees and directors as change of control payments, severance payments, special or retention bonuses and charges for repurchase or rollover of, or modifications to stock option), this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Support and Services Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

Transactions” means, collectively, (a) the Acquisition and any other transactions directly or indirectly related to the consummation of the Acquisition pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (b) the funding of the Initial Term Loans on the Closing Date and the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents entered into on the Closing Date, (c) the making of the Equity Investment, (d) the payment of Transaction Expenses and (e) the consummation of any other transaction in connection with the foregoing.

Transformative Acquisition” means any acquisition or Investment by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that either (a) is not permitted by the terms of this Agreement immediately prior to the consummation of such acquisition or Investment or (b) if permitted by the terms of this Agreement immediately prior to the consummation of such acquisition or Investment, would not provide the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries with adequate flexibility under this Agreement for the continuation and/or expansion of their combined operations following such consummation, as determined by the Lead Borrower acting in good faith.

Treasury Services Agreement” means any agreement between the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Approved Counterparty relating to treasury, depository, credit card, debit card, stored value cards, purchasing or procurement cards and cash management services or automated clearinghouse transfer of funds or any overdraft or similar services.

Type” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurocurrency Rate Loan.

 

99


U.S. Person” means a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

“U.S. Special Resolution Regimes has the meaning set forth in Section 10.25.

UCC Filing Collateral” means any Collateral, including Collateral constituting investment property, for which a security interest can be perfected by filing a UCC-1 financing statement.

UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended form time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

Unaudited Financial Statements” means the unaudited consolidated statements of profit or loss, other comprehensive income, financial position, changes in equity, and cash flows of the of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2019, prepared in accordance with IFRS.

Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code (or similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to any item or items of Collateral.

United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.

Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c)(i).

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (i) as of the Closing Date, each Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower listed on Schedule 1.01C, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower (other than the Other Borrower Party) designated by the Lead Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.14 subsequent to the Closing Date and (iii) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

U.S. GAAP” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “GAAP”.

USA PATRIOT Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56, as amended or modified from time to time.

 

100


Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (i) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) 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 (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness; provided that, for purposes of determining the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Indebtedness that is being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased, the effect of any amortization or prepayment prior to the date of the applicable extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance shall be disregarded.

wholly owned” means, with respect to a Subsidiary of a Person, a Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than (x) director’s qualifying shares and (y) shares issued to foreign nationals to the extent required by applicable Law) are owned by such Person and/or by one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

Withholding Agent” shall mean any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent.

Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) 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. and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

Yield Differential” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(e)(iii).

Section 1.02. Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

(a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

(b) The words “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document shall refer to such Loan Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.

(c) Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Loan Document in which such reference appears.

(d) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.

 

101


(e) The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.

(f) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”; and the word “through” means “to and including.”

(g) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(h) In connection with any action being taken in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction (including any incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence or assumption of any Liens or the making of any Investments, Restricted Payments or fundamental changes, the repayment of any Indebtedness for which an irrevocable notice of prepayment or redemption is required or the designation of any Restricted Subsidiaries or Unrestricted Subsidiaries in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or permitted Investment, in each case, in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction), for purposes of:

(x) determining compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires the calculation of the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio or the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio; or

(y) testing availability under baskets set forth in this Agreement (including baskets measured as a percentage of Total Assets or Consolidated EBITDA, if any)

in each case, at the option of the Lead Borrower (the Lead Borrower’s election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction, an “LCT Election”), the date (the “LCT Test Date”) of determination of whether any such action is permitted hereunder shall be deemed to be either (a) the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Transaction are entered into or irrevocable prepayment or redemption notices are provided to the applicable holders, as applicable, or (b) solely in connection with an acquisition to which the United Kingdom City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the “City Code”) or similar law or practices in other jurisdictions apply, the date on which a “Rule 2.7 announcement” of a firm intention to make an offer or similar announcement or determination in another jurisdiction subject to laws similar to the City Code in respect of such target company made in compliance with the City Code or similar law or practices in other jurisdictions (a “Public Offer”), and if, after giving pro forma effect to the Limited Condition Transaction and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence or assumption of any Liens or the making of any Investments, Restricted Payments or fundamental changes, the repayment of any Indebtedness for which an irrevocable notice of prepayment or redemption is required or the designation of any

 

102


Restricted Subsidiaries or Unrestricted Subsidiaries in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or permitted Investment) as if they had occurred at the beginning of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending prior to the LCT Test Date for which consolidated financial statements of the Lead Borrower are available, the Lead Borrower could have taken such action on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with such ratio or basket, such ratio or basket shall be deemed to have been complied with. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Lead Borrower has made an LCT Election and any of the ratios or baskets for which compliance was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in any such ratio or basket, including due to fluctuations in Total Assets or Consolidated EBITDA of the Lead Borrower or the Person subject to such Limited Condition Transaction, at or prior to the consummation of the relevant transaction or action, such baskets or ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether the relevant transaction or action is permitted to be consummated or taken; provided that if such ratios or baskets improve as a result of such fluctuations, such improved ratios and/or baskets may be utilized. If the Lead Borrower has made an LCT Election for any Limited Condition Transaction, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or basket availability with respect to the incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens, or the making of Restricted Payments, mergers, the conveyance, lease or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Lead Borrower, the prepayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or other satisfaction of Indebtedness, or the designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary on or following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or the definitive agreement or notice for, or, as applicable the offer in respect of a Public Offer for, such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio or basket shall be tested by calculating the availability under such ratio or basket on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith have been consummated (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and any associated Lien and the use of proceeds thereof; provided that Consolidated Interest Expense for purposes of the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio will be calculated using an assumed interest rate based on the indicative interest margin contained in any financing commitment documentation with respect to such Indebtedness or, if no such indicative interest margin exists, as reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary, if the Lead Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (x) incurs Indebtedness, creates Liens, makes Investments, makes Restricted Payments, designates any Unrestricted Subsidiary or repays any Indebtedness in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction under a ratio-based basket and (y) incurs Indebtedness, creates Liens, makes Investments, makes Restricted Payments, designates any Unrestricted Subsidiary or repays any Indebtedness in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction under a non-ratio-based basket (which shall occur within five Business Days of the events in clause (x) above), then the applicable ratio will be calculated with respect to any such action under the applicable ratio-based basket without regard to any such action under such non-ratio-based basket made in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction.

 

103


In connection with any action being taken in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, for purposes of determining compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires that no Default, Event of Default or specified Event of Default, as applicable, has occurred, is continuing or would result from any such action, as applicable, such condition shall, at the option of the Lead Borrower, be deemed satisfied, so long as no Default, Event of Default or specified Event of Default, as applicable, exists on the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Transaction are entered into, irrevocable prepayment or redemption notices are provided to the applicable holders or a Public Offer is made, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Lead Borrower has exercised its option under this clause (h), and any Default, Event of Default or specified Event of Default occurs following the date the definitive agreements for the applicable Limited Condition Transaction were entered into and prior to the consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such Default, Event of Default or specified Event of Default shall be deemed to not have occurred or be continuing for purposes of determining whether any action being taken in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction is permitted hereunder.

(i) For purposes of determining whether Holdings, the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries comply with any exception to Article 7 (other than the Financial Covenant) where compliance with any such exception is based on a financial ratio or metric being satisfied as of a particular point in time, it is understood that (a) compliance shall be measured at the time when the relevant event is undertaken, as such financial ratios and metrics are intended to be “incurrence” tests and not “maintenance” tests and (b) correspondingly, any such ratio and metric shall only prohibit Holdings, the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries from creating, incurring, assuming, suffering to exist or making, as the case may be, any new, for example, Liens, Indebtedness or Investments, but shall not result in any previously permitted, for example, Liens, Indebtedness or Investments ceasing to be permitted hereunder.

(j) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, financial ratios and tests (including the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio and Consolidated EBITDA) contained in this Agreement that are calculated with respect to any Test Period during which any Specified Transaction occurs shall be calculated with respect to such Test Period and such Specified Transaction on a Pro Forma Basis. Further, if since the beginning of any such Test Period and on or prior to the date of any required calculation of a financial ratio or test (i) a Specified Transaction shall have occurred or (ii) any Person that subsequently became a Subsidiary or was merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries since the beginning of such Test Period shall have consummated any Specified Transaction, then, in each case, any applicable financial ratio or test shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis for such Test Period as if such Specified Transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable Test Period (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that solely for purposes of calculating (x) the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio for purposes of the definitions of “Applicable Rate” and “Commitment Fee Rate” and (y) compliance with Section 7.09 (other than for the purpose of determining pro forma compliance with Section 7.09 as a condition to taking any action under this Agreement), the date of the required calculation shall be the last day of the Test Period, and no Specified Transaction occurring thereafter shall be taken into account).

 

104


(k) For purposes of Section 2.14 and the definition of “Available Incremental Amount”, (i) to the extent of availability under any applicable ratio based prong under the Available Incremental Amount, unless the Lead Borrower elects otherwise, such availability will be deemed to be used, in connection with any incurrence or establishment of any Incremental Facility or any Incremental Equivalent Debt, prior to the usage of the Free and Clear Incremental Amount, (ii) in the case of incurrence or establishment of any Incremental Facility or any Incremental Equivalent Debt in reliance in part on the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount and in part on the Free and Clear Incremental Amount prong, (A) the portion incurred in reliance on the Free and Clear Incremental Amount shall be disregarded for purposes of testing under the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount, but giving full pro forma effect to any increase in the amount of Consolidated EBITDA resulting from the application of the entire amount of such Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt and the related transactions and (B) the permissibility of the portion of such Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt to be incurred or implemented under the Free and Clear Incremental Amount shall be calculated thereafter and (iii) any portion of any Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt that is incurred or implemented under the Free and Clear Incremental Amount will be automatically reclassified as having been incurred under the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount if, at any time after the incurrence or implementation thereof, such portion of such Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt would, using the figures reflected in the financial statements internally available for the most recently ended Test Period, be permitted under the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio test, Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio test or Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio test, as applicable, set forth as part of the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount; it being understood and agreed that once such Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt is reclassified in accordance with this clause (iii), it shall not further be reclassified as having been incurred under the provision of the definition of “Available Incremental Amount” in reliance on which such Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt was originally incurred. For purposes of Sections 7.01 and 7.03, (x) to the extent of availability under any applicable ratio based basket set forth therein, such availability will be deemed to be used prior to the usage of any applicable fixed amount set forth therein and (y) in the case of any incurrence of Indebtedness or Lien in reliance on any ratio based basket set forth therein, for purposes of calculating whether such ratio has been satisfied in connection with such incurrence any other Indebtedness or Lien that is substantially concurrently incurred in reliance on any provision thereof that does not require compliance with any financial ratio or test shall be disregarded in the calculation of such ratio, even if such other Indebtedness or Lien is of the same tranche or series (or, in the case of Liens, secures Indebtedness of the same tranche or series) as such Indebtedness being incurred in reliance on a basket that requires compliance with such ratio.

Section 1.03. 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 in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.

 

105


(ba) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of determining compliance with any test or covenant contained in this Agreement with respect to any period during which any Specified Transaction occurs, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio and the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio shall be calculated with respect to such period and such Specified Transaction on a Pro Forma Basis.

(cb) In the event that the Lead Borrower elects to change the accounting method in which it will prepare its financial statements in accordance with GAAP and such election results in a change in the method of calculation of financial covenants, standards or terms (collectively, the “GAAP Accounting Changes”) in this Agreement, the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree to enter into good faith negotiations in order to amend such provisions of this Agreement (including the levels applicable herein to any computation of the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio and the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio) so as to reflect equitably the GAAP Accounting Changes with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating the Lead Borrower’s financial condition shall be substantially the same after such change as if such change had not been made. Until such time as such an amendment shall have been executed and delivered by the Lead Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, all financial covenants, standards and terms in this Agreement shall continue to be calculated or construed in accordance with the previous accounting method (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower) (it being agreed that the reconciliation between U.S. GAAP and IFRS used in such determination shall be made available to Lenders) as if such change had not occurred. For the avoidance of doubt, solely making an election (without any other action) will not (1) be treated as an incurrence of Indebtedness and (2) have the effect of rendering invalid any Restricted Payment or Investment, the incurrence of any Indebtedness or Liens, the prepayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or other satisfaction of Indebtedness, or the designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary made prior to the date of such election conditioned on the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries having been able to satisfy any Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio or any other test or action that was previously valid under this Agreement on the date made, incurred or taken and prior to such election, as the case may be.

Section 1.04. Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Lead Borrower pursuant to this Agreement (or required to be satisfied in order for a specific action to be permitted under this Agreement) shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding up if there is no nearest number).

 

106


Section 1.05. References to Agreements, Laws, Etc. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to Organizational Documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are permitted by the Loan Documents; and (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.

Section 1.06. 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 1.07. Timing of Payment or Performance. When the payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is stated to be due or performance required on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such payment (other than as described in the definition of Interest Period) or performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day.

Section 1.08. Cumulative Credit Transactions. If more than one action occurs on any given date the permissibility of the taking of which is determined hereunder by reference to the amount of the Cumulative Credit immediately prior to the taking of such action, the permissibility of the taking of each such action shall be determined independently and in no event may any two or more such actions be treated as occurring simultaneously.

Section 1.09. Additional Approved Currencies.

(a) The Lead Borrower may from time to time request that Eurocurrency Rate Revolving Loans be made and/or Letters of Credit be issued in a currency other than those specifically listed in the definition of “Approved Currency”; provided that such requested currency is a lawful currency (other than Dollars) that is readily transferable and readily convertible into Dollars in the London interbank market. Such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Credit Lenders; and, in the case of any such request with respect to the issuance of Letters of Credit, such request shall also be subject to the approval of the applicable L/C Issuer.

(b) Any such request shall be made to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York time), five (5) Business Days prior to the date of the desired Borrowing or issuance of a Letter of Credit (or such other time or date as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent and, in the case of any such request pertaining to Letters of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer, in its or their sole discretion). In the case of any such request pertaining to Eurocurrency Rate Revolving Loans, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender thereof; and in the case of any such request pertaining to Letters of Credit, the Administrative Agent shall also promptly notify the applicable L/C Issuer thereof. Each Revolving Credit Lender and the applicable L/C Issuer (in the case of a request pertaining to Letters of Credit) shall notify the Administrative Agent, not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York time), two (2) Business Days after receipt of such request whether it consents, in its sole discretion, to the making of Eurocurrency Rate Revolving Loans or the issuance of Letters of Credit, as the case may be, in such requested currency.

 

107


(c) Any failure by a Revolving Credit Lender or an L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to respond to such request within the time period specified in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be a refusal by such Revolving Credit Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to permit Eurocurrency Rate Revolving Loans to be made or Letters of Credit to be issued in such requested currency. If the Administrative Agent and all the Revolving Credit Lenders consent to making Eurocurrency Rate Revolving Loans in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify Lead Borrower and such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Approved Currency hereunder for purposes of any Borrowing of Eurocurrency Rate Revolving Loans; and if the applicable L/C Issuer also consents to the issuance of Letters of Credit in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Lead Borrower and such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Approved Currency hereunder for purposes of any Letter of Credit issuances. If the Administrative Agent shall fail to obtain consent to any request for an additional currency under this Section 1.09, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Lead Borrower.

ARTICLE 2

THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

Section 2.01. The Loans. (a) The Initial Term Loan Borrowings. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Term Lender severally agrees to make to the Lead Borrower on the Closing Date loans denominated in Dollars in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount of such Term Lender’s Term Commitment. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01(a) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Initial Term Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

(ba) The Revolving Credit Borrowings. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make revolving credit loans denominated in an Approved Currency to the Borrowers from its applicable Lending Office (each such loan, a “Revolving Credit Loan”) from time to time as elected by the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.02, on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Maturity Date with respect to such Revolving Credit Lender’s applicable Revolving Credit Commitment, in an aggregate Principal Amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment at such time; provided that after giving effect to any Revolving Credit Borrowing, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitments, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.01(b), prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01(b). Revolving Credit Loans denominated in Dollars may be Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

 

108


(b) The Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loan Borrowings. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in Incremental Amendment No. 1, each Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender severally agrees to make to the Borrower on the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date loans denominated in Dollars in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount of such Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender’s Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Commitment. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01(c) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

Section 2.02. Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans. (a) Each Term Borrowing, each Revolving Credit Borrowing, each conversion of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be made upon the Lead Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than (i) 1:00 p.m. New York City time three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans or any conversion of Base Rate Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans, and (ii) 11:00 a.m. New York City time on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans; provided that the notice referred to in subclause (i) above may be delivered no later than one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing Date in the case of initial Credit Extensions. Each telephonic notice by the Lead Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower. Except as provided in Section 2.14(a), each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000, or a whole multiple of $250,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c), 2.04(c), 2.14(a), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Lead Borrower is requesting a Term Borrowing of a particular Class, a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a conversion of Term Loans of any Class or Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Term Loans of a Class or Revolving Credit Loans are to be converted (v) in the case of a Revolving Credit Borrowing, the relevant Approved Currency in which such Revolving Credit Borrowing is to be denominated and (vi) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Lead Borrower fails to specify an Approved Currency of a Loan in a Committed Loan Notice, such Loan shall be made in Dollars. If the Lead Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Term Loans or Revolving

 

109


Credit Loans shall be made as or converted to (x) in the case of any Loan denominated in Dollars, Base Rate Loans or (y) in the case of any Loan denominated in an Approved Foreign Currency, Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the Approved Currency having an Interest Period of one month, as applicable. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans or one-month Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans. If the Lead Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month. No Loan may be converted into or continued as a Loan denominated in another Approved Currency, but instead must be prepaid in the original Approved Currency or reborrowed in another Approved Currency.

(ba) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount (and Approved Currency) of its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the applicable Class of Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Lead Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion or continuation described in Section 2.02(a). In the case of each Borrowing, each Appropriate Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than (i) 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice for any Borrowing of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, (ii) the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice for any Borrowing of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in an Approved Foreign Currency and (iii) 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice for any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. The Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrowers in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent by wire transfer of such funds in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Lead Borrower.

(cb) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurocurrency Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Rate Loan unless the Borrowers pay the amount due, if any, under Section 3.05 in connection therewith.

(dc) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Lead Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurocurrency Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the Eurocurrency Rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Lead Borrower and the Lenders of any change in the Prime Rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the announcement of such change.

 

110


(ed) After giving effect to all Term Borrowings, all Revolving Credit Borrowings, all conversions of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than fifteen (15) Interest Periods in effect.

(fe) The failure of any Lender to make the Loan to be made by it as part of any Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Loan on the date of such Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Loan to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing.

Section 2.03. Letters of Credit. (a) The Letter of Credit Commitment.

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) each L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date to issue Letters of Credit at sight denominated in any Approved Currency for the account of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower and to amend or renew Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with Section 2.03(b), and (2) to honor drafts under the Letters of Credit and (B) the Revolving Credit Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued pursuant to this Section 2.03; provided that no L/C Issuer shall be obligated to make any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, and no Lender shall be obligated to participate in any Letter of Credit if as of the date of such L/C Credit Extension, (x) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Revolving Credit Lender would exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, (y) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations in respect of Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer would exceed such L/C Issuer’s L/C Commitment or (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Lead Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Lead Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.

(ii) An L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to such L/C Issuer or any directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or direct that such L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date (for which such L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder);

 

111


(B) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii) and Section 2.03(a)(ii)(C), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur later than the earlier of (x) twelve months after the date of issuance or last renewal or (y) the fifth Business Day prior to the Maturity Date of the Revolving Credit Facility, unless (1) each Appropriate Lender has approved of such expiration date or (2) the L/C Issuer thereof has approved of such expiration date and the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations in respect of such requested Letter of Credit has been Cash Collateralized or backstopped pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer;

(C) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Revolving Credit Lenders have approved such expiry date;

(D) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate any Laws binding upon such L/C Issuer;

(E) the L/C Issuer does not as of the issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit issue Letters of Credit in the requested currency or type; or

(F) any Revolving Credit Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless such L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion) with the Lead Borrower or such Lender to eliminate such L/C Issuer’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv)) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations as to which such L/C Issuer has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion.

(iii) An L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) such L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.

 

112


(iv) Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and each L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article 9 with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and any Letter of Credit Issuance Request (and any other document, agreement or instrument entered into by such L/C Issuer and the Lead Borrower or in favor of such L/C Issuer) pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article 9 included such L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to each L/C Issuer.

(v) The Lead Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, reduce the L/C Commitment of any L/C Issuer with the consent of such L/C Issuer; provided that the Lead Borrower shall not reduce the L/C Commitment of any L/C Issuer if, after giving effect to such reduction, the conditions set forth in clause (i) above would not be satisfied.

(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit.

(i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Lead Borrower delivered to an L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Issuance Request, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower or his/her delegate or designee. Such Letter of Credit Issuance Request must be received by the relevant L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) at least three Business Days prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be; or, in each case, such other date and time as the relevant L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in its sole discretion. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Issuance Request shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the relevant Approved Currency in which such Letter of Credit is to be denominated; and (H) such other matters as the relevant L/C Issuer may reasonably request. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Issuance Request shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer (1) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (2) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (3) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (4) such other matters as the relevant L/C Issuer may reasonably request.

(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Issuance Request, the relevant L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Issuance Request from the Lead Borrower and, if not, such L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Upon receipt by the relevant L/C Issuer of confirmation from the Administrative Agent that the requested issuance or amendment is permitted in accordance with the terms hereof, then, subject to the

 

113


terms and conditions hereof, such L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Lead Borrower or, if applicable, the Restricted Subsidiary, or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the relevant L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share provided for under this Agreement times the amount of such Letter of Credit.

(iii) If the Lead Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Issuance Request, the relevant L/C Issuer shall agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the relevant L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a number of days (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) prior to the last day of such twelve month period to be agreed upon by the relevant L/C Issuer and the Lead Borrower at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the relevant L/C Issuer, the Lead Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the relevant L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the applicable Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the relevant L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided that the relevant L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the relevant L/C Issuer has determined that it would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its extended form under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Section 2.03(a)(ii) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is five (5) Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent, any Revolving Credit Lender or the Lead Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied.

(iv) Promptly after issuance of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit, the relevant L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

(c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.

(i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the relevant L/C Issuer shall notify promptly the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. In the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Approved Foreign Currency, the Borrowers shall reimburse the L/C Issuer in such Approved Foreign Currency, unless the L/C Issuer (at its option) shall have specified in such notice that it will require reimbursement in Dollars. In the case of any such reimbursement in Dollars of a

 

114


drawing under a Letter of Credit denominated in an Approved Foreign Currency, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Lead Borrower of the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of the drawing promptly following the determination thereof. Not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time), in the case of a drawing in Dollars, or 2:00 p.m. (London time) (or, if earlier, 9:00 a.m. New York city time), in the case of a drawing in an Approved Foreign Currency, on (1) the next Business Day immediately following the date of any honoring of a drawing by an L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit that the Lead Borrower receives notice thereof (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the Borrowers shall reimburse such L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing in the relevant Approved Currency; provided that the Lead Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with this Section 2.03 that such payment be financed with a Revolving Credit Borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility or a Swing Line Borrowing under the Swing Line Facility in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrowers’ obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting Revolving Credit Borrowing or Swing Line Borrowing, as applicable. If the Borrowers fails to so reimburse such L/C Issuer by such time, such L/C Issuer shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (expressed in Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof) (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Appropriate Lender’s Pro Rata Share provided for under this Agreement thereof. In such event, the Lead Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as applicable, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Appropriate Lenders and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice). Any notice given by an L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

(ii) Each Appropriate Lender (including any Lender acting as an L/C Issuer) shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer in Dollars at the Administrative Agent’s Office for Dollar-denominated payments in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Appropriate Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Revolving Credit Loan that is a Base Rate Loan or Eurocurrency Rate Loan, as applicable, to the Borrowers in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall promptly remit the funds so received to the relevant L/C Issuer in Dollars.

 

115


(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as applicable, because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have incurred from the relevant L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest (which begins to accrue upon funding by the L/C Issuer) at the Default Rate for Revolving Credit Loans. In such event, each Appropriate Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.

(iv) Until each Appropriate Lender funds its Revolving Credit Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of such amount shall be solely for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer.

(v) Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse an L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, the payment of all other Obligations and the resignation of the applicable L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, and shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the relevant L/C Issuer, the Borrowers or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided that each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the Lead Borrower of a Committed Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrowers to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by such L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

(vi) If any Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), such L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate from time to time in effect, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by such L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. A certificate of the relevant L/C Issuer submitted to any Revolving Credit Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.03(c)(vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

116


(d) Repayment of Participations.

(i) If, at any time after an L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Revolving Credit Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), the Administrative Agent receives for the account of such L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrowers or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement hereof (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s L/C Advance was outstanding) in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of an L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Appropriate Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing.

(e) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the Borrowers to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit issued by it and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;

(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that any Loan Party may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the relevant L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

 

117


(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;

(iv) any payment by the relevant L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the relevant L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;

(v) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any Collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from the Guaranty or any other guarantee, for all or any of the Obligations of any Loan Party in respect of such Letter of Credit;

(vi) any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of Dollars or the relevant Approved Foreign Currency to the Lead Borrower or any Subsidiary or in the relevant currency markets generally; and

(vii) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Loan Party;

provided that the foregoing shall not excuse any L/C Issuer from liability to the Borrowers to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are waived by the Lead Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable Law) suffered by the Borrowers that are caused by such L/C Issuer’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof.

(f) Role of L/C Issuers. Each Lender and the Borrowers agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the relevant L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuers, any Agent-Related Person nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of any L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Lenders holding a majority of the Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by

 

118


a court of competent jurisdiction; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit Issuance Request. The Borrowers hereby assume all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrowers’ pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuers, any Agent-Related Person, nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of any L/C Issuer, shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (vii) of Section 2.03(e) or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of such L/C Issuer; provided that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrowers may have a claim against an L/C Issuer, and such L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrowers, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrowers which are caused by such L/C Issuer’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of willful misconduct or gross negligence on the part of the relevant L/C Issuer or such L/C Issuer’s willful or grossly negligent failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit, in each case, as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction, such L/C Issuer shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and no L/C Issuer shall be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

(g) Cash Collateral. If (i) as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any Letter of Credit may for any reason remain outstanding and partially or wholly undrawn (and without limiting the requirements of Section 2.03(a)(ii)(C)), (ii) any Event of Default occurs and is continuing and the Administrative Agent or the Lenders holding a majority of the Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, require the Borrowers to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to Section 8.02 or (iii) an Event of Default set forth under Section 8.01(f) occurs and is continuing, the Borrowers shall Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to such Outstanding Amount determined as of the date of such Event of Default or the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, as the case may be), and shall do so not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time on (x) in the case of the immediately preceding clauses (i) and (ii), (1) the Business Day that the Lead Borrower receives notice thereof, if such notice is received on such day prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time or (2) if clause (1) above does not apply,

 

119


the Business Day immediately following the day that the Lead Borrower receives such notice and (y) in the case of the immediately preceding clause (iii), the Business Day on which an Event of Default set forth under Section 8.01(f) occurs or, if such day is not a Business Day, the Business Day immediately succeeding such day. At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, immediately upon the request of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, the Borrowers shall deliver to the Administrative Agent Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to cover all Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender). For purposes hereof, “Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the relevant L/C Issuer and the Appropriate Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances (“Cash Collateral”) pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the relevant L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by the Appropriate Lenders). Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. The Borrowers hereby grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuers and the Revolving Credit Lenders of the applicable Facility, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing. Cash Collateral shall be maintained in a Cash Collateral Account and may be invested in readily available Cash Equivalents as directed by the Lead Borrower. If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that any funds held as Cash Collateral are expressly subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent (on behalf of the Secured Parties) or that the total amount of such funds is less than the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, the Borrowers will, forthwith upon demand by the Administrative Agent to the Lead Borrower, pay to the Administrative Agent, as additional funds to be deposited and held in the Cash Collateral Account, an amount equal to the excess of (a) such aggregate Outstanding Amount over (b) the total amount of funds, if any, then held as Cash Collateral that the Administrative Agent reasonably determines to be free and clear of any such right and claim. Upon the drawing of any Letter of Credit for which funds are on deposit as Cash Collateral, such funds shall be applied, to the extent permitted under applicable Law, to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer. To the extent the amount of any Cash Collateral exceeds the then Outstanding Amount of such L/C Obligations and so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the excess shall be refunded to the Borrowers. To the extent any Event of Default giving rise to the requirement to Cash Collateralize any Letter of Credit pursuant to this Section 2.03(g) is cured or otherwise waived by the Required Lenders, then so long as no other Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, all Cash Collateral pledged to Cash Collateralize such Letter of Credit shall be refunded to the Borrowers.

(h) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders for the applicable Revolving Credit Facility (in accordance with their Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement) a Letter of Credit fee in Dollars for each Letter of Credit issued pursuant to this Agreement equal to the Applicable Rate for Revolving Credit Loans times the Dollar Equivalent of the daily maximum amount then available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit (whether or not such maximum amount is then in effect under such Letter of Credit if such maximum amount increases periodically pursuant to the terms of such Letter of Credit); provided, however, any Letter of Credit fees otherwise payable for the

 

120


account of a Defaulting Lender with respect to any Letter of Credit as to which such Defaulting Lender has not provided Cash Collateral satisfactory to the L/C Issuer pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall be payable, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, to the other Lenders in accordance with the upward adjustments in their respective Pro Rata Shares allocable to such Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.17(a)(iv), with the balance of such fee, if any, payable to the L/C Issuer for its own account. Such Letter of Credit fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such Letter of Credit fees shall be due and payable in Dollars on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. If there is any change in any Applicable Rate for Revolving Credit Loans during any quarter, the daily maximum amount of each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by such Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

(i) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuers. The Borrowers shall pay directly to each L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars, a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by it equal to 0.125% per annum of the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate face amount of such Letter of Credit. Such fronting fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fees shall be due and payable in Dollars on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. In addition, the Borrowers shall pay directly to each L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars, with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by it the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of such L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable within ten (10) Business Days of demand and are nonrefundable.

(j) Conflict with Letter of Credit Issuance Request. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this Agreement or any Letter of Credit Issuance Request, in the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Letter of Credit Issuance Request, the terms hereof shall control.

(k) Addition of an L/C Issuer. A Revolving Credit Lender may become an additional L/C Issuer hereunder pursuant to a written agreement among the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and such Revolving Credit Lender. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Revolving Credit Lenders of any such additional L/C Issuer.

(l) Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

 

121


(m) Reporting. Each L/C Issuer will report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) on the first Business Day of each calendar month, the aggregate face amount of Letters of Credit issued by it and outstanding as of the last Business Day of the preceding calendar month (and on such other dates as the Administrative Agent may request), (ii) on or prior to each Business Day on which such L/C Issuer expects to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance or amendment, and the aggregate face amount of Letters of Credit to be issued, amended, renewed or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (and such L/C Issuer shall advise the Administrative Agent on such Business Day whether such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension occurred and whether the amount thereof changed), (iii) on each Business Day on which such L/C Issuer makes any L/C Disbursement, the date and amount of such L/C Disbursement and (iv) on any Business Day on which the Borrowers fail to reimburse an L/C Disbursement required to be reimbursed to such L/C Issuer on such day, the date and amount of such failure.

(n) Provisions Related to Letters of Credit in respect of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments. If the Letter of Credit Expiration Date in respect of any tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments occurs prior to the expiry date of any Letter of Credit, then (i) if consented to by the L/C Issuer which issued such Letter of Credit, if one or more other tranches of Revolving Credit Commitments in respect of which the Letter of Credit Expiration Date shall not have so occurred are then in effect, such Letters of Credit for which consent has been obtained shall automatically be deemed to have been issued (including for purposes of the obligations of the Revolving Credit Lenders to purchase participations therein and to make Revolving Credit Loans and payments in respect thereof pursuant to Sections 2.03(c) and (d)) under (and ratably participated in by Lenders pursuant to) the Revolving Credit Commitments in respect of such non-terminating tranches up to an aggregate amount not to exceed the aggregate amount of the unutilized Revolving Credit Commitments thereunder at such time (it being understood that no partial face amount of any Letter of Credit may be so reallocated) and (ii) to the extent not reallocated pursuant to immediately preceding clause (i), the Borrowers shall Cash Collateralize any such Letter of Credit in accordance with Section 2.03(g). Upon the maturity date of any tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments, the sublimit for Letters of Credit may be reduced as agreed between the L/C Issuers and the Lead Borrower, without the consent of any other Person.

(o) 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 Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrowers shall be obligated to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrowers hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Restricted Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrowers, and that the Borrowers’ business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Restricted Subsidiaries. In the event that the Borrowers request any Letter of Credit to be issued for the benefit or account of a Restricted Subsidiary, such Restricted Subsidiary shall deliver documentation (including, without limitation, customary letter of credit requests and reimbursement agreements) as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer.

 

122


(p) Provisions Related to Extended Revolving Credit Commitments. In connection with the establishment of any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Commitments and subject to the availability of unused Commitments with respect to such Class and the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02, the Lead Borrower may with the written consent of the applicable L/C Issuer designate any outstanding Letter of Credit to be a Letter of Credit issued pursuant to such Class of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Commitments. Upon such designation such Letter of Credit shall no longer be deemed to be issued and outstanding under such prior Class and shall instead be deemed to be issued and outstanding under such Class of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Commitments.

(q) Replacement of an L/C Issuer. An L/C Issuer may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the replaced L/C Issuer and the successor L/C Issuer. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of an L/C Issuer. From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (x) the successor L/C Issuer shall have all the rights and obligations of the L/C Issuer being replaced under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (y) references herein to the term “L/C Issuer” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous L/C Issuer, or to such successor and all current and previous L/C Issuers, as the context shall require. After the replacement of an L/C Issuer hereunder, the replaced L/C Issuer shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an L/C Issuer under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

(r) Resignation of an L/C Issuer. Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor L/C Issuer, any L/C Issuer may resign as an L/C Issuer at any time upon thirty days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Lead Borrower and the Lenders, in which case, such L/C Issuer shall be replaced in accordance with Section 2.03(q) above.

Section 2.04. Swing Line Loans. (a) The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Citi, in its capacity as Swing Line Lender, agrees to make loans in Dollars to the Borrowers (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”), from time to time on any Business Day during the period beginning on the Business Day after the Closing Date and until the Maturity Date of the Revolving Credit Facility in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Credit Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Swing Line Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment; provided that, after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Revolving

 

123


Credit Exposure shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment then in effect; provided, further, that the Borrowers shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04. Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.

(ba) Borrowing Procedures. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Lead Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone or Swing Line Loan Notice. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time on the requested borrowing date and shall specify (i) the principal amount to be borrowed, which principal amount shall be a minimum of $500,000 (and any amount in excess of $500,000 shall be in integral multiples of $100,000) and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any Swing Line Loan Notice (by telephone or in writing), the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Revolving Credit Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. New York City time on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 3:00 p.m. New York City time on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrowers at its office by crediting the account of the Borrowers on the books of the Swing Line Lender in immediately available funds. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.04 or elsewhere in this Agreement, the Swing Line Lender shall not be obligated to make any Swing Line Loan at a time when a Revolving Credit Lender is a Defaulting Lender unless the Swing Line Lender has entered into arrangements reasonably satisfactory to it and the Lead Borrower to eliminate the Swing Line Lender’s Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv)) with respect to the Defaulting Lender’s or Defaulting Lenders’ participation in such Swing Line Loans, including by Cash Collateralizing, or obtaining a backstop letter of credit from an issuer reasonably satisfactory to the Swing Line Lender to support, such Defaulting Lender’s or Defaulting Lenders’ Pro Rata Share of the outstanding Swing Line Loans.

 

124


(cb) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.

(i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrowers (which hereby irrevocably authorizes such Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Revolving Credit Lender make a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Lead Borrower with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Revolving Credit Lender shall make an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office for Dollar-denominated payments not later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time on the day specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Revolving Credit Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrowers in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.

(ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Revolving Credit Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Base Rate Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Revolving Credit Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Revolving Credit Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

(iii) If any Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by the Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date

 

125


such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate from time to time in effect, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause

(iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(iv) Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrowers or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided that each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) (but not to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrowers to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

(dc) Repayment of Participations.

(i) At any time after any Revolving Credit Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of such payment (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s risk participation was funded) in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.

(ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Revolving Credit Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender.

 

126


(ed) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Lead Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Revolving Credit Lender funds its Base Rate Loan, Eurocurrency Rate Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Pro Rata Share shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.

(fe) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. The Borrowers shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.

(gf) Provisions Related to Extended Revolving Credit Commitments. If the maturity date shall have occurred in respect of any tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments (the “Expiring Credit Commitment”) at a time when another tranche or tranches of Revolving Credit Commitments is or are in effect with a longer maturity date (each a “Non-Expiring Credit Commitment” and collectively, the “Non-Expiring Credit Commitments”), then with respect to each outstanding Swing Line Loan, if consented to by the applicable Swing Line Lender, on the earliest occurring maturity date such Swing Line Loan shall be deemed reallocated to the tranche or tranches of the Non-Expiring Credit Commitments on a pro rata basis; provided that (x) to the extent that the amount of such reallocation would cause the aggregate credit exposure to exceed the aggregate amount of such Non-Expiring Credit Commitments, immediately prior to such reallocation the amount of Swing Line Loans to be reallocated equal to such excess shall be repaid or Cash Collateralized and (y) notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrowers shall still be obligated to pay Swing Line Loans allocated to the Revolving Credit Lenders holding the Expiring Credit Commitments at the maturity date of the Expiring Credit Commitment or if the Loans have been accelerated prior to the maturity date of the Expiring Credit Commitment. Upon the maturity date of any tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments, the sublimit for Swing Line Loans may be reduced as agreed between the Swing Line Lender and the Lead Borrower, without the consent of any other Person.

(hg) Replacement of the Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Lead Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Swing Line Lender and the successor Swing Line Lender. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of a Swing Line Lender. From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (x) the successor Swing Line Lender shall have all the rights and obligations of the replaced Swing Line Lender under this Agreement with respect to Swing Line Loans made thereafter and (y) references herein to the term “Swing Line Lender” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Swing Line Lender, or to such successor and all previous Swing Line Lenders, as the context shall require. After the replacement of a Swing Line Lender hereunder, the replaced Swing Line Lender shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of a Swing Line Lender under this Agreement with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it prior to its replacement, but shall not be required to make additional Swing Line Loans.

 

127


(ih) Resignation of the Swing Line Lender. Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Swing Line Lender, the Swing Line Lender may resign as a Swing Line Lender at any time upon thirty days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Lead Borrower and the Lenders, in which case, such Swing Line Lender shall be replaced in accordance with Section 2.04(h) above.

Section 2.05. Prepayments. (a) Optional.

(i) The Borrowers may, upon, subject to clause (iii) below, written notice to the Administrative Agent by the Lead Borrower, from time to time voluntarily prepay Term Loans of any Class and Revolving Credit Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty (subject to Section 2.05(a)(iv)); provided that (1) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans and (B) one Business Day prior to any prepayment of Base Rate Loans, in each case, unless the Administrative Agent agrees to a shorter period in its discretion; (1) any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000, or a whole multiple of $250,000 in excess thereof; and (2) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire Principal Amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Class(es) and Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of such prepayment. Subject to Section 2.05(iii) below, if such notice is given by the Lead Borrower, the Borrowers shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon to such date, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. In the case of each prepayment of the Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(a), the Lead Borrower may in its sole discretion select the Borrowing or Borrowings (and the order of maturity of principal payments) to be repaid, and such payment shall be paid to the Appropriate Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares or other applicable share as provided for under this Agreement.

(ii) The Borrowers may, upon, subject to clause (iii) below, written notice to the Swing Line Lender from the Lead Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (1) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time on the date of the prepayment, and (2) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Lead Borrower, the Borrowers shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

 

128


(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, subject to the payment of any amounts owing pursuant to Section 3.05, the Lead Borrower may rescind any notice of prepayment under Sections 2.05(a)(i) or 2.05(a)(ii) if such prepayment would have resulted from a refinancing of all or a portion of the applicable Facility, which refinancing shall not be consummated or shall otherwise be delayed. Each prepayment of any Class of Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(a) shall be applied as directed by the Lead Borrower (which may be applied to any specific Class, tranche or facility of Indebtedness) and, absent such direction, shall be applied in direct order of maturity to repayments thereof required pursuant to Section 2.07(a).

(iv) (A) In the event that, on or prior to the six-month anniversary of the Closing Date, the Borrowers (x) prepay, refinance, substitute or replace any Initial Term Loans pursuant to a Repricing Transaction (including, for avoidance of doubt, any prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(iii) that constitutes a Repricing Transaction), or (y) effects any amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification of this Agreement resulting in a Repricing Transaction, the Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of each of the applicable Term Lenders, (1) in the case of clause (x) above, a prepayment premium of 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the Initial Term Loans incurred on the Closing Date so prepaid, refinanced, substituted or replaced and (2) in the case of clause (y) above, a fee equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Initial Term Loans amended or otherwise modified pursuant to such amendment. If, on or prior to the six-month anniversary of the Closing Date, any Term Lender that is a Non-Consenting Lender and is replaced pursuant to Section 3.07(a) in connection with any amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification of this Agreement resulting in a Repricing Transaction, such Term Lender (and not any Person who replaces such Term Lender pursuant to Section 3.07(a)) shall receive its pro rata portion (as determined immediately prior to it being so replaced) of the prepayment premium or fee described in the preceding sentence. Such amounts shall be due and payable on the date of effectiveness of such Repricing Transaction.

(B) In the event that, on or prior to the six-month anniversary of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date, the Borrower (x) prepays, refinances, substitutes or replaces any Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans pursuant to an Incremental Amendment No. 1 Repricing Transaction (including, for avoidance of doubt, any prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(iii) that constitutes an Incremental Amendment No. 1 Repricing Transaction), or (y) effects any amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification of this Agreement resulting in an Incremental Amendment No. 1 Repricing Transaction, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of each of the applicable Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lenders, (1) in the case of clause (x) above, a prepayment premium of 1.00% of the aggregate principal

 

129


amount of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans incurred on the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date so prepaid, refinanced, substituted or replaced and (2) in the case of clause (y) above, a fee equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans amended or otherwise modified pursuant to such amendment. If, on or prior to the six-month anniversary of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date, any Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender that is a Non-Consenting Lender and is replaced pursuant to Section 3.07(a) in connection with any amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification of this Agreement resulting in an Incremental Amendment No. 1 Repricing Transaction, such Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender (and not any Person who replaces such Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender pursuant to Section 3.07(a)) shall receive its pro rata portion (as determined immediately prior to it being so replaced) of the prepayment premium or fee described in the preceding sentence. Such amounts shall be due and payable on the date of effectiveness of such Repricing Transaction.

(v) Notwithstanding anything in any Loan Document to the contrary, so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing and, only to the extent funded at a discount, no proceeds of Revolving Credit Borrowings are applied to fund any such repayment, any Company Party may prepay the outstanding Term Loans (which shall, for the avoidance of doubt, be automatically and permanently canceled immediately upon such prepayment) (or Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may purchase such outstanding Term Loans and immediately cancel them) on the following basis:

(A) Any Company Party shall have the right to make a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a discount to par pursuant to a Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment, Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offers or Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers (any such prepayment, the “Discounted Term Loan Prepayment”), in each case made in accordance with this Section 2.05(a)(v); provided that no Company Party shall initiate any action under this Section 2.05(a)(v) in order to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment unless (I) at least ten (10) Business Days shall have passed since the consummation of the most recent Discounted Term Loan Prepayment as a result of a prepayment made by a Company Party on the applicable Discounted Prepayment Effective Date; or (II) at least three Business Days shall have passed since the date the Company Party was notified that no Term Lender was willing to accept any prepayment of any Term Loan at the Specified Discount, within the Discount Range or at any discount to par value, as applicable, or in the case of Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers, the date of any Company Party’s election not to accept any Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers.

 

130


(B) (I) Subject to the proviso to subsection (A) above, any Company Party may from time to time offer to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment by providing the Auction Agent with five (5) Business Days’ notice in the form of a Specified Discount Prepayment Notice; provided that (II) any such offer shall be made available, at the sole discretion of the Company Party, to (x) each Term Lender and/or (y) each Term Lender with respect to any Class of Term Loans on an individual tranche basis, (III) any such offer shall specify the aggregate principal amount offered to be prepaid (the “Specified Discount Prepayment Amount”) with respect to each applicable tranche, the tranche or tranches of Term Loans subject to such offer and the specific percentage discount to par (the “Specified Discount”) of such Term Loans to be prepaid (it being understood that different Specified Discounts and/or Specified Discount Prepayment Amounts may be offered with respect to different tranches of Term Loans and, in such event, each such offer will be treated as a separate offer pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)), (IV) the Specified Discount Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate principal amount not less than $10,000,000 and whole increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (V) each such offer shall remain outstanding through the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date. The Auction Agent will promptly provide each Appropriate Lender with a copy of such Specified Discount Prepayment Notice and a form of the Specified Discount Prepayment Response to be completed and returned by each such Term Lender to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time), on the third Business Day after the date of delivery of such notice to such Lenders (the “Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date”).

(1) Each Term Lender receiving such offer shall notify the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date whether or not it agrees to accept a prepayment of any of its applicable then outstanding Term Loans at the Specified Discount and, if so (such accepting Lender, a “Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender”), the amount and the tranches of such Lender’s Term Loans to be prepaid at such offered discount. Each acceptance of a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment by a Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender shall be irrevocable. Any Term Lender whose Specified Discount Prepayment Response is not received by the Auction Agent by the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date shall be deemed to have declined to accept the applicable Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment.

(2) If there is at least one Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender, the relevant Company Party will make a prepayment of outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this paragraph (B) to each Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender in accordance with the respective outstanding amount and tranches of Term Loans specified in such Lender’s Specified Discount Prepayment Response given pursuant to subsection (1) above; provided that if the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans accepted for

 

131


prepayment by all Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders exceeds the Specified Discount Prepayment Amount, such prepayment shall be made pro rata among the Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders in accordance with the respective principal amounts accepted to be prepaid by each such Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender and the Auction Agent (in consultation with such Company Party and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its reasonable discretion) will calculate such proration (the “Specified Discount Proration”). The Auction Agent shall promptly, and in any case within three Business Days following the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date, notify (I) the relevant Company Party of the respective Term Lenders’ responses to such offer, the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date and the aggregate principal amount of the Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and the tranches to be prepaid, (II) each Term Lender of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, and the aggregate principal amount and the tranches of Term Loans to be prepaid at the Specified Discount on such date and (III) each Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender of the Specified Discount Proration, if any, and confirmation of the principal amount, tranche and Type of Term Loans of such Lender to be prepaid at the Specified Discount on such date. Each determination by the Auction Agent of the amounts stated in the foregoing notices to the Company Party and such Term Lenders shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The payment amount specified in such notice to the Company Party shall be due and payable by such Company Party on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (F) below (subject to subsection (J) below).

(C) (1) Subject to the proviso to subsection (A) above, any Company Party may from time to time solicit Discount Range Prepayment Offers by providing the Auction Agent with five (5) Business Days’ notice in the form of a Discount Range Prepayment Notice; provided that (I) any such solicitation shall be extended, at the sole discretion of such Company Party, to (x) each Term Lender and/or (y) each Term Lender with respect to any Class of Term Loans on an individual tranche basis, (II) any such notice shall specify the maximum aggregate principal amount of the relevant Term Loans (the “Discount Range Prepayment Amount”), the tranche or tranches of Term Loans subject to such offer and the maximum and minimum percentage discounts to par (the “Discount Range”) of the principal amount of such Term Loans with respect to each relevant tranche of Term Loans willing to be prepaid by such Company Party (it being understood that different Discount Ranges and/or Discount Range Prepayment Amounts may be offered with respect to different tranches of Term Loans and, in such event, each such offer will be treated as a separate offer pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)), (III) the Discount

 

132


Range Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate principal amount not less than $10,000,000 and whole increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (IV) each such solicitation by a Company Party shall remain outstanding through the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date. The Auction Agent will promptly provide each Appropriate Lender with a copy of such Discount Range Prepayment Notice and a form of the Discount Range Prepayment Offer to be submitted by a responding Lender to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time), on the third Business Day after the date of delivery of such notice to such Lenders (the “Discount Range Prepayment Response Date”). Each Term Lender’s Discount Range Prepayment Offer shall be irrevocable and shall specify a discount to par within the Discount Range (the “Submitted Discount”) at which such Lender is willing to allow prepayment of any or all of its then outstanding Term Loans of the applicable tranche or tranches and the maximum aggregate principal amount and tranches of such Lender’s Term Loans (the “Submitted Amount”) such Term Lender is willing to have prepaid at the Submitted Discount. Any Term Lender whose Discount Range Prepayment Offer is not received by the Auction Agent by the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date shall be deemed to have declined to accept a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment of any of its Term Loans at any discount to their par value within the Discount Range.

(21) The Auction Agent shall review all Discount Range Prepayment Offers received on or before the applicable Discount Range Prepayment Response Date and shall determine (in consultation with such Company Party and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) the Applicable Discount and Term Loans to be prepaid at such Applicable Discount in accordance with this subsection (C). The relevant Company Party agrees to accept on the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date all Discount Range Prepayment Offers received by Auction Agent by the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date, in the order from the Submitted Discount that is the largest discount to par to the Submitted Discount that is the smallest discount to par, up to and including the Submitted Discount that is the smallest discount to par within the Discount Range (such Submitted Discount that is the smallest discount to par within the Discount Range being referred to as the “Applicable Discount”) which yields a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment in an aggregate principal amount equal to the lower of (I) the Discount Range Prepayment Amount and (II) the sum of all Submitted Amounts. Each Term Lender that has submitted a Discount Range Prepayment Offer to accept prepayment at a discount to par that is larger than or equal to the Applicable Discount shall be deemed to have irrevocably consented to prepayment of Term Loans equal to its Submitted Amount (subject to any required proration pursuant to the following subsection (3)) at the Applicable Discount (each such Term Lender, a “Participating Lender”).

 

133


(32) If there is at least one Participating Lender, the relevant Company Party will prepay the respective outstanding Term Loans of each Participating Lender in the aggregate principal amount and of the tranches specified in such Lender’s Discount Range Prepayment Offer at the Applicable Discount; provided that if the Submitted Amount by all Participating Lenders offered at a discount to par greater than or equal to the Applicable Discount exceeds the Discount Range Prepayment Amount, prepayment of the principal amount of the relevant Term Loans for those Participating Lenders whose Submitted Discount is a discount to par greater than or equal to the Applicable Discount (the “Identified Participating Lenders”) shall be made pro rata among the Identified Participating Lenders in accordance with the Submitted Amount of each such Identified Participating Lender and the Auction Agent (in consultation with such Company Party and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) will calculate such proration (the “Discount Range Proration”). The Auction Agent shall promptly, and in any case within five (5) Business Days following the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date, notify (I) the relevant Company Party of the respective Term Lenders’ responses to such solicitation, the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, the Applicable Discount, and the aggregate principal amount of the Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and the tranches to be prepaid, (II) each Term Lender of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, the Applicable Discount, and the aggregate principal amount and tranches of Term Loans to be prepaid at the Applicable Discount on such date, (III) each Participating Lender of the aggregate principal amount and tranches of such Term Lender to be prepaid at the Applicable Discount on such date, and (IV) if applicable, each Identified Participating Lender of the Discount Range Proration. Each determination by the Auction Agent of the amounts stated in the foregoing notices to the relevant Company Party and Term Lenders shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The payment amount specified in such notice to the Company Party shall be due and payable by such Company Party on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (F) below (subject to subsection (J) below).

 

134


(D) (1) Subject to the proviso to subsection (A) above, any Company Party may from time to time solicit Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers by providing the Auction Agent with five (5) Business Days’ notice in the form of a Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice; provided that (I) any such solicitation shall be extended, at the sole discretion of such Company Party, to (x) each Term Lender and/or (y) each Lender with respect to any Class of Term Loans on an individual tranche basis, (II) any such notice shall specify the maximum aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans (the “Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount”) and the tranche or tranches of Term Loans the Borrowers are willing to prepay at a discount (it being understood that different Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amounts may be offered with respect to different tranches of Term Loans and, in such event, each such offer will be treated as a separate offer pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)), (III) the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate principal amount not less than $10,000,000 and whole increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (IV) each such solicitation by a Company Party shall remain outstanding through the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date. The Auction Agent will promptly provide each Appropriate Lender with a copy of such Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice and a form of the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer to be submitted by a responding Lender to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time), on the third Business Day after the date of delivery of such notice to such Term Lenders (the “Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date”). Each Term Lender’s Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer shall (x) be irrevocable, (y) remain outstanding until the Acceptance Date, and (z) specify both a discount to par (the “Offered Discount”) at which such Term Lender is willing to allow prepayment of its then outstanding Term Loan and the maximum aggregate principal amount and tranches of such Term Loans (the “Offered Amount”) such Term Lender is willing to have prepaid at the Offered Discount. Any Term Lender whose Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer is not received by the Auction Agent by the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date shall be deemed to have declined prepayment of any of its Term Loans at any discount.

(21) The Auction Agent shall promptly provide the relevant Company Party with a copy of all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received on or before the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date. Such Company Party shall review all such Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers and select the largest of the Offered Discounts specified by the relevant responding Term Lenders in the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers that is acceptable to the Company Party (the “Acceptable Discount”), if any. If the Company Party elects to accept any Offered Discount as the Acceptable Discount, then as soon as practicable after the determination of the Acceptable Discount, but in no event later than by the third Business Day after the date of receipt by such Company Party from the Auction Agent of a copy of all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers pursuant to the first sentence of this subsection (2) (the “Acceptance Date”), the Company Party shall submit an Acceptance and Prepayment Notice to the Auction Agent setting forth the Acceptable Discount. If the Auction Agent shall fail to receive an Acceptance and Prepayment Notice from the Company Party by the Acceptance Date, such Company Party shall be deemed to have rejected all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers.

 

135


(32) Based upon the Acceptable Discount and the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received by Auction Agent by the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date, within three Business Days after receipt of an Acceptance and Prepayment Notice (the “Discounted Prepayment Determination Date”), the Auction Agent will determine (in consultation with such Company Party and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) the aggregate principal amount and the tranches of Term Loans (the “Acceptable Prepayment Amount”) to be prepaid by the relevant Company Party at the Acceptable Discount in accordance with this Section 2.05(a)(v)(D). If the Company Party elects to accept any Acceptable Discount, then the Company Party agrees to accept all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received by Auction Agent by the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date, in the order from largest Offered Discount to smallest Offered Discount, up to and including the Acceptable Discount. Each Term Lender that has submitted a Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer with an Offered Discount that is greater than or equal to the Acceptable Discount shall be deemed to have irrevocably consented to prepayment of Term Loans equal to its Offered Amount (subject to any required pro rata reduction pursuant to the following sentence) at the Acceptable Discount (each such Lender, a “Qualifying Lender”). The Company Party will prepay outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this subsection (D) to each Qualifying Lender in the aggregate principal amount and of the tranches specified in such Lender’s Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer at the Acceptable Discount; provided that if the aggregate Offered Amount by all Qualifying Lenders whose Offered Discount is greater than or equal to the Acceptable Discount exceeds the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount, prepayment of the principal amount of the Term Loans for those Qualifying Lenders whose Offered Discount is greater than or equal to the Acceptable Discount (the “Identified Qualifying Lenders”) shall be made pro rata among the Identified Qualifying Lenders in accordance with the Offered Amount of each such Identified Qualifying Lender and the Auction Agent (in consultation with such Company Party and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) will calculate such proration (the “Solicited Discount Proration”). On or prior to the Discounted Prepayment Determination Date, the Auction Agent shall promptly notify (I) the relevant Company Party of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date and Acceptable

 

136


Prepayment Amount comprising the Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and the tranches to be prepaid, (II) each Term Lender of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, the Acceptable Discount, and the Acceptable Prepayment Amount of all Term Loans and the tranches to be prepaid to be prepaid at the Applicable Discount on such date, (III) each Qualifying Lender of the aggregate principal amount and the tranches of such Term Lender to be prepaid at the Acceptable Discount on such date, and (IV) if applicable, each Identified Qualifying Lender of the Solicited Discount Proration. Each determination by the Auction Agent of the amounts stated in the foregoing notices to such Company Party and Term Lenders shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The payment amount specified in such notice to such Company Party shall be due and payable by such Company Party on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (F) below (subject to subsection (J) below).

(E) In connection with any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment, the Company Parties and the Term Lenders acknowledge and agree that the Auction Agent may require as a condition to any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment, the payment of customary fees and expenses from a Company Party in connection therewith.

(F) If any Term Loan is prepaid in accordance with paragraphs (B) through (D) above, a Company Party shall prepay such Term Loans on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date. The relevant Company Party shall make such prepayment to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders, Participating Lenders, or Qualifying Lenders, as applicable, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in immediately available funds not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date and all such prepayments shall be applied to the remaining principal installments of the relevant tranche of Loans on a pro rata basis across such installments. The Term Loans so prepaid shall be accompanied by all accrued and unpaid interest on the par principal amount so prepaid up to, but not including, the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date. Each prepayment of the outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(a)(v) shall be paid to the Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders, Participating Lenders, or Qualifying Lenders, as applicable, and shall be applied to the relevant Loans of such Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Share. The aggregate principal amount of the tranches and installments of the relevant Term Loans outstanding shall be deemed reduced by the full par value of the aggregate principal amount of the tranches of Term Loans prepaid on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment. In connection with each prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.05(a)(v), the relevant Company Party shall waive any right to bring any action against the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such, in connection with any such Discounted Term Loan Prepayment.

 

137


(G) To the extent not expressly provided for herein, each Discounted Term Loan Prepayment shall be consummated pursuant to procedures consistent with the provisions in this Section 2.05(a)(v), established by the Auction Agent acting in its reasonable discretion and as reasonably agreed by the Lead Borrower.

(H) Notwithstanding anything in any Loan Document to the contrary, for purposes of this Section 2.05(a)(v), each notice or other communication required to be delivered or otherwise provided to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) shall be deemed to have been given upon Auction Agent’s (or its delegate’s) actual receipt during normal business hours of such notice or communication; provided that any notice or communication actually received outside of normal business hours shall be deemed to have been given as of the opening of business on the next Business Day.

(I) Each of the Company Parties and the Term Lenders acknowledge and agree that the Auction Agent may perform any and all of its duties under this Section 2.05(a)(v) by itself or through any Affiliate of the Auction Agent and expressly consents to any such delegation of duties by the Auction Agent to such Affiliate and the performance of such delegated duties by such Affiliate. The exculpatory provisions pursuant to this Agreement shall apply to each Affiliate of the Auction Agent and its respective activities in connection with any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment provided for in this Section 2.05(a)(v) as well as activities of the Auction Agent.

(J) Each Company Party shall have the right, by written notice to the Auction Agent, to revoke in full (but not in part) its offer to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and rescind the applicable Specified Discount Prepayment Notice, Discount Range Prepayment Notice or Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice therefor at its discretion at any time on or prior to the applicable Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date (and if such offer is revoked pursuant to the preceding clauses, any failure by such Company Party to make any prepayment to a Lender, as applicable, pursuant to this Section 2.05(a)(v) shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 8.01 or otherwise).

 

138


(b) Mandatory.

(i) Within five (5) Business Days after financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) (commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021) and the related Compliance Certificate has been delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a), the Borrowers shall cause to be offered to be prepaid in accordance with clause (b)(vi) and (ix) below, an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans in an amount equal to (the “ECF Payment Amount”) (A) the Applicable ECF Percentage of Excess Cash Flow, if any, for the fiscal year covered by such financial statements minus (B) the sum of (1) at the Lead Borrower’s option, all voluntary prepayments, repurchases or redemptions of Term Loans made during such fiscal year or after year-end and prior to when such Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (including, in the case of Term Loans prepaid pursuant to (x) Section 2.05(a)(v), the actual purchase price paid in cash pursuant to a “Dutch Auction” and (y) open-market purchases pursuant to Section 10.07(l), the actual purchase price paid in cash pursuant to such purchase), (2) at the Lead Borrower’s option, all voluntary prepayments, repurchases or redemptions of Revolving Credit Loans during such fiscal year or after year-end and prior to when such Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due to the extent the Revolving Credit Commitments are permanently reduced by the amount of such payments, (3) at the Lead Borrower’s option, all voluntary prepayments, repurchases or redemptions of any Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt, Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, Permitted Ratio Debt, incurred Indebtedness under Section 7.03(g) and any other Indebtedness (in the case of any revolving credit facilities, to the extent accompanied by a permanent reduction of the corresponding commitment) in each case, secured on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Loans and Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans and repurchased or redeemed on a pro rata basis or less than pro rata basis with the Initial Term Loans and Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans (except to the extent financed with proceeds of long-term funded Indebtedness (other than revolving loans)) during such fiscal year or after year-end and prior to when such Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (provided that, any such voluntary prepayments described in the foregoing clauses (1) through (3) that have not been applied to reduce the prepayments which may be due from time to time pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(i) shall be carried over to subsequent fiscal years, and may reduce the prepayments due from time to time pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(i) during such fiscal years, until such time as such voluntary prepayments have been used to reduce such prepayments which may be due from time to time), (4) the amount of Capital Expenditures or acquisitions of IP Rights to the extent not expensed and Capitalized Software Expenditures accrued or made (or committed to be made) in cash during such period or, at the option of the Lead Borrower, made after such period and prior to the date the Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (it being understood that to the extent such Capital Expenditures or acquisitions are not actually made as committed in a subsequent period, such amount shall be added back in calculating Excess Cash Flow for such subsequent period, to the extent financed with internally generated cash or Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility), (5) the aggregate amount of all principal payments of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries made (or committed to be made) during such period or, at the option of the Lead Borrower, made after such period and prior to the date the Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (it being understood that to the extent such payments are not actually made as committed in a subsequent period, such amount shall be added back in calculating Excess Cash Flow for such subsequent period) (including (A) the principal

 

139


component of payments in respect of Financing Leases, (B) the amount of any scheduled repayment of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.07, and (C) any mandatory prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ii) to the extent required due to a Disposition that resulted in an increase to Consolidated Net Income and not in excess of the amount of such increase but excluding (X) all other voluntary and mandatory prepayments of Term Loans and all prepayments and repayments of Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans and (Y) all prepayments in respect of any other revolving credit facility, except in the case of clause (Y) to the extent there is an equivalent permanent reduction in commitments thereunder to the extent financed with internally generated cash), (6) cash payments by the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries made (or committed to be made) during such period or, at the option of the Lead Borrower, made after such period and prior to the date the Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (it being understood that to the extent such payments are not actually made as committed in a subsequent period, such amount shall be added back in calculating Excess Cash Flow for such subsequent period) in respect of long-term liabilities of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries other than Indebtedness, to the extent financed with internally generated cash, (7) the amount of Investments and acquisitions made (or committed to be made) by the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period or, at the option of the Lead Borrower, made after such period and prior to the date the Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (it being understood that to the extent such Investments and acquisitions are not actually made as committed in a subsequent period, such amount shall be added back in calculating Excess Cash Flow for such subsequent period) and paid (or committed to be paid) in cash pursuant to Section 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(a), (c) or (x)), to the extent financed with internally generated cash or Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, (8) the amount of Restricted Payments paid in cash (or committed to be paid) during such period or, at the option of the Lead Borrower, paid after such period and prior to the date the Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (it being understood that to the extent such payments are not actually paid as committed in a subsequent period, such amount shall be added back in calculating Excess Cash Flow for such subsequent period), to the extent financed with internally generated cash or Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, (9) the aggregate amount of expenditures made (or committed to be made) by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in cash during such period or, at the option of the Lead Borrower, made after such period and prior to the date the Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (it being understood that to the extent such expenditures are not actually made as committed in a subsequent period, such amount shall be added back in calculating Excess Cash Flow for such subsequent period) (including expenditures for the payment of financing fees) to the extent that such expenditures are not expensed during such period, to the extent financed with internally generated cash, (10) the aggregate amount of any premium, make-whole or penalty payments paid (or committed to be paid) in cash by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period or, at the option of the Lead Borrower, paid after such period and prior to the date the Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (it being understood that to the extent such premium, make-

 

140


whole or penalty payments are not actually paid as committed in a subsequent period, such amount shall be added back in calculating Excess Cash Flow for such subsequent period) that are required to be made in connection with any prepayment of Indebtedness, to the extent financed with internally generated cash and (11) the amount of cash taxes paid (or committed to be paid) in such period or, at the option of the Lead Borrower, paid after such period and prior to the date the Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (it being understood that to the extent such taxes are not actually paid as committed in a subsequent period, such amount shall be added back in calculating Excess Cash Flow for such subsequent period) to the extent they exceed the amount of tax expense deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, in the case of each of the immediately preceding clauses (1) through (11), without duplication of any deduction from Excess Cash Flow in any prior period; provided that prepayments pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(i) shall only be required for any fiscal year if the amount of ECF Payment Amount for such fiscal year is greater than the greater of (A) $25,000,000 and (B) 15% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA at the time of such prepayment; provided, further, that, for the avoidance of doubt, only amounts in excess of the greater of (A) $25,000,000 and (B) 15% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA shall be prepaid pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(i).

(ii) If (1) the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower Disposes of any property or assets constituting Collateral pursuant to Sections 7.05(f), (i), (j) or (t)(i) or (2) any Casualty Event occurs, which results in the realization or receipt by the Lead Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary of Net Proceeds, the Borrowers shall cause to be offered to be prepaid in accordance with clause (b)(vi) and (ix) below, on or prior to the date which is ten (10) Business Days after the date of the realization or receipt by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Net Proceeds, subject to clause (b)(xi) below, an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans in an amount equal to the Applicable Asset Sale Percentage of all Net Proceeds received (such amount, the “Applicable Proceeds”); provided that if at the time that any such prepayment would be required, the Borrowers are required to offer to repurchase Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt, Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, Permitted Ratio Debt, incurred Indebtedness under Section 7.03(g) or any other Indebtedness outstanding at such time that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral ranking pari passu with the Lien securing the Term Loans pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Indebtedness with the Net Proceeds of such Disposition or Casualty Event (such Indebtedness required to be offered to be so repurchased, “Other Applicable Indebtedness”), then the Borrowers may apply the Applicable Proceeds on a pro rata basis (determined on the basis of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and Other Applicable Indebtedness at such time) and the remaining Net Proceeds so received to the prepayment of such Other Applicable Indebtedness; provided, further, that (A) the portion of the Applicable Proceeds (but not the other Net Proceeds received) allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of Applicable Proceeds required to be allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof, and the remaining amount, if any, of such Net

 

141


Proceeds shall be allocated to the Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof to the prepayment of the Term Loans and to the repurchase or prepayment of Other Applicable Indebtedness, and the amount of prepayment of the Term Loans that would have otherwise been required pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(ii) shall be reduced accordingly and (B) to the extent the holders of Other Applicable Indebtedness decline to have such indebtedness repurchased or prepaid, the declined amount shall promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the date of such rejection) be applied to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof.

(iii) If the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs or issues any Indebtedness after the Closing Date (other than Indebtedness not prohibited under Section 7.03), the Borrowers shall cause to be offered to be prepaid in accordance with clause (b)(vi) below an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans in an amount equal to 100% of all Net Proceeds received therefrom on or prior to the date which is five (5) Business Days after the receipt by the Lead Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary of such Net Proceeds; provided that if at the time that any such prepayment would be required, the Borrowers are required to offer to repurchase any Other Applicable Indebtedness with the Net Proceeds of such Indebtedness, then the Borrowers may apply such Net Proceeds on a pro rata basis (determined on the basis of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and Other Applicable Indebtedness at such time); provided, further, that (A) the portion of such Net Proceeds allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of such Net Proceeds required to be allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof, and the remaining amount, if any, of such Net Proceeds shall be allocated to the Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof to the prepayment of the Term Loans and to the repurchase or prepayment of Other Applicable Indebtedness, and the amount of prepayment of the Term Loans that would have otherwise been required pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(iii) shall be reduced accordingly and (B) to the extent the holders of Other Applicable Indebtedness decline to have such indebtedness repurchased or prepaid, the declined amount shall promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the date of such rejection) be applied to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof. If any Borrower or any other Loan Party incurs any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, the Net Proceeds of such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness shall be used pursuant to clause (iv) of the definition thereof.

(iv) If for any reason the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures at any time exceeds the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect (including, for the avoidance of doubt, as a result of the termination of any Class of Revolving Credit Commitments on the Maturity Date with respect thereto), the Borrowers shall promptly prepay or cause to be promptly prepaid Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(iv) unless after the prepayment in full of the Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans such aggregate Outstanding Amount exceeds the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect.

 

142


(v) Except with respect to Loans incurred in connection with any Refinancing Amendment, Term Loan Extension Request, Revolver Extension Request or any Incremental Amendment (which may be prepaid on a less than pro rata basis in accordance with its terms), (A) each prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) shall be applied as between series, Classes or tranches of Term Loans as directed by the Lead Borrower (provided that (i) any prepayment of Term Loans with the Net Proceeds of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness shall be applied solely to each applicable Class of Refinanced Debt, (ii) any Class of Incremental Term Loans may specify that one or more other Classes of Term Loans and Incremental Term Loans may be prepaid prior to such Class of Incremental Term Loans and (iii) prepayments of Term Loans may not be directed to the payment of later maturing Classes or tranches without at least a pro rata repayment of any earlier maturing Class or tranche of Term Loans); (B) with respect to each Class of Term Loans, each prepayment pursuant to clauses (i) through (iv) of this Section 2.05(b) shall be applied to the scheduled installments of principal thereof following the date of prepayment pursuant to Section 2.07(a) in direct order of maturity (without premium or penalty), unless otherwise directed by the Lead Borrower; and (C) each such prepayment shall be paid to the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares of such prepayment.

(vi) The Lead Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any mandatory prepayment of Term Loans required to be made pursuant to clauses (i) through (iv) of this Section 2.05(b) at least four (4) Business Days prior to the date of such prepayment. Each such notice shall specify the date of such prepayment and provide a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount of such prepayment. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of the contents of the Lead Borrower’s prepayment notice and of such Appropriate Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the prepayment.

(vii) Funding Losses, Etc. All prepayments under this Section 2.05 shall be made together with, in the case of any such prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan on a date prior to the last day of an Interest Period therefor, any amounts owing in respect of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan pursuant to Section 3.05. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Section 2.05, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans is required to be made under this Section 2.05, prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, each Borrower may, in its sole discretion, deposit the amount of any such prepayment otherwise required to be made thereunder into a Cash Collateral Account until the last day of such Interest Period, at which time the Administrative Agent shall be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Lead Borrower or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of such Loans in accordance with this Section 2.05. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall also be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Lead Borrower or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of the outstanding Loans in accordance with this Section 2.05.

 

143


(viii) Term Opt-out of Prepayment. With respect to each prepayment of Term Loans required pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(i) or (ii), (A) each Lender of Term Loans will have the right to refuse such offer of prepayment by giving written notice of such refusal to the Administrative Agent within one (1) Business Day after such Lender’s receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent of such offer of prepayment (“Declined Proceeds”) (in which case the Borrowers shall not prepay any Term Loans of such Lender on the date that is specified in clause (B) below), (B) the Borrowers will make all such prepayments not so refused upon the fourth Business Day after delivery of notice by the Lead Borrower pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(vii) and (C) any Declined Proceeds may be retained by the Borrowers.

(ix) In connection with any mandatory prepayments by the Borrowers of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(b), such prepayments shall be applied on a pro rata basis to the then outstanding Term Loans of the applicable Class or Classes being prepaid irrespective of whether such outstanding Term Loans are Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans; provided that if no Lenders exercise the right to waive a given mandatory prepayment of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(viii), then, with respect to such mandatory prepayment, the amount of such mandatory prepayment within any tranche of Term Loans shall be applied first to Term Loans of such tranche that are Base Rate Loans to the full extent thereof before application to Term Loans of such tranche that are Eurocurrency Rate Loans in a manner that minimizes the amount of any payments required to be made by the Borrowers pursuant to Section 3.05.

(x) Foreign Dispositions and Excess Cash Flow. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 2.05, (i) to the extent that any or all of the Net Proceeds of any Disposition by a Restricted Subsidiary that is organized in a jurisdiction other than an Agreed Security Jurisdiction (“Foreign Disposition”) or Excess Cash Flow attributable to Restricted Subsidiaries that are organized in a jurisdiction other than an Agreed Security Jurisdiction are prohibited or delayed by applicable local law from being repatriated to the jurisdictions of the Loan Parties or, with respect to a Foreign Disposition or Excess Cash Flow attributable to Foreign Subsidiaries that are Subsidiaries of a Domestic Subsidiary, to a Domestic Subsidiary, an amount equal to the portion of such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Term Loans at the times provided in this Section 2.05 so long, but only so long, as the applicable local law will not permit repatriation to the jurisdiction of the Loan Parties or, with respect to a Foreign Disposition or Excess Cash Flow attributable to Foreign Subsidiaries that are Subsidiaries of a Domestic Subsidiary, to a Domestic Subsidiary (the Lead Borrower hereby agreeing to cause the applicable Restricted Subsidiary that is organized in a jurisdiction other than an Agreed Security Jurisdiction to promptly take all actions reasonably required by the applicable local law to permit such repatriation), and once such repatriation of any of such affected Net Proceeds or

 

144


Excess Cash Flow that, in each case, would otherwise be required to be used to make an offer of prepayment pursuant to Sections 2.05(b)(i) or 2.05(b)(ii), is permitted under the applicable local law, an amount equal to such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow will be promptly (and in any event not later than two Business Days after such repatriation is permitted) applied (net of additional taxes payable or reserved against as a result thereof) to the repayment of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05 and (ii) to the extent that the Lead Borrower has reasonably determined in good faith that repatriation of any of or all the Net Proceeds of any Foreign Disposition or the Excess Cash Flow attributable to Restricted Subsidiaries that are organized in a jurisdiction other than an Agreed Security Jurisdiction would have material adverse tax cost consequences to Holdings (taking into account any foreign tax credit or benefit actually realized in connection with such repatriation), the Lead Borrower, any direct or indirect parent entity of the Lead Borrower or any of the Lead Borrower’s direct or indirect Subsidiaries with respect to such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow, an amount equal to such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Term Loans at the times provided in this Section 2.05(i); provided that in the case of this clause (ii), on or before the date on which any such Net Proceeds so retained would otherwise have been required to be applied to reinvestments or prepayments pursuant to Section 2.05(b) or any such Excess Cash Flow would have been required to be applied to prepayments pursuant to Section 2.05(b), the Borrowers apply an amount equal to such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow to such reinvestments or prepayments, as applicable, as if such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow had been received by the Borrowers rather than such Foreign Subsidiary, less the amount of additional taxes that would have been payable or reserved against if such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow had been repatriated (or, if less, the Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow that would be calculated if received by such Foreign Subsidiary).

Section 2.06. Termination or Reduction of Commitments. (a) Optional. The Borrowers may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent by the Lead Borrower, terminate the unused Commitments of any Class, or from time to time permanently reduce the unused Commitments of any Class, in each case without premium or penalty; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent three Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction (unless the Administrative Agent agrees to a shorter period in its discretion), (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in a minimum aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000, or any whole multiple of $250,000, in excess thereof or, if less, the entire amount thereof and (iii) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Revolving Credit Facility, such sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. The amount of any such Commitment reduction shall not otherwise be applied to the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit unless otherwise specified by the Lead Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Lead Borrower may rescind or postpone any notice of termination of the Commitments if such termination would have resulted from a refinancing of all of the applicable Facility, which refinancing shall not be consummated or otherwise shall be delayed.

 

145


(ba) Mandatory. The Initial Term Commitment of each Term Lender shall be automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the funding of the Initial Term Loans to be made by it on the Closing Date. The Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Commitment of each Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lender shall be automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the funding of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans to be made by it on the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date. The Revolving Credit Commitment of each Class shall automatically and permanently terminate on the Maturity Date with respect to such Class of Revolving Credit Commitments.

(cb) Application of Commitment Reductions; Payment of Fees. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Appropriate Lenders of any termination or reduction of unused portions of the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit or the unused Commitments of any Class under this Section 2.06. Upon any reduction of unused Commitments of any Class, the Commitment of each Lender of such Class shall be reduced by such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the amount by which such Commitments are reduced (other than the termination of the Commitment of any Lender as provided in Section 3.07). All commitment fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

Section 2.07. Repayment of Loans. i(a) Term Loans. The Borrowers shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Term Lenders (i) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with June 30, 2020, an aggregate principal amount of Initial Term Loans incurred on the Closing Date equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all Initial Term Loans outstanding on the Closing Date (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.05) and (ii) on the Maturity Date for the Initial Term Loans, the aggregate principal amount of all Initial Term Loans outstanding on such date. The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Lenders (i) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with December 31, 2020, an aggregate principal amount of Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans incurred on the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans outstanding on the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.05) and (ii) on the Maturity Date for the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans, the aggregate principal amount of all Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans outstanding on such date In the event that any Incremental Term Loans, Refinancing Term Loans or Extended Term Loans are made, such other Incremental Term Loans, Refinancing Term Loans or Extended Term Loans, as applicable, shall be repaid by the Borrowers in the amounts and on the dates set forth in the Incremental Amendment, Refinancing Amendment or Extension Amendment with respect thereto and on the applicable Maturity Date thereof.

 

146


(ba) Revolving Credit Loans. The Borrowers shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Appropriate Lenders on the applicable Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facilities of a given Class the aggregate principal amount of all of its Revolving Credit Loans of such Class outstanding on such date.

(cb) Swing Line Loans. The Borrowers shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the date that is five (5) Business Days after such Loan is made and (ii) the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facility (although Swing Line Loans may thereafter be reborrowed, in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, if there are one or more Classes of Revolving Credit Commitments which remain in effect).

Section 2.08. Interest. (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(b), (i) each Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (iii) each Base Rate Loan (other than a Swing Line Loan) shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; and (iiii ) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Revolving Credit Loans.

(ba) During the continuance of a Default under Section 8.01(a) or 8.01(f), the Borrowers shall pay interest on past due amounts owing by it hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws; provided that no interest at the Default Rate shall accrue or be payable to a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender. Accrued and unpaid interest on such amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

(cb) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

Section 2.09. Fees. In addition to certain fees described in Sections 2.03(h) and (i):

(a) Commitment Fee. The Borrowers agree to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender under the applicable Revolving Credit Facility in accordance with its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement, a commitment fee in Dollars equal to the Commitment Fee Rate with respect to Revolving Credit Loan, times the actual daily amount by which the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments for the applicable Revolving Credit Facility exceeds the sum of (A) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Credit Loans for such Facility, and (B) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations for such Facility; provided that any commitment fee accrued with respect to any of the Commitments of a Defaulting Lender during the period prior to the time such Lender became a Defaulting Lender and unpaid at such time shall not be payable by the Borrowers so long as such Lender shall be a

 

147


Defaulting Lender, except to the extent that such commitment fee shall otherwise have been due and payable by the Borrowers prior to such time; and provided, further, that no commitment fee shall accrue on any of the Commitments of a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender. The commitment fee on each Revolving Credit Facility shall accrue at all times from the Closing Date until the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Commitments, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article 4 is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing March 31, 2020 and on the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Commitments. The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Commitment Fee Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Commitment Fee Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Commitment Fee Rate was in effect.

(b) [Reserved].

(c) Other Fees. The Borrowers shall pay to the Agents such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing (including, but not limited to, as set forth in the Fee Letter) in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever (except as expressly agreed between the Lead Borrower and the applicable Agent).

Section 2.10. Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans shall be made on the basis of a year of three hundred sixty-five (365) days, or three hundred sixty-six (366) days, as applicable, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year and actual days elapsed. Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid; provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one (1) day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

Section 2.11. Evidence of Indebtedness. (a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and evidenced by one or more entries in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent, acting solely for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 5f.103-1(c) and Section 1.163-5(b) of the United States Proposed Treasury Regulations, as agent for the Borrowers, in each case in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by each Lender shall be prima facie evidence absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrowers and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrowers hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender 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,

 

148


the Borrowers shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note payable to such Lender and its registered assignees, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount, currency and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

(ba) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in Section 2.11(a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records and, in the case of the Administrative Agent, entries in the Register, evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

(cb) Entries made in good faith by each Lender in its account or accounts pursuant to Sections 2.11(a) and (b), shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of principal and interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrowers to such Lender, under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, absent manifest error; provided that the failure of such Lender to make an entry, or any finding that an entry is incorrect, in such account or accounts shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Section 2.12. Payments Generally. (a) All payments to be made by the Borrowers shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein and except with respect to an Approved Foreign Currency, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office for Dollar-denominated payments and in Same Day Funds not later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time on the date specified herein. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder in an Approved Foreign Currency shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office in such Approved Foreign Currency and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m. (London time) (or, if earlier, 9:00 a.m. New York city time) on the dates specified herein. If, for any reason, the Borrowers are prohibited by any Law from making any required payment hereunder in an Approved Foreign Currency, the Borrowers shall make such payment in Dollars in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of such Approved Foreign Currency payment amount. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Appropriate Lender its Pro Rata Share (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s applicable Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after the time specified above shall in each case be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.

 

149


(ba) Except as otherwise provided herein, if any payment to be made by the Borrowers shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be; provided that if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Eurocurrency Rate Loans to be made in the next succeeding calendar month, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day.

(cb) Unless the Lead Borrower or any Lender has notified the Administrative Agent, prior to the date any payment is required to be made by it to the Administrative Agent hereunder, that the Borrowers or such Lender, as the case may be, will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrowers or such Lender, as the case may be, has timely made such payment and may (but shall not be so required to), in reliance thereon, make available a corresponding amount to the Person entitled thereto. If and to the extent that such payment was not in fact made to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds, then:

(i) if the Borrowers failed to make such payment, each Lender shall forthwith on demand repay to the Administrative Agent the portion of such assumed payment that was made available to such Lender in Same Day Funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Federal Funds Effective Rate, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing; and

(ii) if any Lender failed to make such payment (including, without limitation, failure to fund participations in respect of any Letter of Credit or Swing Line Loan), such Lender shall forthwith on demand pay to the Administrative Agent the amount thereof in Same Day Funds, together with interest thereon for the period from the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrowers to the date such amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent (the “Compensation Period”) at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing. When such Lender makes payment to the Administrative Agent (together with all accrued interest thereon), then such payment amount (excluding the amount of any interest which may have accrued and been paid in respect of such late payment) shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in the applicable Borrowing. If such Lender does not pay such amount (including, without limitation, failure to fund participations in respect of any Letter of Credit or Swing Line Loan) forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent may make a demand therefor upon the Lead Borrower, and the Borrowers shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent, together with interest thereon for the Compensation Period at a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest applicable to the applicable Borrowing. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Administrative Agent or the Borrowers may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

 

150


A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Lead Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this Section 2.12(c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(dc) If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article 2, and such funds are not made available to the Borrowers by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article 4 or in the applicable Incremental Amendment, Extension Amendment or Refinancing Amendment are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

(ed) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to fund any such participation on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan or purchase its participation.

(fe) Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

(gf) Whenever any payment received by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents is insufficient to pay in full all amounts due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under or in respect of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents on any date, such payment shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent and applied by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in the order of priority set forth in Section 8.04. If the Administrative Agent receives funds for application to the Obligations of the Loan Parties under or in respect of the Loan Documents under circumstances for which the Loan Documents do not specify the manner in which such funds are to be applied, the Administrative Agent may (to the fullest extent permitted by mandatory provisions of applicable Law), but shall not be obligated to, elect to distribute such funds to each of the Lenders in accordance with such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the sum of (a) the Outstanding Amount of all Loans outstanding at such time and (b) the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations outstanding at such time, in repayment or prepayment of such of the outstanding Loans or other Obligations then owing to such Lender.

 

151


Section 2.13. Sharing of Payments. (a) If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Lender shall obtain on account of the Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans held by it, any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of setoff, or otherwise) in excess of its ratable share (or other share contemplated hereunder) thereof, such Lender shall immediately (b) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (c) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loans made by them and/or such subparticipations in the participations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans held by them, as the case may be, as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment in respect of such Loans or such participations, as the case may be, pro rata with each of them; provided that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the purchasing Lender in its discretion), such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each other Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount equal to such paying Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such paying Lender’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered, without further interest thereon. For avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by the Borrowers pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement as in effect from time to time (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender) or (B) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant permitted hereunder. The Borrowers agree that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender may, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of setoff, but subject to Section 10.09) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrowers in the amount of such participation. The Administrative Agent will keep records (which shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error) of participations purchased under this Section 2.13 and will in each case notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments. Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section 2.13 shall from and after such purchase have the right to give all notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications under this Agreement with respect to the portion of the Obligations purchased to the same extent as though the purchasing Lender were the original owner of the Obligations purchased.

Section 2.14. Incremental Credit Extensions. (a) Incremental Commitments. The Borrowers may, at any time or from time to time after the Closing Date, by notice to the Administrative Agent from the Lead Borrower (an “Incremental Loan Request”), request (A) one or more new commitments which may be in the same Facility as any outstanding Term Loans of an existing Class (a “Term Loan Increase”) or a new Class of Term Loans (each, an “Incremental Term Facility”, collectively with any Term Loan Increase, the “Incremental Term Commitments”) and/or (B) one or more increases in the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments or any Incremental Revolving Facility (a “Revolving Commitment Increase”) or the establishment of one or more new revolving credit commitments (each, an “Incremental Revolving Facility” and collectively with any Incremental Term Facility, an “Incremental Facility” and any such new commitments, collectively with any Revolving Commitment Increases, the “Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments” and the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, collectively

 

152


with any Incremental Term Commitments, the “Incremental Commitments”), whereupon the Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Lenders. Incremental Commitments and Incremental Loans shall be (A) secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the Initial Term Loans, (B) secured by the Collateral on a junior lien basis to the Liens securing the Initial Term Loans or (C) unsecured or not secured by the Collateral. For the avoidance of doubt, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments and Incremental Revolving Credit Loans shall be secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the Initial Term Loans.

(ba) Incremental Loans. Any Incremental Commitments effected through the establishment of one or more new revolving credit commitments or new Term Loans not in the same Facility of any existing Class of Term Loans made on an Incremental Facility Closing Date shall be designated a separate Class of Incremental Commitments for all purposes of this Agreement. On any Incremental Facility Closing Date on which any Incremental Term Commitments of any Class are effected (including through any Term Loan Increase), subject to the satisfaction of the terms and conditions in this Section 2.14, (i) each Incremental Term Lender of such Class shall make a Loan to the Borrowers (or any Loan Party organized in an Agreed Borrower Jurisdiction may be designated as a borrower in respect thereof so long as all obligors under such Incremental Facility are the same as with respect to the Loans hereunder) (an “Incremental Term Loan”) in an amount equal to its Incremental Term Commitment of such Class and (ii) each Incremental Term Lender of such Class shall become a Lender hereunder with respect to the Incremental Term Commitment of such Class and the Incremental Term Loans of such Class made pursuant thereto. On any Incremental Facility Closing Date on which any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments of any Class are effected through the establishment of one or more new revolving credit commitments (including through any Revolving Commitment Increase), subject to the satisfaction of the terms and conditions in this Section 2.14, (i) each Incremental Revolving Credit Lender of such Class shall make its Commitment available to the Borrowers (or any Loan Party organized in an Agreed Borrower Jurisdiction may be designated as a borrower in respect thereof so long as all obligors under such Incremental Facility are the same as with respect to the Loans hereunder) (when borrowed, “Incremental Revolving Credit Loans” and collectively with Incremental Term Loans, an “Incremental Loans”) in an amount equal to its Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment of such Class and (ii) each Incremental Revolving Credit Lender of such Class shall become a Lender hereunder with respect to the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment of such Class and the Incremental Revolving Credit Loans of such Class made pursuant thereto. For the avoidance of doubt, Incremental Term Loans may have identical terms to any of the Term Loans and be treated as the same Class as any of such Term Loans.

(cb) Incremental Loan Request. Each Incremental Loan Request from the Lead Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall set forth the requested amount, the Approved Currency and proposed terms of the relevant Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments. Incremental Term Loans may be made, and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments may be provided, by any existing Lender (but each existing Lender will not have an obligation to make any Incremental Commitment, nor will the Borrowers have any obligation to approach any existing lenders to provide any

 

153


Incremental Commitment) or by any other bank or other financial institution or other institutional lender (any such other bank or other financial institution or other institutional lender being called an “Additional Lender”) (each such existing Lender or Additional Lender providing such, an “Incremental Revolving Credit Lender” or “Incremental Term Lender,” as applicable, and, collectively, the “Incremental Lenders”); provided that (i) the Administrative Agent and, in the case of an Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment, each Swing Line Lender and each L/C Issuer shall have consented (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to such Lender’s or Additional Lender’s making such Incremental Term Loans or providing such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments to the extent such consent, if any, would be required under Section 10.07(b) for an assignment of Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, to such Lender or Additional Lender, (ii) with respect to Incremental Term Commitments, any Affiliated Lender providing an Incremental Term Commitment shall be subject to the same restrictions set forth in Section 10.07(l) as they would otherwise be subject to with respect to any purchase by or assignment to such Affiliated Lender of Term Loans and (iii) Affiliated Lenders may not provide Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, unless subsequently purchased from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.07(l).

(dc) Effectiveness of Incremental Amendment. The effectiveness of any Incremental Amendment, and the Incremental Commitments thereunder, shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof (the “Incremental Facility Closing Date”) of each of the following conditions:

(i) (x) if the proceeds of such Incremental Commitments are being used to finance a Permitted Acquisition, Investment, or irrevocable repayment, repurchase or redemption of any Indebtedness, no Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a) or, solely with respect to any Borrower, Section 8.01 (f), shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist after giving effect to such Incremental Commitments, or (y) if otherwise, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist after giving effect to such Incremental Commitments;

(ii) after giving effect to such Incremental Commitments, the conditions of Section 4.02(i) shall be satisfied (it being understood that all references to “the date of such Credit Extension” or similar language in such Section 4.02 shall be deemed to refer to the effective date of such Incremental Amendment); provided that if the proceeds of such Incremental Commitments are being used to finance a Permitted Acquisition, Investment, or irrevocable repayment, repurchase or redemption of any Indebtedness, there shall be no requirement to satisfy any or all conditions of Section 4.02(i), instead, the accuracy of the representations and warranties shall refer to the accuracy of the representations and warranties that would constitute Specified Representations, in each case, subject to the provisions set forth herein in connection with Limited Condition Transactions; provided, further, that the Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Commitments may waive the requirement regarding the accuracy of Specified Representations;

(iii) [reserved];

 

154


(iv) each Incremental Term Commitment shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $10,000,000 and shall be in increments of $1,000,000 (provided that such amount may be less than $10,000,000 if such amount represents all remaining availability under the limit set forth in Section 2.14(d)(v)) and each Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $5,000,000 and shall be in increments of $1,000,000 (provided that such amount may be less than $5,000,000 if such amount represents all remaining availability under the limit set forth in Section 2.14(d)(v));

(v) the aggregate principal amount of the Incremental Term Loans and the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments shall not exceed the sum of (A) the Incremental Base Amount plus (B) all voluntary prepayments, repurchases, redemptions and other retirements of Term Loans, Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt and all voluntary prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans accompanied by corresponding voluntary permanent reductions of Commitments in respect of such Revolving Credit Loans prior to or simultaneous with the Incremental Facility Closing Date (including through (x) “Dutch Auctions” open to all Lenders of the applicable Class on a pro rata basis in accordance with procedures of the type described in Section 2.05(a)(v) or (y) open-market purchases pursuant to Section 10.07(l), which shall be credited to the extent of the actual purchase price paid in cash for such Loans purchased or retired in connection with such “Dutch Auction” or open-market purchase) (excluding voluntary prepayments, repurchases, redemptions and other retirements of Incremental Term Loans and all voluntary prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans accompanied by corresponding voluntary permanent reductions of Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, to the extent such Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments were obtained pursuant to clause (C) below or to the extent funded with a contemporaneous incurrence of long-term funded Indebtedness (other than revolving loans)), plus (C) additional amounts (including at any time prior to the utilization of amounts under clauses (A) and (B) above) so long as (1) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the Initial Term Loans, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, determined on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available, does not exceed (x) 3.75 to 1.00 or (y) in the case of any such Indebtedness being applied to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment not prohibited hereunder, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment, (2) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a junior lien basis to the Liens securing the Initial Term Loans, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, determined on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available, does not exceed (x) 4.75 to 1.00 or (y) in the case of any such Indebtedness being applied to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment not prohibited hereunder, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of

 

155


such Indebtedness and consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment and (3) if such Indebtedness is unsecured (or not secured by any portion of the Collateral), either (I) the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, determined on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available, does not exceed (x) 5.25 to 1.00 or (y) in the case of any such Indebtedness being applied to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment not prohibited hereunder, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment or (II) the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio, determined on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are internally available, is not less than (x) 2.00 to 1.00 or (y) in the case of any such Indebtedness being applied to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment not prohibited hereunder, the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment (the amounts under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B) are herein referred to as the “Free and Clear Incremental Amount,” and the amounts under the foregoing clause (C) are herein referred to as the “Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount” (the Free and Clear Incremental Amount, together with the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount, less the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(q) and Section 7.03(w) at or prior to such time, are herein referred to as the “Available Incremental Amount”)); and

(vi) such other conditions as the Lead Borrower and each Incremental Lender providing such Incremental Commitments shall agree.

The Lead Borrower may elect to use the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount prior to the Free and Clear Incremental Amount or any combination thereof, and any portion of any Incremental Facility incurred in reliance on the Free and Clear Incremental Amount shall be reclassified, as the Lead Borrower may elect from time to time, as incurred under the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount if the Lead Borrower meets the applicable ratio for the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount at such time on a Pro Forma Basis, and if any applicable ratio for the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount would be satisfied on a Pro Forma Basis as of the end of any subsequent fiscal quarter after the initial incurrence of such Incremental Facility, such reclassification shall be deemed to have automatically occurred whether or not elected by the Lead Borrower.

For purposes of determining Pro Forma Compliance and any testing of any ratios in the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount, (a) it shall be assumed that all commitments under any Incremental Facility then being established are fully drawn, (b) the cash proceeds of any Incremental Facility shall be excluded from any calculation of “net” Indebtedness in determining whether such Incremental Facility can be incurred (provided that the use of proceeds thereof and any other Pro Forma Adjustments shall be included) and (c) the incurrence (including by assumption or guarantee) or repayment of any Indebtedness in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility (and/or any Incremental Revolving Facility and

 

156


any other revolving facilities included in such calculation) prior to, or simultaneously with, the event for which the Pro Forma Compliance determination of such ratio or other test is being made, and/or any incurrence of Indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Facility or any other revolving facility that is used to finance working capital needs of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower) shall, in each case, be disregarded.

(ed) Required Terms. The terms, provisions and documentation of the Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Term Commitments or the Incremental Revolving Credit Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, as the case may be, of any Class shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or as are otherwise as agreed between the Lead Borrower and the applicable Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Commitments (and for the avoidance of doubt, no consent of any Agent shall be required except to the extent affecting the rights and duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, such Agent); provided that to the extent any more restrictive financial maintenance covenant is added for the benefit of such Incremental Loans, such financial maintenance covenant shall be added for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Facility that then benefits from such financial maintenance covenant and is remaining outstanding (except to the extent such financial maintenance covenant is applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of such Revolving Credit Facility). In any event:

(i) the Incremental Term Loans:

(A) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, shall not mature earlier than the Maturity Date of the Initial Term Loans; provided that Incremental Term Loans (x) incurred for purposes of consummating a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment not prohibited hereunder (y) constituting customary bridge facilities, so long as the long-term Indebtedness into which such customary bridge facilities are to be converted or exchanged satisfies the requirements of this clause (A) and such conversion or exchange is subject only to conditions customary for similar conversions or exchanges or (z) constituting term loan A facilities (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith), in each case, shall only be required to not mature earlier than the Maturity Date of the Revolving Credit Commitments,

(B) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, shall have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity not shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Initial Term Loans; provided that Incremental Term Loans (x) incurred for purposes of consummating a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment not prohibited hereunder (y) constituting customary bridge facilities, so long as the long-term Indebtedness into which such customary bridge facilities are to be converted or exchanged satisfies the requirements of this clause (B) and such conversion or exchange is subject only to conditions customary for similar conversions or exchanges or (z) constituting term loan A facilities

 

157


(as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith), in each case, shall only require that the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity not be shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Revolving Credit Commitments,

(C) shall have an Applicable Rate, and subject to clauses (e)(i)(A) and (e)(i)(B) above and clause (e)(iii) below, amortization determined by the Lead Borrower and the applicable Incremental Term Lenders, and

(D) the Incremental Term Loans may participate on a pro rata basis or less than pro rata basis (but not on a greater than pro rata basis) in any mandatory prepayments of Term Loans hereunder, as specified in the applicable Incremental Amendment; provided that the Borrowers shall be permitted to prepay any Class of Term Loans on a better than a pro rata basis as compared to any other Class of Term Loans with a later maturity date than such Class;

(ii) the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments and Incremental Revolving Credit Loans shall be identical to the Revolving Credit Commitments and the Revolving Credit Loans, other than the Maturity Date and as set forth in this Section 2.14(e)(ii); provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.14 or otherwise:

(A) any such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments or Incremental Revolving Credit Loans shall not mature, require scheduled amortization or provide for mandatory commitment reductions earlier than the Latest Maturity Date of any Revolving Credit Commitments outstanding at the time of incurrence of such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments,

(B) the borrowing and repayment (except for (1) payments of interest and fees at different rates on Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments (and related outstandings), (2) repayments required upon the maturity date of the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments and (3) repayments made in connection with a permanent repayment and termination of commitments (subject to clause (D) below)) of Loans with respect to Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments after the associated Incremental Facility Closing Date shall be made on a pro rata basis (or, in the case of repayment, on a pro rata basis or less than a pro rata basis) with all other Revolving Credit Commitments on the Incremental Facility Closing Date,

(C) subject to the provisions of Sections 2.03(n) and 2.04(g) to the extent dealing with Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit which mature or expire after a maturity date when there exists Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments with a longer maturity date, all Swing Line

 

158


Loans and Letters of Credit shall be participated on a pro rata basis by all Lenders with Commitments in accordance with their percentage of the Revolving Credit Commitments on the Incremental Facility Closing Date (and except as provided in Section 2.03(n) and Section 2.04(g), without giving effect to changes thereto on an earlier maturity date with respect to Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit theretofore incurred or issued),

(D) the permanent repayment of Revolving Credit Loans with respect to, and termination of, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments after the associated Incremental Facility Closing Date shall be made on a pro rata basis or less than pro rata basis (but not on a greater than pro rata basis) with all other Revolving Credit Commitments on the Incremental Facility Closing Date, except that the Borrowers shall be permitted to permanently repay and terminate commitments of any such Class on a better than a pro rata basis as compared to any other Class with a later maturity date than such Class,

(E) assignments and participations of Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments and Incremental Revolving Credit Loans shall be governed by the same assignment and participation provisions applicable to Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Loans on the Incremental Facility Closing Date, and

(F) any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments may constitute a separate Class or Classes, as the case may be, of Commitments from the Classes constituting the applicable Revolving Credit Commitments prior to the Incremental Facility Closing Date; and

(iii) the amortization schedule applicable to any Incremental Term Loans and the All-In Yield applicable to the Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Loans of each Class shall be determined by the Lead Borrower and the applicable Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments and shall be set forth in each applicable Incremental Amendment; provided, however, if the All-In Yield applicable to any Incremental Term Loans (other than Incremental Term Loans which constitute MFN Excluded Loans) shall be greater than the applicable All-In Yield payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement as amended through the date of such calculation with respect to such applicable Initial Term Loans by more than 75 basis points per annum (the amount of such excess of the All-In Yield applicable to such Incremental Term Loans over the sum of the All-In Yield applicable to the applicable Initial Terms Loans plus 75 basis points per annum, the “Yield Differential”) then the interest rate (together with the Eurocurrency Rate or Base Rate floor, as applicable) with respect to the applicable Initial Term Loans shall be increased by the applicable Yield Differential (this proviso, the “MFN Protection”); provided further that notwithstanding the foregoing, the MFN Protection shall not apply to Incremental Terms Loans consisting of customary bridge facilities or term loan A facilities (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith).

 

159


(fe) Incremental Amendment. Commitments in respect of Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments shall become Commitments under this Agreement pursuant to an amendment (an “Incremental Amendment”) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrowers, any Loan Party organized in an Agreed Borrower Jurisdiction that may be designated as a borrower in respect thereof (if any), and each Incremental Lender providing such Commitments. The Incremental Amendment may, without the consent of any other Loan Party, Agent or Lender, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Lead Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.14. The Lead Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent prompt written notice of any Incremental Amendment pursuant to this Section 2.14 and the Administrative Agent hereby agrees to (and is directed by each Lender to) acknowledge such Incremental Amendment as promptly as practicable following such written notice; it being acknowledged and agreed by each Lender that the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such, shall have no liability with respect to such acknowledgment and each Lender hereby irrevocably waives to the fullest extent permitted by Law any claims with respect to such acknowledgment; provided that failure to obtain such acknowledgment shall in no way affect the effectiveness of any Incremental Amendment. The Borrowers (or any Loan Party organized in an Agreed Borrower Jurisdiction that may be designated as a borrower in respect thereof) will use the proceeds of the Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments for any purpose not prohibited by this Agreement. No Lender shall be obligated to provide any Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, unless it so agrees.

(gf) Reallocation of Revolving Credit Exposure. Upon any Incremental Facility Closing Date on which Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments are effected through an increase in the Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.14, (a) if the increase relates to the Revolving Credit Facility, each of the Revolving Credit Lenders shall assign to each of the Incremental Revolving Credit Lenders, and each of the Incremental Revolving Credit Lenders shall purchase from each of the Revolving Credit Lenders, at the principal amount thereof, such interests in the Incremental Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on such Incremental Facility Closing Date as shall be necessary in order that, after giving effect to all such assignments and purchases, such Revolving Credit Loans will be held by existing Revolving Credit Lenders and Incremental Revolving Credit Lenders ratably in accordance with their Revolving Credit Commitments after giving effect to the addition of such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments to the Revolving Credit Commitments, (b) each Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment shall be deemed for all purposes a Revolving Credit Commitment and each Loan made thereunder shall be deemed, for all purposes, a Revolving Credit Loan and (c) each Incremental Revolving Credit Lender shall become a Lender with respect to the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments and all matters relating thereto. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that the minimum borrowing and prepayment requirements in Sections 2.02 and 2.05(a) of this Agreement shall not apply to the transactions effected pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence.

 

160


(hg) This Section 2.14 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

(ih) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Incremental Term Facilities and Incremental Revolving Facilities may be established and incurred as a means of effectively extending the maturity or effecting a repricing or a refinancing, in whole or in part, without utilizing any of the Available Incremental Amount, without regard to whether an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and, without regard to the minimums set forth in Section 2.14(d)(iv), to the extent that the net cash proceeds from the Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Loans, as applicable, are used to either (x) prepay Term Loans or (y) permanently reduce the Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that (i) the Lenders with respect to any Class of Loans or Commitments being prepaid are offered the opportunity to participate in such transaction on a pro rata basis (and on the same terms) and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of such Class of Loans or Commitments, as the case may be, does not exceed the sum of (A) the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Class of Loans or Commitments being prepaid, extended, repriced or refinanced, (B) fees and expenses associated with the such prepayment (including any prepayment premium, penalties or other call protection) and (C) fees and expenses (including any OID, upfront fees, commitment fees, amendment fees, arrangement fees, underwriting fees or other fees) related to the establishment and incurrence of such Incremental Term Facilities and Incremental Revolving Facilities, as applicable.

Section 2.15. Refinancing Amendments. (a) On one or more occasions after the Closing Date, the Borrowers may obtain, from any Lender or any other bank, financial institution or other institutional lender or investor that agrees to provide any portion of Refinancing Term Loans or Other Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment in accordance with this Section 2.15 (each, an “Additional Refinancing Lender”) (provided that (i) solely with respect to Other Revolving Credit Commitments, the Administrative Agent, each Swing Line Lender and each L/C Issuer, if applicable, shall have consented (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to such Lender’s or Additional Refinancing Lender’s providing such Other Revolving Credit Commitments to the extent such consent, if any, would be required under Section 10.07(b) for an assignment of Revolving Credit Commitments to such Lender or Additional Refinancing Lender, (ii) with respect to Refinancing Term Loans, any Affiliated Lender providing Refinancing Term Loans shall be subject to the same restrictions set forth in Section 10.07(l) as they would otherwise be subject to with respect to any purchase by or assignment to such Affiliated Lender of Term Loans and (iii) Affiliated Lenders may not provide Other Revolving Credit Commitments), Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of all or any portion of any Class, as selected by the Lead Borrower in its sole discretion, of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans (or unused Commitments in respect thereof) then outstanding under this Agreement, in the form of Refinancing Term Loans, Refinancing Term Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Commitments, or Other Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment; provided that

 

161


notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.15 or otherwise, (1) the borrowing and repayment (except for (A) payments of interest and fees at different rates on Other Revolving Credit Commitments (and related outstandings), (B) repayments required upon the maturity date of the Other Revolving Credit Commitments and (C) repayment made in connection with a permanent repayment and termination of commitments (subject to clause (3) below)) of Loans with respect to Other Revolving Credit Commitments after the date of obtaining any Other Revolving Credit Commitments shall be made on a pro rata basis with all other Revolving Credit Commitments, (2) subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(n) and Section 2.04(g) to the extent dealing with Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit which mature or expire after a maturity date when there exist Other Revolving Credit Commitments with a longer maturity date, all Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit shall be participated on a pro rata basis by all Lenders with Commitments in accordance with their percentage of the Commitments in respect of Revolving Credit Loans (and except as provided in Section 2.03(n) and Section 2.04(g), without giving effect to changes thereto on an earlier maturity date with respect to Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit theretofore incurred or issued), (3) the permanent repayment of Revolving Credit Loans with respect to, and termination of, Other Revolving Credit Commitments after the date of obtaining any Other Revolving Credit Commitments shall be made on a pro rata basis with all other Commitments in respect of Revolving Credit Loans, except that the Borrowers shall be permitted to permanently repay and terminate commitments of any such Class on a better than a pro rata basis as compared to any other Class with a later maturity date than such Class and (4) assignments and participations of Other Revolving Credit Commitments and Other Revolving Credit Loans shall be governed by the same assignment and participation provisions applicable to Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Loans.

(ba) The effectiveness of any Refinancing Amendment shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof of each of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 and, to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, receipt by the Administrative Agent of (i) customary legal opinions, board resolutions and officers’ certificates consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date other than changes to such legal opinion resulting from a change in law, change in fact or change to counsel’s form of opinion and (ii) reaffirmation agreements and/or such amendments to the Collateral Documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in order to ensure that such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness is provided with the benefit of the applicable Loan Documents. For the avoidance of doubt, no consent of any Agent shall be required except to the extent affecting the rights and duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, such Agent.

(cb) Each issuance of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness under Section 2.15(a) shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is (x) not less than $10,000,000 and (y) an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.

(dc) Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be amended pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment, without the consent of any other Lenders or any Agent, to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to (i) reflect the existence and terms of the Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness

 

162


incurred pursuant thereto and (ii) make such other changes to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents consistent with the provisions and intent of the third paragraph of Section 10.01 (without the consent of the Required Lenders called for therein) and (iii) effect such other amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Lead Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.15.

(ed) This Section 2.15 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

Section 2.16. Extension of Term Loans; Extension of Revolving Credit Loans. (a) Extension of Term Loans. The Lead Borrower may at any time and from time to time, in its sole discretion, request that all or a portion of the Term Loans of a given Class (or series or tranche thereof) (each, an “Existing Term Loan Tranche”) be amended to extend the scheduled maturity date(s) with respect to all or a portion of any principal amount of such Term Loans (any such Term Loans which have been so amended, “Extended Term Loans”) and to provide for other terms consistent with this Section 2.16. In order to establish any Extended Term Loans, the Lead Borrower shall provide a notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall provide a copy of such notice to each of the Lenders under the applicable Existing Term Loan Tranche) (each, a “Term Loan Extension Request”) setting forth the proposed terms of the Extended Term Loans to be established, which shall (x) be identical as offered to each Lender under such Existing Term Loan Tranche (including as to the proposed interest rates and fees payable) and offered pro rata to each Lender under such Existing Term Loan Tranche and (y) be identical to the Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche from which such Extended Term Loans are to be amended, except that: (i) all or any of the scheduled amortization payments of principal of the Extended Term Loans may be delayed to later dates than the scheduled amortization payments of principal of the Term Loans of such Existing Term Loan Tranche, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment; (ii) the Effective Yield with respect to the Extended Term Loans may be different than the Effective Yield for the Term Loans of such Existing Term Loan Tranche, in each case, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment; (iii) the Extension Amendment may provide for other covenants and terms that apply solely to any period after the Latest Maturity Date that is in effect on the effective date of the Extension Amendment (immediately prior to the establishment of such Extended Term Loans); and (iv) Extended Term Loans may have prepayment premiums or call protection as may be agreed by the Lead Borrower and the Lenders thereof; provided that no Extended Term Loans may be optionally prepaid prior to the date on which the Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche from which such Extended Term Loans were amended are repaid in full, unless such optional prepayment is accompanied by at least a pro rata optional prepayment of such Existing Term Loan Tranche; provided, further, that (A) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, in no event shall the final maturity date of any Extended Term Loans of a given Term Loan Extension Series at the time of establishment thereof be earlier than the then Latest Maturity Date of any Existing Term Loan Tranche hereunder, (B) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Extended Term Loans of a given Term Loan Extension Series at the time of establishment thereof shall be no shorter (other than by virtue of amortization or

 

163


prepayment of such Indebtedness prior to the time of incurrence of such Extended Term Loans) than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the applicable Existing Term Loan Tranche, (C) all documentation in respect of such Extension Amendment shall be consistent with the foregoing and (D) any Extended Term Loans may participate on a pro rata basis or less than a pro rata basis (but not greater than a pro rata basis) in any mandatory repayments or prepayments hereunder, in each case as specified in the respective Term Loan Extension Request. Any Extended Term Loans amended pursuant to any Term Loan Extension Request shall be designated a series (each, a “Term Loan Extension Series”) of Extended Term Loans for all purposes of this Agreement; provided that any Extended Term Loans amended from an Existing Term Loan Tranche may, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment, be designated as an increase in any previously established Term Loan Extension Series with respect to such Existing Term Loan Tranche. Each Term Loan Extension Series of Extended Term Loans incurred under this Section 2.16 shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $5,000,000.

(ba) Extension of Revolving Credit Commitments. The Lead Borrower may at any time and from time to time, in its sole discretion, request that all or a portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments of a given Class (or series or tranche thereof) (each, an “Existing Revolver Tranche”) be amended to extend the Maturity Date with respect to all or a portion of any principal amount of such Revolving Credit Commitments or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments (any such Revolving Credit Commitments or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments which have been so amended, “Extended Revolving Credit Commitments”) and to provide for other terms consistent with this Section 2.16. In order to establish any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, the Lead Borrower shall provide a notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall provide a copy of such notice to each of the Lenders under the applicable Existing Revolver Tranche) (each, a “Revolver Extension Request”) setting forth the proposed terms of the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments to be established, which shall (x) be identical as offered to each Lender under such Existing Revolver Tranche (including as to the proposed interest rates and fees payable) and offered pro rata to each Lender under such Existing Revolver Tranche and (y) be identical to the Revolving Credit Commitments under the Existing Revolver Tranche from which such Extended Revolving Credit Commitments are to be amended, except that: (i) the Maturity Date of the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments may be delayed to a later date than the Maturity Date of the Revolving Credit Commitments of such Existing Revolver Tranche, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment; (ii) the Effective Yield with respect to extensions of credit under the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments (whether in the form of interest rate margin, upfront fees, commitment fees, OID or otherwise) may be different than the Effective Yield for extensions of credit under the Revolving Credit Commitments of such Existing Revolver Tranche, in each case, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment; (iii) the Extension Amendment may provide for other covenants and terms that apply solely to any period after the Latest Maturity Date that is in effect on the effective date of the Extension Amendment (immediately prior to the establishment of such Extended Revolving Credit Commitments); and (iv) all borrowings under the applicable Revolving Credit Commitments (i.e., the Existing

 

164


Revolver Tranche and the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments of the applicable Revolver Extension Series) and repayments thereunder shall be made on a pro rata basis (except for (I) payments of interest and fees at different rates on Extended Revolving Credit Commitments (and related outstandings) and (II) repayments required upon the Maturity Date of the non-extending Revolving Credit Commitments); provided, further, that (A) in no event shall the final maturity date of any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments of a given Revolver Extension Series at the time of establishment thereof be earlier than the then Latest Maturity Date of any other Revolving Credit Commitments hereunder and (B) all documentation in respect of such Extension Amendment shall be consistent with the foregoing. Any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments amended pursuant to any Revolver Extension Request shall be designated a series (each, a “Revolver Extension Series”) of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments for all purposes of this Agreement; provided that any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments amended from an Existing Revolver Tranche may, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment, be designated as an increase in any previously established Revolver Extension Series with respect to such Existing Revolver Tranche. Each Revolver Extension Series of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments incurred under this Section 2.16 shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $1,000,000.

(cb) Extension Request. The Lead Borrower shall provide the applicable Extension Request at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date on which Lenders under the Existing Term Loan Tranche or Existing Revolver Tranche, as applicable, are requested to respond, and shall agree to such procedures, if any, as may be established by, or acceptable to, the Administrative Agent, in each case acting reasonably to accomplish the purposes of this Section 2.16. No Lender shall have any obligation to agree to have any of its Term Loans of any Existing Term Loan Tranche amended into Extended Term Loans or any of its Revolving Credit Commitments amended into Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, pursuant to any Extension Request. Any Lender holding a Loan under an Existing Term Loan Tranche (each, an “Extending Term Lender”) wishing to have all or a portion of its Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche subject to such Extension Request amended into Extended Term Loans and any Revolving Credit Lender (each, an “Extending Revolving Credit Lender”) wishing to have all or a portion of its Revolving Credit Commitments under the Existing Revolver Tranche subject to such Extension Request amended into Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, shall notify the Administrative Agent (each, an “Extension Election”) on or prior to the date specified in such Extension Request of the amount of its Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche or Revolving Credit Commitments under the Existing Revolver Tranche, as applicable, which it has elected to request be amended into Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable (subject to any minimum denomination requirements imposed by the Administrative Agent). In the event that the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche or Revolving Credit Commitments under the Existing Revolver Tranche, as applicable, in respect of which applicable Term Lenders or Revolving Credit Lenders, as the case may be, shall have accepted the relevant Extension Request exceeds the amount of Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, requested to be extended pursuant to the Extension Request, Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, subject to Extension Elections shall be amended to Extended

 

165


Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, on a pro rata basis (subject to rounding by the Administrative Agent, which shall be conclusive) based on the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, included in each such Extension Election.

(dc) Extension Amendment. Extended Term Loans and Extended Revolving Credit Commitments shall be established pursuant to an amendment (each, an “Extension Amendment”) to this Agreement among the Borrowers and each Extending Term Lender or Extending Revolving Credit Lender, as applicable, providing an Extended Term Loan or Extended Revolving Credit Commitment, as applicable, thereunder, which shall be consistent with the provisions set forth in Sections 2.16(a) or (b) above, respectively (but which shall not require the consent of the Administrative Agent or any other Lender). The effectiveness of any Extension Amendment shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof of each of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02(i) and, to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, receipt by the Administrative Agent of (i) legal opinions, board resolutions and officers’ certificates consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date other than changes to such legal opinion resulting from a change in law, change in fact or change to counsel’s form of opinion and (ii) reaffirmation agreements and/or such amendments to the Collateral Documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in order to ensure that the Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, are provided with the benefit of the applicable Loan Documents. For the avoidance of doubt, no consent of any Agent shall be required except to the extent affecting the rights and duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, such Agent. The Lead Borrower may, at its election, specify as a condition to consummating any Extension Amendment that a minimum amount (to be determined and specified in the relevant Extension Request in the Lead Borrower’s sole discretion and as may be waived by the Lead Borrower) of Term Loans, Revolving Credit Commitments or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments (as applicable) of any or all applicable Classes be tendered. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Extension Amendment. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be amended pursuant to an Extension Amendment, without the consent of any Agent or any other Lenders, to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to (i) reflect the existence and terms of the Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, incurred pursuant thereto, (ii) modify the scheduled repayments set forth in Section 2.07 with respect to any Existing Term Loan Tranche subject to an Extension Election to reflect a reduction in the principal amount of the Term Loans thereunder in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Extended Term Loans amended pursuant to the applicable Extension (with such amount to be applied ratably to reduce scheduled repayments of such Term Loans required pursuant to Section 2.07), (iii) modify the prepayments set forth in Section 2.05 to reflect the existence of the Extended Term Loans and the application of prepayments with respect thereto, (iv) make such other changes to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents consistent with the provisions and intent of the second paragraph of Section 10.01 (without the consent of any Agent and the Required Lenders called for therein) and (v) effect such other amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Lead Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.16.

 

166


(ed) No conversion of Loans pursuant to any Extension in accordance with this Section 2.16 shall constitute a voluntary or mandatory payment or prepayment for purposes of this Agreement.

(fe) This Section 2.16 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

Section 2.17. Defaulting Lenders. (a) Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:

(i) Waivers and Amendments. That 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 Section 10.01.

(ii) Reallocation of Payments. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of that Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article 8 or otherwise), shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to L/C Issuers or Swing Line Lender hereunder; third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent or requested by any L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, to be held as Cash Collateral for future funding obligations of that Defaulting Lender of any participation in any Swing Line Loan or Letter of Credit; fourth, as the Lead Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower, to be held in a non-interest bearing deposit account and released in order to satisfy obligations of that Defaulting Lender to fund Loans under this Agreement; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers or the Swing Line Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrowers as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrowers against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to that Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Borrowings in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (y) such Loans or L/C Borrowings were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02

 

167


were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Borrowings owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Borrowings owed to, that Defaulting Lender. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.17(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(iii) Certain Fees. That Defaulting Lender (x) shall not be entitled to receive any commitment fee pursuant to Section 2.09(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrowers shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender) and (y) shall be limited in its right to receive Letter of Credit fees as provided in Section 2.03(h).

(iv) Reallocation of Pro Rata Share to Reduce Fronting Exposure. During any period in which there is a Defaulting Lender, for purposes of computing the amount of the obligation of each Non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans pursuant to Sections 2.03 and 2.04, the Pro Rata Share of each Non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans and L/C Obligations shall be computed without giving effect to the Commitment of that Defaulting Lender; provided that (i) each such reallocation shall be given effect only if, at the date the applicable Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and (ii) the aggregate obligation of each Non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the positive difference, if any, of (1) the Revolving Credit Commitment of that Non-Defaulting Lender minus (2) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Loans of that Lender. 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. If the allocation described in this clause (iv) cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrowers shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under law, (x) first, prepay Swing Line Loans in an amount equal to the Swing Line Lenders’ Fronting Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion).

(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Lead Borrower, the Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuers agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such

 

168


other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Revolving Credit Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Share (without giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv)), whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrowers while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

ARTICLE 3

TAXES, INCREASED COSTS PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

Section 3.01. Taxes. (a) Except as provided in this Section 3.01, any and all payments made by or on account of the Borrowers (the term Borrowers under this Article 3 being deemed to include any Subsidiary for whose account a Letter of Credit is issued) or any Guarantor under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, assessments, deductions or withholdings (including backup withholding) or similar charges imposed by any Governmental Authority including interest, penalties and additions to tax (collectively “Taxes”), except as required by applicable Law. If any Borrower, any Guarantor or other applicable Withholding Agent shall be required by any Laws to deduct or withhold any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document to any Agent or any Lender, (A) to the extent the Tax in question is an Indemnified Tax, the sum payable by the Borrowers or such Guarantor shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions or withholdings (including deductions or withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01), each of such Agent and such Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made, (B) the applicable Withholding Agent shall make such deductions or withholdings, (C) the applicable Withholding Agent shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws, and (D) within thirty (30) days after the date of such payment (or, if receipts or evidence are not available within thirty (30) days, as soon as possible thereafter), if any Borrower or any Guarantor is the applicable Withholding Agent, such Borrower or such Guarantor, as applicable, shall furnish to such Agent or Lender (as the case may be) the original or a copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof or other evidence reasonably acceptable to such Agent or Lender.

(ba) In addition, each Loan Party agrees to pay, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse for the payment of, any and all present or future stamp, court or documentary taxes and any other excise, property, intangible or mortgage recording taxes, or charges or levies of the same character, imposed by any Governmental Authority, that arise from any payment made under any Loan Document or 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 (including additions to tax, penalties and interest related thereto) excluding, in each case,

 

169


such taxes or charges that result from an Agent or Lender’s Assignment and Assumption, grant of a participation, transfer or assignment to or designation of a new applicable Lending Office or other office for receiving payments under any Loan Document (collectively, “Assignment Taxes”) to the extent such Assignment Taxes result from a connection that the assignor and/or the assignee has with the taxing jurisdiction other than a connection arising out of the Loan Documents or the transactions therein, except for such Assignment Taxes resulting from an assignment, participation or change in Lending Office that is requested or required in writing by a Borrower (all such non-excluded Taxes described in this Section 3.01(b) being hereinafter referred to as “Other Taxes”).

(cb) Each Loan Party agrees to indemnify each Agent and each Lender for (i) the full amount of Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and Other Taxes payable or paid by such Agent or such Lender and (ii) any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, in each case 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 prepared in good faith by such Agent or Lender (or by an Agent on behalf of such Lender), accompanied by a written statement thereof setting forth in reasonable detail the basis and calculation of such amounts shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(dc) Each Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respects to payment made under any Loan Document shall, at such times as are reasonably requested by a Borrower or the Administrative Agent, provide such Borrower and the Administrative Agent with any documentation prescribed by Law or reasonably requested by such Borrower or the Administrative Agent certifying as to any entitlement of such Lender to an exemption from, or reduction in, withholding Tax with respect to any payments to be made to such Lender under any Loan Document. Each such Lender shall, whenever a lapse in time or change in circumstances renders any such documentation expired, obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect, deliver promptly to such Borrower and the Administrative Agent updated or other appropriate documentation (including any new documentation reasonably requested by such Borrower or the Administrative Agent) or promptly notify such Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal ineligibility to do so. Unless the applicable Withholding Agent has received forms or other documents satisfactory to it indicating that payments under any Loan Document to or for a Lender are not subject to withholding Tax or are subject to such Tax at a rate reduced by an applicable tax treaty, the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent or other applicable Withholding Agent may withhold amounts required to be withheld by applicable Law from such payments at the applicable statutory rate. Notwithstanding any other provision of this clause (d), a Lender shall not be required to deliver any form pursuant to this clause (d) (other than such documentation set forth in paragraphs (A), (B) and (D) of this clause (d)) if in such Lender’s reasonable judgment, the completion, execution or submission of such form would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender. Without limiting the foregoing:

 

170


(A) Each Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or Administrative Agent) two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or any successor form) certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding.

(B) Each Lender that is not a U.S. Person shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time upon the reasonable request of the Lead Borrower or Administrative Agent) whichever of the following is applicable:

(I) two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN-E (or any successor forms) claiming eligibility for the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party, and such other documentation as required under the Code,

(II) two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or any successor forms),

(III) a United States Tax Compliance Certificate in the form of Exhibit M claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, and two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN-E (or any successor form) or

(IV) to the extent a Lender is not the beneficial owner (for example, where the Lender is a partnership or a participating Lender), Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY (or any successor forms) of the Lender, accompanied by a Form W-8ECI, Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN-E, United States Tax Compliance Certificate, Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, and/or any other required information from each beneficial owner, as applicable and to the extent required under this Section 3.01(d) as if such beneficial owner were a Lender hereunder (provided that if the Lender is a partnership and not a participating Lender, and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, the United States Tax Compliance Certificate may be provided by such Lender on behalf of such partner(s)).

 

171


(C) Any Lender that is not a U.S. Person shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or about the date on which such Lender becomes a party to this agreement (and from time to time upon the reasonable request of the Lead Borrower or Administrative Agent), properly completed and duly signed copies of executed forms and in such number as prescribed by applicable U.S. federal income tax laws (including the Treasury Regulations) and reasonably requested by any Borrower or the Administrative Agent as a basis for claiming a complete exemption from, or a reduction in, U.S. federal withholding Tax on any payments to such Lender under the Loan Documents, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit any Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding, deduction or reduction required to be made.

(D) Without limiting the provisions of clause (d)(A), (B), (C) or (E) of this Section 3.01, if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Lead 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 Lead Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA, to determine whether such Lender has or has not complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA and to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this Section 3.01(d)(D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the Closing Date.

(E) Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to deliver to the Loan Parties and to any successor Administrative Agent any documentation provided by such Lender to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 3.01(d).

(ed) Any Lender claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section 3.01 or Section 3.04(a) shall, if requested by a Borrower, use its reasonable efforts to change the jurisdiction of its Lending Office (or take any other measures reasonably requested by such Borrower) if such a change or other measures would reduce any such additional amounts (including any such additional amounts that may thereafter accrue) and would not, in the sole determination of such Lender, result in any unreimbursed cost or expense or be otherwise materially disadvantageous to such Lender.

 

172


(fe) If any Lender or Agent determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund in respect of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which indemnification or additional amounts have been paid to it by any Loan Party pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall promptly remit such refund to such Loan Party (but only to the extent of indemnification or additional amounts paid by such Loan Party under this Section 3.01 with respect to Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including any Taxes) of the Lender or Agent, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided that such Loan Party, upon the request of the Lender or Agent, as the case may be, agrees promptly to return such refund (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to such Lender or Agent in the event such Lender or Agent is required to repay such refund to the relevant Governmental Authority. This section shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to Taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrowers or any other person.

(gf) The Administrative Agent and each Supplemental Agent, if any, shall deliver to the Lead Borrower, on or prior to the Closing Date (or, in the case of a Supplemental Agent or a successor Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.09 hereof, on or before the date on which it becomes a Supplemental Agent or the Administrative Agent, as applicable), a properly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY (indicating “Qualified Intermediary” or U.S. branch status) or Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, as applicable; provided that no Administrative Agent or Supplemental Agent shall be required to provide any documentation under this Section 3.01(g) that such person is legally ineligible to deliver as a result of a change in Law after the date hereof.

(hg) For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Lender” for purposes of this Section 3.01 shall include each L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender and the term “applicable Law” shall include FATCA.

(ih) Each party’s obligations under this Section 3.01 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations under any Loan Document.

Section 3.02. Illegality. If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurocurrency Rate Loans (whether denominated in Dollars or any other Approved Currency), or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Lead Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies, or, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice by the Lead Borrower, the

 

173


Borrowers shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable and such Loans are denominated in Dollars, convert all applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans to such day, or promptly, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrowers shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted and all amounts due, if any, in connection with such prepayment or conversion under Section 3.05. Each Lender agrees to designate a different Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for such notice and will not, in the good faith judgment of such Lender, otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.

Section 3.03. Inability to Determine Rates. If either the Required Lenders or the Administrative Agent reasonably determines in good faith that for any reason adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the applicable Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan in a given Approved Currency, or that the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan in such Approved Currency does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, or that deposits in the applicable Approved Currency in which such proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan is to be denominated are not being offered to banks in the applicable offshore interbank market for the applicable amount and the Interest Period of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan in the applicable Approved Currency, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Lead Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected Approved Currency shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent at its discretion (or upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice by the Lead Borrower, the Borrowers may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in the affected Approved Currency or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request, if applicable, into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loan (without giving effect to clause (c) in the definition thereof) in the amount specified therein.

Section 3.04. Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans. (a) If any Lender reasonably determines that as a result of the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any Law, in each case after the Closing Date, or such Lender’s compliance therewith, there shall be any increase in the cost (including Taxes) to such Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining any Eurocurrency Rate Loans or (as the case may be) issuing or participating in Letters of Credit, or a reduction in the amount received or receivable by such Lender in connection with any of the foregoing (excluding for purposes of this Section 3.04(a) any such increased costs or reduction in amount resulting from (i) Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, or any Taxes excluded from the definition of Indemnified Taxes under exceptions (i) through (v) thereof or (iii) reserve requirements contemplated by Section 3.04(c)) and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining the Eurocurrency Rate Loan (or of maintaining its obligations to make any Loan), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, then

 

174


from time to time within fifteen (15) days after demand by such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail such increased costs (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent given in accordance with Section 3.06), the Borrowers shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduction. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, for all purposes under this Agreement, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a change in law, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

(ba) If any Lender determines that the introduction of any Law regarding capital adequacy or any change therein or in the interpretation thereof, in each case after the Closing Date, or compliance by such Lender (or its Lending Office) therewith, has the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or any Person controlling such Lender as a consequence of such Lender’s obligations hereunder (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy and such Lender’s desired return on capital), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail the charge and the calculation of such reduced rate of return (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent given in accordance with Section 3.06), the Borrowers shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such demand.

(cb) The Borrowers shall pay to each Lender, (i) as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves, capital or liquidity with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits, additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loan of the Borrowers equal to the actual costs of such reserves, capital or liquidity allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error), and (ii) as long as such Lender shall be required to comply with any reserve ratio, capital or liquidity requirement or analogous requirement of any other central banking or financial regulatory authority imposed in respect of the maintenance of the Commitments or the funding of any Eurocurrency Rate Loans of the Borrowers, such additional costs (expressed as a percentage per annum and rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest five decimal places) equal to the actual costs allocated to such Commitment or Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) which in each case shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan; provided the Lead Borrower shall have received at least fifteen (15) days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest or cost from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice fifteen (15) days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest or cost shall be due and payable fifteen (15) days from receipt of such notice.

 

175


(dc) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation.

(ed) If any Lender requests compensation under this Section 3.04, then such Lender will, if requested by the Lead Borrower, use commercially reasonable efforts to designate another Lending Office for any Loan or Letter of Credit affected by such event; provided that such efforts are made on terms that, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its Lending Office(s) to suffer no material economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, and provided, further, that nothing in this Section 3.04(e) shall affect or postpone any of the Obligations of the Borrowers or the rights of such Lender pursuant to Sections 3.04 (a), (b), (c) or (d).

(fe) Notwithstanding anything set forth in clauses (a) through (c) above, any Lender shall be compensated pursuant to this Section 3.04 only if such Lender certifies that it imposes such costs or charges under other syndicated credit facilities involving similarly situated borrowers that such Lender is a lender under.

Section 3.05. Funding Losses. Upon written demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) to the Lead Borrower from time to time, the Borrowers shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense actually incurred by it as a result of:

(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Eurocurrency Rate Loan of the Borrowers on a day prior to the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan;

(b) any failure by the Borrowers (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Eurocurrency Rate Loan of the Borrowers on the date or in the amount notified by the Lead Borrower, including any loss or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits) arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained; or

(c) any failure by the Borrowers to make payment of any Loan or drawing under any Letter of Credit (or interest due thereon) denominated in an Approved Foreign Currency on its scheduled due date or any payment thereof in a different currency.

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrowers to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurocurrency Rate Loan made by it at the Eurocurrency Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the offshore interbank market for the applicable currency for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurocurrency Rate Loan was in fact so funded; provided, that in the case of Section 3.05(a), if any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan has an Eurocurrency Rate floor, any amount owing by the Borrowers to the Lender shall be reduced by the amount of interest income accrued during the completed portion of the Interest Period at a rate equal to the Eurocurrency Rate floor over the applicable Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period.

 

176


Section 3.06. Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation. (a) Any Agent or any Lender claiming compensation under this Article 3 shall deliver a certificate to the Lead Borrower setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder which shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, such Agent or such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

(ba) With respect to any Lender’s claim for compensation under Sections 3.01, 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04, the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate such Lender for any amount incurred more than one hundred and eighty (180) days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Lead Borrower of the event that gives rise to such claim; provided that if the circumstance giving rise to such claim is retroactive, then such 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof. If any Lender requests compensation by the Borrowers under Section 3.04, the Borrowers may, by notice from the Lead Borrower to such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), suspend the obligation of such Lender to make or continue from one Interest Period to another applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or, if applicable, to convert Base Rate Loans into Eurocurrency Rate Loans, until the event or condition giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 3.06(c) shall be applicable); provided that such suspension shall not affect the right of such Lender to receive the compensation so requested.

(cb) If the obligation of any Lender to make or continue any Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or to convert Base Rate Loans into Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be suspended pursuant to Section 3.06(b) hereof, such Lender’s applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be automatically converted into Base Rate Loans (or, if such conversion is not possible, repaid) on the last day(s) of the then current Interest Period(s) for such Eurocurrency Rate Loans (or, in the case of an immediate conversion required by Section 3.02, on such earlier date as required by Law) and, unless and until such Lender gives notice as provided below that the circumstances specified in Sections 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04 hereof that gave rise to such conversion no longer exist:

(i) to the extent that such Lender’s Eurocurrency Rate Loans have been so converted, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise be applied to such Lender’s applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be applied instead to its Base Rate Loans; and

(ii) all Loans that would otherwise be made or continued from one Interest Period to another by such Lender as Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be made or continued instead as Base Rate Loans (if possible), and all Base Rate Loans of such Lender that would otherwise be converted into Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall remain as Base Rate Loans.

 

177


(dc) If any Lender gives notice to the Lead Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) that the circumstances specified in Sections 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04 hereof that gave rise to the conversion of any of such Lender’s Eurocurrency Rate Loans pursuant to this Section 3.06 no longer exist (which such Lender agrees to do promptly upon such circumstances ceasing to exist) at a time when Eurocurrency Rate Loans made by other Lenders under the applicable Facility are outstanding, if applicable, such Lender’s Base Rate Loans shall be automatically converted, on the first day(s) of the next succeeding Interest Period(s) for such outstanding Eurocurrency Rate Loans, to the extent necessary so that, after giving effect thereto, all Loans held by the Lenders holding Eurocurrency Rate Loans under such Facility and by such Lender are held pro rata (as to principal amounts, interest rate basis, and Interest Periods) in accordance with their respective Commitments for the applicable Facility.

Section 3.07. Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances. (a) If at any time (i) any Loan Party becomes obligated to pay additional amounts or indemnity payments described in Section 3.01 (with respect to Indemnified Taxes) or Section 3.04 as a result of any condition described in such Sections or any Lender ceases to make any Eurocurrency Rate Loans as a result of any condition described in Section 3.02 or Section 3.04, (ii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender or (iii) any Lender becomes a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrowers may, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, at its sole cost and expense, on five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and such Lender, (x) replace such Lender by causing such Lender to (and such Lender shall be obligated to) assign pursuant to Section 10.07(b) (with the assignment fee to be paid by the Borrowers in such instance) all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (in respect of any applicable Facility only in the case of clause (i) or (ii) or, with respect to a Class vote, clause (iii) above) to one or more Eligible Assignees (or with respect to any assignment to any Affiliated Lender, pursuant to Section 10.07(l)); provided that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to the Borrowers to find a replacement Lender or other such Person; and provided, further, that (A) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01 (with respect to Indemnified Taxes), such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments and (B) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable Eligible Assignees shall have agreed to, and shall be sufficient (together with all other consenting Lenders) to cause the adoption of, the applicable departure, waiver or amendment of the Loan Documents; or (y) terminate the Commitment of such Lender or L/C Issuer (in respect of any applicable Facility only in the case of clauses (i)— (iii)), as the case may be, and (1) in the case of a Lender (other than an L/C Issuer), repay all Obligations of the Borrowers owing to such Lender relating to the Loans and participations held by such Lender as of such termination date and (2) in the case of an L/C Issuer, repay all Obligations of the Borrowers owing to such L/C Issuer relating to the Loans and participations held by the L/C Issuer as well as all Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer as of such termination date and cancel or backstop on terms satisfactory to such L/C Issuer any Letters of Credit issued by it; provided that in the case of any such termination of a Non-Consenting Lender such termination shall be sufficient (together with all other consenting Lenders) to cause the adoption of the applicable departure, waiver or amendment of the Loan Documents and such termination shall be in respect of any applicable Facility only in the case of clause (i) or (ii) or, with respect to a Class vote, clause (iii).

 

178


(ba) Any Lender being replaced pursuant to Section 3.07(a)(x) above shall (i) execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such Lender’s applicable Commitment and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans in respect thereof, and (ii) deliver any Notes evidencing such Loans to the Borrowers or Administrative Agent. Pursuant to such Assignment and Assumption, (A) the assignee Lender shall acquire all or a portion, as the case may be, of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans, (B) all obligations of the Borrowers owing to the assigning Lender relating to the Loans, Commitments and participations so assigned shall be paid in full by the assignee Lender to such assigning Lender concurrently with such Assignment and Assumption and (C) upon such payment and, if so requested by the assignee Lender, delivery to the assignee Lender of the appropriate Note or Notes executed by the Borrowers, the assignee Lender shall become a Lender hereunder and the assigning Lender shall cease to constitute a Lender hereunder with respect to such assigned Loans, Commitments and participations, except with respect to indemnification provisions under this Agreement, which shall survive as to such assigning Lender. In connection with any such replacement, if any such Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender does not execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly executed Assignment and Assumption reflecting such replacement on the date on which the assignee Lender executes and delivers such Assignment and Assumption to such Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender, then such Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Assumption without any action on the part of the Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender.

(cb) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above, any Lender that acts as an L/C Issuer may not be replaced hereunder at any time that it has any Letter of Credit outstanding hereunder unless arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (including the furnishing of a backup standby letter of credit in form and substance, and issued by an issuer reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer or the depositing of cash collateral into a cash collateral account in amounts and pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer) have been made with respect to each such outstanding Letter of Credit and the Lender that acts as the Administrative Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 9.09.

(dc) In the event that (i) the Lead Borrower or the Administrative Agent has requested that the Lenders consent to a departure or waiver of any provisions of the Loan Documents or agree to any amendment thereto, (ii) the consent, waiver or amendment in question requires the agreement of each Lender, each affected Lender or each affected Lender of a certain Class in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 or all the Lenders with respect to a certain Class of the Loans and (iii) the Required Lenders (or, in the case of a consent, waiver or amendment involving all affected Lenders of a certain Class, the Required Class Lenders as applicable) have agreed to such consent, waiver or amendment, then any Lender who does not agree to such consent, waiver or amendment shall be deemed a “Non-Consenting Lender.

 

179


Section 3.08. Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Article 3 shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

ARTICLE 4

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

Section 4.01. Conditions to Initial Credit Extension. The obligation of each Lender to make a Credit Extension hereunder on the Closing Date is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent, except as otherwise agreed between the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent:

(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or pdf copies or other facsimiles (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its legal counsel:

(i) a Committed Loan Notice in accordance with the requirements hereof;

(ii) executed counterparts of this Agreement;

(iii) each Collateral Document set forth on Schedule 1.01B required to be executed on the Closing Date as indicated on such schedule, duly executed by each Loan Party thereto, together with (subject to the last paragraph of this Section 4.01):

(A) certificates, if any, representing the Pledged Equity in the Borrowers and, to the extent received from the seller after the Lead Borrower’s use of commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such Pledged Equity, in each wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower (other than those described under clause (b) of the definition of “Excluded Subsidiary”), accompanied by undated stock or membership interest powers executed in blank and instruments evidencing the Pledged Debt (including the Intercompany Note) indorsed in blank (or confirmation in lieu thereof reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or its counsel that such certificates, powers and instruments have been sent for overnight delivery to the Collateral Agent or its counsel);

(B) copies of proper financing statements, filed or duly prepared for filing under the Uniform Commercial Code in all United States jurisdictions or comparable filing, register entry or registration under any applicable jurisdiction that the Administrative Agent may deem reasonably necessary in order to perfect and protect the Liens created under the Security Agreement on assets of Holdings, the Borrowers and each Subsidiary Guarantor that is party to the Security Agreement or applicable Foreign Security Document, covering the Collateral described in the Security Agreement or applicable Foreign Security Document; and

 

180


(C) evidence that all other actions, recordings and filings required by the Collateral Documents as of the Closing Date or that the Administrative Agent may deem reasonably necessary to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall have been taken, completed or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being understood that no insurance certificate, including evidence of flood insurance, shall be required to be delivered on or prior to the Closing Date);

(iv) subject to the last paragraph of this Section 4.01 and Section 6.16, all actions necessary to cause the Collateral Agent to have a perfected first priority security interest in the Collateral (subject to Liens permitted under Section 7.01 which by operation of law or contract would have priority over the Liens securing the Obligations) shall have been taken;

(v) such certificates of good standing (or certificates of compliance) (in each case to the extent such concept exists) from the applicable secretary of state (or other Governmental Authority) of the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of each Loan Party, certificates of resolutions or other action (including board resolutions), incumbency certificates, certificates of incorporation and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party and copies of the Organizational Documents of each Loan Party, as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party or is to be a party on the Closing Date;

(vi) (A) an opinion from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, special counsel to the Loan Parties and (B) an opinion from Walkers (Bermuda) Limited, special counsel in Bermuda to the Secured Parties;

(vii) a solvency certificate from the chief financial officer, chief accounting officer or other officer with equivalent duties of the Lead Borrower (after giving effect to the Transactions) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E-2 (or, at the sole option and discretion of the Lead Borrower, a third-party opinion as to the solvency of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis issued by a nationally recognized firm);

(viii) a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower, confirming satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections 4.01(c) and (f); and

(ix) the Perfection Certificate, duly completed and executed by the Lead Borrower.

 

181


(b) The Closing Fees and all fees and expenses due to the Lead Arrangers, the Co-Manager and their respective Affiliates required to be paid on the Closing Date and (in the case of expenses) invoiced at least three Business Days before the Closing Date (except as otherwise reasonably agreed by the Lead Borrower) shall have been paid from the proceeds of the initial funding under the Facilities.

(c) The Equity Investment shall have been consummated, or shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the borrowing of the Initial Term Loans on the Closing Date.

(d)

The Lead Arrangers shall have received the Audited Financial Statements and the Unaudited Financial Statements.

(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date all documentation and other information about the Borrowers and the Guarantors required under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act that has been requested by the Administrative Agent in writing at least 10 Business Days prior to the Closing Date. If a Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, such Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, a Beneficial Ownership Certification to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent at least 10 Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

(f) Since December 31, 2018, there has been no Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement).

(g) The Acquisition shall have been consummated, or shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the initial borrowing under any Facility on the Closing Date, in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement. No provision of the Merger Agreement, as the Merger Agreement was in effect on November 8, 2019, shall have been waived or amended or consented to in any material respect in a manner that is materially adverse to the Lenders (in their capacities as such) without the consent of the Lead Arrangers (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned).

(h) The Specified Merger Agreement Representations and the Specified Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects on the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date).

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.03(b), for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

182


Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, it is understood that other than with respect to the execution and delivery of those certain Collateral Documents required to be delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(iii) and any UCC Filing Collateral, to the extent any Lien on any Collateral is not provided and/or perfected on the Closing Date after the Lead Borrower’s use of commercially reasonable efforts to do so, the provision and/or perfection of a Lien on such Collateral shall not constitute a condition precedent for purposes of this Section 4.01, but instead shall be required to be provided and/or perfected within 90 days after the Closing Date in accordance with Section 6.16 (subject to extensions as agreed by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion); provided that the Administrative Agent shall have received certificates of all Pledged Equity, if any, referred to in Section 4.01(a)(iv)(A) (subject to the limitations set forth therein).

Section 4.02. Conditions to All Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans and other than a Request for Credit Extension in connection with an Incremental Amendment, which shall be governed by Section 2.14(d)), other than on the Closing Date, is subject to the following conditions precedent in each case, subject to the provisions set forth herein in connection with Limited Condition Transactions:

(i) The representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in Article 5 and in each other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects (except that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” shall be true and correct in all respects as so qualified) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension with the same effect as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date.

(ii) No Default shall exist or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds therefrom.

(iii) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the relevant L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans) submitted by the Lead Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(i) and (ii) (or, in the case of a Request for Credit Extension in connection with an Incremental Amendment, the conditions specified in Section 2.14(d)) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

 

183


ARTICLE 5

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrowers, Holdings (solely to the extent applicable to it) and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors party hereto represent and warrant to the Agents and the Lenders at the time of each Credit Extension that:

Section 5.01. Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws. Each Loan Party and each Restricted Subsidiary (a) is a Person duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing (where relevant) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business as currently conducted and (ii) in the case of the Loan Parties, execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) is duly qualified and in good standing (where relevant) under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, (d) is in compliance with all Laws, orders, writs and injunctions and (e) has all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to operate its business as currently conducted; except in each case, referred to in clause (a) (other than with respect to the Borrowers), (b)(i) (other than with respect to the Borrowers), (c), (d) and (e), to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.02. Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is a party are within such Loan Party’s corporate or other powers, (a) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and (b) do not (i) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organizational Documents, (ii) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under (other than as permitted by Section 7.01), or require any payment to be made under (x) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (y) any material order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject, or (iii) violate any applicable Law; except with respect to any conflict, breach or contravention, payment (but not creation of Liens) or violation referred to in clause (b) (ii) and (b)(iii) above, to the extent that such violation, conflict, breach, contravention or payment would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.03. Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. Subject to, solely with respect to the Foreign Security Documents, the Reservations and the Perfection Requirements, no material approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is necessary or required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for the consummation of the Transactions, (b) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents, (c) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Collateral Documents (including the priority thereof) or (d) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of its rights under the Loan Documents or the

 

184


remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents, except for (i) filings, recordings and registrations with Governmental Authorities necessary to perfect or protect the priority of the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Secured Parties, (ii) the approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations, actions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect (except to the extent not required to be obtained, taken, given or made or be in full force and effect pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the Agreed Security Principles) and (iii) those approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations or other actions, notices or filings, the failure of which to obtain or make would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.04. Execution, Delivery and Enforceability. This Agreement and each other Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is a party thereto. Subject to, solely with respect to the Foreign Security Documents, the Reservations and the Perfection Requirements, this Agreement and each other Loan Document constitutes, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is a party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity, (ii) the need for filings, recordations and registrations necessary to create, perfect or protect priority of the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Secured Parties and (iii) the effect of foreign Laws, rules and regulations as they relate to pledges, if any, of Equity Interests in Foreign Subsidiaries.

Section 5.05. Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

(a) The Audited Financial Statements and the Unaudited Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their results of operations for the periods covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein.

(ba) The forecasts of consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of income and cash flow of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries which have been furnished to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date have been prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation of such forecasts, it being understood that actual results may vary from such forecasts and that such variations may be material.

(cb) Since the Closing Date, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(dc) As of the Closing Date, none of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries has any Indebtedness or other obligations or liabilities, direct or contingent (other than (i) the liabilities reflected on Schedule 5.05, (ii) obligations arising under the Loan Documents and (iii) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business that, either individually or in the aggregate, have not had nor would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect).

 

185


Section 5.06. Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.06, there are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, threatened in writing, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.07. Ownership of Property; Liens; Real Property. (a) The Lead Borrower and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries has good record title to, or valid leasehold interests in, or easements or other limited property interests in, all Real Property necessary in the ordinary conduct of its business, free and clear of all Liens except as set forth on Schedule 5.07 hereto and except for minor defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to conduct its business or to utilize such assets for their intended purposes and Liens permitted by Section 7.01 and except where the failure to have such title or other interest would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(ba) As of the Closing Date, Schedule 7 to the Perfection Certificate dated as of the Closing Date contains a true and complete list of each Material Real Property owned by the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

Section 5.08. Environmental Matters. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect:

(a) each Loan Party and its Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective properties and operations are and, other than any matters which have been finally resolved without further liability or obligation, have been in compliance with all Environmental Laws, which includes obtaining, maintaining and complying with all applicable Environmental Permits required under such Environmental Laws to carry on the business of the Loan Parties and their respective Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) none of the Loan Parties or their respective Restricted Subsidiaries have received any written notice that alleges any of them is in violation of or potentially liable under any Environmental Laws and none of the Loan Parties or their respective Restricted Subsidiaries nor any of the Real Property owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or its Restricted Subsidiaries is the subject of any claims, investigations, liens, demands, or judicial, administrative or arbitral proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, threatened, under or relating to any Environmental Law;

(c) there has been no Release of Hazardous Materials on, at, under or from any Real Property or facilities currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or its Restricted Subsidiaries, or arising out of the conduct of the Loan Parties or their respective Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case that would reasonably be expected to result in any Environmental Liability;

 

186


(d) there are no facts, circumstances or conditions arising out of or relating to the Loan Parties or their respective Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their respective operations or any facilities currently or, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, formerly owned, leased or operated by any of the Loan Parties or their respective Restricted Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to require investigation, remedial activity, corrective action or cleanup by, or on behalf of, any Loan Party or its Restricted Subsidiaries or would reasonably be expected to result in any Environmental Liability; and

(e) the Lead Borrower has made available to the Administrative Agent all environmental reports, studies, assessments, audits, or other similar documents containing information regarding any Environmental Liability that are in the possession of any Loan Party or its Subsidiary.

Section 5.09. Taxes. Except as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries have filed all Tax returns required to be filed, and have paid all Taxes levied or imposed upon them or their properties, that are due and payable, except those that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP. Except as described on Schedule 5.09, there is no proposed Tax deficiency or assessment known to any of the Loan Parties against any of the Loan Parties that would, if made, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Other Borrower Party is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Section 5.10. ERISA Compliance. (a) Except as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Plan maintained by a Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder and other federal or state Laws.

(ba) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred and is continuing; (ii) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iii) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (iv) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that would be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA, except, with respect to each of the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) of this Section 5.10(b), as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(cb) With respect to each Pension Plan, the adjusted funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 436 of the Code), as determined by the applicable Pension Plan’s Enrolled Actuary under Sections 436(j) and 430(d)(2) of the Code and all applicable regulatory guidance promulgated thereunder, would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Loan Party nor

 

187


any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to a Plan that is, or is expected to be, in at-risk status (as defined in Section 303(i)(4) of ERISA or Section 430(i)(4) of the Code) in each case, except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.11. Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. As of the Closing Date (after giving effect to the Transactions), no Loan Party has any Subsidiaries (other than Excluded Subsidiaries pursuant to clause (b) of the definition thereof) other than those specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.11, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests owned by the Loan Parties (or a Subsidiary of any Loan Party) in such material Subsidiaries have been validly issued and are fully paid and all Equity Interests owned by a Loan Party in such material Subsidiaries are owned free and clear of all Liens except (i) those created under the Collateral Documents and (ii) any Lien that is permitted under Section 7.01. As of the Closing Date, Schedules 1(a) and 9(a) to the Perfection Certificate (a) set forth the name and jurisdiction of each Domestic Subsidiary that is a Loan Party and (b) set forth the ownership interest of the Borrowers and any other Guarantor in each wholly owned Subsidiary (other than Excluded Subsidiaries pursuant to clause (b) of the definition thereof), including the percentage of such ownership.

Section 5.12. Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act. (a) (i) No Borrower is engaged nor will it engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of (1) purchasing or carrying Margin Stock or (2) extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, in each case of the foregoing clauses (1) and (2) in a manner that violates Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System, and (ii) no proceeds of any Borrowings or drawings under any Letter of Credit will be used for any purpose that violates Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System.

(ba) No Loan Party is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Section 5.13. Disclosure. To the best of the Lead Borrower’s knowledge, no report, financial statement, certificate or other written information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party (other than projected financial information, pro forma financial information and information of a general economic or industry nature) to any Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), when taken as a whole, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein (when taken as a whole), in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading. With respect to projected financial information and pro forma financial information, the Lead Borrower represents that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation; it being understood that such projections may vary from actual results and that such variances may be material.

 

188


Section 5.14. Labor Matters. Except as, in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, as of the Closing Date (a) there are no strikes or other labor disputes against the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, threatened, (b) hours worked by and payment made to employees of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Laws, (c) the Lead Borrower and the other Loan Parties have complied with all applicable labor Laws including work authorization and immigration and (d) all payments due from the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on account of employee wages and health and welfare and other benefits insurance have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of the relevant party.

Section 5.15. Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. The Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries own, license or possess the right to use all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, licenses, technology, software, know-how database rights, design rights and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “IP Rights”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted, and, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, such IP Rights do not conflict with the rights of any Person, except to the extent such failure to own, license or possess or such conflicts, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, the business of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries as currently conducted does not infringe upon, misappropriate or otherwise violate any IP Rights held by any Person except for such infringements, misappropriations and violations, individually or in the aggregate, which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation regarding any of the IP Rights, is filed and presently pending or, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, presently threatened in writing against any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, which, either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Except pursuant to licenses and other user agreements entered into by each Loan Party in the ordinary course of business, as of the Closing Date, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, all registrations and applications for registration of IP Rights listed in Schedule 8 to the Perfection Certificate are valid and subsisting, except, in each case, to the extent failure of such registrations and applications for registration of IP Rights to be valid and subsisting would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.16. Solvency. On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

Section 5.17. Subordination of Junior Financing. The Obligations are “Senior Debt,” “Senior Indebtedness,” “Guarantor Senior Debt” or “Senior Secured Financing” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in, any Junior Financing Documentation.

 

189


Section 5.18. OFAC; USA PATRIOT Act; FCPA. (a) To the extent applicable, each of Holdings, the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries is in compliance, in all material respects, with (i) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto and (ii) the USA PATRIOT Act.

(ba) Neither the Lead Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower and the other Loan Parties, any director, officer, employee, agent or controlled affiliate of the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is currently the target of any Sanctions, nor is the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries located, organized or resident in any country or territory that is the target of Sanctions, except to the extent authorized under applicable Sanctions laws.

(cb) No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, by the Borrowers (i) in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended or (ii) for the purpose of financing any activities or business of or with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such financing, is the target of any Sanctions, except to the extent authorized under applicable Sanctions laws.

Section 5.19. Security Documents. (a) Valid Liens. Subject to Section 5.19(d), each Collateral Document delivered pursuant to Section 4.01 and Sections 6.11, 6.13 and 6.16 will, upon execution and delivery thereof, be effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, legal, valid and enforceable Liens on, and security interests in, the Collateral described therein to the extent intended to be created thereby, and (i) when financing statements and other filings in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 4 to the Perfection Certificate and (ii) upon the taking of possession or control by the Collateral Agent of such Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected only by possession or control (which possession or control shall be given to the Collateral Agent to the extent possession or control by the Collateral Agent is required by the Security Agreement), the Liens created by the Collateral Documents (other than the Mortgages) shall constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in (to the extent intended to be created thereby), all right, title and interest of the grantors in such Collateral to the extent perfection can be obtained by filing financing statements or the taking of possession or control, in each case subject to no Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

(ba) PTO Filing; Copyright Office Filing. When the Intellectual Property Security Agreements are properly filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, to the extent such filings may perfect such interests, the Liens created by the Security Agreement shall constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the grantors thereunder in Patents and Trademarks (each as defined in the Security Agreement) registered or applied for with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and Copyrights (as defined in the Security Agreement) registered or applied for with the United States Copyright Office, as the case may be, in each case subject to no Liens other than Liens permitted hereunder (it

 

190


being understood that subsequent recordings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office may be necessary to perfect the Collateral Agent’s Lien on registered Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights (each as defined in the Security Agreement) acquired by the grantors thereof after the Closing Date).

(cb) Mortgages. Upon recording thereof in the appropriate recording office, each Mortgage is effective to create, in favor of the Collateral Agent, for its benefit and the benefit of the Secured Parties, legal, valid and enforceable perfected Liens on, and security interest in, all of the Loan Parties’ right, title and interest in and to the Mortgaged Property thereunder and the proceeds thereof, subject only to Liens permitted by Section 7.01 and when the Mortgages are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 7 to the Perfection Certificate dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of any Mortgage executed and delivered after the date thereof in accordance with the provisions of Sections 6.11, 6.13 and 6.16, when such Mortgage is filed in the offices specified in the local counsel opinion delivered with respect thereto in accordance with the provisions of Sections 6.11, 6.13 and 6.16), such Mortgage shall constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in the Mortgaged Property thereunder and the proceeds thereof, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

(dc) Solely with respect to each Foreign Security Document, subject to the Reservations, the Perfection Requirements and the terms of the relevant Collateral Document, each Collateral Document to which it is a party to grant Liens and delivered by it pursuant to Section 4.01 and Sections 6.11, 6.13 and 6.16 will, upon execution and delivery thereof, create the legal, valid and enforceable Liens which that Collateral Document purports to create (to the extent intended to be created thereby).

Notwithstanding anything herein (including this Section 5.19) or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, neither the Lead Borrower nor any other Loan Party makes any representation or warranty as to (A) the effects of perfection or non-perfection, the priority or the enforceability of any pledge of or security interest in any Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary that is outside the Agreed Security Jurisdictions, or as to the rights and remedies of the Agents or any Lender with respect thereto, under the Law of a jurisdiction that is not an Agreed Security Jurisdiction or (B) the pledge or creation of any security interest, or the effects of perfection or non-perfection, the priority or the enforceability of any pledge of or security interest to the extent such pledge, security interest, perfection or priority is not required pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the Agreed Security Principles.

ARTICLE 6

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation (other than obligations under Treasury Services Agreements or obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements) hereunder which is accrued and payable shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding (unless the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations related thereto has been Cash Collateralized

 

191


or a backstop letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer is in place), then from and after the Closing Date, the Lead Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 6.03) cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to:

Section 6.01. Financial Statements. (a) Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender, on or before the date that is within 180 days after the end of the fiscal year ending on or about December 31, 2019, on or before the date that is within 150 days after the end of the fiscal year ending on or about December 31, 2020, and within 120 days after the end of each subsequent fiscal year, a consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries (but with respect to the fiscal year December 31, 2019, for the Company and its Subsidiaries) as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year (other than in respect of the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending on or about December 31, 2019), all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of Ernst & Young LLP or any independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not contain any qualifications or exceptions as to the scope of such audit or any “going concern” explanatory paragraph or like qualification (excluding any “emphasis of matter” paragraph) (other than resulting from (w) activities, operations, financial results or liabilities of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (x) the impending maturity of any Indebtedness, (y) with respect to the Term Loans, any actual or prospective default under any financial covenant and (z) with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, any prospective default under any financial covenant).

(ba) Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender, on or before the date that is within 60 days (or seventy-five (75) days in the case of the fiscal quarters ending on or about March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020) after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Lead Borrower, an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year then ended, setting forth in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year (other than in respect of the unaudited financial statements for the 2020 fiscal year), and statements of stockholders’ equity for the current fiscal quarter and consolidated statement of cash flows for the portion of the fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year (other than in respect of the unaudited financial statements for the 2020 fiscal year), all in reasonable detail and certified by a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

 

192


(cb) Until the consummation of a Qualified IPO, deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender, no later than 150 days after the end of the fiscal year ending on or about December 31, 2020 and within 120 days after the end of each subsequent fiscal year, a detailed consolidated budget for the following fiscal year on a quarterly basis in form customarily prepared by the Lead Borrower or otherwise as provided to its direct or indirect equityholders (including a projected consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the following fiscal year, the related consolidated statements of projected cash flow and projected income and a summary of the material underlying assumptions applicable thereto) (collectively, the “Projections”), which Projections shall in each case be accompanied by a certificate of a Responsible Officer stating that such Projections have been prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation of such Projections, it being understood that actual results may vary from such Projections and that such variations may be material; and

(dc) Deliver to the Administrative Agent with each set of consolidated financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and 6.01(b) above, supplemental financial information necessary to eliminate the accounts of Unrestricted Subsidiaries (if any) from such consolidated financial statements.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6.01 may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Lead Borrower and the Subsidiaries by furnishing (A) the applicable financial statements of the Lead Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent of the Lead Borrower) or (B) the Lead Borrower’s (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), as applicable, Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC; provided that with respect to clauses (A) and (B), (i) to the extent such information relates to a parent of the Lead Borrower, such information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to the Lead Borrower (or such parent), on the one hand, and the information relating to the Lead Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a stand-alone basis, on the other hand and (ii) to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 6.01(a), such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion of any independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and, except as permitted in Section 6.01(a), shall not contain any qualifications or exceptions as to the scope of such audit or any “going concern” explanatory paragraph or like qualification.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 and Sections 6.02(b) and (c) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Lead Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent of the Lead Borrower) posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the website on the Internet at the Lead Borrower’s website; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Lead Borrower’s behalf on Debtdomain, Roadshow Access (if applicable) or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that:

 

193


(i) upon written request by the Administrative Agent, the Lead Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent for further distribution to each Lender until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent; and

(ii) the Lead Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such documents from the Administrative Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents.

Section 6.02. Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:

(a) no later than five (5) days after the actual delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower and, to the extent resulting in any change to the Applicable ECF Percentage, Applicable Asset Sale Percentage or Applicable Rate, setting forth the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio (but without the requirement to provide any calculations thereof) as of the most recently ended Test Period;

(b) promptly after the same are publicly available, copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary files with the SEC or with any Governmental Authority that may be substituted therefor (other than amendments to any registration statement (to the extent such registration statement, in the form it became effective, is delivered), exhibits to any registration statement and, if applicable, any registration statement on Form S-8) and in any case not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in this Section 6.02(b) may be satisfied so long as such information is publicly available on the SEC’s EDGAR website;

(c) promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any material requests or material notices received by any Loan Party (other than in the ordinary course of business) or material statements or material reports furnished to any holder of debt securities (other than in connection with any board observer rights) of any Loan Party or of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any Junior Financing Documentation with a principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount and, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing thereof, and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to any other clause of this Section 6.02;

(d) together with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 6.02(a), (i) in the case of annual Compliance Certificates only, a report setting forth the information required by sections describing the legal name and the jurisdiction of formation of each Loan Party and the location of the chief executive office of each Loan

 

194


Party of the Perfection Certificate or confirming that there has been no change in such information since the later of the Closing Date or the date of the last such report, (ii) a description of each event, condition or circumstance during the last fiscal quarter covered by such Compliance Certificate requiring a mandatory prepayment under Section 2.05(b) and (iii) a list of each Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower that identifies each Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, an Unrestricted Subsidiary or an Excluded Subsidiary as of the date of delivery of such Compliance Certificate or confirmation that there has been no change in such information since the later of the Closing Date or the date of the last such list; and

(e) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, legal, financial or corporate affairs of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender through the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request.

The Borrowers hereby acknowledge that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arrangers will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrowers hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on Debtdomain, Roadshow Access (if applicable) or another similar electronic system (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 any Borrower or its securities) (each, a “Public Lender”). The Borrowers hereby agree to make all Borrower Materials that the Borrowers intend to be made available to Public Lenders clearly and conspicuously designated as “PUBLIC.” By designating Borrower Materials as “PUBLIC,” the Borrowers authorize such Borrower Materials to be made available to a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor,” which is intended to contain only information that is publicly available or not material information (though it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to any Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws or is of a type that would be publicly available if such Borrower were a public reporting company (as reasonably determined by the Lead Borrower). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrowers shall not be under any obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC.” The Borrowers agree that (i) any Loan Documents, (ii) any financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, 6.01(c)) and (iii) any Compliance Certificates delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a) and (iv) notices delivered pursuant to Section 6.03(a) will be deemed to be “public-side” Borrower Materials and may be made available to Public Lenders.

Each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable law, including United States federal and state securities laws, to make reference to communications 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 Borrowers or their securities for purposes of United States federal or state securities laws.

 

195


Section 6.03. Notices. Promptly after a Responsible Officer of Holdings or the Lead Borrower has obtained knowledge thereof, notify the Administrative Agent for further distribution to each Lender:

(a) of the occurrence of any Default;

(b) of any matter that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and

(c) of the filing or commencement of any action, suit, litigation or proceeding, whether at law or in equity by or before any Governmental Authority, (i) against Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries thereof that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) with respect to any Loan Document affecting the rights and obligations of the Lead Borrower or any other Loan Party.

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower (x) that such notice is being delivered pursuant to Sections 6.03(a), (b) or (c) (as applicable) and (y) setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Lead Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.

Section 6.04. Taxes. Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy as the same shall become due and payable in the normal conduct of its business, all of its obligations and liabilities in respect of Taxes imposed upon it or upon its income or profits or in respect of its property, except, in each case, (i) to the extent any such Tax is being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings for which appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP or (ii) if such failure to pay or discharge such obligations and liabilities would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. While this Agreement remains in force, the Other Borrower Party will remain a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Section 6.05. Preservation of Existence, Etc.. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or incorporation except (x) in a transaction permitted by Sections 7.04 or 7.05 and (y) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with any other Restricted Subsidiary; and

(ba) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges (including its good standing where applicable in the relevant jurisdiction), permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except, in the case of (a) (other than with respect to the Borrowers) or (b), (i) to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) pursuant to a transaction permitted by Article 7 or clause (a)(y) of this Section 6.05.

Section 6.06. Maintenance of Properties. Except if the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, maintain, preserve and protect all of its material tangible or intangible properties and

equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order, repair and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and fire, casualty or condemnation excepted.

 

196


Section 6.07. Maintenance of Insurance. (a) Generally. Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its properties and business, against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance reasonable and customary for similarly situated Persons engaged in the same or similar businesses as the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons.

(ba) Requirements of Insurance. All such insurance shall (i) provide that no cancellation, material reduction in amount or material change in coverage thereof shall be effective until at least 10 days (or, to the extent reasonably available, 30 days) after receipt by the Collateral Agent of written notice thereof (the Lead Borrower shall deliver a copy of the policy (and to the extent any such policy is cancelled or renewed, a renewal or replacement policy) or other evidence thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, or insurance certificate with respect thereto) and (ii) name the Collateral Agent as loss payee (in the case of property insurance) or additional insured on behalf of the Secured Parties (in the case of liability insurance) (it being understood that, absent an Event of Default, any proceeds of any such property insurance shall be delivered by the insurer(s) to the Lead Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries and applied in accordance with this Agreement), as applicable.

(cb) Flood Insurance. If any portion of any Mortgaged Property is at any time located in an area identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) as a special flood hazard area with respect to which flood insurance has been made available under the Flood Insurance Laws, then the Lead Borrower shall, or shall cause each Loan Party to (i) maintain, or cause to be maintained, with a financially sound and reputable insurer, flood insurance in an amount and on such terms sufficient to comply with all applicable rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the Flood Insurance Laws and (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent evidence of such compliance in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent. Following the Closing Date, the Lead Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent annual renewals of such flood insurance. As a condition precedent to any amendment to this Agreement pursuant to which any increase, extension, or renewal of Loans is contemplated, the Lead Borrower shall cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent for any Mortgaged Property, a completed “life of the loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood Hazard Determination, duly executed and acknowledged by the appropriate Loan Parties, and evidence of flood insurance, as may be required pursuant to the Flood Insurance Laws.

Section 6.08. Compliance with Laws. Comply with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except if the failure to comply therewith would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

197


Section 6.09. Books and Records. Maintain proper books of record and account, in which entries that are full, true and correct in all material respects and are in conformity with GAAP consistently applied and which reflect all material financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be (it being understood and agreed that certain Foreign Subsidiaries maintain individual books and records in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in their respective countries of organization or incorporation and that such maintenance shall not constitute a breach of the representations, warranties or covenants hereunder).

Section 6.10. Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants (subject to such accountants’ customary policies and procedures), all at the reasonable expense of the Borrowers and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrowers; provided that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Section 6.10 and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than two times during any calendar year and only one (1) such time shall be at the Borrowers’ expense; provided, further, that when an Event of Default exists, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrowers at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice.

The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall give the Borrowers the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrowers’ independent public accountants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.10, none of the Lead Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary shall be required to disclose, permit the inspection, examination or making copies or abstracts of, or discussion of, any document, information or other matter that (i) constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) is prohibited by Law or (iii) is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work-product.

Section 6.11. Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors. At the Borrowers’ expense, take all action either necessary or as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to ensure that the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement continues to be satisfied, including:

(a) Upon (i)(x) the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary (in each case, other than an Excluded Subsidiary) by the Lead Borrower (including, without limitation, upon the formation of any Subsidiary that is a Delaware Divided LLC and is not otherwise an Excluded Subsidiary), (y) any Excluded Subsidiary

 

198


ceasing to constitute an Excluded Subsidiary or (z) the designation in accordance with Section 6.14 of an existing direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) as a Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) the acquisition of any property by any Loan Party, which property is contemplated under the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement but is not automatically subject to a valid and perfected (or equivalent under foreign law) Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Party under the then existing Collateral Documents ((x) other than Excluded Assets and (y) in the case of any Loan Party organized outside of the United States, subject to the Agreed Security Principles):

(i) within sixty (60) days after such formation, acquisition, cessation or designation, or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing in its discretion, notify the Administrative Agent thereof and:

(A) cause each such Subsidiary or Loan Party to duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (as appropriate) joinders to this Agreement as Guarantors, Security Agreement Supplements, Intellectual Property Security Agreements, Mortgages, a counterpart of the Intercompany Note, each Intercreditor Agreement, if applicable, and other security agreements and documents (including, with respect to such Mortgages, the documents listed in clause (g) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement”), as reasonably requested by and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (consistent to the extent applicable, with the, Security Agreement and other security agreements in effect on the Closing Date), in each case granting Liens required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and, with respect to any Foreign Security Documents, the Agreed Security Principles, as applicable;

(B) cause each such Subsidiary (and the parent of each such Subsidiary that is a Guarantor) to deliver any and all certificates representing Equity Interests (to the extent certificated) and intercompany notes (to the extent certificated) that are required to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the Agreed Security Principles, as applicable, accompanied by (if relevant in the applicable jurisdiction), accompanied by undated stock powers or other appropriate instruments of transfer executed in blank;

(C) take and cause such Subsidiary and each direct or indirect parent of such Subsidiary or other Loan Party, as applicable, to take whatever action (including the recording of Mortgages, the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or any comparable filing under any applicable jurisdiction and Intellectual Property Security Agreements, and delivery of stock and membership interest certificates) as may be necessary in the reasonable opinion of the Collateral Agent to vest in the Collateral Agent (or in any representative of the Collateral Agent designated by it) valid and perfected Liens to the extent required by the

 

199


Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and, with respect to any Foreign Security Documents, the Agreed Security Principles, as applicable, and to otherwise comply with the requirements of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and, with respect to any Foreign Security Documents, the Agreed Security Principles, as applicable;

(ii) as promptly as practicable after the request therefor by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, deliver to the Collateral Agent with respect to each Material Real Property, any existing title reports, abstracts, surveys, appraisals or environmental assessment reports, to the extent available and in the possession of the Loan Parties or their respective Subsidiaries; provided, however, that there shall be no obligation to deliver to the Administrative Agent any existing environmental assessment report or appraisal whose disclosure to the Administrative Agent would require the consent of a Person other than the Loan Parties or one of their respective Subsidiaries, where, despite the commercially reasonable efforts of the Loan Parties or their respective Subsidiaries to obtain such consent, such consent cannot be obtained; and

(iii) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, within sixty (60) days after such request (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing in its discretion), deliver to the Collateral Agent any other items necessary from time to time to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement with respect to perfection and existence of security interests with respect to property of any Guarantor acquired after the Closing Date and subject to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the Agreed Security Principles, as applicable, but not specifically covered by the preceding clauses (i) or (ii) or clause (b) below.

(b) (i) Not later than forty-five (45) days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing in its discretion) after the later of (x) confirmation from the Lenders that flood due diligence and flood insurance compliance as required by Section 6.07 hereto has been completed and (y) forty-five (45) days after the acquisition by any Loan Party (including, without limitation, any acquisition pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division) of any Material Real Property as determined by the Lead Borrower (acting reasonably and in good faith) that is required to be provided as Collateral pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, cause such property to be subject to a Lien and Mortgage in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and take, or cause the relevant Loan Party to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to grant and perfect or record such Lien, in each case to the extent required by, and subject to the limitations and exceptions of, the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and to otherwise comply with the requirements of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement; and (ii) as promptly as practicable after the request therefor by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, deliver to the Collateral Agent with respect to each such acquired Material Real Property, any existing title reports, abstracts, surveys, appraisals or environmental assessment reports, to the extent available and in the possession of the Loan Parties or their respective Subsidiaries; provided, however, that there shall be no obligation to deliver to the

 

200


Administrative Agent any existing environmental assessment report or appraisal whose disclosure to the Administrative Agent would require the consent of a Person other than the Loan Parties or one of their respective Subsidiaries, where, despite the commercially reasonable efforts of the Loan Parties or their respective Subsidiaries to obtain such consent, such consent cannot be obtained.

Section 6.12. Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except, in each case, to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, comply, and take all commercially reasonable actions to cause all lessees and other Persons operating or occupying its properties to comply with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; obtain, maintain and renew all Environmental Permits necessary for its operations and properties; and, in each case to the extent the Loan Parties or their respective Subsidiaries are required by Environmental Laws, conduct any investigation, remedial or other corrective action necessary to address Hazardous Materials at any property or facility in accordance with applicable Environmental Laws.

Section 6.13. Further Assurances. Promptly upon reasonable request by the Administrative Agent (i) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation of any Intercreditor Agreement or any Collateral Document or other document or instrument relating to any Collateral, and (ii) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of any Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Documents, to the extent required pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the Agreed Security Principles, as applicable. If the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent reasonably determines that it is required by applicable Law to have appraisals prepared in respect of the Real Property of any Loan Party subject to a Mortgage constituting Collateral, the Lead Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent appraisals that satisfy the applicable requirements of FIRREA.

Section 6.14. Designation of Subsidiaries. The Lead Borrower may at any time designate any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Other Borrower Party or any direct or indirect parent thereof) as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) immediately before and after such designation, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (ii) no Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it is a “Restricted Subsidiary” for the purpose of any Junior Financing with an aggregate outstanding principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount. The designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date shall constitute an Investment by the Lead Borrower therein at the date of designation in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Lead Borrower’s or its Subsidiary’s (as applicable) Investment therein. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute (i) the incurrence at the time of designation of any Investment, Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time and (ii) a return on any Investment by the Lead Borrower in Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the preceding sentence in an amount equal to the fair market value at the date of such designation of the Lead Borrower’s or its Subsidiary’s (as applicable) Investment in such Subsidiary.

 

201


Section 6.15. Maintenance of Ratings. In respect of the Lead Borrower, use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause the Term Loans to be continuously rated (but not any specific rating) by S&P and Moody’s and (ii) maintain a public corporate rating (but not any specific rating) from S&P and a public corporate family rating (but not any specific rating) from Moody’s.

Section 6.16. Post-Closing Covenants. Except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, the Lead Borrower shall, and shall cause each of the other Loan Parties to, deliver each of the documents, instruments and agreements and take each of the actions set forth on Schedule 6.16 within the time periods set forth therein (or such longer time periods as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).

Section 6.17. Change in Nature of Business. The Borrowers shall not, nor shall the Borrowers permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date or any business reasonably related, complementary, synergistic or ancillary thereto or reasonable extensions thereof.

Section 6.18. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Initial Term Loans received on the Closing Date shall not be used for any purpose other than for the Transactions and to fund cash to the Lead Borrower’s balance sheet. After the Closing Date, the proceeds of the Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans shall be used for working capital, general corporate purposes and any other purpose not prohibited by this Agreement, including Permitted Acquisitions and other Investments. The Letters of Credit shall be used to support obligations of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries incurred for working capital, general corporate purposes and any other purpose not prohibited by this Agreement (including Permitted Acquisitions and other Investments). The proceeds of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Term Loans shall be used to (a) make a distribution to certain direct or indirect holders of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower and (b) pay fees and expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Incremental Amendment and for working capital, general corporate purposes and for any other purpose not prohibited by the Credit Agreement.

Section 6.19. Accounting Changes. The Lead Borrower shall not make any change in its fiscal year; provided, however, that the Lead Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, change its fiscal year to any other fiscal year reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in which case, the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent will, and are hereby authorized by the Lenders to, make any adjustments to this Agreement that are necessary to reflect such change in fiscal year.

 

202


ARTICLE 7

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (other than obligations under Treasury Services Agreements or obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements) which is accrued and payable shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding (unless the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations related thereto has been Cash Collateralized or a backstop letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer is in place), then from and after the Closing Date:

Section 7.01. Liens. Neither the Lead Borrower nor the Restricted Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien that secures any obligations under Indebtedness upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:

(a)

Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

(b) Liens existing on the Closing Date and with respect to each such Lien securing Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5,000,000, listed on Schedule 7.01(b) and any modifications, replacements, renewals, refinancings or extensions thereof; provided that (i) the Lien does not extend to any additional property other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien or financed by Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03, and (B) proceeds and products thereof, and (ii) the replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing of the obligations secured or benefited by such Liens, to the extent constituting Indebtedness, is permitted by Section 7.03;

(c) Liens for taxes, governmental duties, levies, assessments and charges (including any Lien imposed by the PBGC or similar Liens) that are not overdue for a period of more than sixty (60) days or not yet payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate actions diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person to the extent required in accordance with GAAP (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith);

(d) statutory or common law Liens of landlords, sublandlords, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, repairmen, construction contractors or other like Liens that secure amounts not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or if more than 60 days overdue, that are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Lien or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate actions diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person to the extent required in accordance with GAAP (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith);

 

203


(e) (i) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation and (ii) pledges and deposits in the ordinary course of business securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance to the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(f) Liens to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, governmental contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money), statutory obligations, surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature (including (i) those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations and (ii) letters of credit and bank guarantees required or requested by any Governmental Authority in connection with any contract or Law) and letters of credit, bank guarantees or bankers acceptances and completion guarantees, in each case, issued or incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances and other minor title defects affecting Real Property, and any exceptions on the final Mortgage Policies issued in connection with the Mortgaged Properties, that do not in the aggregate materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(h) Liens securing judgments or orders for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h);

(i) (i) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice which do not interfere in any material respect with the business of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole and (ii) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses constituting a Disposition permitted under Section 7.05;

(j) Liens (i) in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of Law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and (ii) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds thereof of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods in the ordinary course of business;

(k) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodities brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) in favor of a banking or other financial institution arising as a matter of Law or under customary general terms and conditions encumbering deposits or other funds maintained with a financial institution (including the right of set-off) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

 

204


(l) Liens (i) on cash advances or Cash Equivalents in favor of (x) the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Sections 7.02(i) and (n) to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment or (y) the buyer of any property to be Disposed of pursuant to Sections 7.05(j), (o) or (t) to secure obligations in respect of indemnification, termination fee or similar seller obligations and (ii) consisting of an agreement to Dispose of any property in a Disposition permitted under Section 7.05, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or Disposition, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

(m) Liens (i) in favor of the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary on assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party securing permitted intercompany Indebtedness and (ii) in favor of a Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

(n) any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensor or sublicensor under leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses entered into by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, or with respect to IP Rights, that is not material to the conduct of the business of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(o) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice permitted by this Agreement;

(p)

Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements under Section 7.02;

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

(r) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off or rights of pledge (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

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

(t) ground leases in respect of Real Property on which facilities owned or leased by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries are located;

 

205


(u) Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(e); provided that (i) such Liens are created within 365 days of the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, lease, expansion, development, installation, relocation, renewal, maintenance, upgrade or improvement of such asset subject to such Liens, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber property (except for replacements, additions and accessions to such property) other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and the proceeds and products thereof and customary security deposits and (iii) with respect to Financing Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets (except for replacements, additions and accessions to such assets) other than the assets subject to such Financing Leases and the proceeds and products thereof and customary security deposits; provided that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender;

(v) Liens on property of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and that does not constitute Collateral, which Liens secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03;

(w) Liens existing on property at the time of its acquisition or existing on the property of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (other than by designation as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.14), in each case after the Closing Date (other than Liens on the Equity Interests of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary); provided that (i) such Lien was not created in contemplation of such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) such Lien does not extend to or cover any other assets or property (other than the proceeds or products thereof and other than after-acquired property subjected to a Lien securing Indebtedness and other obligations incurred prior to such time and which Indebtedness and other obligations are permitted hereunder that require, pursuant to their terms at such time, a pledge of after-acquired property, it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition), and (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby is permitted under Section 7.03;

(x) (i) zoning, building, entitlement and other land use regulations by Governmental Authorities with which the normal operation of the business complies, and (ii) 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 that does not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(y) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statement or similar filings;

(z) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

 

206


(aa) the modification, replacement, renewal or extension of any Lien permitted by clauses (u) and (w) of this Section 7.01; provided that (i) the Lien does not extend to any additional property, other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien and (B) proceeds and products thereof, and (ii) the renewal, extension or refinancing of the obligations secured or benefited by such Liens is permitted by Section 7.03 (to the extent constituting Indebtedness);

(bb) Liens with respect to property or assets of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing obligations in respect of Section 7.03(y);

(cc) Liens with respect to property or assets of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing obligations in an aggregate principal amount at the time of incurrence of such Liens not to exceed the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 35% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA, in each case determined as of the date of incurrence; provided that an Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to (i) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Obligations, a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if any) as a “Senior Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement), if applicable, and any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or (ii) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a junior lien basis to the Liens securing the Obligations, a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a “Junior Priority Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement);

(dd) Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted under Sections 7.03(g), 7.03(q) or 7.03(s); provided that an Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to (i) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Obligations, a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if any) as a “Senior Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement), if applicable, and any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or (ii) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a junior lien basis to the Liens securing the Obligations, a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a “Junior Priority Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement);

(ee) Liens on the Collateral securing obligations in respect of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness constituting Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt or Permitted Junior Lien Refinancing Debt (and any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing); provided that (x) in the case of any such Liens securing any Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt (or any Permitted Refinancing in respect of such Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt that is secured on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Loans), an Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to (i) a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a “Senior Representative” (or similar term, in each case as defined in such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement) and (ii) any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (y) in the case of any such Liens securing (1) any Permitted Refinancing of Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt that is secured on a junior lien basis to the Initial Term Loans and (2) Permitted Junior Lien Refinancing Debt (or any Permitted Refinancing in respect of such Permitted Junior Lien Refinancing Debt that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral), an Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a “Junior Priority Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement);

 

207


(ff) Liens on accounts receivable, Securitization Assets and related assets incurred in connection with a Qualified Securitization Facility;

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

(hh) Liens on cash or Cash Equivalents to secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(f) or (l), to the extent created in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(ii) Liens securing any Permitted Refinancing directly or indirectly permitted under Section 7.03 (a)(ii), (b), (g), (m), (q), (s), (t), (v) or (y) that are secured by Liens on the same assets as the Liens securing the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended by such Permitted Refinancing, plus improvements, accessions, dividends, distributions, proceeds or products thereof and after-acquired property;

(jj) any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to Equity Interests of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement;

(kk) Liens on Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary that secure Indebtedness or other obligations of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(ll) deposits of cash with the owner or lessor of premises leased and operated by the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business of the Lead Borrower and such Subsidiary or consistent with past practice to secure the performance of the Lead Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s obligations under the terms of the lease for such premises;

(mm) security given to a public utility or any municipality or governmental authority when required by such utility or authority in connection with the operations of that Person in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; and

(nn) Liens on any funds or securities held in escrow accounts established for the purpose of holding proceeds from issuances of debt securities by Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries issued after the Closing Date, together with any additional funds required in order to fund any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payment on such debt securities within 360 days of their issuance; provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than such proceeds and such additional funds.

 

208


Notwithstanding the foregoing, no consensual Liens shall exist on (x) Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that constitute Collateral other than pursuant to clauses (a), (w), (dd) and (ee) above or (y) material intellectual property owned by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.01, (A) Liens need not be incurred solely by reference to one category of Liens permitted by this Section 7.01 but are permitted to be incurred in part under any combination thereof and of any other available exemption, (B) in the event that Lien (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of Liens permitted by this Section 7.01, the Lead Borrower may, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify such Lien (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this provision, (C) in the event that a portion of Indebtedness or other obligations secured by a Lien could be classified as secured in part pursuant to Section 7.01(dd) above (giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such portion of such Indebtedness or other obligations), the Lead Borrower, in its sole discretion, may classify such portion of such Indebtedness (and any obligations in respect thereof) as having been secured pursuant to Section 7.01(dd) above and thereafter the remainder of the Indebtedness or other obligations as having been secured pursuant to one or more of the other clauses of this Section 7.01 and if any such test would be satisfied in any subsequent fiscal quarter following the relevant date of determination, then such reclassification shall be deemed to have automatically occurred at such time and (D) 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 amount permitted under Section 7.03(z) in respect of such Indebtedness. Any Liens in respect of the accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness, in each case in respect of any Indebtedness, shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of a Lien in respect of such Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 7.01.

Section 7.02. Investments. Neither the Lead Borrower nor the Restricted Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly, make any Investments, except:

(a) Investments by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in assets that were Cash Equivalents when such Investment was made;

(b) loans or advances to future, present or former officers, directors, managers, members, partners, independent contractors, consultants and employees of any Loan Party (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its Subsidiaries (i) for reasonable and customary business-related travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes, (ii) in connection with such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower or any direct or indirect parent thereof directly from such issuing entity (provided that the amount of such loans and advances shall be contributed to Holdings or the Lead Borrower, as applicable, in cash as Equity Interests other than Disqualified Equity Interests) and (iii) for any other purposes not described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii); provided that the aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time under clause (iii) above shall not exceed $20,000,000;

 

209


(c) Investments by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Person that will, upon such Investment become a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (x) any Investment made by any Person that is not a Loan Party in any Loan Party pursuant to this clause (c) shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Loans and (y) any Investment made by any Loan Party in any Person that is not a Loan Party shall either (i) be made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or (ii) be evidenced by a note pledged as Collateral on a first priority basis for the benefit of the Obligations, which note shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being understood that an Intercompany Note shall be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent);

(d) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors and other credits to suppliers in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(e) Investments (excluding loans and advances made in lieu of Restricted Payments pursuant to and limited by Section 7.02(m) below) consisting of transactions permitted under Sections 7.01 (other than 7.01(p)), 7.03 (other than 7.03(c) and (d)), 7.04 (other than 7.04(c), (d) and (e)), 7.05 (other than 7.05(e)), 7.06 (other than 7.06(e) and (i)(iv)) and 7.10, respectively;

(f) Investments (i) existing or contemplated on the Closing Date and, with respect to each such Investments in an amount in excess of $10,000,000, set forth on Schedule 7.02(f) and any modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment or extension thereof and (ii) existing on the Closing Date by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the Lead Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary and any modification, renewal or extension thereof; provided that the amount of the original Investment is not increased except by the terms of such Investment as of the Closing Date or as otherwise permitted by this Section 7.02;

(g) Investments in Swap Contracts permitted under Section 7.03(f);

(h) Investments made as part of, or in connection with, the Transactions;

(i) any acquisition of all or substantially all the assets of a Person, or any Equity Interests in a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or a division or line of business of a Person (or any subsequent Investment made in a Person, division or line of business previously acquired in a Permitted Acquisition), in a single transaction or series of related transactions, if immediately after giving effect thereto: (i) no Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a) or (f) with respect to the Borrowers shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) any acquired or newly formed Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary shall not be liable for any Indebtedness except for Indebtedness otherwise permitted by Section 7.03 and (iii) to the extent required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the Agreed Security Principles, as applicable, (A) the property, assets and businesses acquired in such purchase or other acquisition shall constitute Collateral and (B) any such newly created or acquired Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary) shall become a Guarantor, in each case, in accordance with Section 6.11 (any such acquisition, a “Permitted Acquisition”);

 

210


(j) so long as no Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a) or (f) with respect to the Borrowers has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make Investments in an unlimited amount so long as the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio calculated on a Pro Forma Basis is less than or equal to 3.25 to 1.00;

(k) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of UCC Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit and UCC Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices;

(l) Investments (including debt obligations and Equity Interests) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers or in settlement of delinquent obligations of, or other disputes with, customers and suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or upon the foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment;

(m) loans and advances to the Borrowers and any direct or indirect parent of the Borrowers, and not in excess of the amount of (after giving effect to any other loans, advances or Restricted Payments in respect thereof), Restricted Payments to the extent permitted to be made to such parent in accordance with Sections 7.06(g), (h) or (i);

(n) other Investments in an aggregate amount outstanding pursuant to this clause (n) (valued at the time of the making thereof, and without giving effect to any write-downs or write-offs thereof) at any time not to exceed (x) the greater of (i) $65,000,000 and (ii) 40% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA (in each case, net of any return in respect thereof, including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) plus (y) the portion, if any, of the Cumulative Credit on such date that the Lead Borrower elects to apply to this clause (y) plus (z) the Available RP Capacity Amount;

(o) advances of payroll payments to employees in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(p) Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made solely with Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests and the Equity Investment) of the Borrowers (or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrowers);

(q) Investments of the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date or of a Person merged or amalgamated or consolidated into the Lead Borrower or merged, amalgamated or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 7.04 after the Closing 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 or consolidation;

 

211


(r) the contribution, assignment, licensing, sub-licensing or other Investment of IP Rights or other general intangibles pursuant to any Intercompany License Agreement and any other Investments made in connection therewith;

(s) Investments constituting promissory notes or the non-cash portion of consideration received in a Disposition permitted by Section 7.05;

(t) Guarantees by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of leases (other than Financing Leases) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(u) Investments in or relating to a Securitization Subsidiary that, in the good faith determination of the Lead Borrower are necessary or advisable to effect any Qualified Securitization Facility (including any contribution of replacement or substitute assets to such subsidiary) or any repurchase obligation in connection therewith;

(v) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (v) that are at the time outstanding, without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash or marketable securities (until such proceeds are converted to Cash Equivalents), not to exceed the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 35% of LTM Consolidated 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); provided that any Investment made by any Loan Party pursuant to this clause (v) shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Loans;

(w) any Investment in a Similar Business when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (w) that are at that time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (i) $65,000,000 and (ii) 40% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA (in each case, determined on the date such Investment is made, 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 (w) is made in any Person that is not the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (c) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (w);

(x) Investments constituting Permitted Intercompany Activities;

(y) Investments that are made in (i) an amount equal to the amount of Excluded Contributions previously received and the Lead Borrower elects to apply under this clause (y) or (ii) without duplication with clause (i), in an amount equal to the Net Proceeds from a Disposition in respect of property or assets acquired after the Closing Date, if the acquisition of such property or assets was financed with Excluded Contributions, in each case, to the extent Not Otherwise Applied;

 

212


(z) Investments in joint ventures of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (z) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 35% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA (in each case, determined on the date such Investment is made, with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

(aa) earnest money deposits required in connection with Permitted Acquisitions (or similar Investments); and

(bb) contributions to a “rabbi” trust for the benefit of employees or other grantor trusts subject to claims of creditors in the case of bankruptcy of any Borrower.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.02, in the event that an item of Investment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Investments above, the Lead Borrower may, in its sole discretion, classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such item of Investment or any portion thereof in a manner that complies with this Section 7.02 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Investment in one or more of the above clauses. In the event that a portion of the Investments could be classified as incurred under a “ratio-based” basket (giving pro forma effect to the making of such Investments), the Lead Borrower, in its sole discretion, may classify such portion of such Investment as having been incurred pursuant to such “ratio-based” basket and thereafter the remainder of the Investments as having been incurred pursuant to one or more of the other clauses of this Section 7.02 and if any such test would be satisfied in any subsequent fiscal quarter following the relevant date of determination, then such reclassification shall be deemed to have automatically occurred at such time.

Section 7.03. Indebtedness. Neither the Lead Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) Indebtedness of any Loan Party under the Loan Documents;

(b) (i) Indebtedness outstanding on the Closing Date and with respect to any such Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5,000,000, listed on Schedule 7.03(b) and any Permitted Refinancing thereof and (ii) Indebtedness owed to the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary outstanding on the Closing Date and any refinancing thereof with Indebtedness owed to the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in a principal amount that does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the intercompany Indebtedness so refinanced; provided that (x) any Indebtedness advanced by any Person that is not a Loan Party to any Loan Party pursuant to this clause (b) shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Loans and (y) any Indebtedness advanced by any Loan Party to any Person that is not a Loan Party shall either (i) be made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or (ii) be evidenced by a note pledged as Collateral on a first priority basis for the benefit of the Obligations, which note shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being understood that an Intercompany Note shall be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent);

 

213


(c) Guarantees by the Lead Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary otherwise permitted hereunder; provided that (A) no Guarantee in an Agreed Security Jurisdiction (other than Guarantees by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party of Indebtedness of another Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party) of any Indebtedness constituting Junior Financing with a principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount shall be permitted unless such guaranteeing party shall have also provided a Guarantee of the Obligations on the terms set forth herein and (B) if the Indebtedness being Guaranteed is subordinated to the Obligations, such Guarantee shall be subordinated to the Guarantee of the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the subordination of such Indebtedness;

(d) Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (or issued or transferred to any direct or indirect parent of a Loan Party which is substantially contemporaneously transferred to a Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary of a Loan Party) to the extent constituting an Investment permitted by Section 7.02; provided that (x) any such Indebtedness advanced by any Loan Party to any Person that is not a Loan Party shall either (i) be made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or (ii) be evidenced by an Intercompany Note and (y) any such Indebtedness advanced by any Person that is not a Loan Party to any Loan Party shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Loans (for the avoidance of doubt, any such Indebtedness owing by a Loan Party to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be deemed to be expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Loans unless the terms of such Indebtedness expressly provided otherwise);

(e) (i) Attributable Indebtedness and other Indebtedness (including Financing Leases) financing an acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, lease, expansion, development, installation, relocation, renewal, maintenance, upgrade or improvement of a fixed or capital asset incurred by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary prior to or within 365 days after the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, lease, expansion, development, installation, relocation, renewal, maintenance, upgrade or improvement of the applicable asset in an aggregate amount not to exceed (A) the amount of such Indebtedness outstanding on the Closing Date plus (B) the greater of (1) $50,000,000 and (2) 35% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA, in each case determined at the time of incurrence at any time outstanding (together with any Permitted Refinancings thereof but without giving effect to any increase in principal amount permitted under clause (a) of the proviso to the definition of “Permitted Refinancing”), (ii) Attributable Indebtedness arising out of any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction or lease lease-back transactions permitted by Section 7.05 and (iii) any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing;

(f) Indebtedness in respect of Swap Contracts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

214


(g) Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred or assumed in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment expressly permitted hereunder; provided that after giving pro forma effect to such Permitted Acquisition or Investment and the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness, the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed (x) the greater of (1) $50,000,000 and (2) 35% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA at any time outstanding plus (y) any additional amount of such Indebtedness so long (A) if such incurred Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Facilities, either (1) the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio determined on a Pro Forma Basis would not exceed the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior thereto or (2) the Borrowers could incur $1.00 of Permitted First Lien Ratio Debt, (B) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a junior lien basis to the Facilities, either (1) the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio determined on a Pro Forma Basis would not exceed the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior thereto or (2) the Borrowers could incur $1.00 of Permitted Junior Secured Ratio Debt or (C) if such Indebtedness is unsecured or not secured by all or any portion of the Collateral (and including all such Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties), either (1) either (I) the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio determined on a Pro Forma Basis would be greater than or equal to the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio immediately prior thereto or (II) the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio determined on a Pro Forma Basis would not exceed the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior thereto or (2) the Borrowers could incur $1.00 of Permitted Unsecured Ratio Debt; provided that any such Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, together with any Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party pursuant to Sections 7.03(q), 7.03(s) or 7.03(w), does not exceed in the aggregate at any time outstanding the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 35% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA, in each case determined at the time of incurrence; provided, further, that any Indebtedness incurred (but not assumed) pursuant to this clause (g) shall be subject to the requirements included in the first proviso under the definition of “Permitted Ratio Debt,” and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(h) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation or similar arrangements to any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, members, partners, independent contractors or consultants of a Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(i) Indebtedness consisting of promissory notes issued by the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to future, present or former officers, managers, members, independent contractors, consultants, directors and employees, their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members, in each case, to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Borrowers or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrowers permitted by Section 7.06;

(j) Indebtedness incurred by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries prior to the Closing Date or thereafter in a Permitted Acquisition, any other Investment expressly permitted hereunder or any Disposition, in each case, constituting indemnification obligations or obligations in respect of purchase price (including earn-outs) or other similar adjustments;

 

215


(k) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under deferred purchase price, earn-outs or other similar arrangements incurred by such Person prior to the Closing Date or thereafter in connection with Permitted Acquisitions or any other Investment expressly permitted hereunder;

(l) obligations in respect of Treasury Services Agreements and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, overdraft protections and similar arrangements in each case in connection with deposit accounts;

(m) Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in an aggregate principal amount that at the time of, and after giving effect to, the incurrence thereof, would not exceed (x) the greater of (i) $65,000,000 and (ii) 40% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA at any time outstanding plus (y) 200% of the cumulative amount of the net cash proceeds and Cash Equivalent proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Excluded Contributions, proceeds of Disqualified Equity Interests, Designated Equity Contributions or sales of Equity Interests to the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) of the Lead Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Lead Borrower after the Closing Date and on or prior to such time (including upon exercise of warrants or options) which proceeds have been contributed as common equity to the capital of the Lead Borrower that has been Not Otherwise Applied;

(n) Indebtedness consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(o) Indebtedness incurred by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances, warehouse receipts or similar instruments issued or created, or relating to obligations or liabilities incurred, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, including in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers compensation claims;

(p) obligations in respect of self-insurance and obligations in respect of stays, customs, performance, bid, indemnity, appeal, judgment and other similar bonds or instruments and performance, bankers’ acceptance and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments related thereto, in each case in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

 

216


(q) (1) Indebtedness incurred (x) and secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Facilities (“Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt”) or (y) and secured by the Collateral on a junior lien basis with the Facilities and any Permitted Refinancing thereof (“Incremental Equivalent Junior Lien Debt”), in an aggregate principal amount under this clause (q), when aggregated with the amount of Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments incurred pursuant to Section 2.14(d)(v) and Incremental Equivalent Unsecured Debt incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(w), not to exceed the Available Incremental Amount, so long as (x) if the proceeds of such Indebtedness are being used to finance a Permitted Acquisition, Investment, or irrevocable repayment, repurchase or redemption of any Indebtedness, no Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a) or (f) with respect to any Borrower shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist after giving effect to such Indebtedness, or (y) if otherwise, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist after giving effect to such Indebtedness; provided that such Indebtedness shall (A) in the case of Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt, have a maturity date that is after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, and in the case of Incremental Equivalent Junior Lien Debt, have a maturity date that is at least ninety-one (91) days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred (and in each case subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception); provided that the foregoing requirements of this clause (A) shall not apply to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes (i) a customary bridge facility, so long as the long-term Indebtedness into which such customary bridge facility is to be converted or exchanged satisfies the requirements of this clause (A) and such conversion or exchange is subject only to conditions customary for similar conversions or exchanges or (ii) term loan A facilities (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith), (B) in the case of Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt, have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity not shorter than the longest remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Facilities and, in the case of Incremental Equivalent Junior Lien Debt, shall not be subject to scheduled amortization prior to maturity (and in each case subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception); provided that the foregoing requirements of this clause (B) shall not apply to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes (i) a customary bridge facility, so long as the long-term Indebtedness into which such customary bridge facility is to be converted or exchanged satisfies the requirements of this clause (B) and such conversion or exchange is subject only to conditions customary for similar conversions or exchanges or (ii) term loan A facilities (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith), (C) if such Indebtedness is secured on a junior lien basis by a Loan Party with respect to Collateral, be subject to a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and, if the Indebtedness is secured on a pari passu basis with the Facilities, be subject to a First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (D) in the case of Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt in the form of term loans of the applicable currency (other than customary bridge loans or term loan A facilities as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith), be subject to the MFN Protection (but subject to the MFN Trigger Amount and MFN Maturity Limitation exceptions to such MFN Protection) as if such Indebtedness were an Incremental Term Loan of such currency and (E) have terms and conditions (other than (x) pricing, rate floors, discounts, fees, premiums and optional prepayment or redemption provisions and (y) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness and to the extent any terms or conditions that are more restrictive than the applicable Facilities are added for the benefit of such Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt or Incremental Equivalent Junior Lien Debt, to the extent that such terms or conditions are also added for the benefit of each

 

217


Facility remaining outstanding after the incurrence or issuance of such Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt or Incremental Equivalent Junior Lien Debt, as applicable) that (i) in the good faith determination of the Lead Borrower are not materially less favorable (when taken as a whole) to the Borrowers than the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents (when taken as a whole) or reflect market terms and conditions (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence or issuance (provided that a certificate of the Lead Borrower as to the satisfaction of the conditions described in this clause (i) delivered at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the materials terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of documentation relating thereto, stating that the Lead Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirements of this clause (i), shall be conclusive) or (ii) are otherwise as agreed between the Lead Borrower and the lender, holder or other provider of such Indebtedness; provided, that any such Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, together with any Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party pursuant to Sections 7.03(g), 7.03(s) or 7.03(w), does not exceed in the aggregate at any time outstanding, the greater of (ii) $50,000,000 and (ii) 35% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA, in each case determined at the time of incurrence, and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(r) Indebtedness supported by a letter of credit, in a principal amount not to exceed the face amount of such letter of credit;

(s) Permitted Ratio Debt and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(t) Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness;

(u) Indebtedness attributable to (but not incurred to finance) the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect thereto;

(v) Indebtedness incurred by a Foreign Subsidiary which, when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (v) and then outstanding, does not exceed the greater of (i) $20,000,000 and (ii) 10% of Foreign Subsidiary Total Assets;

(w) (i) unsecured (or not secured by the Collateral) Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount under this clause (w), and when aggregated with the amount of Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 2.14(d)(v) and Incremental Equivalent First Lien Debt and Incremental Equivalent Junior Lien Debt incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(q) not to exceed the Available Incremental Amount (“Incremental Equivalent Unsecured Debt”), so long as (x) if the proceeds of such Indebtedness are being used to finance a Permitted Acquisition, Investment, or irrevocable repayment, repurchase or redemption of any Indebtedness, no Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a) or (f) with respect to any Borrower shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist after giving effect to such Indebtedness, or (y) if otherwise, no Event of Default shall have occurred

 

218


and be continuing or would exist after giving effect to such Indebtedness; provided that such Incremental Equivalent Unsecured Debt shall (A) have a maturity date that is at least ninety-one (91) days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Incremental Equivalent Unsecured Debt is incurred, (B) have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity not shorter than the longest remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Facilities (in each case subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception) and (C) have terms and conditions (other than (x) pricing, rate floors, discounts, fees, premiums and optional prepayment or redemption provisions and (y) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness and to the extent any terms or conditions that are more restrictive than the applicable Facilities are added for the benefit of such Incremental Equivalent Unsecured Debt, to the extent that such terms or conditions are also added for the benefit of each Facility remaining outstanding after the incurrence or issuance of such Incremental Equivalent Unsecured Debt) that (1) in the good faith determination of the Lead Borrower are not materially less favorable (when taken as a whole) to the Borrowers than the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents (when taken as a whole) or reflect market terms and conditions (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence or issuance (provided that a certificate of the Lead Borrower as to the satisfaction of the conditions described in this clause (1) delivered at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the materials terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of documentation relating thereto, stating that the Lead Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirements of this clause (iii), shall be conclusive) or (2) are otherwise as agreed between the Lead Borrower and the lender, holder or other provider of such Indebtedness; provided that the foregoing requirements shall not apply to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes (i) a customary bridge facility, so long as the long-term Indebtedness into which such customary bridge facility is to be converted or exchanged satisfies the requirements of this clause (w) and such conversion or exchange is subject only to conditions customary for similar conversions or exchanges or (ii) term loan A facilities (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith); provided, further, that any such Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, together with any Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party pursuant to Sections 7.03(g), 7.03(q) or 7.03(s), does not exceed in the aggregate at any time outstanding, the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 35% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA, in each case determined at the time of incurrence, and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(x) Indebtedness arising from Permitted Intercompany Activities;

(y) Indebtedness in an amount not to exceed the Available RP Capacity Amount; and

(z) all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest and paid-in-kind interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (a) through (y) above.

 

219


For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.03, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Indebtedness described above, the Lead Borrower may, in its sole discretion, classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness or any portion thereof (including as between the Free and Clear Incremental Amount and the Incurrence-Based Incremental Amount) in a manner that complies with this Section 7.03 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one or more of the above clauses; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Loan Documents and any Permitted Refinancing thereof will at all times be deemed to be outstanding in reliance only on the exception in Section 7.03(a) (but without limiting the right of the Lead Borrower to classify and reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, Indebtedness incurred under Section 2.14 or Sections 7.03(q), 7.03(s) or 7.03(w)). In the event that a portion of Indebtedness or other obligations could be classified as incurred under a “ratio-based” basket (giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such portion of such Indebtedness or other obligations), the Lead Borrower, in its sole discretion, may classify such portion of such Indebtedness (and any obligations in respect thereof) as having been incurred pursuant to such “ratio-based” basket and thereafter the remainder of the Indebtedness or other obligations as having been incurred pursuant to one or more of the other clauses of this Section 7.03 and if any such test would be satisfied in any subsequent fiscal quarter following the relevant date of determination, then such reclassification shall be deemed to have automatically occurred at such time. The accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 7.03.

Section 7.04. Fundamental Changes. None of the Lead Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person (including, in each case, pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division), except that:

(a) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with (i) a Borrower (including a merger, the purpose of which is to reorganize such Borrower into a new jurisdiction); provided that such Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person and such merger does not result in such Borrower ceasing to be (1) with respect to the Lead Borrower, organized under the laws of Bermuda or the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and (2) with respect to the Other Borrower Party, the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (ii) the Lead Borrower or (iii) one or more other Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that when any Person that is a Loan Party is merging with a Restricted Subsidiary, a Loan Party shall be the continuing or surviving Person;

(b) (i) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and (ii) any Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve or a Borrower or any Subsidiary may change its legal form (x) if the Lead Borrower determines in good faith that such action is in the best interest of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries and if not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders and (y) to the extent such Restricted Subsidiary is a Loan Party, any assets or business not otherwise disposed of or transferred in accordance with Sections 7.02 (other than Section

 

220


7.02(e)) or Section 7.05 or, in the case of any such business, discontinued, shall be transferred to otherwise owned or conducted by another Loan Party after giving effect to such liquidation or dissolution (it being understood that in the case of any change in legal form, a Subsidiary that is a Guarantor will remain a Guarantor unless such Guarantor is otherwise permitted to cease being a Guarantor hereunder);

(c) any Restricted Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Lead Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Guarantor, then (i) the transferee must be a Guarantor or a Borrower or (ii) to the extent constituting an Investment, such Investment must be a permitted Investment in or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in accordance with Sections 7.02 and 7.03, respectively;

(d) (I) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, each Borrower may merge or consolidate with any other Person; provided that (i) such Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or company or (ii) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger or consolidation is not a Borrower (any such Person, the “Successor Borrower”), (A) the Successor Borrower shall be organized, (i) with respect to the Lead Borrower, organized under the laws of Bermuda or the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and (i) with respect to the Other Borrower Party, the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (B) the Successor Borrower shall expressly assume all the obligations of the applicable Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Borrower is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (C) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have confirmed that its Guaranty shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under the Loan Documents, (D) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have by a supplement to the Security Agreement and other applicable Collateral Documents confirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under the Loan Documents, (E) if requested by the Administrative Agent, each mortgagor of a Mortgaged Property, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have by an amendment to or restatement of the applicable Mortgage (or other instrument reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) confirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under the Loan Documents, and (F) the Lead Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such merger or consolidation and such supplement to this Agreement or any Collateral Document preserves the enforceability of this Agreement, the Guaranty and the Collateral Documents and the perfection of the Liens under the Collateral Documents; provided, further, that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Borrower will succeed to, and be substituted for, the applicable Borrower under this Agreement; and

(II) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, Holdings may merge or consolidate with any other Person; provided that (i) Holdings shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity or (ii) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger or consolidation is not Holdings (any such Person, the “Successor Holdings”), (A) the

 

221


Successor Holdings shall expressly assume all the obligations of Holdings under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which Holdings is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (B) Holdings shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such merger or consolidation and such supplement to this Agreement or any Collateral Document preserves the enforceability of this Agreement, the Guaranty and the Collateral Documents and the perfection of the Liens under the Collateral Documents; provided, further, that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Holdings will succeed to, and be substituted for, Holdings under this Agreement;

(e) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom (in the case of a merger involving a Loan Party), any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with any other Person in order to effect an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.02; provided that the continuing or surviving Person shall be a Restricted Subsidiary or the Lead Borrower, which together with each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, shall have complied with the requirements of Section 6.11 to the extent required pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the Agreed Security Principles, as applicable;

(f) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, a merger, dissolution, liquidation, consolidation or Disposition, the purpose of which is to effect a Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 7.05;

(g) the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries may effect the formation, dissolution, liquidation or Disposition of any Subsidiary that is a Delaware Divided LLC, provided that upon formation of such Delaware Divided LLC, Holdings has complied with Section 6.11 to the extent applicable; and

(h) the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries may consummate Permitted Intercompany Activities.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 7.04 will not apply to the Transactions.

Section 7.05. Dispositions. Neither the Lead Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, make any Disposition, except:

(a) (i) Dispositions of obsolete, non-core, worn out or surplus property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and Dispositions of property no longer used or useful or economically practical to maintain in the conduct of the business of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) Dispositions of property no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries outside the ordinary course of business (and for consideration complying with the requirements applicable to Dispositions pursuant to clause (j) below) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25,000,000 and (iii) write-off or write-down of any unrecoupable loans or advances;

(b) Dispositions of inventory or goods held for sale and immaterial assets (including allowing any registrations or any applications for registration of any immaterial IP Rights to lapse or go abandoned), in each case, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

 

222


(c) Dispositions of property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;

(d) Dispositions of property to the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor of such property is a Loan Party, (i) the transferee thereof must be a Loan Party or (ii) if such transaction constitutes an Investment, such transaction is permitted under Section 7.02;

(e) to the extent constituting Dispositions, transactions permitted by Sections 7.01, 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(e)), 7.04 (other than Section 7.04(f)) and 7.06;

(f) Dispositions contemplated as of the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.05(f);

(g) Dispositions of Cash Equivalents;

(h) (i) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including the provision of software under an open source license), in each case in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and which do not materially interfere with the business of the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) Dispositions of IP Rights that do not materially interfere with the business of the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(i) transfers of property subject to Casualty Events upon receipt of the Net Proceeds of such Casualty Event;

(j) Dispositions of property or assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) at the time of such Disposition, no Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) or 8.01(f) with respect to any Borrower shall exist or would result from such Disposition (other than any such Disposition made pursuant to a legally binding commitment entered into at a time when no such Event of Default exists) and (ii) with respect to any Disposition pursuant to this clause (j) for a purchase price in excess of $25,000,000, the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall receive not less than 75% of such consideration in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents (in each case, free and clear of all Liens at the time received, other than nonconsensual Liens permitted by Section 7.01 and Liens permitted by Sections 7.01(a), (f), (k), (p), (q), (r)(i), (r)(ii), (dd) (only to the extent the Obligations are secured by such cash and Cash Equivalents) and (ee) (only to the extent the Obligations are secured by such cash and Cash Equivalents)); provided, however, that for the purposes of this clause (j)(ii), the following shall be deemed to be cash:

 

223


(A) the greater of the principal amount and the carrying value any liabilities (as shown on the Lead Borrower’s (or the Restricted Subsidiaries’, as applicable) most recent balance sheet provided hereunder or in the footnotes thereto or, if incurred or increased subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, such liabilities that would have been shown on the Lead Borrower’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto if such incurrence or increase had taken place on or prior to the date of such balance sheet, as determined by the Lead Borrower) of the Lead Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities (other than intercompany liabilities owing to a Restricted Subsidiary being Disposed of) that are by their terms subordinated to the payment in cash of the Obligations, (i) assumed by the transferee of any such assets (or a third party in connection with such transfer) pursuant to a written agreement which releases or indemnifies the Lead Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from such liabilities or (ii) otherwise cancelled or terminated in connection with the transaction,

(B) any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by the Lead Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by, or reasonably expected to be converted by, the Lead Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received or expected to be received) or by their terms are required to be satisfied for cash or Cash Equivalents within 180 days following the closing of the applicable Disposition, and

(C) aggregate non-cash consideration received by the Lead Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary having an aggregate fair market value (determined as of the closing of the applicable Disposition for which such non-cash consideration is received) not to exceed the greater of $50,000,000 and 35% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA at any time (net of any non-cash consideration converted into cash and Cash Equivalents);

(k) the sale, assignment, licensing, sub-licensing or other Disposition of IP Rights or other general intangibles pursuant to any Intercompany License Agreement;

(l) Dispositions or discounts without recourse of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets or related assets, or any disposition of the Equity Interests in a Subsidiary, all or substantially all of the assets of which are Securitization Assets, in each case in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility or the disposition of an account receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof in the ordinary course of business;

(m) Dispositions of property pursuant to any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction or lease-leaseback transactions; provided that the fair market value of all property so Disposed of after the Closing Date shall not exceed $60,000,000 at any time;

(n) any swap of assets in exchange for services or other assets of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the management of the Lead Borrower;

 

224


(o) any issuance or sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries the primary assets of which are cash and/or Cash Equivalents) (or a Restricted Subsidiary which owns an Unrestricted Subsidiary so long as such Restricted Subsidiary owns no assets other than the Equity Interests of such an Unrestricted Subsidiary);

(p) the unwinding of any Swap Contract pursuant to its terms;

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

(r) the lapse or abandonment in the ordinary course of business of any registrations or applications for registration of any immaterial IP Rights;

(s) Permitted Intercompany Activities;

(t) Dispositions of assets (i) acquired pursuant to or in order to effectuate a Permitted Acquisition which assets are not used or useful to the core or principal business of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) that are made in connection with the approval of any applicable antitrust authority or otherwise necessary or advisable in the good faith determination of the Lead Borrower to consummate any acquisition;

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

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

(w) Dispositions to effect the formation of any Subsidiary that is a Delaware Divided LLC, provided that upon formation of such Delaware Divided LLC, the Lead Borrower has complied with Section 6.11, to the extent applicable;

(x) other Dispositions after the Closing Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $25,000,000 and (ii) 15% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA; and

(y) 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 Investments or Restricted Payments pursuant to Sections 7.02(y) or 7.06(p);

provided that any Disposition of any property pursuant to this Section 7.05 (except pursuant to Sections 7.05(e), (i), (k), (p), (r) and (s) and except for Dispositions from a Loan Party to any other Loan Party) shall be for no less than the fair market value of such property at the time of such Disposition as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith. To the extent any Collateral is Disposed of as expressly permitted by this Section 7.05 to any Person other than a Loan Party, such Collateral shall be sold free and clear of the Liens created by the Loan Documents, and the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall take any actions deemed appropriate in order to effect the foregoing.

 

225


Section 7.06. Restricted Payments. Neither the Lead Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly, declare or make any Restricted Payment, except:

(a) the Borrowers and each other Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrowers, and other Restricted Subsidiaries (and, in the case of a Restricted Payment by a non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary, to the Borrowers and any other Restricted Subsidiary, as compared to the other owners of Equity Interests in such Restricted Subsidiary, on a pro rata or more than pro rata basis based on their relative ownership interests of the relevant class of Equity Interests);

(b) the Lead Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary may declare and make Restricted Payments payable solely in the Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests not otherwise permitted by Section 7.03) of such Person;

(c) Restricted Payments made on or after the Closing Date in connection with the Transactions, including the settlement of claims or actions in connection with the Acquisition, or to satisfy indemnity or other similar obligations or any other earnouts, purchase price adjustments, working capital adjustments and any other payments under the Merger Agreement;

(d) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments in an unlimited amount so long as the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio calculated on a Pro Forma Basis is less than or equal to 3.25 to 1.00;

(e) to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into and consummate transactions expressly permitted by any provision of Sections 7.02 (other than Sections 7.02(e) and (m)), 7.04 or 7.07 (other than Sections 7.07(e) and (j));

(f) repurchases of Equity Interests in any Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any Restricted Subsidiary deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;

(g) the Lead Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary may pay (or make Restricted Payments to allow the Borrowers or any other direct or indirect parent thereof to pay) for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary (or of the Borrowers or any other such direct or indirect parent thereof) from any future, present or former employee, officer, director, manager, member, partner, independent contractor or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of such Restricted Subsidiary (or the Borrowers or any other direct or indirect parent of such Restricted Subsidiary) or any of its Subsidiaries upon the death, disability, retirement or termination

 

226


of employment of any such Person or pursuant to any employee or director equity plan, employee, manager, officer, member, partner, independent contractor or director stock option plan or any other employee, manager, officer, member, partner, independent contractor or director benefit plan or any agreement (including any stock subscription or shareholder agreement) with any employee, manager, officer, director, member, partner, independent contractor or consultant of such Restricted Subsidiary (or the Borrowers or any other direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (g) shall not exceed $40,000,000 in any calendar year (which shall increase to $50,000,000 subsequent to the consummation of a Qualified IPO) (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum of $80,000,000 in any calendar year or $100,000,000 subsequent to the consummation of a Qualified IPO, respectively); provided, further, that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(i) to the extent contributed to the Lead Borrower, the net cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests or Designated Equity Contributions) of any of the Borrowers’ direct or indirect parent companies, in each case to any future, present or former employees, officers, members of management, managers, partners, independent contractors, directors or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Lead Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that occurs after the Closing Date, to the extent net cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have been Not Otherwise Applied; plus

(ii) the net cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Lead Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries; less

(iii) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 7.06(g);

(h) the Lead Borrower may make Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed, when combined with prepayment of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 7.10(a)(v), (x) the greater of (i) $65,000,000 and (ii) 40% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA, plus (y) subject to, solely in the case of the portion of the Cumulative Credit attributable to clause (b) thereof, no Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a) or (f) with respect to any Borrower having occurred and continuing or resulting therefrom, the portion, if any, of the Cumulative Credit on such date that the Lead Borrower elects to apply to this paragraph;

(i) the Borrowers may make Restricted Payments to any direct or indirect parent of the Borrowers:

(i) to pay its organizational, operating costs and other costs and expenses (including, without limitation, expenses related to auditing or other accounting or tax reporting matters) incurred in the ordinary course of business and other corporate overhead costs and expenses (including administrative, legal,

 

227


accounting and similar expenses provided by third parties), which are reasonable and customary and incurred in the ordinary course of business and attributable to the ownership or operations of Holdings, the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, any costs, expenses and liabilities incurred in connection with any litigation or arbitration attributable to the ownership or operations of Holdings, the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, Transaction Expenses and any reasonable and customary indemnification claims made by directors, managers or officers of such parent attributable to the ownership or operations of Holdings, the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, and following a Qualified IPO, listing fees and other costs and expenses attributable to being a publicly traded company;

(ii) the proceeds of which shall be used by such parent to pay franchise Taxes and other fees, Taxes and expenses required to maintain its (or any of its direct or indirect parents’) corporate existence;

(iii) with respect to any taxable period for which the Lead Borrower is a disregarded entity or partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in the form of permitted tax distributions to each direct or indirect owner of the Lead Borrower (as applicable) which shall be equal to the product of (X) such owner’s direct or indirect allocable share of the taxable income of the Lead Borrower or attributable to the Lead Borrower if the Lead Borrower is a disregarded entity (calculated as if the Lead Borrower were a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) for such taxable period, provided that any items of income, gain, loss or deduction shall be determined without regard to any adjustments pursuant to Section 743 of the Code and (Y) the highest combined marginal federal, state and local income tax rate applicable to any direct or indirect equity owner of the Lead Borrower for such taxable period (taking into account the character (long-term capital gain, qualified dividend income, tax-exempt income, etc.) of the current period taxable income); provided that any such distributions shall be made on a pro rata basis;

(iv) to finance any Investment that would be permitted to be made pursuant to Section 7.02 if such parent were subject to such Section 7.02; provided that (A) such Restricted Payment shall be made substantially concurrently with the closing of such Investment and (aB) such parent shall, immediately following the closing thereof, cause (1) all property acquired (whether assets or Equity Interests) to be contributed to the Lead Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries or (2) the merger (to the extent permitted in Section 7.04) of the Person formed or acquired into the Lead Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in order to consummate such Permitted Acquisition or Investment, in each case, in accordance with the requirements of Section 6.11;

(v) the proceeds of which shall be used to pay customary salary, bonus, indemnity and other benefits payable to future, present or former officers, directors, managers, members, partners, consultants, independent contractors or employees of Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrowers to the extent such salaries, bonuses, indemnity and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

228


(vi) the proceeds of which shall be used by Holdings or the Borrowers to pay (or to make Restricted Payments to allow any direct or indirect parent thereof to pay) fees and expenses (other than to Affiliates) related to any equity or debt offering, financing transaction, acquisition, divestiture, investment or other non-ordinary course transaction not prohibited by this Agreement (whether or not successful); provided that any such transaction was in the good faith judgment of the Lead Borrower intended to be for the benefit of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(vii) the proceeds of which shall be used by Holdings or the Lead Borrower to pay (or to make Restricted Payments to allow any direct or indirect parent thereof to pay) amounts payable pursuant to the Support and Services Agreement (including any amendment thereto or replacement thereof so long as any such amendment or replacement is not materially disadvantageous in the good faith judgment of the Lead Borrower to the Lenders when taken as a whole, as compared to the Support and Services Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment or replacement), solely to the extent such amounts are not paid directly by Holdings or its Subsidiaries;

(j) payments made or expected to be made by the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of required withholding or similar Taxes payable upon or in connection with the exercise or vesting of Equity Interests or any other equity award with respect to any future, present or former employee, director, manager, officer, partner, independent consultant or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates and Immediate Family Members) and any repurchases of Equity Interests in consideration of such payments including in connection with the exercise or vesting of stock options, warrants or the issuance of restricted stock units or similar stock based awards;

(k) the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may (i) pay cash in lieu of fractional Equity Interests in connection with any dividend, distribution, split, merger, consolidation, amalgamation or combination thereof or any Permitted Acquisition and (ii) honor any conversion request by a holder of convertible Indebtedness and make cash payments in lieu of fractional shares in connection with any such conversion and may make payments on convertible Indebtedness in accordance with its terms;

(l) after a Qualified IPO and so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (i) any Restricted Payment by the Borrowers or any other direct or indirect parent of the Borrowers to pay listing fees and other costs and expenses attributable to being a publicly traded company which are reasonable and customary and (ii) Restricted Payments not to exceed up to the sum of (A) up to 7.00% per annum of the net proceeds received by (or contributed to) the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries from such Qualified IPO and (B) Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount per annum not to exceed 7.00% of Market Capitalization;

 

229


(m) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees;

(n) payments or distributions to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law (including in connection with, or as a result of, exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or action (whether actual, contingent or potential)), pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets permitted by Section 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(e)) or Section 7.04;

(o) the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, of Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary (or a Restricted Subsidiary that owns one or more Unrestricted Subsidiaries and no other material assets) or Indebtedness owed to the Lead Borrower 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 the primary assets of which are cash and/or Cash Equivalents;

(p) Restricted Payments that are made in (i) an amount equal to the amount of Excluded Contributions previously received and the Lead Borrower elects to apply under this clause (p) or (ii) without duplication with clause (i), in an amount equal to the Net Proceeds from a Disposition in respect of property or assets acquired after the Closing Date, if the acquisition of such property or assets was financed with Excluded Contributions, in each case, to the extent Not Otherwise Applied; and

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

(r) the payment of the 2020 Special Dividend.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.06 (other than with respect to clause (r) above, for which no later division or reclassification shall be permitted), in the event that a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments described above, the Lead Borrower may, in its sole discretion, classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such Restricted Payment or any portion thereof in a manner that complies with this Section 7.06 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Restricted Payment in one or more of the above clauses. In the event that a Restricted Payment or other obligations could be classified as incurred under a “ratio-based” basket (giving pro forma effect to the making of such portion of such Restricted Payment), the Lead Borrower, in its sole discretion, may classify such portion of such Restricted Payment (and any obligations in respect thereof) as having been made pursuant to such “ratio-based” basket and thereafter the remainder of the Restricted Payment as having been made pursuant to one or more of the other clauses of this Section 7.06 and if any such test would be satisfied in any subsequent fiscal quarter following the relevant date of determination, then such reclassification shall be deemed to have automatically occurred at such time (other than with respect to clause (r) for which no later division or reclassification shall be so made).

 

230


Section 7.07. Transactions with Affiliates. The Lead Borrower shall not, nor shall the Lead Borrower permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Lead Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $40,000,000, other than (a) loans and other transactions among the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such loan or other transaction to the extent permitted under this Article 7, (b) on terms substantially as favorable to the Lead Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Lead Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate, (c) the Transactions and the payment of Transaction Expenses as part of or in connection with the Transactions, (d) [reserved], (e) Restricted Payments permitted under Section 7.06, Investments permitted under Section 7.02 and prepayments redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments permitted by Section 7.10, (f) employment and severance arrangements between Holdings, the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and transactions pursuant to equity-based plans and employee benefit plans and arrangements in the ordinary course of business, (g) the payment of customary fees and reasonable out-of-pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, directors, managers, officers, employees and consultants of Holdings, the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (or any other direct or indirect parent of the Borrowers) in the ordinary course of business to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (h) transactions pursuant to agreements in existence on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.07 or any amendment thereto to the extent such an amendment is not materially adverse to the Lenders in any material respect, (i) (x) the payment of management, consulting, monitoring, transaction, advisory and other fees, indemnities and expenses pursuant to the Support and Services Agreement (plus any unpaid management, consulting, monitoring, transaction, advisory and other fees, indemnities and expenses accrued in any prior year) and any termination fees (including any such cash lump sum or present value fee upon the consummation of a corporate event, including an initial public equity offering) pursuant to the Support and Services Agreement, or any amendment thereto or replacement thereof so long as any such amendment or replacement is not materially disadvantageous in the good faith judgment of the Lead Borrower to the Lenders when taken as a whole, as compared to the Support and Services Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such amendment or replacement, (y) the payment of indemnification and other similar amounts to the Investors and reimbursement of expenses of the Investors and (z) customary payments by the Lead Borrower and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Investors made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities (including in connection with acquisitions or divestitures), which payments are approved by a majority of the members of the board of directors or managers or a majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors or managers of the Lead Borrower, in good faith, (j) payments by the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any tax sharing agreements with any direct or indirect parent of the Lead Borrower to the extent

 

231


attributable to the ownership or operation of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries, but only to the extent permitted by Section 7.06(i)(iii), (k) the issuance or transfer of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of Holdings or the Borrowers to any Permitted Holder or to any former, present or future director, manager, officer, employee or consultant (or any Affiliate or any Immediate Family Member of any of the foregoing) of Holdings or the Lead Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent thereof, (l) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility, (m) Permitted Intercompany Activities, (n) a joint venture which would constitute a transaction with an Affiliate solely as a result of Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owning an equity interest or otherwise controlling such joint venture or similar entity, and (o) transactions with any Affiliated Lender in its capacity as a Lender party to any Loan Document or party to any agreement, document or instrument governing or relating to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.03 (including Permitted Refinancings thereof) to the extent such Affiliated Lender is being treated no more favorably than all other Lenders or lenders thereunder.

Section 7.08. Burdensome Agreements. The Lead Borrower shall not, nor shall the Lead Borrower permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into or permit to exist any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that prohibits (a) any Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower that is not a Guarantor to make Restricted Payments to the Borrowers or any Guarantor or to make or repay intercompany loans and advances to the Borrowers or any Guarantor or (b) any Loan Party to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person for the benefit of the Lenders with respect to the Facilities and the Obligations or under the Loan Documents; provided that the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) shall not apply to Contractual Obligations which (i) (x) exist on the Closing Date and (to the extent not otherwise permitted by this Section 7.08) are listed on Schedule 7.08 hereto and (y) to the extent Contractual Obligations permitted by clause (x) are set forth in an agreement evidencing Indebtedness, are set forth in any agreement evidencing any permitted modification, replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing of such Indebtedness so long as such modification, replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing does not expand the scope of such Contractual Obligation, (ii) are binding on a Restricted Subsidiary at the time such Restricted Subsidiary first becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower, so long as such Contractual Obligations were not entered into solely in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower; provided, further, that this clause (ii) shall not apply to Contractual Obligations that are binding on a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.14, (iii) represent Indebtedness or any other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower which is not a Loan Party which is permitted by Section 7.03, (iv) arise in connection with (x) any Lien permitted by Section 7.01 and relate to the property subject to such Lien or (y) any Disposition permitted by Sections 7.04 or 7.05 and relate solely to the assets or Person subject to such Disposition, (v) are customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures permitted under Section 7.02 and applicable solely to such joint venture entered into in the ordinary course of business, (vi) are negative pledges and restrictions on Liens in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 but solely to the extent any negative pledge relates to the

 

232


property financed by such Indebtedness, (vii) are customary restrictions on leases, subleases, licenses or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby so long as such restrictions relate to the assets subject thereto, (viii) comprise restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03 and to the extent that such restrictions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness or to the Restricted Subsidiaries incurring or guaranteeing such Indebtedness, (ix) are customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or the assignment of any license or sublicense agreement, (x) are customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business, (xi) are restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, (xii) are restrictions created in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility that in the good faith determination of the Lead Borrower are necessary or advisable to effect such Qualified Securitization Facility and relate solely to the Securitization Assets subject thereto, (xiii) arise in connection with cash or other deposits permitted under Sections 7.01 and 7.02 and limited to such cash or deposit and (xiv) are customary restrictions contained in any Junior Financing Documentation or any Permitted Refinancing thereof.

Section 7.09. Financial Covenant. Except with the written consent of the Required Revolving Credit Lenders, the Lead Borrower will not permit the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of a Test Period (commencing with the Test Period ending on or about June 30, 2020) to exceed 5.75 to 1.00 (the “Financial Covenant”) (provided that the provisions of this Section 7.09 shall not be applicable to any such Test Period if on the last day of such Test Period the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans (excluding, for the first three Test Periods following the Closing Date, any Revolving Credit Loans applied to finance Transaction Expenses), Swing Line Loans and/or Letters of Credit (excluding up to $15,000,000 of Letters of Credit and other Letters of Credit which have been Cash Collateralized or backstopped by a letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer) that are issued and/or outstanding is equal to or less than 35% of the Revolving Credit Facility). In the event that any Accounting Change shall occur which would have resulted in the Financial Covenant not having been set at the same cushion to Consolidated EBITDA for the most recent Test Period then ended prior to such Accounting Change, then the Financial Covenant shall be recalculated to maintain such cushion; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Financial Covenant be adjusted to a level below 5.75 to 1.00.

Section 7.10. Prepayments, Etc. of Indebtedness. (a) The Lead Borrower shall not, nor shall the Lead Borrower permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, voluntarily prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner (it being understood that (A) payments of regularly scheduled principal and interest, (B) customary “AHYDO catchup” payments and (C) any prepayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or other retirement in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case, due within one year of such prepayment redemption, purchase, defeasance or other retirement thereof shall be permitted), any principal amount in respect of any

 

233


subordinated Indebtedness incurred under Section 7.03(g), (q), (s) or (w) or any other Indebtedness that is or is required to be subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents (collectively, “Junior Financing”), in each case, in an amount in excess of the Threshold Amount or make any payment in violation of any subordination terms of any Junior Financing Documentation, except (i) the refinancing thereof with the Net Proceeds of any Indebtedness (to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes a Permitted Refinancing and, if such Indebtedness was originally incurred under Section 7.03(g), (q), (s) or (w), is permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(g), (q), (s) or (w)), to the extent not required to prepay any Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b), (ii) the conversion of any Junior Financing to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Borrowers or any of its direct or indirect parents, (iii) the prepayment of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent not prohibited by the subordination provisions contained in the Intercompany Note, (iv) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of Junior Financings prior to their scheduled maturity in (x) an amount equal to the amount of Excluded Contributions previously received and the Lead Borrower elects to apply under this clause (iv) or (y) without duplication with clause (x), in an amount equal to the Net Proceeds from a Disposition in respect of property or assets acquired after the Closing Date, if the acquisition of such property or assets was financed with Excluded Contributions, in each case, to the extent Not Otherwise Applied, (v) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of Junior Financings prior to their scheduled maturity in an aggregate amount not to exceed, when combined with the amount of Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 7.06(h), (x) the greater of (I) $65,000,000 and (II) 40% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA plus (y) subject to, solely in the case of the portion of the Cumulative Credit attributable to clause (b) thereof, no Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a) or (f) with respect to any Borrower having occurred and continuing or resulting therefrom, the portion, if any, of the Cumulative Credit on such date that the Lead Borrower elects to apply to this clause (a), (vi) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of Junior Financings prior to their scheduled maturity in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Available RP Capacity Amount and (vii) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, prepayments, redemptions, or purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of Junior Financings prior to their scheduled maturity in an unlimited amount so long as the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio calculated on a Pro Forma Basis is less than or equal to 3.25 to 1.00.

(ba) The Lead Borrower shall not, nor shall the Lead Borrower permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to amend, modify or change in any manner materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders any term or condition of any Junior Financing Documentation in respect of any Junior Financing having an aggregate outstanding principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount without the consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.10, in the event that a payment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of payments described above, the Lead Borrower may, in its sole discretion, classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such payment or any portion thereof in a manner that complies with this

 

234


Section 7.10 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such payment in one or more of the above clauses. In the event that a payment or other obligations could be classified as incurred under a “ratio-based” basket (giving pro forma effect to the making of such portion of such payment), the Lead Borrower, in its sole discretion, may classify such portion of such payment (and any obligations in respect thereof) as having been made pursuant to such “ratio-based” basket and thereafter the remainder of the payment as having been made pursuant to one or more of the other clauses of this Section 7.10 and if any such test would be satisfied in any subsequent fiscal quarter following the relevant date of determination, then such reclassification shall be deemed to have automatically occurred at such time.

Section 7.11. Permitted Activities. Holdings shall not engage in any material operating or business activities; provided that the following and activities incidental thereto shall be permitted in any event: (i) its ownership of the Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries and activities incidental thereto, (ii) the maintenance of its legal existence (including the ability to incur fees, costs and expenses relating to such maintenance), (iii) the performance of its obligations with respect to the Merger Agreement, the Transactions, the Loan Documents and any other Indebtedness, (iv) any public offering of its common stock or any other issuance or sale of its Equity Interests, (v) financing activities, including the issuance of securities, payment of dividends, making contributions to the capital of the Lead Borrower, and other distributions and the making of investments, (vi) incurrence of debt and guaranteeing the obligations of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (vii) participating in tax, accounting and other administrative matters, including as owner of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (viii) holding any cash incidental to any activities permitted under this Section 7.11, (ix) providing indemnification to officers, managers and directors and (x) any activities incidental to the foregoing.

ARTICLE 8

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

Section 8.01. Events of Default. Any of the following from and after the Closing Date shall constitute an event of default (an “Event of Default”):

(a) Non-Payment. Any Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within five (5) Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or any other amount payable hereunder or with respect to any other Loan Document; or

(b) Specific Covenants. The Lead Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or, in the case of Section 7.11, Holdings, fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.03(a), 6.05(a) (solely with respect to a Borrower) or Article 7; provided that (i) a Default as a result of a breach of Section 7.09 (a “Financial Covenant Event of Default”) is subject to cure pursuant to Section 8.05 and (ii) subsequent delivery of a notice to the Administrative Agent of the occurrence of any Default shall cure an Event of Default for failure to provide a notice under Section 6.03(a) unless a Responsible Officer of Holdings or the Lead Borrower had actual knowledge that

 

235


such Default had occurred and was continuing and such failure to provide notice had a material adverse effect on the rights and remedies available to the Lenders or any Agent under any Loan Document; provided, further, that a Financial Covenant Event of Default or any breach of a financial maintenance covenant under any Incremental Revolving Credit Loan or any revolving facility that constitutes Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness shall not constitute an Event of Default with respect to any Term Loans unless and until the Revolving Credit Lenders have declared all amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility to be immediately due and payable and all outstanding Revolving Credit Commitments to be immediately terminated, in each case in accordance with this Agreement and such declaration has not been rescinded on or before such date (the “Term Loan Standstill Period”); or

(c) Other Defaults. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Sections 8.01(a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty (30) days after written notice thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Lead Borrower; or

(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Lead Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document required to be delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made and, to the extent capable of being cured, such incorrect representation or warranty shall remain incorrect for a period of 30 days after written notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Lead Borrower; provided that the failure of any representation or warranty (other than Specified Representations or Specified Merger Agreement Representations) to be true and correct on the Closing Date shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Term Loans; or

(e) Cross-Default. The Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any, (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness hereunder) having an outstanding aggregate principal amount of not less than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any Indebtedness having an outstanding aggregate principal amount of not less than the Threshold Amount, or any other event occurs (other than, with respect to Indebtedness consisting of Swap Contracts, termination events or equivalent events pursuant to the terms of such Swap Contracts), the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity; provided that this clause (e)(B) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness; or

 

236


(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. Any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) Any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within sixty (60) days after its issue or levy; or

(h) Judgments. There is entered against the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary a final judgment or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer has been notified of such judgment or order and has not denied coverage) and such judgment or order shall not have been satisfied, vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded pending an appeal for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days; or

(i) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Subject to, solely with respect to the Foreign Security Documents, the Reservations and the Perfection Requirements, any material provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder (including as a result of a transaction permitted under Sections 7.04 or 7.05) or as a result of acts or omissions by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent or any Lender or the satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party contests in writing the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document or the validity or priority of a Lien as required by the Collateral Documents on a material portion of the Collateral; or any Loan Party denies in writing that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document (other than as a result of repayment in full of the Obligations and termination of the Aggregate Commitments), or purports in writing to revoke or rescind any Loan Document; or

(j) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control; or

 

237


(k) Collateral Documents. Subject to, solely with respect to the Foreign Security Documents, the Reservations and the Perfection Requirements, any Collateral Document after delivery thereof pursuant to Sections 4.01, 6.11, 6.13, 6.16 or the Security Agreement shall for any reason (other than pursuant to the terms thereof including as a result of a transaction not prohibited under this Agreement) cease to create a valid and perfected Lien, with the priority required by the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements on and security interest in any material portion of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, subject to Liens permitted under Section 7.01, (x) except to the extent that any such perfection or priority is not required pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement or the Agreed Security Principles or any loss thereof results from the failure of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to maintain possession of certificates actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Collateral Documents or to file Uniform Commercial Code continuation statements or similar statements in any applicable jurisdiction and (y) except as to Collateral consisting of Real Property to the extent that such losses are covered by a lender’s title insurance policy and such insurer has not denied coverage; or

(l) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs which has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in liability of a Loan Party or a Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate in an aggregate amount which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in liability of a Loan Party or a Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate in an aggregate amount which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, any Default or Event of Default under the Loan Documents or similarly defined term hereunder or thereunder (and any Default or Event of Default under the Loan Documents or similarly defined term hereunder or thereunder resulting from failure to provide notice thereof) resulting from the failure to deliver a notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall cease to exist and be cured in all respects if the underlying Default or Event of Default giving rise to such notice requirement shall have ceased to exist and/or be cured.

Section 8.02. Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions (or, if a Financial Covenant Event of Default occurs and is continuing and prior to the expiration of the Term Loan Standstill Period, at the request of the Required Revolving Credit Lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility only, and in such case only with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments, Revolving Credit Loans, Swing Line Loans, L/C Obligations, any Letters of Credit and L/C Credit Extensions):

(i) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

238


(ii) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Lead Borrower;

(iii) require that the Borrowers Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and

(iv) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents or applicable Law;

provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to Holdings or the Borrowers under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable and the obligation of the Borrowers to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary (including in Section 8.01) or in any other Loan Document, neither the Administrative Agent nor the Required Lenders may take any of the actions described in this Section 8.02 with respect to any Default or Event of Default resulting from any action or the occurrence of any event reported publicly or otherwise disclosed to the Lenders more than two years prior to such date.

Section 8.03. Exclusion of Immaterial Subsidiaries. Solely for the purpose of determining whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred under Section 8.01(f) or (g), any reference in any such clause to any Restricted Subsidiary or Loan Party shall be deemed not to include any Restricted Subsidiary (an “Immaterial Subsidiary”) affected by any event or circumstances referred to in any such clause that did not, as of the last day of the most recent completed fiscal quarter of the Lead Borrower, have assets with a fair market value in excess of 2.5% of Total Assets (it being agreed that all Restricted Subsidiaries affected by any event or circumstance referred to in any such clause shall be considered together, as a single consolidated Restricted Subsidiary, for purposes of determining whether the condition specified above is satisfied).

Section 8.04. Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to any Intercreditor Agreements then in effect, be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order (to the fullest extent permitted by mandatory provisions of applicable Law):

 

239


First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (other than principal and interest, but including Attorney Costs payable under Section 10.04 and amounts payable under Article 3) payable to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in its capacity as such;

Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including Attorney Costs payable under Section 10.04 and amounts payable under Article 3), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans and L/C Borrowings, and any fees, premiums and scheduled periodic payments due under Treasury Services Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings (including to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit), and any breakage, termination or other payments under Treasury Services Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

Fifth, to the payment of all other Obligations of the Borrowers that are due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date; and

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrowers or as otherwise required by Law.

Subject to Section 2.03(g), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fourth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above and, if no Obligations remain outstanding, to the Borrowers as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amounts received from any Guarantor shall be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Guarantor.

Section 8.05. Right to Cure. (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Sections 8.01 or 8.02, if the Lead Borrower determines that an Event of Default under the covenant set forth in Section 7.09 has occurred or may occur, during the period commencing after the beginning of the last fiscal quarter included in such Test Period and ending ten (10) Business Days after the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered hereunder with respect to such fiscal quarter (the “Cure Expiration Date”), a Specified Equity Contribution may be made to the Lead Borrower (a

 

240


Designated Equity Contribution”), and the amount of the net cash proceeds thereof shall be deemed to increase Consolidated EBITDA with respect to such applicable quarter; provided that such net cash proceeds (i) are actually received by the Lead Borrower as cash common equity (including through capital contribution of such net cash proceeds to the Lead Borrower) during the period commencing after the beginning of the last fiscal quarter included in such Test Period by the Lead Borrower and ending on the Cure Expiration Date and (ii) are Not Otherwise Applied. The parties hereby acknowledge that this Section 8.05(a) may not be relied on for purposes of calculating any financial ratios other than as applicable to Section 7.09 and shall not result in any adjustment to any baskets or other amounts other than the amount of the Consolidated EBITDA for the purpose of Section 7.09. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 8.01 and Section 8.02, (A) upon designation of the Designated Equity Contribution by the Lead Borrower in an amount necessary to cure any Event of Default under the covenant set forth in Section 7.09, such covenant will be deemed satisfied and complied with as of the end of the relevant fiscal quarter with the same effect as though there had been no failure to comply with such covenant and any Event of Default under such covenant (and any other Default as a result thereof) will be deemed not to have occurred for purposes of the Loan Documents, and (B) from and after the date that the Lead Borrower delivers a written notice to the Administrative Agent that it intends to exercise its cure right under this Section 8.05 neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender may exercise any rights or remedies under Section 8.02 (or under any other Loan Document) on the basis of any actual or purported Event of Default under the covenant set forth in Section 7.09 with respect to such quarter (and any other Default as a result thereof), and the Borrowers shall be permitted to borrow Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans and make any request for an L/C Credit Extension, until and unless the Cure Expiration Date has occurred without the Designated Equity Contribution having been designated.

(ba) (i) In each period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, there shall be at least two fiscal quarters in which no Designated Equity Contribution is made, (ii) no more than five Designated Equity Contributions may be made in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement, (iii) the amount of any Designated Equity Contribution shall be no more than the amount required to cause the Lead Borrower to be in Pro Forma Compliance with Section 7.09 for any applicable period, (iv) there shall be no pro forma reduction in Indebtedness with the proceeds of any Designated Equity Contribution for determining compliance with Section 7.09 for the fiscal quarter with respect to which such Designated Equity Contribution was made; provided that to the extent such proceeds are actually applied to prepay Indebtedness, such reduction may be credited in any subsequent fiscal quarter and (v) other than as set forth in the proviso to clause (iv) above, no Designated Equity Contribution may be included for purposes of calculating any financial ratios other than compliance with the Financial Covenant and shall not result in any adjustment to any “baskets” or other amounts other than the amount of Consolidated EBITDA referred to in clause (a) above.

 

241


ARTICLE 9

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND OTHER AGENTS

Section 9.01. Appointment and Authorization of Agents. (a) Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints Citi to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, designates and authorizes each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Lenders hereby expressly authorize the Administrative Agent to execute any and all documents (including releases) with respect to the Collateral and the rights of the Secured Parties with respect thereto, as contemplated by and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents and acknowledge and agree that any such action by any Agent shall bind the Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere herein or in any other Loan Document, neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, nor shall the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender or Participant, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” herein and in the other Loan Documents with reference to any Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

(ba) Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and each such L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Agents in this Article 9 with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and the applications and agreements for letters of credit pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Agent” as used in this Article 9 and in the definition of “Agent-Related Person” included such L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to such L/C Issuer.

(cb) Each of the Secured Parties (by acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral Documents) hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Collateral Agent to act as the agent of (and to hold any security interest created by the Collateral Documents for and on behalf of or on trust for) such Secured Party for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by the Loan Parties to secure any of the Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Collateral Agent (and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 for purposes of

 

242


holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Collateral Agent), shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article 9 (including Section 9.07, 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.

(dc) Each Lender and each other Secured Party (by acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral Documents) hereby (i) acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Intercreditor Agreements, (ii) agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements to the extent then in effect, and (iii) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Agent to enter into each Intercreditor Agreement as Collateral Agent and on behalf of such Lender or Secured Party.

(ed) Except as provided in Sections 9.09 and 9.11, the provisions of this Article 9 are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, and neither the Lead Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third-party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

Section 9.02. Delegation of Duties. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents or of exercising any rights and remedies thereunder) by or through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Agent-Related Persons. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Agent-Related Persons of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the Facilities as well as activities as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent. Neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or sub-agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined in the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

Section 9.03. Liability of Agents. No Agent-Related Person shall (a) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein), (b) except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity, (c) be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into the

 

243


satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article 4 or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or (d) be responsible in any manner to any Lender or Participant for any recital, statement, representation or warranty made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof, contained herein or in any other Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, any failure to monitor or maintain any part of the Collateral, or the perfection or priority of any Lien or security interest created or purported to be created under the Collateral Documents, or for any failure of any Loan Party or any other party to any Loan Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Agent-Related Person shall be under any obligation to any Lender or Participant to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent 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 or Collateral Agent (as applicable) 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 or Collateral Agent (as applicable) shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent (as applicable) to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law.

Section 9.04. Reliance by Agents. Each Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, communication, signature, resolution, representation, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone message, electronic mail message, statement or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to any Loan Party), independent accountants and other experts selected by such Agent. The Administrative Agent may deem and treat the Lender specified in the Register with respect to any amount owing hereunder as the owner thereof for all purposes unless a written notice of assignment, negotiation or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Administrative Agent. Each Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under any Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Each Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Required Lenders (or

 

244


such greater number of Lenders as may be expressly required hereby in any instance) and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders, provided that each Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or in the opinion of its counsel, may expose it to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law.

Section 9.05. Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal, interest and fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender or the Lead Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The Administrative Agent will notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such notice. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to any Event of Default as may be directed by the Required Lenders (or, if a Financial Covenant Event of Default occurs and is continuing and prior to the expiration of the Term Loan Standstill Period, the Required Revolving Credit Lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility only, and in such case only with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments, Revolving Credit Loans, Swing Line Loans, L/C Obligations, Letters of Credit and L/C Credit Extensions) in accordance with Article 8; provided that unless and until the Administrative Agent has received any such direction, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Event of Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of the Lenders.

Section 9.06. Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Agents. Each Lender acknowledges that no Agent-Related Person, Lead Arranger, or Co-Manager has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by any Agent, any Lead Arranger or Co-Manager hereafter taken, including any consent to and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent-Related Person, any Lead Arranger or Co-Manager to any Lender as to any matter, including whether Agent-Related Persons, Lead Arrangers or Co-Manager have disclosed material information in their possession. Each Lender represents to each Agent, each Lead Arranger and the Co-Manager that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person, any Lead Arranger or Co-Manager and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of, and investigation into, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan 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 Borrowers hereunder. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person, any Lead Arranger or Co-Manager and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects,

 

245


operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by any Agent or Lead Arranger herein, such Agent, Lead Arranger or the Co-Manager, as applicable, shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Loan Parties or any of their Affiliates which may come into the possession of any Agent-Related Person, any Lead Arranger or Co-Manager.

Section 9.07. Indemnification of Agents. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify upon demand each Agent-Related Person (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of any Loan Party and without limiting the obligation of any Loan Party to do so) acting as an Agent, pro rata, and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by it; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment to any Agent-Related Person of any portion of such Indemnified Liabilities resulting from such Agent-Related Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that no action taken in accordance with the directions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be required by the Loan Documents) shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section 9.07; provided, further, that any obligation to indemnify an L/C Issuer pursuant to this Section 9.07 shall be limited to Revolving Credit Lenders only. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Liabilities, this Section 9.07 applies whether any such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Lender or any other Person. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Loan Parties and without limiting their obligation to do so. The undertaking in this Section 9.07 shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, the payment of all other Obligations and the resignation of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be.

Section 9.08. Agents in Their Individual Capacities. Citi, any Lead Arranger and any of their respective Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire Equity Interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with the Borrowers and their respective Affiliates as though it were not the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Swing Line Lender, an L/C Issuer or a Lead Arranger hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, Citi, any Lead Arranger or any of their respective Affiliates may receive

 

246


information regarding the Borrowers or their Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of the Borrowers or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent nor any Lead Arranger shall be under any obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to its Loans, Citi, any Lead Arranger and any of their respective Affiliates shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise such rights and powers as though it were not the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Swing Line Lender, an L/C Issuer or a Lead Arranger, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” include Citi in its individual capacity. Any successor to Citi as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent shall also have the rights attributed to Citi under this Section 9.08.

Section 9.09. Successor Agents. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may resign as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Lenders and the Lead Borrower and if either the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent is a Defaulting Lender, the Lead Borrower may remove such Defaulting Lender from such role upon ten (10) days’ notice to the Lenders. If the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent resigns under this Agreement or is removed by the Lead Borrower, the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for the Lenders, which successor agent shall be consented to by the Lead Borrower at all times other than during the existence of an Event of Default under Sections 8.01(f) or (g) (which consent of the Lead Borrower shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If no successor agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation or removal of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, in the case of a resignation, and the Lead Borrower, in the case of a removal may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Lead Borrower (in the case of a resignation), a successor agent from among the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor agent hereunder, the Person acting as such successor agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent or retiring Collateral Agent and the term “Administrative Agent” or “Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor administrative agent or collateral agent and/or Supplemental Agent, as the case may be, and the retiring Administrative Agent’s or Collateral Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s or the Collateral Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder as the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, the provisions of this Article 9 and the provisions of Sections 10.04 and 10.05 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent under this Agreement. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent by the date which is thirty (30) days following the retiring Administrative Agent’s or Collateral Agent’s notice of resignation or ten (10) days following the Lead Borrower’s notice of removal, the retiring Administrative Agent’s or the retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent hereunder by a successor and upon the execution and filing or

 

247


recording of such financing statements, or amendments thereto, and such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary or desirable, or as the Required Lenders may request, in order to (a) continue the perfection of the Liens granted or purported to be granted by the Collateral Documents or (b) otherwise ensure that Section 6.11 is satisfied, the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, discretion, privileges, and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Loan Documents. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s or Collateral Agent’s resignation hereunder as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, the provisions of this Article 9 and Sections 10.04 and 10.05 shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent.

Any resignation by Citi as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as a L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender pursuant to Sections 2.03(q) and 2.04(h).

Section 9.10. Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim; Credit Bidding. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Lead Borrower or the Collateral Agent) shall be (to the fullest extent permitted by mandatory provisions of applicable Law) entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due to the Lenders, the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(h) and (i), 2.09, 10.04 and 10.05) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, curator, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Agents and their respective agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under Sections 2.09, 10.04 and 10.05.

 

248


Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, or any similar Laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, (b) at any other sale or foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable Law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid on a ratable basis (with Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that would vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) in the asset or assets so purchased (or in the Equity Interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are used to consummate such purchase). In connection with any such bid (i) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles to make a bid, (ii) to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or Equity Interests thereof shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by the vote of the Required Lenders, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in clauses (a) through (j) of Section 10.01), and (iii) to the extent that Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of debt credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Lenders pro rata and the Equity Interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of the Obligations that had been assigned to the acquisition vehicle shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action.

 

249


Section 9.11. Collateral and Guaranty Matters. Each Lender (including in its capacity as a counterparty to a Secured Hedge Agreement or Treasury Services Agreement) and each other Secured Party by its acceptance of the Collateral Documents irrevocably agrees:

(a) that any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document shall be automatically released (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than (x) obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements and Treasury Services Agreements not yet due and payable and (y) contingent indemnification obligations not yet accrued and payable) and the expiration or termination or cash collateralization of all Letters of Credit (or if such Letters of Credit have been backstopped by letters of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuers or deemed reissued under another agreement reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuers), (ii) at the time the property subject to such Lien is Disposed or to be Disposed as part of or in connection with any Disposition permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document to any Person other than a Person required to grant a Lien to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under the Loan Documents, (iii) subject to Section 10.01, if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders, (iv) to the extent such asset constitutes an Excluded Asset or (v) if the property subject to such Lien is owned by a Guarantor, upon release of such Guarantor from its obligations under its Guaranty pursuant to clause (c) below; provided that, without limitation to the operation of the automatic releases described in this clause (a), a certificate of a Responsible Officer, delivered at the option of the Lead Borrower, to the Administrative Agent with respect to any release described in this clause (a) stating that the Lead Borrower has determined in good faith that such release satisfies the foregoing requirements shall be conclusive evidence that such release satisfies the foregoing requirement and such automatic release has occurred (and the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on such certificate without further inquiry);

(b) that upon the request of the Lead Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall release or subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Sections 7.01(u) or (w) (in the case of clause (w), to the extent required by the terms of the obligations secured by such Liens) pursuant to documents reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

(c) that any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically released from its obligations under the Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary or becomes an Excluded Subsidiary as a result of a transaction or designation permitted hereunder; provided that no such release shall occur if such Guarantor continues to be a guarantor in respect of any Junior Financing with a principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; provided, further that, without limitation of the operation of the automatic releases described in this clause (c), a certificate of a Responsible Officer delivered at the option of the Lead Borrower, to the Administrative Agent with respect to any such automatic release stating that such Subsidiary Guarantor has ceased to be a Restricted Subsidiary or has become an Excluded Subsidiary as a result of a transaction or designation permitted hereunder, as the case may be, shall be conclusive evidence that such release satisfies the foregoing requirement and such automatic release has occurred (and the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on such certificate without further inquiry);

 

250


(d) at the sole option of the Lead Borrower, Holdings or any existing entity constituting “Holdings” shall be released from its obligations under the Guaranty if such entity ceases to be the direct parent of the Lead Borrower as a result of a transaction or designation permitted pursuant to the definition thereof and otherwise permitted hereunder, subject to the assumption of all obligations of “Holdings” under the Loan Documents by such other Subsidiary that directly owns 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrowers pursuant to the definition thereof and satisfaction of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirements or the Agreed Security Principles, as applicable, by such by such Subsidiary; provided that 100% of the Equity Interests of the Borrowers shall be pledged to the Administrative Agent to secure the Obligations; and

(e) the Collateral Agent may, without any further consent of any Lender, enter into (i) a First Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the collateral agent or other representatives of the holders of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 that is intended to be secured on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the Obligations, in each case, where such Indebtedness is secured by Liens permitted under Section 7.01 and/or (ii) a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the collateral agent or other representatives of the holders of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 that is intended to be secured on a junior lien basis with the Liens securing the Obligations, in each case, where such Indebtedness is secured by Liens permitted under Section 7.01. The Collateral Agent may rely exclusively on a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower as to whether any such other Liens are permitted. Any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement entered into by the Collateral Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be binding on the Secured Parties.

Upon request by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s or the Collateral Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.11; provided that absent such confirmation in writing from the Required Lenders, the act of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent making such request shall not prohibit the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent from releasing or subordinating its interests if it otherwise conclusively relies on a certificate of the Lead Borrower. In each case as specified in this Section 9.11, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent will promptly upon the request of the Lead Borrower (and each Lender irrevocably authorizes and requires the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to), at the Borrowers’ expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as the Lead Borrower may reasonably request to evidence the release or subordination of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Collateral Documents, or to evidence the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.11 (and the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower to that effect provided to it by any Loan Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry). Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent. Each Lender and each other Secured Party agrees that it will take such action and execute any

 

251


such documents as may be reasonably requested by the Lead Borrower, at the Borrowers’ sole cost and expense, in connection with any of the foregoing releases or any such subordination and irrevocably authorizes and requires the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such action and execute any such document and consents to such reliance by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent on a certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower certifying as the satisfaction of any of the requirements in this Section 9.11. For the avoidance of doubt, no release of Collateral or Guarantors effected in the manner permitted by this Section 9.11 shall require the consent of any holder of obligations under Secured Hedge Agreement or any Treasury Services Agreements.

Section 9.12. Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers. None of the Lenders or other Persons identified on the facing page or signature pages of this Agreement as a “bookrunner,” or “lead arranger” shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than, with respect to any Lender, those applicable to all Lenders. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders or other Persons so identified shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders or other Persons so identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder.

Section 9.13. Withholding Tax Indemnity. To the extent required by any applicable Law, the Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. If the Internal Revenue Service or any other authority of the United States or other jurisdiction asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold Tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender for any reason (including, without limitation, because the appropriate form was not delivered or not properly executed, or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstance that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of withholding Tax ineffective), such Lender shall, within ten days after written demand therefor, indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent (to the extent that the Administrative Agent has not already been reimbursed by the Borrowers or any Guarantor pursuant to Section 3.01 and Section 3.04 and without limiting or expanding the obligation of the Borrowers or any Guarantor to do so) for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as Taxes or otherwise, together with all expenses incurred, including legal expenses and any other out-of-pocket expenses, whether or not such Tax was correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due the Administrative Agent under this Section 9.13. The agreements in this Section 9.13 shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Lender” for purposes of this Section 9.13 shall include each L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender.

 

252


Section 9.14. Appointment of Supplemental Agents. (a) It is the purpose of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents that there shall be no violation of any Law of any jurisdiction denying or restricting the right of banking corporations or associations to transact business as agent or trustee in such jurisdiction. It is recognized that in case of litigation under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and in particular in case of the enforcement of any of the Loan Documents, or in case the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent deems that by reason of any present or future Law of any jurisdiction it may not exercise any of the rights, powers or remedies granted herein or in any of the other Loan Documents or take any other action which may be desirable or necessary in connection therewith, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent are hereby authorized to appoint an additional individual or institution selected by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion as a separate trustee, co-trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, administrative sub-agent or administrative co-agent (any such additional individual or institution being referred to herein individually as a “Supplemental Agent” and collectively as “Supplemental Agents”).

(ba) In the event that the Collateral Agent appoints a Supplemental Agent with respect to any Collateral, (i) each and every right, power, privilege or duty expressed or intended by this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents to be exercised by or vested in or conveyed to the Collateral Agent with respect to such Collateral shall be exercisable by and vest in such Supplemental Agent to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to enable such Supplemental Agent to exercise such rights, powers and privileges with respect to such Collateral and to perform such duties with respect to such Collateral, and every covenant and obligation contained in the Loan Documents and necessary to the exercise or performance thereof by such Supplemental Agent shall run to and be enforceable by either the Collateral Agent or such Supplemental Agent, and (ii) the provisions of this Article 9 and of Sections 10.04 and 10.05 that refer to the Administrative Agent shall inure to the benefit of such Supplemental Agent and all references therein to the Collateral Agent shall be deemed to be references to the Collateral Agent and/or such Supplemental Agent, as the context may require.

(cb) Should any instrument in writing from any Loan Party be required by any Supplemental Agent so appointed by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to him or it such rights, powers, privileges and duties, such Loan Party shall execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such instruments promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent. In case any Supplemental Agent, or a successor thereto, shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of such Supplemental Agent, to the extent permitted by Law, shall vest in and be exercised by the Administrative Agent until the appointment of a new Supplemental Agent.

Section 9.15. 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, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

253


(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, the Commitments or this Agreement,

(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement,

(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 8414 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

(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, that none of the Administrative Agent, any Lead Arranger or any of their respective Affiliates is 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 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).

 

254


ARTICLE 10

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 10.01. Amendments, Etc.. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders, or by the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders, and such Loan Party (with an executed copy thereof promptly delivered to the Administrative Agent if not otherwise a party thereto) and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that (i) any amendment or waiver contemplated in clauses (g) or (j) below, shall only require the consent of such Loan Party and the Required Revolving Credit Lenders or the Required Facility Lenders under the applicable Facility, as applicable and (ii) any amendment or waiver contemplated in clause (k) below shall only require the consent of such Loan Party and the Required Class Lenders under the applicable Class of Term Loans; provided, further, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(a) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of each Lender holding such Commitment (it being understood that a waiver of any condition precedent or of any Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute an extension or increase of any Commitment of any Lender);

(b) postpone any date scheduled for, or reduce or forgive the amount of, any payment of principal or interest under Sections 2.07 or 2.08 without the written consent of each Lender holding the applicable Obligation (it being understood that the waiver of (or amendment to the terms of) any mandatory prepayment of the Term Loans shall not constitute a postponement of any date scheduled for the payment of principal or interest and it being understood that any change to the definition of “Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio,” “Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio”, “Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio” or “Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio” or, in each case, in the component definitions thereof shall not constitute a reduction or forgiveness in any rate of interest);

(c) reduce or forgive the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iii) of the third proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document (or change the timing of payments of such fees or other amounts) without the written consent of each Lender holding such Loan, L/C Borrowing or to whom such fee or other amount is owed (it being understood that any change to the definition of “Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio,” “Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio”, “Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio” or “Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio”, in each case, in the component definitions thereof shall not constitute a reduction or forgiveness in any rate of interest); provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrowers to pay interest at the Default Rate;

 

255


(d) change any provision of Section 8.04 or this Section 10.01 or lower the percentage set forth in the definition of “Required Revolving Credit Lenders,” “Required Lenders,” “Required Facility Lenders,” “Required Class Lenders” or any other provision specifying the number of Lenders or portion of the Loans or Commitments required to take any action under the Loan Documents, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

(e) other than in connection with a transaction permitted under Sections 7.04 or 7.05, release all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions, without the written consent of each Lender;

(f) other than in connection with a transaction permitted under Sections 7.04 or 7.05, release all or substantially all of the aggregate value of the Guaranty, without the written consent of each Lender;

(g) (1) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.02 as to any Credit Extension under one or more Revolving Credit Facilities or (2) amend, waive or otherwise modify any term or provision which directly affects Lenders under one or more Revolving Credit Facilities and does not directly affect Lenders under any other Facility (including any waiver, amendment or modification of Section 7.09 or the definition of “Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio” or the component definitions thereof (but only to the extent of any such component definition’s effect on the definition of “Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio” for the purposes of Section 7.09)), in each case, without the written consent of the Required Facility Lenders under such applicable Revolving Credit Facility or Facilities (and in the case of multiple Facilities which are affected, with respect to any such Facility, such consent shall be effected by the Required Facility Lenders of such Facility); provided, however, that the waivers described in this clause (g) shall not require the consent of any Lenders other than the Required Facility Lenders under such Facility or Facilities;

(h) amend, waive or otherwise modify the portion of the definition of “Interest Period” to automatically allow intervals in excess of six months, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(i) subordinate the Revolving Credit Facility to any Term Loans without the written consent of each Revolving Credit Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

(j) amend, waive or otherwise modify any term or provision (including the availability and conditions to funding under Section 2.14 (but not the conditions to implementing Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 2.14(d)(v) and Section 2.14(e)) with respect to Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, under Section 2.15 with respect to Refinancing Term Loans and Other Revolving Credit Commitments and under Section 2.16 with respect to Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and, in each case, the rate of interest applicable thereto) which directly affects Lenders of one or more Incremental Term Loans, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, Refinancing Term Loans, Other Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Term Loans or

 

256


Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and does not directly and adversely affect Lenders under any other Facility, in each case, without the written consent of the Required Facility Lenders under such applicable Incremental Term Loans, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, Refinancing Term Loans, Other Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments (and in the case of multiple Facilities which are directly affected, with respect to any such Facility, such consent shall be effected by the Required Facility Lenders of such Facility); provided, however, that the waivers described in this clause (j) shall not require the consent of any Lenders other than the Required Facility Lenders under such applicable Incremental Term Loans, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, Refinancing Term Loans, Other Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Term Loans or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, as the case may be; and provided, further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by each L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of an L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Letter of Credit Issuance Request 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 a Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of such Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; provided, however, that this Agreement may be amended to adjust the borrowing mechanics related to Swing Line Loans with only the written consent of the Swing Line Lender and the Borrowers so long as the obligations of the Revolving Credit Lenders and the Administrative Agent are not affected thereby (and the Lead Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent prompt written notice of any such amendment, and the Administrative Agent hereby agrees to acknowledge such amendment as promptly as practicable following such written notice; it being acknowledged and agreed that the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such, shall have no liability with respect to such acknowledgment; provided that, failure to obtain such acknowledgment shall in no way affect the effectiveness of any such amendment); (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (iv) Section 10.07(i) may not be amended, waived or otherwise modified without the consent of each Granting Lender all or any part of whose Loans are being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment, waiver or other modification; and (v) the consent of Lenders holding more than 50% of any Class of Commitments or Loans shall be required with respect to any amendment that by its terms adversely affects the rights of such Class in respect of payments or Collateral hereunder in a manner different than such amendment affects other Classes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms materially and adversely affects any Defaulting Lender (if such Lender were not a Defaulting Lender) to a greater extent than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender; or

 

257


(k) amend waive or modify Section 2.05(a)(iv), the definition of “Repricing Transactions” or any other “soft-call” provisions applicable to any Class of Term Loans, in each case, without the written consent of the Required Class Lenders under such applicable Class of Term Loans (and in the case of multiple Classes of Term Loans which are affected, with respect to any such Class of Term Loans, such consent shall be effected by the Required Class Lenders of each such Class of Term Loans).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Lender consent is required to effect any amendment or supplement to any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other arrangement permitted under this Agreement that is for the purpose of adding the Other Debt Representatives, as expressly contemplated by the terms of such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, such First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or such other arrangement permitted under this Agreement, as applicable, pursuant to the terms thereof (it being understood that any such amendment or supplement may make such other changes to the applicable Intercreditor Agreement as, in the good faith determination of the Lead Borrower, are required to effectuate the foregoing); provided, further, that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement and any other Loan Document may be amended solely with the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers without the need to obtain the consent of any other Lender if such amendment is delivered in order (A) to correct or cure ambiguities, errors, omissions or defects, (B) to effect administrative changes of a technical or immaterial nature, (C) to fix incorrect cross references or similar inaccuracies in this Agreement or the applicable Loan Document, (D) to implement the “market flex” provisions set forth in the Fee Letter, (E) solely to add benefit to one or more existing Facilities, including but not limited to, increase in margin, interest rate floor, prepayment premium, call protection and reestablishment of or increase in amortization schedule, in order to cause any Incremental Facility to be fungible with any existing Facility, (F) to add any financial covenant or other terms for the benefit of all Lenders or any Class of Lenders pursuant to the conditions imposed on the incurrence of any Indebtedness set forth elsewhere in this Agreement and (G) to make the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document more restrictive to the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined by the Lead Borrower), and in each case of clauses (A), (B) and (C), such amendment shall become effective without any further action or the consent of any other party to any Loan Document if the same is not objected to in writing by the Required Lenders within five (5) Business Days following receipt of notice thereof. The Collateral Documents and related documents in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be in a form reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and may be, together with this Agreement, amended, supplemented and waived with the consent of the Administrative Agent at the request of the Lead Borrower without the need to obtain the consent of any other Lender if such amendment, supplement or waiver is delivered in order (i) to comply with local Law or advice of local counsel, (ii) to correct

 

258


or cure ambiguities, omissions, mistakes or defects or (iii) to cause such Collateral Documents or other document to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and, in each case, such amendment shall become effective without any further action or the consent of any other party to any Loan Document if the same is not objected to in writing by the Required Lenders within five (5) Business Days following receipt of notice thereof.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, the Borrowers may enter into any Incremental Amendment in accordance with Section 2.14, any Refinancing Amendment in accordance with Section 2.15 and any Extension Amendment in accordance with Section 2.16 and such Incremental Amendments, Refinancing Amendments and Extension Amendments shall be effective to amend the terms of this Agreement and the other applicable Loan Documents, in each case, without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent may enter into any amendment, waiver, consent or supplement to this Agreement and such other related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable to amend the definition of “Eurocurrency Rate” with the consents, if any, and in the manner, as set forth therein.

Section 10.02. Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies. (a) General. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications provided for hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be in writing (including by facsimile transmission or electronic mail). All such written notices shall be mailed, faxed or delivered to the applicable address, facsimile number or electronic mail address, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

(i) subject to Section 10.07(q), if to a Borrower (or any other Loan Party) or the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, an L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02(a) or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties; and

(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the Lead Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, each L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender.

 

259


All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to be given or made upon the earlier to occur of (i) actual receipt by the relevant party hereto and (ii) (A) if delivered by hand or by courier, when signed for by or on behalf of the relevant party hereto; (B) if delivered by mail, four (4) Business Days after deposit in the mails, postage prepaid; (C) if delivered by facsimile, when sent and receipt has been confirmed by telephone; and (D) if delivered by electronic mail (which form of delivery is subject to the provisions of Section 10.02(c)), when delivered; provided that notices and other communications to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, an L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Article 2 shall not be effective until actually received by such Person. In no event shall a voice mail message be effective as a notice, communication or confirmation hereunder. Any notice 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.

(b) Effectiveness of Facsimile Documents and Signatures. Loan Documents may be transmitted and/or signed by facsimile or other electronic communication. The effectiveness of any such documents and signatures shall, subject to applicable Law, have the same force and effect as manually signed originals and shall be binding on all Loan Parties, the Agents and the Lenders.

(c) Reliance by Agents and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Lead Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrowers shall indemnify each Agent-Related Person and each Lender from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Lead Borrower in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction and such indemnification obligations shall survive the resignation or removal of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations. All telephonic notices to the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

(d) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereunder may be delivered or furnished by FpML messaging and Internet or intranet websites pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent acting reasonably, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or L/C Issuer pursuant to Article 2 if such Lender or L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by such communication. The Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender, the L/C Issuers or the Lead Borrower may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by FpML messaging and Internet or intranet websites 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, 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 of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

 

260


Section 10.03. No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.

Section 10.04. Attorney Costs and Expenses. The Borrowers agree (a) if the Closing Date occurs, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lead Arrangers for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation, syndication and execution of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification of the provisions hereof and thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated thereby are consummated), and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including all Attorney Costs, which shall be limited to one primary counsel (which shall be Milbank LLP for any and all of the foregoing in connection with the Transactions and other matters, including primary syndication, to occur on or prior to or otherwise in connection with the Closing Date), one local counsel as reasonably necessary in each relevant jurisdiction material to the interests of the Lenders taken as a whole and solely in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant jurisdiction that is material to each group of similarly situated affected Persons) and (b) from and after the Closing Date, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers and each Lender for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including all such costs and expenses incurred during any legal proceeding, including any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, and including all respective Attorney Costs which shall be limited to Attorney Costs of one counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers (and one local counsel as reasonably necessary in each relevant jurisdiction material to the interests of the Lenders taken as a whole)). The foregoing costs and expenses shall include all reasonable search, filing, recording and title insurance charges and fees related thereto, and other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Agent. The agreements in this Section 10.04 shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations. All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be paid within thirty (30) days of receipt by the Lead Borrower of an invoice relating thereto setting forth such expenses in reasonable detail including, if requested by the Lead Borrower and to the extent reasonably available, backup documentation supporting such reimbursement request; provided that with respect to the Closing Date, all amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be paid on the Closing Date solely to the extent invoiced to the Lead Borrower within three Business Days of the

Closing Date. If any Loan Party fails to pay when due any costs, expenses or other amounts payable by it hereunder or under any Loan Document, such amount may be paid on behalf of such Loan Party by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

 

261


For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 10.04 shall not apply to Taxes, except any Taxes that represent liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, prepayments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements arising from any non-Tax claims.

Section 10.05. Indemnification by the Borrowers. The Borrowers shall indemnify and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person, each Lead Arranger, the Co-Manager, each Lender, each L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, partners, agents, advisors and other representatives of each of the foregoing (collectively the “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all liabilities (including Environmental Liabilities), obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements (including Attorney Costs but limited in the case of legal fees and expenses to the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and other charges of one counsel to all Indemnitees taken as a whole and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel for all Indemnitees taken as a whole in each relevant jurisdiction that is material to the interests of the Lenders, and solely in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant jurisdiction that is material to each group of similarly situated affected Indemnitees) of any kind or nature whatsoever which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any such Indemnitee in any way arising out of or in connection with (a) the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of any Loan Document or any other agreement, letter or instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, (b) any Commitment, Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom including any refusal by an L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit or (c) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding) and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto (all the foregoing, collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”) in all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of the negligence of the Indemnitee; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulted from (x) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or of any of its Affiliates or their respective directors, officers, employees, partners, agents, advisors or other representatives, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, (y) a material breach of any obligations under any Loan Document by such Indemnitee or of any of its Affiliates or their respective directors, officers, employees, partners, advisors or other representatives, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or (z) any dispute solely among Indemnitees (other than any claims against an

 

262


Indemnitee in its capacity or in fulfilling its role as an Agent, L/C Issuer or as a Lead Arranger under any Facility and other than any claims arising out of any act or omission of Holdings, the Borrowers, the Investors or any of its Affiliates). No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of any information or other materials obtained through Debtdomain, Roadshow Access (if applicable) or other similar information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement, nor, to the extent permissible under applicable Law, shall any Indemnitee, Loan Party or any Subsidiary have any liability for any special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Closing Date) (other than, in the case of any Loan Party, in respect of any such damages incurred or paid by an Indemnitee to a third party and for any out-of-pocket expenses in each case subject to the indemnification provisions of this Section 10.05); it being agreed that this sentence shall not limit the indemnification obligations of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Subsidiary. In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 10.05 applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party, its directors, stockholders or creditors or an Indemnitee or any other Person, whether or not any Indemnitee is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not any of the transactions contemplated hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents are consummated. All amounts due under this Section 10.05 shall be paid within thirty (30) days after written demand therefor (together with backup documentation supporting such reimbursement request); provided, however, that such Indemnitee shall promptly refund the amount of any payment to the extent that there is a final judicial or arbitral determination that such Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification rights with respect to such payment pursuant to the express terms of this Section 10.05.

The agreements in this Section 10.05 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 10.05 shall not apply to Taxes, except any Taxes that represent liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, prepayments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements arising from any non-Tax claims.

Section 10.06. Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrowers is made to any Agent or any Lender, or any Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall, to the fullest extent possible under provisions of applicable Law, be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share of any amount so recovered from or repaid by any Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate from time to time in effect, in the applicable currency of such recovery or payment.

 

263


Section 10.07. Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrowers may not assign or otherwise transfer any of their rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (except as permitted by Section 7.04) and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Assignee pursuant to an assignment made in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(b) (such an assignee, an “Eligible Assignee”) and (A) in the case of any Assignee that, immediately prior to or upon giving effect to such assignment, is an Affiliated Lender, Section 10.07(l), (B) in the case of any Assignee that is Holdings, the Borrowers or any of its Subsidiaries, Section 2.05(a)(v) or Section 10.07(m), or (C) in the case of any Assignee that, immediately prior to or upon giving effect to such assignment, is a Debt Fund Affiliate, Section 10.07(p), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(f), (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 10.07(j) or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(i) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void); provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary, (x) no Lender may assign or transfer by participation any of its rights or obligations hereunder to (i) any Person that is a Defaulting Lender or a Disqualified Lender (and any failure of the Lead Borrower to respond to any request for consent of assignment shall not cause such Person to cease to constitute a Disqualified Lender), (ii) 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 (iii) to Holdings, the Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries (except pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v) or Section 10.07(m)) and (y) no Lender may assign or transfer by participation any of its rights or obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility or Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder without the consent of the Lead Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) unless (i) such assignment or transfer is by a Revolving Credit Lender to another Revolving Credit Lender or an Affiliate of such assigning Revolving Credit Lender of similar creditworthiness to such assigning Revolving Credit Lender or (ii) an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) or, solely with respect to any Borrower, Section 8.01(f) has occurred and is continuing; provided that the Lead Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any assignment of Term Loans unless the Lead Borrower shall have objected thereto within fifteen (15) Business Days after the Persons identified in Section 10.07(q)(i) have received the written request therefor. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in Section 10.07(f) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Indemnitees) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

264


If any Loans or Commitments are assigned or participated (x) to a Disqualified Lender or (y) without complying with the notice requirement under Section 10.07(q), then: (a) the Borrowers may (i) terminate any Commitment of such person and prepay any applicable outstanding Loans at a price equal to the lesser of (x) the current trading price of the Loans, (y) par and (z) the amount such person paid to acquire such Loans, in each case, without premium, penalty, prepayment fee or breakage, and/or (ii) require such person to assign its rights and obligations to one or more Eligible Assignees at the price indicated above (which assignment shall not be subject to any processing and recordation fee) and if such person does not execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly executed Assignment and Assumption reflecting such assignment within three (3) Business Days of the date on which the assignee Lender executes and delivers such Assignment and Assumption to such person, then such person shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Assumption without any action on its part, (b) no such person shall receive any information or reporting provided by the Lead Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender, (c) for purposes of voting, any Loans or Commitments held by such person shall be deemed not to be outstanding, and such person shall have no voting or consent rights with respect to “Required Lender” or class votes or consents, (d) for purposes of any matter requiring the vote or consent of each Lender affected by any amendment or waiver, such person shall be deemed to have voted or consented to approve such amendment or waiver if a majority of the affected class (giving effect to clause (c) above) so approves, and (e) such person shall not be entitled to any expense reimbursement or indemnification rights under any Loan Documents (including Sections 10.04 and 10.05) and the Borrowers expressly reserve all rights against such person under contract, tort or any other theory and shall be treated in all other respects as a Defaulting Lender; it being understood and agreed that the foregoing provisions shall only apply to a Disqualified Lender and not to any assignee of such Disqualified Lender that becomes a Lender so long as such assignee is not a Disqualified Lender or an affiliate thereof.

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to Disqualified Lenders. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (a) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Disqualified Lender or (b) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Disqualified Lender.

(ba) (i) Subject to Section 10.07(a) and the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees (“Assignees”) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this Section 10.07(b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) of:

(A) the Lead Borrower; provided that no consent of the Lead Borrower shall be required for (i) an assignment of all or any portion of the Term Loans to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, (ii) an assignment related to Revolving Credit Commitments or Revolving Credit Exposure by a Revolving Credit Lender to another Revolving Credit

 

265


Lender or an Affiliate of such Revolving Credit Lender of similar creditworthiness to such assigning Revolving Credit Lender, (iii) if an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) or, solely with respect to any Borrower, Section 8.01(f) has occurred and is continuing, (iv) an assignment of all or a portion of the Commitments or Loans pursuant to Section 10.07(l), Section 10.07(m) or Section 10.07(p) or (v) any assignment made in connection with the primary syndication of the Facilities to Eligible Assignees approved by the Lead Borrower on or prior to the Closing Date;

(B) the Administrative Agent; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment (i) of all or any portion of a Term Loan to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or (ii) all or any portion of the Loans pursuant to Section 10.07(l) or Section 10.07(m);

(C) each L/C Issuer at the time of such assignment; provided that no consent of the L/C Issuers shall be required for any assignment not related to Revolving Credit Commitments or Revolving Credit Exposure; and

(D) the Swing Line Lender; provided that no consent of the Swing Line Lender shall be required for any assignment not related to Revolving Credit Commitments or Revolving Credit Exposure.

(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than an amount of $5,000,000 (in the case of each Revolving Credit Loan or Revolving Credit Commitment), $1,000,000 (in the case of a Term Loan), and shall be in increments of an amount of $500,000 (in the case of each Revolving Credit Loan or Revolving Credit Commitment) or $250,000 (in the case of Term Loans) in excess thereof (provided that simultaneous assignments to or from two or more Approved Funds shall be aggregated for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 10.07(b)(ii)(A)), unless each of the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consents; provided that such amounts shall be aggregated in respect of each Lender and its Affiliates or Approved Funds, if any;

 

266


(B) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption via an electronic settlement system acceptable to the Administrative Agent (or if previously agreed with the Administrative Agent, manually), together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (which fee may be waived or reduced in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent); provided that only one such fee shall be payable in the event of simultaneous assignments to or from two or more Approved Funds; and

(C) other than in the case of assignments pursuant to Section 10.07(m), the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire (in which the Assignee shall designate one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Loan Parties and their Affiliates or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the Assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including federal and state securities laws) and all applicable tax forms and certificates required pursuant to Section 3.01(d).

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 Commitment or Loans assigned, except this paragraph (b) shall not prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations among separate Facilities on a non-pro rata basis among such Facilities.

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 Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans in accordance with its Pro Rata Share. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

 

267


(cb) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Sections 10.07(d) and (e), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, (1) other than in connection with an assignment pursuant to Section 10.07(m), the Eligible 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 (2) the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, 10.04 and 10.05 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment). Upon request, and the surrender by the assigning Lender of its Note(s), the Borrowers (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this clause (c) shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 10.07(f).

(dc) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption, each Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption delivered to it, and each notice of cancellation of any Loans delivered by the Lead Borrower to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.07(m) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and related interest amounts) of the Loans, L/C Obligations (specifying the Unreimbursed Amounts), L/C Borrowings and the amounts due under Section 2.03, owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Lead Borrower, any Agent and, with respect to such Lender’s own interest only, any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. This Section 10.07(d) and Section 2.11 shall be construed so that all Loans are at all times maintained in “registered form” within the meaning of Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2) and 881(c)(2) of the Code and any related Treasury regulations (or any other relevant or successor provisions of the Code or of such Treasury regulations). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Administrative Agent be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender is an Affiliated Lender nor shall the Administrative Agent be obligated to monitor the aggregate amount of Term Loans held by Affiliated Lenders. Upon request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers shall (i) promptly (and in any case, not less than five (5) Business Days (or shorter period as agreed to by the Administrative Agent) prior to the proposed effective date of any amendment, consent or waiver pursuant to Section 10.01) provide to the Administrative Agent, a complete list of all Affiliated Lenders holding Loans and/or Commitments at such time and (ii) not less than five (5) Business Days (or shorter period as agreed to by the Administrative Agent) prior to the proposed effective date of any amendment, consent or waiver pursuant to Section 10.01, provide to the Administrative Agent, a complete list of all Debt Fund Affiliates holding Loans and/or Commitments at such time.

 

268


(ed) Upon its receipt of, and consent to, a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an Assignee, an Administrative Questionnaire completed in respect of the assignee (unless the Assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) above, if applicable, and the written consent of the Administrative Agent, if required, and, if required, the Lead Borrower, the Swing Line Lender and each L/C Issuer to such assignment and any applicable tax forms and certificates required pursuant to Section 3.01(d), the Administrative Agent shall promptly (i) accept such Assignment and Assumption and (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph (e).

(fe) Any Lender may at any time sell participations to any Person, subject to clause (x) of the first proviso of Section 10.07(a) and, in the case of any participation with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility or Revolving Credit Exposure, clause (y) of the first proviso of Section 10.07(a) (each, a “Participant”), in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line 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 Borrowers, the Agents and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the second proviso to Section 10.01 that requires the affirmative vote of such Lender, in each case to the extent the Participant is directly and adversely affected thereby. Subject to Section 10.07(g), each Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 (subject to the requirements and limitations of such Sections) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 10.07(c). To the extent permitted by applicable Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.09 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant shall be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender. Each Participant and each SPC will provide any applicable tax forms and certificates required pursuant to Section 3.01(d) solely to the participating Lender or Granting Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation or grants a Loan to an SPC shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and SPC and the principal amounts (and related interest amounts) of each Participant’s and each SPC’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans or Letters of Credit or its other obligations under any Loan

 

269


Document) except to the extent that (w) such disclosure is necessary in connection with an audit or other proceeding 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 and Section 1.163-5(b) of the United States Proposed Treasury Regulations, (x) upon request of the Lead Borrower, to confirm no Participant or SPC of Term Loans is a Disqualified Lender, 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 (y) in connection with the request for consent for participation in respect of any Revolving Credit Facility or Revolving Credit Exposure. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive 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.

(gf) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01, 3.04 or 3.05 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Lead Borrower’s prior written consent, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed (for the avoidance of doubt, the Lead Borrower shall have reasonable basis for withholding consent if any participation would result in increased indemnification obligations to the Lead Borrower at such time).

(hg) [Reserved].

(ih) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower (an “SPC”) the option to provide all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to fund any Loan, (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to make all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof and (iii) such SPC and the applicable Loan or any applicable part thereof, shall be appropriately reflected in the Participant Register. Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) an SPC shall be entitled to the benefit of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 (subject to the requirements and the limitations of such Section), but neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Lead Borrower under this Agreement except in the case of Sections 3.01 or 3.04, to the extent that the grant to the SPC was made with the prior written consent of the Lead Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrowers shall have reasonable basis for withholding consent if an exercise by SPC immediately after the grant would result in materially increased indemnification obligations to the Borrowers at such time), (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable, and (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Loan Document, remain the lender of record hereunder. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as

 

270


if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent and with the payment of a processing fee of $3,500, assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Loan to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its funding of Loans to any Rating Agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or Guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

(ji) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, without the consent of the Lead Borrower or the Administrative Agent, any Lender may in accordance with applicable Law create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Note, if any, held by it (and in the case of any Fund, such security interest may be created in favor of the trustee for holders of obligations owed or securities issued, by such Fund as security for such obligations or securities), including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or any central bank having jurisdiction over such Lender; provided that unless and until such pledgee actually becomes a Lender in compliance with the other provisions of this Section 10.07, (i) no such pledge shall release the pledging Lender from any of its obligations under the Loan Documents and (ii) such pledgee shall not be entitled to exercise any of the rights of a Lender under the Loan Documents even though such pledgee may have acquired ownership rights with respect to the pledged interest through foreclosure or otherwise.

(kj) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender may, upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Lead Borrower and the Lenders, resign as an L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, respectively; provided that on or prior to the expiration of such 30-day period with respect to such resignation, the relevant L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender shall have identified a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender reasonably acceptable to the Lead Borrower willing to accept its appointment as successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as applicable, unless, at the option of the Lead Borrower, the Lead Borrower shall have appointed one or more L/C Issuers or Swing Line Lenders from among the Lenders willing to accept such appointment as a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided that no failure by the Lead Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of the relevant L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, except as expressly provided above. If an L/C Issuer resigns as an L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights and obligations of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as an L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). If the Swing Line Lender resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans, Eurocurrency Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c).

 

271


(lk) (1) Any Lender may, at any time, assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations with respect to Term Loans under this Agreement to a Person who is or will become, after such assignment, an Affiliated Lender through (x) “Dutch Auctions” open to all Lenders of the applicable Class on a pro rata basis in accordance with analogous procedures of the type described in Section 2.05(a)(v) or (y) open-market purchases on a pro rata or non-pro rata basis and (2) any Affiliated Lender may, at any time, purchase all or a portion of the rights and obligations of a Defaulting Lender, in each case subject to the following limitations:

(i) the assigning Lender and the Affiliated Lender purchasing such Lender’s Loans and/or Commitments shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an assignment agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit L-1 hereto (an “Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption”);

(ii) Affiliated Lenders will not receive information provided solely to Lenders by the Administrative Agent or any Lender and will not be permitted to attend or participate in conference calls or meetings attended solely by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, other than the right to receive notices of prepayments and other administrative notices in respect of its Loans or Commitments required to be delivered to Lenders pursuant to Article 2 and will not be permitted to challenge the Administrative Agent and the other Lender’ attorney-client privilege;

(iii) the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans held at any one time by Affiliated Lenders shall not exceed 25% of the principal amount of any Class of Term Loans at such time outstanding (measured at the time of purchase) (such percentage, the “Affiliated Lender Cap”); provided that to the extent any assignment to an Affiliated Lender would result in the aggregate principal amount of each such Class of Term Loans held by Affiliated Lenders exceeding the Affiliated Lender Cap, the assignment of such excess amount will be void ab initio;

(iv) with respect to Section 10.07(l)(2), any non-Defaulting Lender of the same Class willing to repurchase any Loans/Commitments of the Defaulting Lenders from the Affiliated Lenders shall have the right to make such repurchase at par plus accrued and unpaid interest or at a lower price agreed to by such Defaulting Lender on a pro rata basis based on their share of the applicable Facility; and

(v) as a condition to each assignment pursuant to this clause (l), the Administrative Agent shall have been provided an Affiliated Lender Notice to this Agreement in connection with each assignment to an Affiliated Lender or a Person that upon effectiveness of such assignment would constitute an Affiliated Lender pursuant to which such Affiliated Lender shall waive any right to bring any action in connection with such Loans and/or Commitments against the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such.

Each Affiliated Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) if it acquires any Person who is also a Lender, and each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) if it becomes an Affiliated Lender. Such notice shall contain the type of information required and be delivered to the same addressee as set forth in Exhibit L-2.

 

272


(ml) Any Lender may, so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing and, only to the extent purchased at a discount, no proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans are applied to fund the consideration for any such assignment, at any time, assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations with respect to Term Loans under this Agreement to Holdings, the Borrowers or any of its Subsidiaries through (x) “Dutch Auctions” open to all Lenders on a pro rata basis in accordance with procedures of the type described in Section 2.05(a)(v) or (y) notwithstanding Sections 2.12 and 2.13 or any other provision in this Agreement, open-market purchase on a pro rata or non-pro rata basis; provided that in connection with assignments pursuant to clauses (x) and (y) above:

(i) if Holdings or any Subsidiary of a Borrower (other than the Other Borrower Party) is the assignee, upon such assignment, transfer or contribution, Holdings or such Subsidiary shall automatically be deemed to have contributed, assigned or transferred the principal amount of such Term Loans, plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to the Borrowers; or

(ii) if the assignee is a Borrower (including through contribution or transfers set forth in clause (i) above), (A) the principal amount of such Term Loans, along with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, so contributed, assigned or transferred to such Borrower shall be deemed automatically cancelled and extinguished on the date of such contribution, assignment or transfer, (B) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Term Loans of the remaining Lenders shall reflect such cancellation and extinguishing of the Term Loans then held by the Borrowers and (C) the Lead Borrower shall promptly provide notice to the Administrative Agent of such contribution, assignment or transfer of such Term Loans, and the Administrative Agent, upon receipt of such notice, shall reflect the cancellation of the applicable Term Loans in the Register.

(nm) Notwithstanding anything in Section 10.01 or the definition of “Required Lenders,” “Required Class Lenders,” or “Required Facility Lenders” to the contrary, for purposes of determining whether the Required Lenders, the Required Class Lenders or the Required Facility Lenders have (i) consented (or not consented) to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action with respect to any of the terms of any Loan Document or any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, unless the action in question affects any Affiliated Lender in a disproportionately adverse manner than its effect on the other Lenders, or subject to Section 10.07(o), any plan of reorganization pursuant to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, (ii) otherwise acted on any matter related to any Loan Document, or (iii) directed or required the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to or under any Loan Document, no Affiliated Lender shall have any right to consent (or not consent), otherwise act or direct or require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to take (or refrain from taking) any such action and:

 

273


(A) all Commitments or Loans held by any Affiliated Lenders shall be deemed to be not outstanding for all purposes of calculating whether the Required Lenders, the Required Class Lenders or the Required Facility Lenders have taken any actions; and

(B) all Commitments or Loans held by Affiliated Lenders shall be deemed to be not outstanding for all purposes of calculating whether all Lenders have taken any action unless the action in question affects such Affiliated Lender in a disproportionately adverse manner than its effect on other Lenders.

(on) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to the contrary, each Affiliated Lender hereby agrees that and each Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption shall provide a confirmation that, if a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law shall be commenced by or against the Lead Borrower or any other Loan Party at a time when such Lender is an Affiliated Lender, such Affiliated Lender irrevocably authorizes and empowers the Administrative Agent to vote on behalf of such Affiliated Lender with respect to the Loans held by such Affiliated Lender in any manner in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion, unless the Administrative Agent instructs such Affiliated Lender to vote, in which case such Affiliated Lender shall vote with respect to the Loans held by it as the Administrative Agent directs; provided that such Affiliated Lender shall be entitled to vote in accordance with its sole discretion (and not in accordance with the direction of the Administrative Agent) in connection with any plan of reorganization to the extent any such plan of reorganization proposes to treat any Obligations held by such Affiliated Lender in a disproportionately adverse manner to such Affiliated Lender than the proposed treatment of similar Obligations held by Lenders that are not Affiliated Lenders.

(po) Notwithstanding anything in Section 10.01 or the definition of “Required Lenders” to the contrary, for purposes of determining whether the Required Lenders have (i) consented (or not consented) to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action with respect to any of the terms of any Loan Document or any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, (ii) otherwise acted on any matter related to any Loan Document or (iii) directed or required the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to or under any Loan Document, all Term Loans, Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Loans held by Debt Fund Affiliates may not account for more than 49.9% (pro rata among such Debt Fund Affiliates) of the Term Loans, Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Loans of consenting Lenders included in determining whether the Required Lenders have consented to any action pursuant to Section 10.01.

(qp) Any request for consent of the Lead Borrower pursuant to Section 10.07(b)(i)(A) or Section 10.07(f) (with respect to any participation with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility) and related communications shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent simultaneously to the following Persons:

 

274


(i) with respect to any request for consent in respect of any assignment of Term Loans or any assignment or participation relating to Revolving Credit Commitments or Revolving Credit Exposure, to (A) any recipient that is an employee of Holdings or the Lead Borrower, as designated in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Lead Borrower from time to time (if any) and (B) the chief financial officer of the Lead Borrower or any other Responsible Officer designated by the Lead Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent from time to time; and

(ii) in addition to the Persons set forth in clause (i) above and prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, with respect to any request for consent in respect of any assignment or participation related to Revolving Credit Commitments or Revolving Credit Exposure, to (A) the Sponsor as specified on Schedule 10.02(a) and (B) an employee of the Sponsor designated in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Sponsor from time to time.

Section 10.08. Confidentiality. Each of the Agents, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information and not to disclose such information, except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and its Affiliates’ managers, administrators, directors, officers, employees, trustees, partners, investors, investment advisors and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (excluding Affiliates, managers, administrators, directors, officers, employees, trustees, partners, investors, investment advisors and agents that are engaged (i) as principals primarily in the business of (A) asset management (B) the sale or distribution of asset management products, including, without limitation, mutual funds, in each case, other than a limited number of senior employees who are required, in accordance with such Lender’s internal policies and procedures, to act in a supervisory capacity and such Lender’s internal legal, compliance, risk management, credit or investment committee members (each, with respect to any Lender, an “Excluded Person”) or (ii) as a credit research firm, provider of indenture and loan agreement analysis or similar services) (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential); (b) to the extent requested by any Governmental Authority or self-regulatory authority having or asserting jurisdiction over such Person (including as required pursuant to the EU Risk Retention Rules or any Governmental Authority or examiner (including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any other similar organization) regulating any Lender or its Affiliates); provided that the Administrative Agent, such Lead Arranger or such Lender, as applicable, agrees that it will notify the Lead Borrower as soon as practicable in the event of any such disclosure by such Person (other than at the request of a regulatory authority or examiner or to the extent such disclosure is required pursuant to the EU Risk Retention Rules) unless such notification is prohibited by law, rule or regulation; (c) to the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the Facilities or market data collectors, similar services providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement and the Loan Documents; (d) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; provided that the Administrative Agent or such Lender,

 

275


as applicable, agrees that it will notify the Lead Borrower as soon as practicable in the event of any such disclosure by such Person (other than at the request of a regulatory authority or examiner) unless such notification is prohibited by law, rule or regulation; (e) to any other party to this Agreement or to the Investors; (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions at least as restrictive as those set forth in this Section 10.08 (or as may otherwise be reasonably acceptable to the Lead Borrower), to any pledgee referred to in Section 10.07(j), counterparty to a Swap Contract, Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective Eligible Assignee of or Participant in any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement (other than an Excluded Person that is not a Bona Fide Debt Fund) (provided that the disclosure of any such Information to any Lenders or Eligible Assignees or Participants shall be made subject to the acknowledgement and acceptance by such Lender, Eligible Assignee or Participant that such Information is being disseminated on a confidential basis (on substantially the terms set forth in this Section 10.08 or as otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Lead Borrower, including, without limitation, as agreed in any Borrower Materials) in accordance with the standard processes of the Administrative Agent or customary market standards for dissemination of such type of Information); provided that nothing in this Section 10.08 shall prohibit any Lender from disclosing any such information to an Excluded Person that is a Bona Fide Debt Fund in its capacity as an Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective Eligible Assignee of or Participant in any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement; (g) with the written consent of the Lead Borrower; (h) to the extent such Information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.08 or becomes available to the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than a Loan Party or any Investor or their respective Affiliates (so long as such source is not known to the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers, such Lender, such L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates to be bound by confidentiality obligations to any Loan Party); (i) [reserved]; (j) to any Rating Agency when required by it (it being understood that, prior to any such disclosure, such Rating Agency shall undertake to preserve the confidentiality of any Information relating to Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries received by it from such Lender) or to the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar organization; (k) in connection with establishing a “due diligence” defense or (l) to the extent such Information is independently developed by the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers, such Lender, such L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates; provided that no disclosure shall be made to any Disqualified Lender or Excluded Person (other than an Excluded Person that is a Bona Fide Debt Fund in its capacity as a prospective Eligible Assignee of or Participant in any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement). In addition, the Agents, Lead Arrangers and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and publicly available information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Commitments, and the Credit Extensions. For the purposes of this Section 10.08, “Information” means all information received from the Loan Parties relating to any Loan Party, its Affiliates or its Affiliates’ directors, managers, officers, employees, trustees, investment advisors or agents, relating to Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries or its business, other than any such information that is publicly available to

 

276


any Agent, any Lead Arranger, any L/C Issuer or any Lender prior to disclosure by any Loan Party other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.08; provided that all information received after the Closing Date from Holdings, the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed confidential unless such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as not being confidential. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the avoidance of doubt, each of the Agents, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders agree that no Information shall be disclosed to any credit research firms, providers of indenture and loan agreement analysis or similar services.

Section 10.09. Setoff. In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by Law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender and its Affiliates (and the Collateral Agent, in respect of any unpaid fees, costs and expenses payable hereunder) is authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to the Lead Borrower, any such notice being waived by each Borrower (on its own behalf and on behalf of each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held by, and other Indebtedness at any time owing by, such Lender and its Affiliates or the Collateral Agent to or for the credit or the account of the respective Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries against any and all Obligations owing to such Lender and its Affiliates or the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document, now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not such Agent or such Lender or Affiliate shall have made demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or denominated in a currency different from that of the applicable deposit or Indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.17 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers, and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set off and application made by such Lender; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application. The rights of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Lender under this Section 10.09 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and such Lender may have. No amounts set off from any Guarantor shall be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor.

Section 10.10. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If any Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrowers. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by an Agent or a

 

277


Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

Section 10.11. Counterparts. This Agreement and each other Loan Document may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery by telecopier or other electronic transmission of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement and each other Loan Document shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement and such other Loan Document. The Agents may also require that any such documents and signatures delivered by telecopier or other electronic transmission be confirmed by an original thereof; provided that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any document or signature delivered by telecopier or other electronic transmission.

Section 10.12. Integration; Termination. This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, comprises the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on such subject matter. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and those of any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall control; provided that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Agents or the Lenders in any other Loan Document shall not be deemed a conflict with this Agreement. Each Loan Document was drafted with the joint participation of the respective parties thereto and shall be construed neither against nor in favor of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning thereof.

Section 10.13. Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by each Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by any Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that any Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

Section 10.14. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.14, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

 

278


Section 10.15. GOVERNING LAW, PROCESS AGENT. (a) THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(ba) ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF SUCH STATE, AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH LOAN PARTY, EACH AGENT AND EACH LENDER CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS AND AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE OR SUPPORT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION. EACH LOAN PARTY, EACH AGENT AND EACH LENDER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT RELATED THERETO. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES (OTHER THAN TELECOPIER OR OTHER ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION) IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION TO ENFORCE ANY AWARD OR JUDGMENT OR EXERCISE ANY RIGHT UNDER THE COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS AGAINST ANY COLLATERAL OR ANY OTHER PROPERTY OF ANY LOAN PARTY IN ANY OTHER FORUM IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH COLLATERAL IS LOCATED.

(cb) Each of the Lead Borrower, Holdings and each Guarantor that is a Foreign Subsidiary hereby irrevocably appoints, and appoints on behalf of themselves and on behalf of each Foreign Subsidiary that is a Loan Party and the Lead Borrower (each such Loan Party, a “Foreign Loan Party”) the Other Borrower Party (the “Process Agent”) at its address set forth on Schedule 10.02(a), as its agent to receive on behalf of each Foreign Loan Party service of the summons and complaint and any other process which may be

 

279


served in any action or proceeding described above. Such service may be made by mailing or delivering a copy of such process to each Foreign Loan Party, in care of the Process Agent at the address specified for such Process Agent, and such Foreign Loan Party hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs the Process Agent to accept such service on its behalf. Each Foreign Loan Party covenants and agrees that, for so long as it shall be bound under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, it shall maintain a duly appointed agent for the service of summons and other legal process in New York, New York, United States of America, for the purposes of any legal action, suit or proceeding brought by any party in respect of this Agreement or such other Loan Document and shall keep the Agents advised of the identity and location of such agent.

Section 10.16. WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 10.16 WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

Section 10.17. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by each Lender, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuers that each Lender, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuers have executed it and thereafter this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Loan Parties, each Agent and each Lender and their respective successors and assigns, in each case in accordance with Section 10.07 (if applicable) and except that no Loan Party shall have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders except as permitted by Section 7.04.

Section 10.18. USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the USA PATRIOT Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrowers and the Guarantors that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name, address and tax identification number of such Loan Party and other information regarding such Loan Party that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act. This notice is given in accordance with the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act and is effective as to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent.

 

280


Section 10.19. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. (a) In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, each Loan 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 each Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Agents, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, and the Borrowers are 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 Agents, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other Person, (iii) none of the Agents, the Lead Arrangers or the Lenders has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrowers 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 Agent or Lead Arranger or Lender has advised or is currently advising the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates on other matters) and none of the Agents, the Lead Arrangers or the Lenders has any obligation to the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates with respect to the financing transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, (iv) the Agents, the Lead 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 Borrowers and their Affiliates, and none of the Agents, the Lead 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 Agents, the Lead 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 Loan Parties have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they have deemed appropriate. Each Loan Party hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against the Agents, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty under applicable law relating to agency and fiduciary obligations.

(ba) Each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that each Lender, the Lead Arrangers and any Affiliate thereof may lend money to, invest in, and generally engage in any kind of business with, any of the Borrowers, Holdings, any Investor, 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, the Lead Arrangers or Affiliate thereof were not a Lender, the Lead Arrangers or an Affiliate thereof (or an agent or any other person with any similar role under the Facilities) and without any duty to account therefor to any other

 

281


Lender, the Lead Arrangers, Holdings, the Borrowers, any Investor or any Affiliate of the foregoing. Each Lender, the Lead Arrangers and any Affiliate thereof may accept fees and other consideration from Holdings, the Borrowers, any Investor or any Affiliate thereof for services in connection with this Agreement, the Facilities or otherwise without having to account for the same to any other Lender, the Lead Arrangers, Holdings, the Borrowers, any Investor or any Affiliate of the foregoing. Some or all of the Lenders and the Lead Arrangers may have directly or indirectly acquired certain equity interests (including warrants) in Holdings, the Borrowers, an Investor or an Affiliate thereof or may have directly or indirectly extended credit on a subordinated basis to Holdings, the Borrowers, an Investor or an Affiliate thereof. Each party hereto, on its behalf and on behalf of its Affiliates, acknowledges and waives the potential conflict of interest resulting from any such Lender, the Lead Arrangers or an Affiliate thereof holding disproportionate interests in the extensions of credit under the Facilities or otherwise acting as arranger or agent thereunder and such Lender, the Lead Arrangers or any Affiliate thereof directly or indirectly holding equity interests in or subordinated debt issued by Holdings, the Borrowers, an Investor or an Affiliate thereof.

Section 10.20. Electronic Execution of Assignments. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based record keeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

Section 10.21. Effect of Certain Inaccuracies. In the event that any financial statement or Compliance Certificate previously delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a) was inaccurate or was restated (regardless of whether this Agreement or the Commitments are in effect when such inaccuracy is discovered), and such inaccuracy, if corrected, or such restatement would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Rate for any period (an “Applicable Period”) than the Applicable Rate applied for such Applicable Period, then (i) the Lead Borrower shall as soon as practicable deliver to the Administrative Agent a corrected or restated financial statement and a corrected or updated Compliance Certificate for such Applicable Period, (ii) the Applicable Rate shall be determined based on the updated Compliance Certificate for such Applicable Period, and (iii) the Lead Borrower shall within 15 days after the delivery of the corrected or restated financial statements and the updated Compliance Certificate pay to the Administrative Agent the accrued additional interest or fees owing as a result of such increased Applicable Rate for such Applicable Period. This Section 10.21 shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders with respect to Sections 2.08(b) and 8.01; provided that any underpayment due to change in Applicable Rate shall not in itself constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 8.01 so long as such additional interest or fees are paid within the 15-day period set forth above.

 

282


Section 10.22. Judgment Currency. If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due from the Borrowers hereunder in the currency expressed to be payable herein (the “specified currency”) into another currency, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures any Lender could purchase the specified currency with such other currency at such Lender’s New York office on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligations of the Borrowers in respect of any sum due to any Lender hereunder shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than the specified currency, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by such Lender of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency such Lender may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the specified currency with such other currency; if the amount of the specified currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to such Lender in the specified currency, the Borrowers agree, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Lender against such loss, and if the amount of the specified currency so purchased exceeds the sum originally due to such Lender in the specified currency, such Lender agrees to remit such excess to the Borrowers.

Section 10.23. Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEAAffected 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 Lender that is an EEAAffected 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 EEAthe applicable 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 EEAthe applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto to any Lender that is an EEAAffected Financial Institution; and

(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEAAffected Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

 

283


(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEAthe applicable Resolution Authority.

Section 10.24. Cashless Rollovers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, to the extent that any Lender extends the maturity date of, or replaces, renews or refinances, any of its then-existing Loans with Incremental Facilities, Facilities in connection with any Refinancing Series, Extended Term Loans, Extended Revolving Credit Loans or loans incurred under a new credit facility, in each case, to the extent such extension, replacement, renewal or refinancing is effected by means of a “cashless roll” by such Lender, such extension, replacement, renewal or refinancing shall be deemed to comply with any requirement hereunder or any other Loan Document that such payment be made “in Dollars”, “in immediately available funds”, “in cash” or any other similar requirement.

Section 10.25. Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Swap Contracts or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

 

284


Section 10.26. Lead Borrower. The Other Borrower Party hereby designates the Lead Borrower as its representative and agent for all purposes under the Loan Documents, including Requests for Credit Extensions, designation of interest rates, delivery or receipt of communications, preparation and delivery of financial information, requests for waivers, amendments or other accommodations, actions under the Loan Documents (including in respect of compliance with covenants), and all other dealings with the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers or any Lender. The Lead Borrower hereby accepts such appointment. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, any notice or communication (including any Committed Loan Notice) delivered by the Lead Borrower on behalf of the Other Borrower Party. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders may give any notice or communication with the Other Borrower Party hereunder to the Lead Borrower on behalf of the Other Borrower Party. Each of the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuers and the Lenders shall have the right, in its discretion, to deal exclusively with the Lead Borrower for any or all purposes under the Loan Documents. The Other Borrower Party agrees that any notice, election, communication, representation, agreement or undertaking made on its behalf by the Lead Borrower shall be binding upon and enforceable against it.

ARTICLE 11

GUARANTY

Section 11.01. The Guaranty. Each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally with the other Guarantors guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety to each Secured Party and their respective successors and assigns, the prompt payment in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, demand, by acceleration or otherwise) of the principal of and interest (including any interest, fees, costs or charges that would accrue but for the provisions of (i) Title 11 of the United States Code after any bankruptcy or insolvency petition under Title 11 of the United States Code and (ii) any other Debtor Relief Laws) on the Loans made by the Lenders to, and the Notes held by each Lender of, the Borrowers, and all other Obligations (other than with respect to any Guarantor, Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor) from time to time owing to the Secured Parties by the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries under any Loan Document or any Secured Hedge Agreement or any Treasury Services Agreement, in each case strictly in accordance with the terms thereof (such obligations being herein collectively called the “Guaranteed Obligations”). The Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agree that if the Borrowers or other Guarantor(s) shall fail to pay in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the Guarantors will promptly pay the same in cash, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.

 

285


Section 11.02. Obligations Unconditional. The obligations of the Guarantors under Section 11.01 shall constitute a guarantee of payment and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, are absolute, irrevocable and unconditional, joint and several,

irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement, the Secured Hedge Agreements, the Treasury Services Agreements, the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein, or any substitution, release or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or Guarantor (except for payment in full). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of the Guarantors hereunder which shall remain absolute, irrevocable and unconditional under any and all circumstances as described above:

(i) at any time or from time to time, without notice to the Guarantors, to the extent permitted by Law, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;

(ii) any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of this Agreement or the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be done or omitted;

(iii) the maturity of any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be amended in any respect, or any right under the Loan Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be amended or waived in any respect or any other guarantee of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or except as permitted pursuant to Section 11.10 any security therefor shall be released or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with;

(iv) any Lien or security interest granted to, or in favor of, an L/C Issuer or any Lender or Agent as security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall fail to be perfected; or

(v) the release of any other Guarantor pursuant to Section 11.10.

The Guarantors hereby expressly waive diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and, to the extent permitted by Law, all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that any Secured Party exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against the Borrowers under this Agreement, the Secured Hedge Agreements, the Treasury Services Agreements or the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein, or against any other person under any other guarantee of, or security for, any of the Guaranteed Obligations. The Guarantors waive, to the extent permitted by Law, any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension, waiver, termination or accrual of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by any Secured Party upon this Guaranty or acceptance of this Guaranty, and the Guaranteed Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred in reliance upon this Guaranty, and all dealings between the Borrowers and the Secured Parties shall

 

286


likewise be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon this Guaranty. This Guaranty shall be construed as a continuing, absolute, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payment without regard to any right of offset with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations at any time or from time to time held by Secured Parties, and the obligations and liabilities of the Guarantors hereunder shall not be conditioned or contingent upon the pursuit by the Secured Parties or any other person at any time of any right or remedy against the Borrowers or against any other person which may be or become liable in respect of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or against any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto. This Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect and be binding in accordance with and to the extent of its terms upon the Guarantors and the successors and assigns thereof, and shall inure to the benefit of the Lenders, and their respective successors and assigns, notwithstanding that from time to time during the term of this Agreement there may be no Guaranteed Obligations outstanding.

Section 11.03. Reinstatement. The obligations of the Guarantors under this Article 11 shall be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of the Borrowers or other Loan Party in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether as a result of any proceedings in insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise.

Section 11.04. Subrogation; Subordination. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that until the payment and satisfaction in full in cash of all Guaranteed Obligations (other than (x) obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements and Treasury Services Agreements not yet due and payable and (y) contingent indemnification obligations not yet accrued and payable) and the expiration or termination of the Commitments of the Lenders under this Agreement, it shall waive any claim and shall not exercise any right or remedy, direct or indirect, arising by reason of any performance by it of its guarantee in Section 11.01, whether by subrogation or otherwise, against the Borrowers or any other Guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations. Any Indebtedness of any Loan Party permitted pursuant to Sections 7.03(b)(ii) or 7.03(d) shall be subordinated to such Loan Party’s Obligations in the manner set forth in the Intercompany Note evidencing such Indebtedness.

Section 11.05. Remedies. The Guarantors jointly and severally agree that, as between the Guarantors and the Lenders, the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the Notes, if any, may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as provided in Section 8.02 (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances provided in Section 8.02) for purposes of Section 11.01, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such declaration (or such obligations from becoming automatically due and payable) as against the Borrowers and that, in the event of such declaration (or such obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), such obligations (whether or not due and payable by the Borrowers) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for purposes of Section 11.01.

 

287


Section 11.06. Instrument for the Payment of Money. Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges that the guarantee in this Article 11 constitutes an instrument for the payment of money, and consents and agrees that any Lender or Agent, at its sole option, in the event of a dispute by such Guarantor in the payment of any moneys due hereunder, shall have the right to bring a motion-action under New York CPLR Section 3213.

Section 11.07. Continuing Guaranty. The guarantee in this Article 11 is a continuing guarantee of payment, and shall apply to all Guaranteed Obligations whenever arising.

Section 11.08. General Limitation on Guarantee Obligations. In any action or proceeding involving any state corporate limited partnership or limited liability company law, or any applicable state, federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other Law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor under Section 11.01 would otherwise be held or determined to be void, voidable, invalid or unenforceable, or subordinated to the claims of any other creditors, on account of the amount of its liability under Section 11.01, then, notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by such Subsidiary Guarantor, any Loan Party or any other person, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount (after giving effect to the right of contribution established in Section 11.11) that is valid and enforceable and not subordinated to the claims of other creditors as determined in such action or proceeding.

Section 11.09. Information. Each Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrowers’ financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that each Guarantor assumes and incurs under this Guaranty, and agrees that none of any Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender shall have any duty to advise any Guarantor of information known to it regarding those circumstances or risks.

Section 11.10. Release of Guarantors. If, in compliance with the terms and provisions of the Loan Documents, (i) all or substantially all of the Equity Interests or property of any Subsidiary Guarantor are sold or otherwise transferred as permitted under this Agreement, to a person or persons, none of which is a Loan Party or (ii) any Subsidiary Guarantor becomes an Excluded Subsidiary, such Subsidiary Guarantor shall, upon the consummation of such sale or transfer or upon becoming an Excluded Subsidiary, be automatically released from its obligations under this Agreement (including under Section 10.05 hereof) and its obligations to pledge and grant any Collateral owned by it pursuant to any Collateral Document and the pledge of such Equity Interests to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Collateral Documents shall be automatically released, and, so long as the Lead Borrower shall have provided the Agents such certifications or documents as any Agent shall reasonably request, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall, at such Subsidiary Guarantor’s expense, take such actions as are necessary to effect each release described in this Section 11.10 in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Collateral Documents; provided that no such release shall occur if such Guarantor continues to be a guarantor in respect of any Junior Financing with a principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount.

 

288


When all Commitments hereunder have terminated, and all Loans or other Obligations (other than obligations under Treasury Services Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements) hereunder which are accrued and payable have been paid or satisfied, and no Letter of Credit remains outstanding (except any Letter of Credit the Outstanding Amount of which the Obligations related thereto has been Cash Collateralized or for which a backstop letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer has been put in place), this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the guarantees made herein shall terminate with respect to all Obligations, except with respect to Obligations that expressly survive such repayment pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents. The Collateral Agent shall, at each Guarantor’s expense, take such actions as are necessary to release any Collateral owned by such Guarantor in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Collateral Documents.

Section 11.11. Right of Contribution. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that to the extent that a Subsidiary Guarantor shall have paid more than its proportionate share of any payment made hereunder, such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be entitled to seek and receive contribution from and against any other Guarantor hereunder which has not paid its proportionate share of such payment. Each Subsidiary Guarantor’s right of contribution shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 11.04. The provisions of this Section 11.11 shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender and the Lenders, and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall remain liable to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender and the Lenders for the full amount guaranteed by such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder.

Section 11.12. Cross-Guaranty. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally, absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support to each Specified Guarantor as may be needed by such Specified Guarantor from time to time to honor all of its obligations under its Guaranty and the other Loan Documents in respect of any Swap Obligation (provided, however, that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section 11.12 for up to the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering such Qualified ECP Guarantor’s obligations and undertakings under this Section 11.12 voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or fraudulent preference, and not for any greater amount). The obligations and undertakings of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 11.12 shall remain in full force and effect until the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid and performed in full and all Commitments have been terminated. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section 11.12 constitute, and this Section 11.12 shall be deemed to constitute, an agreement for the benefit of each Specified Guarantor for all purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

289


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

BUZZ MERGER SUB LTD, as the Lead Borrower
By:  

__

  Name:
  Title:
BUZZ FINCO L.L.C., as the Other Borrower Party
By:  

__

  Name:
  Title:
BUZZ BIDCO L.L.C., as Holdings
By:  

_

  Name:
  Title:

 

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Swing Line Lender and Lender

By:  

         

  Name:
  Title:


ANNEX I

TO AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

LENDER CONSENT

This Lender Consent (this “Lender Consent”) is referred to in, and is a signature page to, the Amendment No. 1 (the “Incremental Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2020, among Buzz BidCo L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”), Buzz Finco L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (and successor by merger to Worldwide Vision Limited, the “Borrower”), the other Guarantors party thereto from time to time, the lenders party thereto from time to time and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), Collateral Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer (as amended, restated, amended and restated, modified and supplemented from time to time, the “Credit Agreement” and as amended by this Incremental Amendment, the “Amended Credit Agreement”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Lender Consent have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Incremental Amendment or the Credit Agreement, as applicable.

By executing this Lender Consent, the undersigned institution agrees to the terms of the Incremental Amendment and the Amended Credit Agreement (as amended thereby).

To be executed by:

Lenders

 

Name of Institution:                                                                                                                                                                                         

 

Executing as a Lender:

 

       By:  

 

    Name:
    Title:

 

For any institution requiring a second signature line:

     

 

  By:  

 

         Name:
    Title:

 

[Signature Page–Incremental Amendment No. 1]


[Lender Consents on File with the Administrative Agent]

 

[Signature Page–Incremental Amendment No. 1]

Exhibit 10.19

 

 

SECURITY AGREEMENT

dated as of

January 29, 2020

among

THE GRANTORS IDENTIFIED HEREIN

and

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Collateral Agent

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  
ARTICLE I       
DEFINITIONS       

Section 1.01.

  Credit Agreement      1  

Section 1.02.

  Other Defined Terms      1  
ARTICLE II       
PLEDGE OF SECURITIES       

Section 2.01.

  Pledge      4  

Section 2.02.

  Delivery of the Pledged Securities      5  

Section 2.03.

  Representations, Warranties and Covenants      6  

Section 2.04.

  Certification of Limited Liability Company and Limited Partnership Interests      8  

Section 2.05.

  Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations      8  

Section 2.06.

  Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest      8  
ARTICLE III       
SECURITY INTERESTS IN PERSONAL PROPERTY       

Section 3.01.

  Security Interest      10  

Section 3.02.

  Representations and Warranties      12  

Section 3.03.

  Covenants      14  
ARTICLE IV       
REMEDIES       

Section 4.01.

  Remedies Upon Default      17  

Section 4.02.

  Application of Proceeds      19  

Section 4.03.

  Grant of License to Use Intellectual Property      19  
ARTICLE V       
SUBORDINATION       

Section 5.01.

  Subordination      20  
ARTICLE VI       
MISCELLANEOUS       

Section 6.01.

  Notices      20  

Section 6.02.

  Waivers; Amendment      21  

Section 6.03.

  Collateral Agent’s Fees and Expenses; Indemnification      21  

Section 6.04.

  Successors and Assigns      21  

Section 6.05.

  Survival of Agreement      22  

Section 6.06.

  Counterparts; Effectiveness; Several Agreement      22  

 

i


Section 6.07.

  Severability      22  

Section 6.08.

  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial; Consent to Service of Process      22  

Section 6.09.

  Headings      22  

Section 6.10.

  Security Interest Absolute      23  

Section 6.11.

  Termination or Release      23  

Section 6.12.

  Additional Grantors      24  

Section 6.13.

  Collateral Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact      25  

Section 6.14.

  General Authority of the Collateral Agent      25  

Section 6.15.

  Reasonable Care      26  

Section 6.16.

  Delegation; Limitation      26  

Section 6.17.

  Reinstatement      26  

Section 6.18.

  Miscellaneous      26  

Section 6.19.

  Intercreditor Agreements      26  

Section 6.20.

  Foreign Grantor      26  

Section 6.21.

  Grantors Remain Liable      27  

Schedules

 

Schedule I    Subsidiary Parties
Schedule II    Pledged Equity and Pledged Debt

Exhibits

 

Exhibit I    Form of Security Agreement Supplement
Exhibit II    Form of Patent Security Agreement
Exhibit III    Form of Trademark Security Agreement
Exhibit IV    Form of Copyright Security Agreement

 

ii


SECURITY AGREEMENT dated as of January 29, 2020, among the Grantors (as defined below) and Citibank, N.A., as Collateral Agent for the Secured Parties (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, the “Collateral Agent”).

Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of January 29, 2020 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Buzz BidCo L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”), Buzz Merger Sub Ltd., an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of Bermuda (the “Lead Borrower”), Buzz Finco L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the “Other Borrower Party” and, collectively with the Lead Borrower, the “Borrowers” and each, a “Borrower”), the other Guarantors party thereto from time to time, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer and each lender from time to time party thereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”). The Lenders have agreed to extend credit to the Borrowers subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement. The obligations of the Lenders to extend such credit are conditioned upon, among other things, the execution and delivery of this Agreement. Holdings and the Subsidiary Parties are affiliates of the Borrowers, will derive substantial benefits from the extension of credit to the Borrowers pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and are willing to execute and deliver this Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to extend such credit. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

Section 1.01. Credit Agreement.

(a) Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings specified in the Credit Agreement. All terms defined in the UCC (as defined herein) and not defined in this Agreement have the meanings specified therein; the term “instrument” shall have the meaning specified in Article 9 of the UCC.

(b) The rules of construction specified in Article I of the Credit Agreement also apply to this Agreement.

Section 1.02. Other Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

Account Debtor” means any Person who is or who may become obligated to any Grantor under, with respect to or on account of an Account.

Accounts” has the meaning specified in Article 9 of the UCC.

Agreement” means this Security Agreement, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Article 9 Collateral” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01(a).

 

1


Borrower” and “Borrowers” have the meaning assigned to such terms in the recitals of this Agreement.

Collateral” means the Article 9 Collateral and the Pledged Collateral.

Collateral Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals of this Agreement.

Copyright License” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting any right to any third party, by a Grantor, under any Copyright now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or that such Grantor otherwise has the right to license, or granting any right to any Grantor under any Copyright now or hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of such Grantor under any such agreement.

Copyrights” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor: (a) all copyright rights in any work subject to the copyright laws of the United States or any other country, whether as author, assignee, transferee or otherwise, and (b) all registrations and applications for registration of any such copyright in the United States or any other country, including registrations, recordings, supplemental registrations and pending applications for registration in the USCO.

Credit Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals of this Agreement.

Foreign Grantor” means Buzz Merger Sub Ltd. and any Subsidiary that becomes party to this Agreement as a Foreign Grantor pursuant to Section 6.12.

General Intangibles” has the meaning specified in Article 9 of the UCC.

Grantor” means each Loan Party organized in the United States that is a party hereto, and each Loan Party organized in the United States that becomes a party to this Agreement after the Closing Date.

Intellectual Property” means all intellectual and similar property of every kind and nature now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor, (i) including inventions, designs, Patents, Copyrights, Licenses, Trademarks, trade secrets, the intellectual property rights in software and databases and related documentation and all additions and improvements to the foregoing and (ii) together with any and all (x) renewals, extensions, supplements and continuations of the foregoing, (y) income, fees, royalties, damages, claims and payments now and hereafter due and/or payable thereunder or with respect to the foregoing, including damages and payments for past, present or future infringements, misappropriations or other violations thereof and (z) rights to sue for past, present and future infringements, misappropriations or other violations of the foregoing.

Intellectual Property Security Agreements” means the short-form Patent Security Agreement, short-form Trademark Security Agreement, and short-form Copyright Security Agreement, each substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibits II, III and IV, respectively.

Lenders” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

2


License” means any (i) Patent License, (ii) Trademark License, (iii) Copyright License or other Intellectual Property license or sublicense agreement to which any Grantor is a party, together with any and all (x) renewals, extensions, supplements and continuations thereof, (y) income, fees, royalties, damages, claims and payments now and hereafter due and/or payable thereunder or with respect thereto including damages and payments for past, present or future infringements, misappropriations or other violations thereof, and (z) rights to sue for past, present and future infringements, misappropriations or other violations thereof.

Patent License” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any third party, by a Grantor, any right to make, use or sell any invention on which a Patent now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or that any Grantor otherwise has the right to license, is in existence, or granting to any Grantor any right to make, use or sell any invention on which a Patent, now or hereafter owned by any third party, is in existence, and all rights of any Grantor under any such agreement.

Patents” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor: (a) all letters Patent of the United States or any other country in or to which any Grantor now or hereafter has any right, title or interest therein, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications for letters Patent of the United States or any other country, including registrations, recordings and pending applications in the USPTO, and (b) all reissues, continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part, renewals, improvements or extensions thereof, and the inventions disclosed or claimed therein, including the right to make, use and/or sell the inventions disclosed or claimed therein.

Perfection Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H to the Credit Agreement, completed and supplemented with the schedules and attachments contemplated thereby, and duly executed by a Responsible Officer of each of the Grantors.

Pledged Certificated Securities” means any promissory notes, stock certificates, unit certificates, limited or unlimited liability membership certificates or other securities represented by a certificate now or hereafter included in the Pledged Collateral, including all certificates, instruments or other documents representing or evidencing any Pledged Collateral.

Pledged Collateral” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01.

Pledged Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01.

Pledged Equity” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01.

Pledged Securities” means the Pledged Equity and Pledged Debt.

Secured Approved Counterparty” means an Approved Counterparty party to a Secured Hedge Agreement or Treasury Services Agreement.

Secured Obligations” means the “Obligations” (as defined in the Credit Agreement).

Security Agreement Supplement” means an instrument substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto.

 

3


Security Interest” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01.

Subsidiary Parties” means (a) the Restricted Subsidiaries identified on Schedule I and (b) each other Restricted Subsidiary that becomes a party to this Agreement as a Subsidiary Party after the Closing Date.

Trademark License” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any third party, by a Grantor, any right to use any Trademark now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or that any Grantor otherwise has the right to license, or granting to any Grantor any right to use any Trademark now or hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of any Grantor under any such agreement.

Trademarks” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor: (a) all trademarks, service marks, trade names, corporate names, trade dress, domain names, logos, designs, fictitious business names and other source or business identifiers, now existing or hereafter adopted or acquired, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all registration and recording applications filed in connection therewith, including registrations and registration applications in the USPTO or any similar offices in any other country or State of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, and all extensions or renewals thereof, as well as any unregistered trademarks and service marks used by a Grantor and (b) all goodwill connected with the use of and symbolized thereby.

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

U.S. Collateral” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.20.

USCO” means the United States Copyright Office.

USPTO” means the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

ARTICLE II

Pledge of Securities

Section 2.01. Pledge. As security for the payment or performance, as the case may be, in full of the Secured Obligations, including the Guaranty, each of the Grantors and Foreign Grantors, as applicable, hereby assigns and pledges to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of such Grantors’ and Foreign Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under, as applicable:

 

4


(i) all Equity Interests held by it, including those that are listed on Schedule II, and any other Equity Interests obtained in the future by such Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, and the certificates representing all such Equity Interests (the “Pledged Equity”); provided that the Pledged Equity shall not include Excluded Assets;

(ii) (A) the debt securities owned by it, including those listed opposite the name of such Grantor on Schedule II, (B) any debt securities obtained in the future by such Grantor and (C) the promissory notes and any other instruments evidencing Indebtedness owed to it or obtained in the future by such Grantor (the “Pledged Debt”); provided that the Pledged Debt shall not include any Excluded Assets;

(iii) all other property that may be delivered to and held by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.01 and Section 2.02;

(iv) subject to Section 2.06, all payments of principal or interest, dividends, cash, instruments and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, in exchange for or upon the conversion of, and all other Proceeds received in respect of, the securities referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above;

(v) subject to Section 2.06, all rights and privileges of such Grantor with respect to the securities and other property referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above (or with respect to a Foreign Grantor, all rights and privileges of such Foreign Grantor with respect to the securities and other property referred to in clauses (i), (iii) and (iv) above); and

(vi) all Proceeds of any of the foregoing

(the items referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) above being collectively referred to as the “Pledged Collateral”).

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the Pledged Collateral, together with all right, title, interest, powers, privileges and preferences pertaining or incidental thereto, unto the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, forever, subject, however, to the terms, covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth.

Section 2.02. Delivery of the Pledged Securities.

(a) Each Grantor and Foreign Grantor, as applicable, agrees promptly (but in any event with respect to Pledged Certificated Securities owned on the Closing Date, within the time period and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.01 of the Credit Agreement and in the case of Pledged Securities obtained after the date hereof, within 60 days after receipt by such Grantor or such longer period as the Collateral Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) to deliver or cause to be delivered to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, any and all (i) Pledged Equity constituting Pledged Certificated Securities and (ii) to the extent required to be delivered pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 2.02, Pledged Debt constituting Pledged Certificated Securities.

(b) Each Grantor will cause any Indebtedness for borrowed money having an aggregate principal amount in excess of $10,000,000 owed to such Grantor by any Person that is evidenced by a duly executed promissory note to be pledged and delivered to the Collateral Agent (except to the extent already represented by and superseded by the Intercompany Note delivered to the Collateral Agent), for the benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

5


(c) Upon delivery to the Collateral Agent, any Pledged Certificated Securities shall be accompanied by undated stock or security powers duly executed in blank or other instruments of transfer reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and by such other instruments and documents as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request (subject to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement). Each delivery of Pledged Certificated Securities shall be accompanied by a schedule describing the Pledged Certificated Securities, which schedule shall be deemed to supplement Schedule II and made a part hereof; provided that failure to supplement Schedule II shall not affect the validity of such pledge of such Pledged Securities. Each schedule so delivered shall supplement any prior schedules so delivered.

Section 2.03. Representations, Warranties and Covenants. Each Grantor and Foreign Grantor represents, warrants and covenants to and with the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, that:

(a) as of the date hereof, Schedule II sets forth all Equity Interests owned by such Grantor or Foreign Grantor (in any Loan Party organized in the United States), as applicable, required to be pledged by such Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, hereunder in order to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the percentage of the issued and outstanding units of each class of the Equity Interests of the issuer thereof represented by the Pledged Equity owned by such Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, and all Pledged Debt owned by such Grantor;

(b) the Pledged Equity and Pledged Debt issued by such Grantor and the Pledged Equity issued by such Foreign Grantor have been duly and validly authorized and issued by the issuers thereof and, in the case of the Pledged Equity, are fully paid and nonassessable (to the extent such concept is applicable), and in the case of the Pledged Debt, are legal, valid and binding obligations of the issuers thereof, except to the extent that enforceability of such obligations may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally;

(c) except for the security interests granted hereunder, such Grantor or such Foreign Grantor, as applicable, (i) is, subject to any transfers made in compliance with the Credit Agreement, the direct owner, beneficially and of record, of the Pledged Equity and Pledged Debt indicated on Schedule II, (ii) holds the same free and clear of all Liens, other than (A) Liens created by the Collateral Documents and (B) Liens expressly permitted pursuant to Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement, and (iii) if requested by the Collateral Agent, will defend its title or interest thereto or therein against any and all Liens (other than the Liens permitted pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)), however arising, of all Persons whomsoever;

(d) except for restrictions and limitations (i) imposed or permitted by the Loan Documents or securities laws generally and (ii) in the case of Pledged Equity of Persons that are not Subsidiaries, transfer restrictions that exist at the time of acquisition of Equity Interests in such Persons, the Pledged Collateral is freely transferable and assignable, and none of the Pledged Collateral is subject to any option, right of first refusal, shareholders agreement, charter or by-law

 

6


provisions or contractual restriction of any nature that might prohibit, impair, delay or otherwise affect in any manner material and adverse to the Secured Parties the pledge of such Pledged Collateral hereunder, the sale or disposition thereof pursuant hereto or the exercise by the Collateral Agent of rights and remedies hereunder;

(e) the execution and performance by the Grantors and Foreign Grantors of this Agreement are within each Grantor’s and Foreign Grantor’s corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership action or other organizational action;

(f) no consent or approval of any Governmental Authority, any securities exchange or any other Person was or is necessary to the validity of the pledge effected hereby, except for (i) filings and registrations necessary to perfect the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Grantors or Foreign Grantors, as applicable, in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and (ii) the approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations, actions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect (except to the extent not required to be obtained, taken, given, or made or to be in full force and effect pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement);

(g) by virtue of the execution and delivery by each Grantor and Foreign Grantor, as applicable, of this Agreement, and delivery of the Pledged Certificated Securities in accordance with this Agreement to and continued possession by the Collateral Agent in the State of New York, the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties has a legal, valid and perfected lien upon and security interest in such Pledged Securities as security for the payment and performance of the Secured Obligations to the extent such perfection is governed by the UCC, subject only to Liens permitted by Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement; and

(h) the pledge effected hereby is effective to vest in the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the rights of a secured party in the Pledged Collateral to the extent intended hereby.

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, each Grantor and Foreign Grantor hereby agrees that upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, it will comply with instructions of the Collateral Agent with respect to the Equity Interests in such Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, that constitute Pledged Equity hereunder that are not certificated without further consent by the applicable owner or holder of such Equity Interests.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent any provision of this Agreement or the Credit Agreement excludes any assets from the scope of the Pledged Collateral, or from any requirement to take any action to perfect any security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in the Pledged Collateral, the representations, warranties and covenants made by any relevant Grantor in this Agreement with respect to the creation, perfection or priority (as applicable) of the security interest granted in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties (including, without limitation, this Section 2.03) shall be deemed not to apply to such excluded assets.

 

7


Section 2.04. Certification of Limited Liability Company and Limited Partnership Interests. No interest in any limited liability company or limited partnership controlled by any Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, that constitutes Pledged Equity shall be represented by a certificate unless (i) the limited liability company agreement or partnership agreement expressly provides that such interests shall be a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the UCC of the applicable jurisdiction, and (ii) such certificate shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 2.02. Any limited liability company and any limited partnership controlled by any Grantor or Foreign Grantor shall either (a) not include in its operative documents any provision that any Equity Interests in such limited liability company or such limited partnership be a “security” as defined under Article 8 of the UCC or (b) certificate any Equity Interests in any such limited liability company or such limited partnership. To the extent an interest in any limited liability company or limited partnership controlled by any Grantor or Foreign Grantor and pledged under Section 2.01 is certificated or becomes certificated, (i) each such certificate shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) and (ii) such Grantor or Foreign Grantor shall fulfill all other requirements under Section 2.02 applicable in respect thereof.

Section 2.05. Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Collateral Agent shall have given the Lead Borrower at least one (1) Business Day’s prior written notice of its intent to exercise such rights, (a) the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall have the right to hold the Pledged Securities in its own name as pledgee, the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent) or the name of the applicable Grantor or Foreign Grantor, endorsed or assigned in blank or in favor of the Collateral Agent and each Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, will promptly give to the Collateral Agent copies of any written notices or other written communications received by it with respect to Pledged Equity registered in the name of such Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, and (b) the Collateral Agent shall have the right to exchange the certificates representing Pledged Securities for certificates of smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with this Agreement, to the extent not prohibited by the documentation governing such Pledged Securities and applicable Laws.

Section 2.06. Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest.

(a) Unless and until an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Collateral Agent shall have provided at least one (1) Business Day’s prior written notice to the Lead Borrower that the rights of the Grantors under this Section 2.06 are being suspended:

(i) Each Grantor and Foreign Grantor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and/or other consensual rights and powers inuring to an owner of Pledged Securities or any part thereof and each Grantor and Foreign Grantor agrees that it shall exercise such rights for purposes consistent with the terms of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

(ii) The Collateral Agent shall promptly (after reasonable advance notice by such Grantor or Foreign Grantor) execute and deliver to each Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, or cause to be executed and delivered to such Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, all such proxies, powers of attorney and other instruments as such Grantor or Foreign Grantor may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling such Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to subparagraph (i) above.

 

8


(iii) Each Grantor and Foreign Grantor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all dividends, interest, principal and other distributions paid on or distributed in respect of the Pledged Securities to the extent and only to the extent that such dividends, interest, principal and other distributions are permitted by, and otherwise paid or distributed in accordance with, the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and applicable Laws; provided that any noncash dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that would constitute Pledged Equity or Pledged Debt, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding Equity Interests of the issuer of any Pledged Securities or received in exchange for Pledged Securities or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall be and become part of the Pledged Collateral, and, if received by any Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, shall not be commingled by such Grantor or Foreign Grantor with any of its other funds or property but shall be held separate and apart therefrom, shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties and shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 2.02(a) and in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent). So long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Collateral Agent shall promptly deliver to each Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, any Pledged Securities in its possession if requested to be delivered to the issuer thereof in connection with any exchange or redemption of such Pledged Securities permitted by the Credit Agreement in accordance with this Section 2.06(a)(iii).

(b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, after the Collateral Agent shall have notified the Borrowers of the suspension of the Grantors’ or Foreign Grantor’s rights under paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 2.06, then all rights of any Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, to dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, is authorized to receive pursuant to paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 2.06 shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Collateral Agent, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to receive and retain such dividends, interest, principal or other distributions. All dividends, interest, principal or other distributions received by any Grantor or Foreign Grantor contrary to the provisions of this Section 2.06 shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, shall be segregated from other property or funds of such Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, and shall be promptly (and in any event within 10 days or such longer period as the Collateral Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) delivered to the Collateral Agent upon demand in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent). Any and all money and other property paid over to or received by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph (b) shall be retained by the Collateral Agent in an account to be established by the Collateral Agent upon receipt of such money or other property and shall, subject to any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, be applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.02. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived and the Borrowers have delivered to the Collateral Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each of the Borrowers to that effect, the Collateral

 

9


Agent shall promptly repay to each Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, (without interest) all dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, would otherwise be permitted to retain pursuant to the terms of paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 2.06 and that remain in such account.

(c) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, after the Collateral Agent shall have provided the Borrowers with notice of the suspension of its rights under paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 2.06, then all rights of any Grantor or Foreign Grantor to exercise the voting and consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 2.06, and the obligations of the Collateral Agent under paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 2.06, shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Collateral Agent, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise such voting and consensual rights and powers; provided that, unless otherwise directed by the Required Lenders, the Collateral Agent shall have the right from time to time following and during the continuance of an Event of Default to permit the Grantors or Foreign Grantor to exercise such rights. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived and the Borrowers have delivered to the Collateral Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each of the Borrowers to that effect, each Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, shall have the exclusive right to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers that such Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to the terms of paragraph (a)(i) above, and the obligations of the Collateral Agent under paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 2.06 shall be reinstated.

(d) Any notice given by the Collateral Agent to the Borrowers under Section 2.05 or Section 2.06 (i) shall be given in writing, (ii) may be given with respect to one or more Grantors or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, at the same or different times and (iii) may suspend the rights of the Grantors or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, under paragraph (a)(i) or paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 2.06 in part without suspending all such rights (as specified by the Collateral Agent in its sole and absolute discretion) and without waiving or otherwise affecting the Collateral Agent’s rights to give additional notices from time to time suspending other rights so long as an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

ARTICLE III

Security Interests in Personal Property

Section 3.01. Security Interest.

(a) As security for the payment or performance, as the case may be, in full of the Secured Obligations, including the Guaranty, each Grantor hereby assigns and pledges to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest (the “Security Interest”) in, all right, title or interest in or to any and all of the following assets and properties now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest (collectively, the “Article 9 Collateral”):

(i) all Accounts;

(ii) all Chattel Paper;

 

10


(iii) all Documents;

(iv) all Equipment;

(v) all General Intangibles;

(vi) all Goods;

(vii) all Instruments;

(viii) all Inventory;

(ix) all Investment Property;

(x) all books and records pertaining to the Article 9 Collateral;

(xi) all Fixtures;

(xii) all Letter-of-Credit Rights but only to the extent constituting a Supporting Obligation for other Article 9 Collateral as to which perfection of a security interest in such Article 9 Collateral is accomplished by the filing of a UCC financing statement;

(xiii) all Intellectual Property; and

(xiv) to the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds and products of any and all of the foregoing and all Supporting Obligations, collateral security and guarantees given by any Person with respect to any of the foregoing;

provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) this Agreement shall not constitute a grant of a security interest in any Excluded Assets and the term “Article 9 Collateral” shall not include any Excluded Assets and (ii) this Agreement shall not constitute a grant of security interest in (and Holdings shall not be deemed to be Grantor with respect to) any assets of Holdings other than Pledged Equity with respect to the Borrowers and all Proceeds thereof owned by it and pledged pursuant to Section 2.01.

(b) Subject to Section 3.01(e), each Grantor and each Foreign Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties at any time and from time to time to file in any relevant jurisdiction any initial financing statements with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof and amendments thereto that (i) indicate the Article 9 Collateral as “all assets” or “all personal property” of such Grantor or Foreign Grantor or words of similar effect or as being of an equal or lesser scope or with greater detail and (ii) contain the information required by Article 9 of the UCC or the analogous legislation of each applicable jurisdiction for the filing of any financing statement or amendment, including whether such Grantor of Foreign Grantor is an organization, the type of organization and, if required, any organizational identification number issued to such Grantor or Foreign Grantor. Each Grantor and each Foreign Grantor agrees to provide such information to the Collateral Agent promptly upon any reasonable request.

 

11


(c) The Security Interest is granted as security only and shall not subject the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to, or in any way alter or modify, any obligation or liability of any Grantor with respect to or arising out of the Article 9 Collateral.

(d) The Collateral Agent is authorized to file with the USPTO or the USCO (or any successor office) such documents executed by each Grantor which shall be executed by each Grantor upon reasonable request of the Collateral Agent as may be necessary or advisable for the purpose of creating, attaching and perfecting the Security Interest in United States Intellectual Property of each Grantor in which a security interest has been granted by each Grantor and naming any Grantor or the Grantors as debtors and the Collateral Agent as secured party. No Grantor shall be required to complete any filings governed by non-United States laws or take any other action with respect to the perfection of the Security Interests created hereby in any Intellectual Property subsisting in any non-United States jurisdiction.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Loan Documents, none of the Grantors shall be required, nor is the Collateral Agent authorized, (i) to perfect the Security Interests granted by this Agreement (including Security Interests in Investment Property and Fixtures) by any means other than by (A) filings pursuant to the UCC in the office of the secretary of state (or similar central filing office) of the relevant State(s), (B) filings with the USPTO or the USCO, as applicable, with respect to Intellectual Property of the Grantors as expressly required elsewhere herein, (C) delivery to the Collateral Agent to be held in its possession of all Collateral consisting of Instruments and certificated Pledged Equity as expressly required elsewhere herein or (D) other methods expressly provided herein, (ii) to enter into any deposit account control agreement, securities account control agreement or any other control agreement with respect to any deposit account, securities account or any other Collateral that requires perfection by “control”, (iii) to take any action (other than the actions listed in clauses (i)(A) and (C) above) with respect to any assets located outside of the United States, (iv) to perfect in any assets subject to a certificate of title statute or (v) to deliver any Equity Interests except as expressly provided in Section 2.01, Section 2.02 or Section 2.04.

Section 3.02. Representations and Warranties. Each Grantor jointly and severally represents and warrants, as to itself and the other Grantors, to the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties that:

(a) Subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement, each Grantor has good and valid rights in and title (except as otherwise permitted by the Loan Documents) to the Article 9 Collateral with respect to which it has purported to grant a Security Interest hereunder and has full power and authority to grant to the Collateral Agent the Security Interest in such Article 9 Collateral pursuant hereto and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, without the consent or approval of any other Person (after giving effect to any anti-assignment provisions in the UCC or similar Law) other than any consent or approval that has been obtained and those consents or approvals, the failure of which to be obtained or to be made could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

12


(b) The Perfection Certificate has been duly prepared, completed and executed and the information set forth therein is correct and complete in all material respects (except the information therein with respect to the exact legal name of each Grantor shall be correct and complete in all respects) as of the Closing Date. Subject to Section 3.01(e), the UCC financing statements or other appropriate filings, recordings or registrations prepared by the Collateral Agent based upon the information provided to the Collateral Agent in the Perfection Certificate for filing in the applicable filing office (or specified by notice from the Lead Borrower to the Collateral Agent after the Closing Date in the case of filings, recordings or registrations (other than filings required to be made in the USPTO and the USCO in order to perfect the Security Interest in Article 9 Collateral consisting of registered or issued, or applied for, United States Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights and exclusive licenses of United States registered Copyright), in each case, as required by Section 6.11 of the Credit Agreement), are all the filings, recordings and registrations that are necessary to establish a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) in respect of all Article 9 Collateral in which the Security Interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registration in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions pursuant to the UCC, and no further or subsequent filing, re-filing, recording, rerecording, registration or re-registration is necessary in any such jurisdiction, except as provided under applicable Law with respect to the filing of continuation statements.

(c) Each Grantor represents and warrants on the date hereof that (i) short-form Intellectual Property Security Agreements containing a description of all Article 9 Collateral consisting of United States issued Patents (and Patents for which United States registration applications are pending), United States registered Trademarks (and Trademarks for which United States registration applications are pending) and United States registered Copyrights and exclusive licenses of United States registered Copyrights, respectively (other than, in each case, any Excluded Assets), have been executed by the applicable Grantor owning any such Article 9 Collateral and have been delivered to the Collateral Agent for recording with the USPTO and the USCO pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 261, 15 U.S.C. § 1060 or 17 U.S.C. § 205 and the regulations thereunder, as applicable, (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) in respect of all Article 9 Collateral consisting of United States registrations and/or applications for Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights and exclusive licenses of United States registered Copyrights and (ii) to the extent a security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registration in the USPTO or USCO under the federal intellectual property laws, then the recording of such short form Intellectual Property Security Agreements with the USPTO and the USCO will be sufficient to establish a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in all such Article 9 Collateral and no further or subsequent filing, re-filing, recording, rerecording, registration or re-registration is necessary (other than (i) such filings and actions as are necessary to perfect the Security Interest with respect to any Article 9 Collateral consisting of registered or issued, or applied for, United States Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights and exclusive licenses of United States registered Copyrights acquired or developed by any Grantor after the date hereof and (ii) the UCC financing and continuation statements contemplated in Section 3.02(b)).

(d) The Security Interest constitutes (i) a legal and valid security interest in all the Article 9 Collateral securing the payment and performance of the Secured Obligations, (ii) subject to the filings described in Section 3.02(b), a perfected security interest in all Article 9 Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registering a financing statement or analogous document in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions pursuant to the UCC and (iii) subject to the filings described in Section

 

13


3.02(c), a security interest that shall be perfected in all Article 9 Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected upon the receipt and recording of an Intellectual Property Security Agreement with the USPTO and the USCO, as applicable, within the three-month period after the date hereof pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 261 or 15 U.S.C. § 1060 or the one-month period after the date hereof pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 205. The Security Interest is and shall be prior to any other Lien on any of the Article 9 Collateral, other than any Liens expressly permitted pursuant to Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement.

(e) The Article 9 Collateral is held by the Grantors free and clear of any Lien, except for Liens expressly permitted pursuant to Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement. None of the Grantors has filed or consented to the filing of (i) any financing statement or analogous document under the UCC or any other applicable Laws covering any Article 9 Collateral, (ii) any assignment in which any Grantor assigns any Article 9 Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Article 9 Collateral with the USPTO or the USCO or (iii) any assignment in which any Grantor assigns any Article 9 Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Article 9 Collateral with any foreign governmental, municipal or other office, which financing statement or analogous document, assignment, security agreement or similar instrument is still in effect, except, in each case, for filings contemplated hereby, Liens expressly permitted pursuant to Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement and assignments permitted or not prohibited by the Credit Agreement.

Section 3.03. Covenants.

(a) The Lead Borrower agrees to notify the Collateral Agent in writing promptly, but in any event within 60 days (or such longer period as the Collateral Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), after any change in (i) the legal name of any Grantor or Foreign Grantor, (ii) the identity or type of organization or corporate structure of any Grantor or Foreign Grantor or (iii) the jurisdiction of organization of any Grantor or Foreign Grantor. Each Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, agrees to promptly provide the Collateral Agent, upon its reasonable request, the certified Organizational Documents reflecting any of the changes in the preceding sentence.

(b) Subject to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, Section 3.01(e) and Section 3.03(f)(iv), each Grantor shall, at its own expense, upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Agent, use commercially reasonable efforts necessary to defend title to the Article 9 Collateral against all Persons and to defend the Security Interest of the Collateral Agent in the Article 9 Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien not expressly permitted pursuant to Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement; provided that, nothing in this Agreement shall prevent any Grantor from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of its assets or properties if such discontinuance is not prohibited by the Credit Agreement.

(c) Subject to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and Section 3.01(e), each Grantor agrees, at its own expense, to execute, acknowledge, deliver and cause to be duly filed all such further instruments and documents and take all such actions as the Collateral Agent may from time to time reasonably request to better assure, preserve, protect and perfect the Security Interest and the rights and remedies created hereby, including the payment of any fees and taxes required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the granting of the Security

 

14


Interest and the filing of any financing statements or other documents in connection herewith or therewith. If any amount payable under or in connection with any of the Article 9 Collateral that is in excess of $10,000,000 shall be or become evidenced by any promissory note, other instrument or debt security, such note, instrument or debt security shall be promptly (and in any event within 60 days of its acquisition or such longer period as the Collateral Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) pledged and delivered to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, duly endorsed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

(d) At its option, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent may discharge past due taxes, assessments, charges, fees, Liens, security interests or other encumbrances at any time levied or placed on the Article 9 Collateral and not permitted pursuant to Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement, and may pay for the maintenance and preservation of the Article 9 Collateral to the extent any Grantor fails to do so as required by the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document and within a reasonable period of time after the Collateral Agent has requested that it do so, and each Grantor jointly and severally agrees to reimburse the Collateral Agent within 10 Business Days after demand for any payment made or any reasonable expense incurred by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the foregoing authorization; provided, however, the Grantors shall not be obligated to reimburse the Collateral Agent with respect to any Intellectual Property that any Grantor has failed to maintain or pursue, or otherwise allowed to lapse, terminate or be put into the public domain in accordance with Section 3.03(f)(iv). Nothing in this paragraph shall be interpreted as excusing any Grantor from the performance of, or imposing any obligation on the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to cure or perform, any covenants or other promises of any Grantor with respect to taxes, assessments, charges, fees, Liens, security interests or other encumbrances and maintenance as set forth herein or in the other Loan Documents.

(e) If at any time any Grantor shall take a security interest in any property of an Account Debtor or any other Person the value of which is in excess of $10,000,000 to secure payment and performance of an Account, such Grantor shall, subject to any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, promptly (but in any event within 60 days after such action by such Grantor or such longer period as the Collateral Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) assign such security interest to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, this Agreement shall not constitute a grant of a security interest in any Excluded Assets. Such assignment need not be filed of public record unless necessary to continue the perfected status of the security interest against creditors of and transferees from the Account Debtor or other Person granting the security interest.

(f) Intellectual Property Covenants.

(i) Other than to the extent not prohibited herein or in the Credit Agreement or with respect to registrations and applications no longer used or useful, or to the extent failure to act would not, as deemed by the applicable Grantor in its reasonable business judgment, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, with respect to registration or pending application of each item of its Intellectual Property for which such Grantor has standing to do so, each Grantor agrees to take, at its expense, all commercially reasonable steps, including, without limitation, in the USPTO, the USCO and any other Governmental Authority located in the United States, to pursue the registration and maintenance of each United States Patent, Trademark, or Copyright registration or application now or hereafter included in the Intellectual Property of such Grantor that are not Excluded Assets.

 

15


(ii) Other than to the extent not prohibited herein or in the Credit Agreement, or with respect to registrations and applications no longer used or useful, or except as would not, as deemed by the applicable Grantor in its reasonable business judgment, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no Grantor shall do or permit any act or knowingly omit to do any act whereby any of its Intellectual Property, excluding Excluded Assets, may lapse, be terminated, or become invalid or unenforceable or placed in the public domain (or in the case of a trade secret, become publicly known).

(iii) Other than to the extent not prohibited herein or in the Credit Agreement, or with respect to Patents, Copyrights or Trademarks which are no longer used or useful in the applicable Grantor’s business operations or except where failure to do so would not, as deemed by the applicable Grantor in its reasonable business judgment, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each Grantor shall take all reasonable steps to preserve and protect each item of its Intellectual Property, excluding Excluded Assets, including, without limitation, maintaining the quality of any and all products or services used or provided in connection with any of the Trademarks, consistent with the quality of the products and services as of the date hereof, and taking commercially reasonable steps necessary to ensure that all licensed users of any of the Trademarks abide by the applicable license’s terms with respect to standards of quality.

(iv) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document prevents or shall be deemed to prevent any Grantor from disposing of, discontinuing the use or maintenance of, failing to pursue, or otherwise allowing to lapse, terminate or be put into the public domain, any of its Intellectual Property to the extent not prohibited by the Credit Agreement if such Grantor determines in its reasonable business judgment that such discontinuance is desirable in the conduct of its business.

(v) Each Grantor agrees that, should it obtain an ownership or other interest in any Intellectual Property constituting Article 9 Collateral after the Closing Date, (i) the provisions of this Agreement shall automatically apply thereto and (ii) any such Intellectual Property and, in the case of Trademarks, the goodwill symbolized thereby, shall automatically become Intellectual Property subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

(vi) Within the same delivery period as required for the delivery of the annual Compliance Certificate required to be delivered under Section 6.02(a) of the Credit Agreement the Lead Borrower shall (i) provide a list of any U.S. Intellectual Property registrations and applications and exclusive licenses of United States registered Copyrights constituting Article 9 Collateral of all Grantors not previously disclosed to the Collateral Agent, including such information as is necessary for such Grantor to make appropriate filings in the USPTO and USCO and (ii) execute and file with the USPTO and USCO, as applicable, an Intellectual Property Security Agreement to record the grant of the security interest hereunder in such Intellectual Property. As soon as practicable upon each such filing and recording, such Grantor shall deliver to the Collateral Agent true and correct copies of the relevant documents, instruments and receipts evidencing such filing and recording.

 

16


ARTICLE IV

Remedies

Section 4.01. Remedies Upon Default. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, it is agreed that the Collateral Agent shall have the right to exercise any and all rights afforded to a secured party with respect to the Collateral and the Secured Obligations, including the Guaranty, under the UCC or other applicable Law and also may (i) require each Grantor to, and each Grantor agrees that it will at its expense and upon request of the Collateral Agent, promptly assemble all or part of the Collateral as directed by the Collateral Agent and make it available to the Collateral Agent at a place and time to be designated by the Collateral Agent that is reasonably convenient to both parties; (ii) occupy any premises owned or, to the extent lawful and permitted, leased (it being acknowledged and agreed that the Grantors are not required to obtain any waiver or consent from any owner of such leased premises in connection with such occupancy or attempted occupancy) by any of the Grantors where the Collateral or any part thereof is assembled or located for a reasonable period in order to effectuate its rights and remedies hereunder or under Law, without obligation to such Grantor in respect of such occupation; provided that the Collateral Agent shall provide the applicable Grantor with reasonable prior notice thereof which in any event shall be at least 10 days prior to such occupancy; (iii) exercise any and all rights and remedies of any of the Grantors under or in connection with the Collateral, or otherwise in respect of the Collateral; provided that the Collateral Agent shall provide the applicable Grantor with reasonable notice thereof prior to such exercise (it being understood that the notice in the next paragraph is reasonable); and (iv) subject to the mandatory requirements of applicable Law and the notice requirements described below, sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Collateral securing the Secured Obligations at a public or private sale or at any broker’s board or on any securities exchange, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery as the Collateral Agent shall deem appropriate. The Collateral Agent shall be authorized at any such sale of securities (if it deems it advisable to do so) to restrict the prospective bidders or purchasers to Persons who will represent and agree that they are purchasing the Collateral for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or sale thereof, and upon consummation of any such sale the Collateral Agent shall have the right to assign, transfer and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof the Collateral so sold. Each such purchaser at any sale of Collateral shall hold the property sold absolutely, free from any claim or right on the part of any Grantor, and each Grantor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by Law) all rights of redemption, stay and appraisal which such Grantor now has or may at any time in the future have under any Law now existing or hereafter enacted.

The Collateral Agent shall give the applicable Grantors at least 10 days’ written notice (which each Grantor agrees is reasonable notice within the meaning of Section 9-611 of the UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions) of the Collateral Agent’s intention to make any sale of Collateral. Such notice, in the case of a public sale, shall state the time and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at a broker’s board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or portion thereof, will first

 

17


be offered for sale at such board or exchange. Any such public sale shall be held at such time or times within ordinary business hours and at such place or places as the Collateral Agent may fix and state in the notice (if any) of such sale. At any such sale, the Collateral, or portion thereof, to be sold may be sold in one lot as an entirety or in separate parcels, as the Collateral Agent may (in its sole and absolute discretion) determine. The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of any Collateral if it shall determine not to do so, regardless of the fact that notice of sale of such Collateral shall have been given. The Collateral Agent may, without notice or publication, adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same to be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed for sale, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which the same was so adjourned. In case any sale of all or any part of the Collateral is made on credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be retained by the Collateral Agent until the sale price is paid by the purchaser or purchasers thereof, but the Collateral Agent shall not incur any liability in case any such purchaser or purchasers shall fail to take up and pay for the Collateral so sold and, in case of any such failure, such Collateral may be sold again upon like notice. At any public (or, to the extent permitted by Law, private) sale made pursuant to this Agreement, any Secured Party may bid for or purchase, free (to the extent permitted by Law) from any right of redemption, stay, valuation or appraisal on the part of any Grantor (all said rights being also hereby waived and released to the extent permitted by Law), the Collateral or any part thereof offered for sale and may make payment on account thereof by using any claim then due and payable to such Secured Party from any Grantor as a credit against the purchase price, and such Secured Party may, upon compliance with the terms of sale, hold, retain and dispose of such property without further accountability to any Grantor therefor. For purposes hereof, a written agreement to purchase the Collateral or any portion thereof shall be treated as a sale thereof; the Collateral Agent shall be free to carry out such sale pursuant to such agreement and no Grantor shall be entitled to the return of the Collateral or any portion thereof subject thereto, notwithstanding the fact that after the Collateral Agent shall have entered into such an agreement all Events of Default shall have been remedied and the Secured Obligations paid in full. As an alternative to exercising the power of sale herein conferred upon it, the Collateral Agent may proceed by a suit or suits at Law or in equity to foreclose this Agreement and to sell the Collateral or any portion thereof pursuant to a judgment or decree of a court or courts having competent jurisdiction or pursuant to a proceeding by a court-appointed receiver. Any sale pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4.01 shall be deemed to conform to the commercially reasonable standards as provided in Section 9-610(b) of the UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions.

Each Grantor irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the Collateral Agent (and all officers, employees or agents designated by the Collateral Agent) as such Grantor’s true and lawful agent (and attorney-in-fact) during the continuance of an Event of Default (provided that the Collateral Agent shall provide the applicable Grantor with notice thereof prior to, to the extent reasonably practicable, or otherwise promptly after, exercising such rights), for the purpose of (i) making, settling and adjusting claims in respect of Article 9 Collateral under policies of insurance, endorsing the name of such Grantor on any check, draft, instrument or other item of payment for the proceeds of such policies if insurance, (ii) making all determinations and decisions with respect thereto and (iii) obtaining or maintaining the policies of insurance required by Section 6.07 of the Credit Agreement or to pay any premium in whole or in part relating thereto. All sums disbursed by the Collateral Agent in connection with this paragraph, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, court costs, expenses and other charges relating thereto, shall be payable, within 10 days of demand, by the Grantors to the Collateral Agent and shall be additional Secured Obligations secured hereby.

 

18


Section 4.02. Application of Proceeds. Subject to any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall apply the proceeds of any collection or sale of Collateral, including any Collateral consisting of cash, in accordance with Section 8.04 of the Credit Agreement.

Subject to any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall have absolute discretion as to the time of application of any such proceeds, moneys or balances in accordance with this Agreement. Upon any sale of Collateral by the Collateral Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding), the receipt of the Collateral Agent or of the officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid over to the Collateral Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof.

The Collateral Agent shall have no liability to any of the Secured Parties for actions taken in reliance on information supplied to it as to the amounts of unpaid principal and interest and other amounts outstanding with respect to the Secured Obligations, provided that nothing in this sentence shall prevent any Grantor from contesting any amounts claimed by any Secured Party in any information so supplied. All distributions made by the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 4.02 shall be (subject to any decree of any court of competent jurisdiction) final (absent manifest error).

Section 4.03. Grant of License to Use Intellectual Property. For the exclusive purpose of enabling the Collateral Agent to exercise rights and remedies under this Agreement at such time as the Collateral Agent shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies at any time after and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, effective as of an Event of Default, a non-exclusive, royalty-free, limited license (until the waiver or cure of all Events of Default and the delivery by the Lead Borrower to the Collateral Agent of a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower to that effect) to use, license or sublicense any of the Intellectual Property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor, and including in such license reasonable access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer software and programs used for the compilation or printout thereof; provided, however, that all of the foregoing rights of the Collateral Agent to such Intellectual Property and all licenses and sublicenses granted thereunder, shall expire immediately upon the waiver or cure of all Events of Default and the delivery by the Lead Borrower to the Collateral Agent of a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower to that effect and shall be exercised by the Collateral Agent solely during the continuance of an Event of Default (it being understood that the foregoing license grant shall be re-instituted upon any subsequent Events of Default), and nothing in this Section 4.03 shall require Grantors to grant any license that is prohibited by any rule of law, statute or regulation, or is prohibited by, or constitutes a breach or default under or results in the termination of any contract, license, agreement, instrument or other document executed with a third party; provided, further, that any such license and any such license granted by the Collateral Agent to a third party (including the access rights set forth above) shall include reasonable and customary terms and conditions necessary to preserve the existence, validity and value of the affected Intellectual Property, including without limitation,

 

19


provisions requiring the continuing confidential handling of trade secrets and confidential information, protecting data and system security, requiring the use of appropriate notices and prohibiting the use of false notices, quality control and inurement provisions with regard to Trademarks, patent designation provisions with regard to Patents, copyright notices and restrictions on decompilation and reverse engineering of copyrighted software (it being understood that (I) the incorporation of standard or customary terms and conditions used by the Grantor in its own intellectual property licenses or agreement as of the date of the Event of Default satisfies the foregoing criteria) and (II) without limiting any other rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent under this Agreement, any other Loan Document or applicable Law, nothing in the foregoing license grant shall be construed as granting the Collateral Agent rights in and to such Intellectual Property above and beyond (x) the rights to such Intellectual Property that each Grantor has reserved for itself and (y) in the case of Intellectual Property that is licensed to any such Grantor by a third party, the extent to which such Grantor has the right to grant a sublicense to such Intellectual Property hereunder). For the avoidance of doubt, the use of such license by the Collateral Agent may be exercised, at the option of the Collateral Agent, only during the continuation of an Event of Default. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent may also exercise the rights afforded under Section 4.01 of this Agreement with respect to Intellectual Property contained in the Article 9 Collateral.

ARTICLE V

Subordination

Section 5.01. Subordination.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, all rights of the Grantors to indemnity, contribution or subrogation under applicable Law or otherwise shall be fully subordinated to the payment in full in cash of the Secured Obligations. No failure on the part of the Borrowers or any Grantor to make the payments required under applicable Law or otherwise shall in any respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Grantor with respect to its obligations hereunder, and each Grantor shall remain liable for the full amount of the obligations of such Grantor hereunder.

(b) Each Grantor hereby agrees that upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and after notice from the Collateral Agent, all Indebtedness owed to it by any other Grantor shall be fully subordinated to the payment in full in cash of the Secured Obligations.

ARTICLE VI

Miscellaneous

Section 6.01. Notices. All communications and notices hereunder shall (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein) be in writing and given as provided in Section 10.02 of the Credit Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to the Borrowers or any other Grantor shall be given to it in care of the Lead Borrower as provided in Section 10.02 of the Credit Agreement.

 

20


Section 6.02. Waivers; Amendment.

(a) No failure or delay by any Secured Party in exercising any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges of the Secured Parties herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any Grantor therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section 6.02, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan, the issuance of a Letter of Credit or the provision of services under Treasury Services Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether any Secured Party may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Collateral Agent and the Grantor or Grantors with respect to which such waiver, amendment or modification is to apply, subject to any consent required in accordance with Section 10.01 of the Credit Agreement.

Section 6.03. Collateral Agents Fees and Expenses; Indemnification.

(a) The parties hereto agree that the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to reimbursement of its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred hereunder and indemnity for its actions in connection herewith as provided in Sections 10.04 and 10.05 of the Credit Agreement; provided that each reference therein to the “Borrowers” shall be deemed to be a reference to “each Grantor” and each reference therein to the “Administrative Agent” shall be deemed to be a reference to the “Collateral Agent”.

(b) Any such amounts payable as provided hereunder shall be additional Secured Obligations secured hereby and by the other Collateral Documents. The provisions of this Section 6.03 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Secured Obligations, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party. All amounts due under this Section 6.03 shall be payable within 30 days of written demand therefor.

Section 6.04. Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns.

 

21


Section 6.05. Survival of Agreement. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Grantors hereunder and in the other Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Secured Parties and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit and the provision of services under Treasury Services Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements, regardless of any investigation made by any Secured Party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that any Secured Party may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time any credit is extended under the Credit Agreement, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as this Agreement has not been terminated or released pursuant to Section 6.11 below.

Section 6.06. Counterparts; Effectiveness; Several Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery by facsimile or other electronic communication of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective as to any Grantor when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf of such Grantor shall have been delivered to the Collateral Agent and a counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of the Collateral Agent, and thereafter shall be binding upon such Grantor and the Collateral Agent and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of such Grantor, the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns, except that no Grantor shall have the right to assign or transfer its rights or obligations hereunder or any interest herein or in the Collateral (and any such assignment or transfer shall be void) except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Credit Agreement. This Agreement shall be construed as a separate agreement with respect to each Grantor and may be amended, modified, supplemented, waived or released with respect to any Grantor without the approval of any other Grantor and without affecting the obligations of any other Grantor hereunder.

Section 6.07. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or impaired thereby. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 6.08. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial; Consent to Service of Process.

(a) The terms of Sections 10.15 and 10.16 of the Credit Agreement with respect to governing law, submission to jurisdiction, venue and waiver of jury trial are incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis, and the parties hereto agree to such terms.

(b) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 6.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by Law.

Section 6.09. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

22


Section 6.10. Security Interest Absolute. To the extent permitted by Law, all rights of the Collateral Agent hereunder, the Security Interest, the grant of a security interest in the Pledged Collateral and all obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any agreement with respect to any of the Secured Obligations or any other agreement or instrument relating to any of the foregoing, (b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Secured Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument, (c) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any Lien on other collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent under or departure from any guarantee, securing or guaranteeing all or any of the Secured Obligations or (d) subject only to termination of a Grantor’s obligations hereunder in accordance with the terms of Section 6.11, any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Grantor in respect of the Secured Obligations or this Agreement.

Section 6.11. Termination or Release.

(a) This Agreement, the Security Interest and all other security interests granted hereby shall terminate with respect to all Secured Obligations and any Liens granted under this Agreement shall be automatically released upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Secured Obligations (other than (i) obligations under any Secured Hedge Agreement or Treasury Services Agreement not yet due and payable and (ii) contingent indemnification obligations not yet accrued and payable) and the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit in which the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations related thereto have been Cash Collateralized or if such Letters of Credit have been backstopped by letters of credit reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer or deemed reissued under another agreement reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer).

(b) A Subsidiary Party shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder and the Security Interest in the Collateral of such Subsidiary Party shall be automatically released upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement as a result of which such Subsidiary Party ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower or becomes an Excluded Subsidiary; provided that no such release shall occur if such Guarantor continues to be a guarantor in respect any Junior Financing with a principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount. At the sole option of the Lead Borrower, any Person that constitutes Holdings shall be automatically released from its obligations hereunder and the Security Interest in the Collateral of such Person shall be automatically released if such Person shall cease to be Holdings under the Credit Agreement pursuant to the definition of “Holdings” and subject to the assumption of all obligations of “Holdings” under the Loan Documents by such other Subsidiary of “Holdings” organized under the Laws of an Agreed Security Jurisdiction that directly owns 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the Lead Borrower pursuant to the definition thereof in the Credit Agreement and satisfaction of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirements by such Subsidiary, including joining this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.12 below; provided that 100% of the Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower shall be pledged to the Collateral Agent to secure the Secured Obligations; provided, further, that the Lead Borrower shall continue to directly or indirectly own 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the Other Borrower Party.

 

23


(c) Upon any sale or other transfer by any Grantor or Foreign Grantor of any Collateral that is permitted under the Credit Agreement (other than a sale or transfer to another Loan Party), or upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release of the security interest granted hereby in any Collateral pursuant to Section 10.01 of the Credit Agreement, the security interest in such Collateral shall be automatically released.

(d) In connection with any termination or release pursuant to paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 6.11, the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver to any Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as applicable, at such Grantor’s or Foreign Grantor’s expense, as applicable, all documents that such Grantor or Foreign Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release and shall perform such other actions reasonably requested by such Grantor or Foreign Grantor to effect such release, including delivery of Pledged Certificated Securities then in the Collateral Agent’s possession. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section 6.11 shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Collateral Agent.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, each Secured Approved Counterparty by the acceptance of the benefits under this Agreement hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Security Interests granted under this Agreement of the Secured Obligations of any Grantor or Foreign Grantor and their respective Subsidiaries under any Secured Hedge Agreement and any Treasury Services Agreement shall be automatically released upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all other Secured Obligations, in each case, unless the Secured Obligations under the Secured Hedge Agreement or the Treasury Services Agreement are due and payable at such time (it being understood and agreed that this Agreement and the Security Interests granted herein shall survive solely as to such due and payable Secured Obligations and until such time as such due and payable Secured Obligations have been paid in full) and (ii) any release of Collateral or of a Grantor or Foreign Grantor, as the case may be, effected in the manner permitted by this Agreement shall not require the consent of any Secured Approved Counterparty.

Section 6.12. Additional Grantors.

(a) Pursuant to Section 6.11 of the Credit Agreement, certain additional Restricted Subsidiaries may be required to enter in this Agreement as Grantors or Foreign Grantors. Upon execution and delivery by a Restricted Subsidiary of a Security Agreement Supplement, the Restricted Subsidiary shall become a Grantor or Foreign Grantor hereunder, as applicable, with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Grantor or Foreign Grantor herein, as applicable. Pursuant to Section 6.11 of the Credit Agreement, a Foreign Grantor may be required to pledge additional assets hereunder upon execution and delivery by such Foreign Grantor of a Security Agreement Supplement and the additional assets described therein shall constitute Collateral and be subject to Liens of the Collateral Agent. The execution and delivery of any such instrument shall not require the consent of any other Grantor or Foreign Grantor hereunder. The rights and obligations of each Grantor and Foreign Grantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Grantor or Foreign Grantor as a party to this Agreement.

 

24


(b) From time to time, any Person that becomes Holdings under the Credit Agreement will be required to enter into this Agreement as a Grantor. Upon execution and delivery by such Person of a Security Agreement Supplement, such Person shall become a Grantor hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Grantor herein.

(c) The execution and delivery of any such instrument described in clauses (a) and (b) above shall not require the consent of any other Grantor hereunder. The rights and obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Grantor as a party to this Agreement.

Section 6.13. Collateral Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact. Each Grantor hereby appoints the Collateral Agent the attorney-in-fact of such Grantor for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Agreement and taking any action and executing any instrument that the Collateral Agent may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof at any time after and during the continuance of an Event of Default, which appointment is irrevocable during the continuance of such Event of Default and is coupled with an interest. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Collateral Agent shall have the right, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and notice by the Collateral Agent to the applicable Grantor of the Collateral Agent’s intent to exercise such rights, with full power of substitution either in the Collateral Agent’s name or in the name of such Grantor (a) to receive, endorse, assign and/or deliver any and all notes, acceptances, checks, drafts, money orders or other evidences of payment relating to the Collateral or any part thereof; (b) to demand, collect, receive payment of, give receipt for and give discharges and releases of all or any of the Collateral; (c) to sign the name of any Grantor on any invoice or bill of lading relating to any of the Collateral; (d) to send verifications of Accounts to any Account Debtor; (e) to commence and prosecute any and all suits, actions or proceedings at Law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect or otherwise realize on all or any of the Collateral or to enforce any rights in respect of any Collateral; (f) to settle, compromise, compound, adjust or defend any actions, suits or proceedings relating to all or any of the Collateral; (g) to notify, or to require any Grantor to notify, Account Debtors to make payment directly to the Collateral Agent; and (h) to use, sell, assign, transfer, license, pledge, make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with all or any of the Collateral, and to do all other acts and things necessary to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, as fully and completely as though the Collateral Agent were the absolute owner of the Collateral for all purposes; provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed as requiring or obligating the Collateral Agent to make any commitment or to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment received by the Collateral Agent, or to present or file any claim or notice, or to take any action with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof or the moneys due or to become due in respect thereof or any property covered thereby. The Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties shall be accountable only for amounts actually received as a result of the exercise of the powers granted to them herein, and neither they nor their officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible to any Grantor for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for their own gross negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct or that of any of their Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, counsel, agents or attorneys-in-fact, in each case, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

Section 6.14. General Authority of the Collateral Agent. By acceptance of the benefits of this Agreement and any other Collateral Documents, each Secured Party (whether or not a signatory hereto) shall be deemed irrevocably (a) to consent to the appointment of the Collateral Agent as its agent hereunder and under such other Collateral Documents, (b) to confirm that the

 

25


Collateral Agent shall have the authority to act as the exclusive agent of such Secured Party for the enforcement of any provisions of this Agreement and such other Collateral Documents against any Grantor, the exercise of remedies hereunder or thereunder and the giving or withholding of any consent or approval hereunder or thereunder relating to any Collateral or any Grantor’s obligations with respect thereto, (c) to agree that it shall not take any action to enforce any provisions of this Agreement or any other Collateral Document against any Grantor, to exercise any remedy hereunder or thereunder or to give any consents or approvals hereunder or thereunder except as expressly provided in this Agreement or any other Collateral Document and (d) to agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and any other Collateral Documents.

Section 6.15. Reasonable Care. The Collateral Agent is required to use reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any of the Collateral in its possession; provided, that the Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have used reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any of the Collateral, if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially similar to that which the Collateral Agent accords its own property.

Section 6.16. Delegation; Limitation. The Collateral Agent may execute any of the powers granted under this Agreement and perform any duty hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact, and shall not be responsible for the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care and without gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Section 6.17. Reinstatement. The obligations of the Grantors under this Agreement shall be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of the Borrowers or other Loan Party in respect of the Secured Obligations is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Secured Obligations, whether as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise.

Section 6.18. Miscellaneous. The Collateral Agent shall not be deemed to have actual, constructive, direct or indirect notice or knowledge of the occurrence of any Event of Default unless and until the Collateral Agent shall have received a written notice of Event of Default or a written notice from the Grantor or the Secured Parties to the Collateral Agent in its capacity as Collateral Agent indicating that an Event of Default has occurred.

Section 6.19. Intercreditor Agreements. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein, the terms of this Agreement, the Liens created hereby and the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder are subject to the terms of each applicable Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and an Intercreditor Agreement, the terms of that Intercreditor Agreement shall govern.

Section 6.20. Foreign Grantor. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the parties hereto agree that (a) with respect to any Foreign Grantor, the Collateral shall be limited to now owned or hereafter acquired (i) (x) Equity Interests of the Loan Parties organized or incorporated in the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia owned by such Foreign Grantor, including the Equity Interests listed on Schedule II hereto, (y) all dividends and distributions in respect thereof and (z) all certificates, instruments, agreements and rights relating thereto or arising thereunder, (ii) all Intellectual Property arising under the laws of

 

26


the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia, (iii) all intercompany receivables governed by the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia and all certificates, instruments, agreements and rights relating thereto or arising thereunder, (iv) any other assets of a Foreign Grantor identified as Collateral in a Security Agreement Supplement and (v) all proceeds of the Collateral described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above (collectively the “U.S. Collateral”) and (b) the representations, warranties and covenants set forth herein shall apply to such Foreign Grantor only with respect to the respective U.S. Collateral.

Section 6.21. Grantors Remain Liable. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) each Grantor shall remain liable under its contracts and agreements included in the Collateral to the extent set forth therein to perform all of its duties and obligations thereunder to the same extent as if this Agreement had not been executed, (b) the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any of the rights hereunder shall not release any Grantor from any of its duties or obligations under the contracts and agreements included in the Collateral and (c) no Secured Party shall have any obligation or liability under the contracts and agreements included in the Collateral by reason of this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Treasury Services Agreement or any Secured Hedge Agreement, nor shall any Secured Party be obligated to perform any of the obligations or duties of any Grantor thereunder or to take any action to collect or enforce any claim for payment assigned hereunder.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

27


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

 

BUZZ BIDCO L.L.C., as Grantor
By:  

/s/ Jonathan Korngold

  Name: Jonathan Korngold
  Title: President
BUZZ MERGER SUB LTD., as Grantor
By:  

/s/ Jonathan Korngold

  Name: Jonathan Korngold
  Title: Director
BUZZ FINCO L.L.C., as Grantor
By:  

/s/ Jonathan Korngold

  Name: Jonathan Korngold
  Title: President

[Signature Page to Security Agreement]


CITIBANK, N.A., as Collateral Agent
By:  

/s/ Scott Sartorius

  Name: Scott Sartorius
  Title: Managing Director

[Signature Page to Security Agreement]


Schedule I

to the Security Agreement

SUBSIDIARY PARTIES

None.


Schedule II

to the Security Agreement

PLEDGED EQUITY AND PLEDGED DEBT

1. Pledged Equity:

 

Issuer

  

Record Owner

  

Shares / Interest

Owned

   Percentage
Ownership
     Percent
Pledged
     Certificate
No. (if
pledged)
 

Buzz Merger Sub Ltd.

   Buzz BidCo L.L.C.    Limited Company Interests      100      100      N/A  

Buzz Finco L.L.C.

   Buzz Merger Sub Ltd.    Membership Interests      100      100      N/A  

2. Pledged Debt:

Intercompany Note, dated as of January 29, 2020, by and among the Lead Borrower and its subsidiaries party thereto.

Exhibit 10.20

FOUNDER AGREEMENT

This FOUNDER AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) by and between Buzz Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Parent”) and Whitney Wolfe Herd (the “Founder”) is made as of November 8, 2019. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in Annex I hereto. All references herein to “dollars” or “$” are to United States dollars. The parties to this Agreement are sometimes referred to herein as the “Parties”.

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Parent has entered into the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated on as of date hereof (as may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), with Worldwide Vision Limited, an exempted limited company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda (the “Company”), Buzz Merger Sub Ltd., an exempted limited company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda (“Merger Sub”) and Buzz SR Llimited, an English private limited company, as the Seller Representative, at the closing of which (the “Merger Closing”) and pursuant to which the Company will merge with and into Merger Sub, with Merger Sub as the surviving corporation and a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Parent (the “Merger”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Founder shall contribute the WWH Bumble Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement), representing 100% of the ordinary shares par value £0.000001 of Bumble Holding Limited, a UK private limited company (the “B-Co Shares”) legally and beneficially owned by Founder as set forth in this Agreement to Parent in exchange for (i) with respect to the WWH Rollover Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement), the WWH Closing Date Rollover Consideration (as defined in the Merger Agreement) as determined in accordance with this Agreement (the “Equity Contribution”), pursuant to the terms set forth below and as described in the term sheet attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Equity Arrangement Term Sheet”) and (ii) with respect to the WWH Cash Out Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement), an amount in cash equal to the WWH Closing Date Cash Consideration (as defined in the Merger Agreement), plus an amount in cash equal to WWH’s Pro Rata Share (as defined in the Merger Agreement) of any other amounts payable to WWH as contemplated by Section 2.8(k) of the Merger Agreement; and

WHEREAS, contemporaneously with the contribution and exchange of the WWH Rollover Shares by Founder as contemplated herein, at the Merger Closing, investment funds affiliated with The Blackstone Group Inc., shall directly or indirectly contribute cash to Parent in exchange for Parent Capital Interest, pursuant to the Equity Commitment Letters (as defined in the Merger Agreement), which Parent Capital Interests will be issued at a price per unit to be determined by Parent prior to the Closing (the “Per Unit Parent Capital Interest Price”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in order to implement the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, the Parties hereto agree as follows:


1.

Rollover Contribution; Subscription for Parent Capital Interests.

1.1 Rollover Contribution. At the Closing and immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), Founder and Parent hereby agree to take the following actions:

(a) Founder shall transfer, contribute and deliver to Parent the WWH Rollover Shares and the WWH Cash Out Shares.

(b) As consideration for the transfer, contribution and delivery of the WWH Rollover Shares, Parent shall issue to Founder a number of Parent Capital Interests equal to the WWH Closing Date Rollover Consideration divided by the Per Unit Parent Capital Interest Price; provided that, in no event will the WWH Closing Date Cash Consideration be less than $125 million.

(c) As consideration for the transfer, contribution and delivery of the WWH Cash Out Shares, Parent shall pay, or cause to be paid, to Founder the WWH Closing Date Cash Consideration at the Closing and, following the Closing, any other amounts payable to WWH as contemplated by Section 2.8(k) of the Merger Agreement. Founder acknowledges and agrees that (i) payment of the WWH Closing Date Cash Consideration and any other amounts payable to WWH as contemplated by Section 2.8(k) of the Merger Agreement shall be made in accordance with, and subject to the applicable terms of, the Merger Agreement and (ii) upon making the payments contemplated by the foregoing clause (i) in accordance with the Merger Agreement, Parent’s obligations to Founder under this Agreement in respect of such payments shall be satisfied in full.

1.2 Governing Documents.

(a) The Parties hereby agree that Parent and Founder shall deliver to each other at the Closing counterparts to the Limited Partnership Agreement and that Parent shall take such action to cause each of the Equity Investors affiliated with The Blackstone Group Inc. and Founder to be admitted as a partner of Parent at the Closing (to the extent not already admitted). Parent and Founder shall take such action as may be necessary or advisable to cause Founder to own the Interests, free and clear of any Lien.

(b) Each of the Parties hereto agrees to (a) as promptly as practicable after the date hereof, negotiate in good faith a more detailed long-form amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Parent containing the terms set forth in Exhibit A hereto, and such other terms as are not inconsistent therewith and are reasonably acceptable to such Parties (the “Limited Partnership Agreement”) and (b) enter into the Limited Partnership Agreement at the Closing; provided, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein (including, for clarity, the references in Exhibit A to its non-binding nature), the terms set forth on Exhibit A shall be binding on the Parties hereto from and after the Closing, and all references in this Agreement to the Limited Partnership Agreement shall instead be deemed to be references to Exhibit A (with such other deemed changes to such references and their context in this Agreement as are necessary to give effect to this proviso), in each case unless and until the Limited Partnership Agreement has been executed and delivered in accordance with this


Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, nothing in this Section 1.2 shall be deemed to amend, waive, supersede or otherwise modify (or permit or provide for any amendment, waiver, superseding or other modification) of any of the terms of the Transaction Agreements, except that the Limited Partnership Agreement, once executed and delivered in accordance with this Agreement, shall supersede the terms set forth on Exhibit A. From the date hereof until the earlier to occur of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms or the Closing, Parent shall not take any action that would require the consent of Founder under the first (subsidiary equity), third (related party transactions) (disregarding the exceptions in (ii), (iii) and (v) thereof), fifth (tax matters) or sixth (tax receivable or similar agreements) bullets in the “Approval Rights” row in the Equity Arrangement Term Sheet following the Closing.

1.3 Loan. At the Merger Closing, Parent shall (on the terms and conditions set forth in the Equity Arrangement Term Sheet) loan Founder an amount equal to $119,000,000.

1.4 Trademark Assignment and License. No later than the Merger Closing, Founder shall, and Parent shall cause B-Co to, execute and deliver the Trademark Assignment and License (in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B) (a) assigning ownership of the trademark MAKE THE FIRST MOVE, including the trademark application U.S. serial no. 87/437314, any other worldwide registrations and applications for such trademark, and all common-law rights related thereto (collectively, the “Mark”) to B-Co and (b) licensing the Mark back to Founder on a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free and fully paid-up basis for Founder’s use (as more fully described therein) (but subject to and without limiting the terms and conditions of that certain Restrictive Covenant Agreement by and between Parent and Founder dated as of the date hereof). The Parties intend that the Mark will be treated as property for purposes of Section 721 of the Code, and Founder and Parent shall (and Parent shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to) file all Tax Returns for U.S. tax purposes in a manner consistent with such treatment.

1.5 Closing. The closing (the “Closing”) of the issuance of Parent Capital Interests hereunder shall take place on the Closing Date and immediately prior to the Merger Closing.

1.6 Tax Treatment. The Parties intend that the Equity Contribution will be treated as an exchange in connection with a merger of Parent and B-Co into one partnership, taking the “assets-over form” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.708-1(c)(3)(i), with B-Co constituting the “resulting partnership” and Parent constituting the “terminating partnership”.

 

2.

Tax Matters.

2.1 Tax Treatment of Founder Gain for U.S. Tax Purposes. It is intended that, as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Founder (i) will recognize gain in an amount equal to the excess of (A) the sum of (i) the Parent Capital Interests received by Founder in exchange for her WWH Rollover Shares multiplied by the Per Unit Parent Capital Interest Price, plus (ii) the amount of cash payable on the Closing Date, plus (iii) the fair market value of any contingent amounts payable to Founder after the Closing Date (collectively, the “Founder Consideration”) over (B) Founder’s aggregate adjusted basis in her shares of B-Co and (ii) will not recognize any income or gain by reason of the recognition of income or gain by B-Co. Parent shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, file all Tax Returns for U.S. tax purposes in a manner consent with such treatment. Parent will not treat, and will cause its Affiliates not to treat, B-Co as a controlled foreign corporation within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code for any taxable period of B-Co beginning after November 30, 2019.


2.2 Transfer Taxes. All recoverable and non-recoverable transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration, issuance, goods and services and other such similar Taxes (including United Kingdom stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax) incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Pre-Closing Restructuring (“Transfer Taxes”) imposed on Founder or payable by Founder in connection with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement (including Transfer Taxes imposed or payable in connection with the Pre-Closing Restructuring), including interest and penalties, shall be borne and paid by Parent. Parent will, at its own expense, file (or cause to be filed) all necessary Tax Returns and other documentation necessary with respect to all such Taxes and fees, and, if required by applicable Law, Founder will join in the execution of any such Tax Return and other documentation.

2.3 Cooperation. The Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by the Founder, in connection with the preparation and filing of any Tax Return and in connection with any audit, litigation or other proceeding with respect to Taxes. Such cooperation shall include the retention and (upon Founder’s request) the provision of records and information which are reasonably relevant to any such Tax Return, audit, litigation or other proceeding or any tax planning and making employees available on a reasonably convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation of any material provided hereunder. Parent and the Company agree, and agree to cause their respective Affiliates, to retain all books and records with respect to Tax matters pertinent to B-Co and its Subsidiaries until the expiration of any applicable statute of limitations.

2.4 Tax Returns. At least 45 days prior to the filing of any Tax Return of or relating to B-Co that is filed following the Merger Closing and includes a Pre-Closing Tax Period which would reasonably be expected to impact the taxes of Founder, Parent shall cause a draft of such Tax Return to be delivered to Founder for review and comment. Parent shall cause any revisions reasonably requested by Founder on such Tax Return to be reflected prior to filing such Tax Return. No such Tax Return shall be amended without the consent of Founder, not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

2.5 Tax Proceedings.

(a) From and after the Merger Closing, Parent shall (i) cause Founder to be notified in writing within fifteen (15) days of the receipt by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries of notice of any Tax audits or proceeding with a taxing authority relating to B-Co or its Subsidiaries in respect of any Pre-Closing Tax Period that could reasonably be expected to impact the Taxes of Founder for Pre-Closing Tax Period (a “Tax Contest”), (ii) keep Founder reasonably informed concerning any material developments with respect to such Tax Contest, and (iii) not settle any such Tax Contest without the prior written consent of Founder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, if such settlement could materially impact the taxes of Founder.


(b) In the case of any Tax audit or proceeding with a taxing authority involving Parent for a taxable period during which Founder was (directly or indirectly) a partner for U.S. federal income tax purposes (a “Covered Parent Tax Contest”), Parent shall (i) cause Founder to be notified in writing within fifteen (15) days of the receipt by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries of notice of such Covered Parent Tax Contest, and (ii) keep Founder reasonably informed concerning any material developments with respect to such Covered Parent Tax Contest, and (iii) subject to acting in the interest of the partners of Parent as a whole, Parent agrees to use reasonable best efforts to (A) elect the alternative procedure under Section 6226 of the Code (as amended by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015), or (B) if Parent pays an imputed underpayment pursuant to Code Section 6225 (as amended by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015) or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. law, to the extent possible, to treat the portion thereof attributable to any partner as a withholding tax that is treated as an advance with respect to such partner, provided that the portion of such imputed underpayment to be borne by Founder shall not exceed the liability that Founder would have borne had the alternative procedures under Section 6226 of the Code been elected with respect to such imputed underpayment. All references to Parent in this Section 2.5(b) shall include any entity that is treated as a continuation of Parent under Section 708 of the Code (or similar principles).

2.6 Additional Tax Covenants.

(a) Each of the Parties shall ensure that any sale or exchange of B-Co Shares to the Company, Parent or any Subsidiary of the Company or Parent by any party other than Founder (such party, a “B-Co Minority Interestholder”) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and/or in the Merger Agreement shall each be made using a valuation of B-Co Shares consistent with the valuation used to calculate payments made to Founder under this Agreement and the Merger Agreement in respect of her WWH Bumble Shares.

(b) Each of the Parties shall ensure that none of B-Co or any Subsidiary of B-Co shall acquire any B-Co Minority Interestholder’s B-Co Shares at or prior to the Merger Closing or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and/or the Merger Agreement.

 

3.

Miscellaneous.

3.1 Transfer Prohibited. Founder shall not transfer the Interests except to the extent permitted under the terms of the Equity Arrangement Term Sheet (or, once signed and delivered by Parent, Founder and the other parties thereto, the Limited Partnership Agreement). Any transfer or attempted transfer of Interests in violation hereof or thereof shall be void, and any such purported transferee of such Interests will not be recorded on Parent’s books or treated as the owner of such Interests for any purpose.

3.2 WWH Bumble Shares. Founder shall not transfer the WWH Bumble Shares, except in accordance with this Agreement.


3.3 Merger Agreement. Founder acknowledges and agrees to be bound by (i) the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement as in effect on the date hereof that are set forth in Section 2.3(h) (Treatment of WWH), Section 2.8(k) (WWH Post-Closing Payment) of the Merger Agreement and (ii) the provisions in Section 5.4 (Exclusivity) and Section 13.2 (Publicity) of the Merger Agreement as if Founder were the Company thereunder, mutatis mutandis, and in each case, Parent will comply with such sections assuming the same

3.4 Recapitalizations, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting Interests. The provisions of this Agreement shall apply, to the full extent set forth herein with respect to Interests, to any and all securities of Parent or any successor or assign of Parent (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued in respect of, in exchange for, or in substitution of Interests, by reason of any dividend or distribution payable in Parent Capital Interests, issuance of Parent Capital Interests, combination, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or otherwise.

3.5 Representations and Warranties. Founder hereby makes to Parent, as of the date hereof and as of the day prior to the Merger Closing, the representations and warranties with respect to Founder set forth on Annex II. Parent hereby makes to Founder, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, the representations and warranties set forth on Annex III. The representations and warranties set forth on Annex II and Annex III will survive the Closing.

3.6 Employment by or Service with the Company or Other Subsidiaries of Parent. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to obligate Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent to employ or otherwise engage the services of Founder in any capacity whatsoever or to prohibit or restrict Parent (or any such Subsidiary) from terminating the employment or service of Founder, subject to the terms and conditions of any applicable employment agreement between Founder and Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

3.7 Cooperation. The Parties agree to cooperate in taking action reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

3.8 Binding Effect. No Party may assign or delegate, by operation of law or otherwise, all or any portion of its rights, obligations or liabilities under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Parties to this Agreement, except that Founder may assign or delegate all or any portion of its rights, obligations or liabilities under this Agreement by operation of law or to any trust or other estate planning vehicles, in each case, that is controlled by and for the exclusive benefit of Founder or Founder’s spouse or domestic partner, parents, children and grandchildren. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and accrue to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns; provided, however, that no transferee shall derive any rights under this Agreement unless and until such transferee has executed and delivered to Parent a valid undertaking and becomes bound by the terms of this Agreement and the Equity Arrangement Term Sheet (or, once signed and delivered by Parent, Founder and the other parties thereto, the Limited Partnership Agreement).

3.9 Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument signed by the Parties hereto. No waiver by any Party hereto of any of the provisions hereof shall be effective unless set forth in a writing executed by the Party so waiving.


3.10 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of law principles thereof. Each of the Parties hereto irrevocably agrees that any legal action or proceeding arising out of, in connection with, or relating to this Agreement or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect hereof brought by any other Party hereto or its successors or assigns shall be brought and determined exclusively by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or if such court will not accept jurisdiction, any federal court, or if such courts will not accept jurisdiction, any state court, in each case in the State of New York), and each of the Parties hereto (on behalf of itself and any Person claiming by, through or on behalf of such Party) hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid court for itself and with respect to its property, generally and unconditionally, with regard to any such action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (and agrees not to commence any action, suit or proceeding relating thereto except in such courts). Each of the Parties hereto further agrees to accept service of process in any manner permitted by such court. Each of the Parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion or as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (a) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts for any reason other than the failure lawfully to serve process, (b) that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such court (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise) and (c) to the fullest extent permitted by law, that (i) the suit, action or proceeding in any such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (ii) the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper or (iii) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.

3.11 Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVES THE RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY AGREEMENT CONTEMPLATED TO BE EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH, OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER VERBAL OR WRITTEN), ACTIONS OR OMISSIONS OF ANY PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OF SUCH AGREEMENTS.

3.12 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered, one Business Day after deposit with a reputable overnight delivery service for next Business Day delivery (charges prepaid), and three days after deposit in the U.S. mail (postage prepaid and return receipt requested), in each case with concurrent delivery by electronic mail (receipt confirmed), to the address set forth below or such other address as the recipient Party has previously delivered notice to the sending Party.


(a) If to Parent, to

Buzz Holdings L.P.

c/o The Blackstone Group Inc.

345 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10152

Attention: Martin Brand

Jon Korngold

Sachin Bavishi

Vishal Amin

Email:      [email address]

  [email address]

  [email address]

  [email address]

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

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017-3954

Attention: Gregory Grogan; Anthony F. Vernace

  Email: [email address]

                [email address]

(b) If to Founder, to the address as shown on the books and records of Parent, with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

450 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Attention: Evan Rosen

Email: [email address]

and

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

5, Aldermanbury Square

Barbican, London EC2V 7HR

United Kingdom

Attention: Will Pearce

Email: [email address]

3.13 Integration. This Agreement and the documents referred to herein or delivered pursuant hereto which form a part hereof contain the entire understanding of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings with respect to the subject matter hereof other than those expressly set forth herein and therein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the Parties with respect to such subject matter, other than as specifically provided for herein.


3.14 Injunctive Relief; Specific Performance. Each of the Parties acknowledges that the rights of each Party to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby are unique and recognizes and affirms that in the event of a breach of this Agreement by any Party, money damages may be inadequate and the non-breaching Party may have no adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, it is agreed that the harmed Party shall have the right, in addition to any other rights and remedies existing in its favor at law or in equity, to enforce its rights and the other Party’s obligations hereunder not only by a Proceeding or Proceedings for damages but also by a Proceeding or Proceedings for specific performance, injunctive and/or other equitable relief (without posting of bond or other security). Each of the Parties agrees that it shall not oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief when expressly available pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and hereby waives (i) any defenses in any Proceeding for an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief, including the defense that the other Parties have an adequate remedy at law or an award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or equity and (ii) any requirement under Law to post a bond, undertaking or other security as a prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief.

3.15 Rights Cumulative; Waiver. The rights and remedies of Founder and Parent under this Agreement shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which either Party would otherwise have hereunder or at law or in equity or by statute, and no failure or delay by either Party in exercising any right or remedy shall impair any such right or remedy or operate as a waiver of such right or remedy, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any power or right preclude such Party’s other or further exercise or the exercise of any other power or right. The waiver by any Party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach and no failure by either Party to exercise any right or privilege hereunder shall be deemed a waiver of such Party’s rights or privileges hereunder or shall be deemed a waiver of such Party’s rights to exercise the same at any subsequent time or times hereunder.

3.16 Interpretation. The article and section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The Parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any Party because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

3.17 Severability. The provisions of this Agreement will be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision will not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.

3.18 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, and by different Parties on separate counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. Electronic forms of signatures (including e-mail, portable document format (.pdf) or similar generally accepted electronic means) shall be deemed to be originals.

[The remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]


BUZZ HOLDINGS L.P.
By: Buzz Holdings GP L.L.C., its general partner
By:  

/s/ Jonathan Korngold

  Name: Jonathan Korngold
  Title: President


FOUNDER

/s/ Whitney Wolfe Herd

Name: Whitney Wolfe Herd

[Signature Page to Founder Agreement]

Exhibit 10.21

FIRST AMENDMENT TO FOUNDER AGREEMENT

This FIRST AMENDMENT TO FOUNDER AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”), dated as of May 1, 2020, is by and between Buzz Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Parent”) and Whitney Wolfe Herd (the “Founder”).

WHEREAS, the parties hereto are parties to that certain Founder Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2019 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms thereof, the “Founder Agreement”) by and between Parent and the Founder;

WHEREAS, Section 3.9 of the Founder Agreement provides, among other things, that the Founder Agreement may be amended by an agreement in writing executed by the parties thereto; and

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend the Founder Agreement as hereinafter set forth.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereby agree to amend the Founder Agreement in the following manner:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

1.1 Defined Terms. All capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Founder Agreement.

ARTICLE II

AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT

2.1 Trademark Assignment and License. Section 1.4 (Trademark Assignment and License) of the Founder Agreement is hereby restated in its entirety to read as follows:

“No later than the Merger Closing, Founder shall, and Parent shall cause B-Co to, execute and deliver the Trademark Assignment and License (in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B) (a) assigning ownership of the trademark MAKE THE FIRST MOVE, including the trademark application U.S. serial no. 87/437314, any other worldwide registrations and applications for such trademark, and all common-law rights related thereto (collectively, the “Mark”) to B-Co and (b) licensing the Mark back to Founder on a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free and fully paid-up basis for Founder’s use (as more fully described therein) (but subject to and without limiting the terms and conditions of that certain Restrictive Covenant Agreement by and between Parent and Founder dated as of the date hereof). The Parties intend that the Mark will be treated (A) as property for purposes of Section 721 of the Code and (B) as having nominal value for U.S. tax purposes as of the date of the execution and delivery of the Trademark Assignment and License, and Founder and Parent shall (and Parent shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to) file all Tax Returns for U.S. tax purposes in a manner consistent with such treatment.”

2.2 Tax Treatment. Section 1.6 (Tax Treatment) of the Founder Agreement is hereby restated in its entirety to read as follows:


“The Parties intend that the Equity Contribution and transfer of the WWH Cash Out Shares will be treated as (1) a contribution of the WWH Rollover Shares in exchange for the WWH Closing Date Rollover Consideration in a transaction described in Section 721 of the Code, immediately followed by (2) a transaction described in Situation 1 of Revenue Ruling 99-6, 1999-1 CB 432 in which Parent acquires the WWH Cash Out Shares.”

ARTICLE III

MISCELLANEOUS

3.1 Continuing Effect of the Founder Agreement. This Amendment shall not constitute an amendment of any other provision of the Founder Agreement not expressly referred to herein. Except as provided herein, the Founder Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. From and after the date hereof, all references to the term “Agreement” in the Founder Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the Founder Agreement, as amended hereby.

3.2 Miscellaneous. Sections 3.8 (Binding Effect), 3.9 (Amendment; Waiver), 3.10 (Governing Law; Jurisdiction); 3.11 (Waiver of Trial by Jury), 3.12 (Notices), 3.13 (Integration); 3.14 (Injunctive Relief; Specific Performance), 3.15 (Rights Cumulative; Waiver); 3.16 (Interpretation); 3.17 (Severability) and 3.18 (Counterparts) of the Founder Agreement are incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis.

3.3 Headings. The headings of Articles and Sections contained in this Amendment are for reference purposes only and are not part of this Amendment.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been executed by the parties hereto or by their respective duly authorized officers, all as of the date first above written.

 

BUZZ HOLDINGS L.P.
By: Buzz Holdings GP L.L.C., its general partner
By  

/s/ Sachin Bavishi

  Name:   Sachin Bavishi
  Title:   Vice President

[SIGNATURE PAGE – FIRST AMENDMENT TO FOUNDER AGREEMENT]


FOUNDER

/s/ Whitney Wolfe Herd

Name: Whitney Wolfe Herd

[SIGNATURE PAGE – FIRST AMENDMENT TO FOUNDER AGREEMENT]

Exhibit 10.22

TRADEMARK ASSIGNMENT AND LICENSE

This TRADEMARK ASSIGNMENT AND LICENSE (this “Assignment”) is made as of January 29, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), by and between WHITNEY WOLFE HERD, an individual having an address of 1209 Orange St., Wilmington, Delaware 19801 (“Assignor”), and BUMBLE HOLDING LIMITED a limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales located at The Broadgate Tower, Third Floor, 20 Primrose Street, London EC2A 2RS, U.K. (“Assignee”). Assignor and Assignee may each be referred to herein individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.

WHEREAS, Assignor is the owner of that certain U.S. trademark application for the mark MAKE THE FIRST MOVE (U.S. serial no. 87/437314) (the “Application”); and

WHEREAS, Assignee is the successor to that portion of the business of Assignor to which the Application pertains and such business is ongoing and existing.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Assignor and Assignee hereby agree as follows:

SECTION 1. Assignment. Assignor hereby sells, assigns, transfers, conveys, and delivers to Assignee all of Assignor’s worldwide right, title, and interest in, to, and under the trademark MAKE THE FIRST MOVE, the Application, any other worldwide registrations and applications for such trademark, and the goodwill of the business embodied therein and symbolized thereto, and all common-law rights related thereto (collectively, the “Mark”), free and clear of any liens or encumbrances of any kind, together with the right to bring an action or proceeding at law or in equity for any infringement, dilution or violation of the foregoing prior to the Effective Date, and the right to retain all monies, proceeds and damages therefrom.

SECTION 2. License. Assignee hereby grants to Assignor a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free, fully paid-up, non-assignable (except as set forth in Section 5 of this Assignment) and sublicensable (solely in connection with Assignor’s exercise of Assignor’s own license but not for the unrelated use of any other Person) right and license in, to and under the Mark for Assignor’s use (a) as the title or theme of a book authored by or on behalf of (or published under the name of) Assignor or (b) for or in connection with any other personal, artistic, educational or literary-related activities, projects or collaborations, including for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, any motivational speaking and any advertising, merchandising or similar activities or accessories relating to any of the foregoing (e.g., apparel, decor, self-care products, podcasts, radio, television shows, movies, theatre); provided that, notwithstanding anything in this Assignment to the contrary, any use of the Mark by or on behalf of Assignor or any of its sublicensees shall at all times be subject to the terms and conditions of that certain Restrictive Covenant Agreement by and between Assignor and Buzz Holdings L.P. dated as of November 8, 2019. Assignor agrees that Assignee reserves all other rights with respect to the Mark. All goodwill arising from Assignor’s use of the Mark shall enure to the sole and exclusive benefit of Assignee. Assignor shall ensure that all goods and services provided or performed under the Mark are of substantially the same quality as those goods or services provided or performed by Assignee under the Mark. Without limiting the foregoing, Assignor has no right to use the Mark as or in a corporate, trade or d/b/a name without the prior written consent of Assignee, not to be unreasonably withheld.


SECTION 3. Further Assurances. Each Party will, upon the other Party’s reasonable request, without further consideration but at the requesting Party’s expense, provide or execute all other documents and take all further actions as may be necessary to effectuate the purpose of this Assignment. Without limiting the foregoing, at Assignee’s request and expense, Assignor shall execute a short-form assignment to record the assignment herein at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

SECTION 4. Representations and Warranties. Each Party hereby represents and warrants that it has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Assignment.

SECTION 5. Successors and Assigns.

a. Assignor may not assign this Assignment, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Assignee, except that Assignor may assign or delegate all or any portion of its rights, obligations or liabilities under this Agreement by operation of law or to any trust or other estate planning vehicles, in each case, that is controlled by and for the exclusive benefit of Assignor or Assignor’s spouse or domestic partner, parents, children and grandchildren. In the event of a permitted assignment of this Assignment, this Assignment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.

b. Until a Statement of Use is filed with and accepted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the Application is amended to an actual use basis, Assignee may not assign or transfer any right, title or interest in, to or under the Application other than to the successor to that portion of the business of Assignee to which the Mark pertains, which business must be ongoing and existing, and any assignment in violation of the foregoing shall be null and void ab initio. Subject to the foregoing, Assignee may assign this Assignment, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Assignor. Assignee acknowledges and agrees that any permitted assignment or other transfer of any right, title or interest in, to or under the Mark (including the Application) shall be expressly subject to the terms and conditions of this Assignment.

SECTION 6. Governing Law. This Assignment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflicts of law rules of such state. Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or in connection with this Assignment shall be exclusively referred to and finally determined by the ordinary courts in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or, only if such court will not accept jurisdiction, in any federal court in the State of New York, or, only if no such federal courts will accept jurisdiction, any state court in the State of New York). TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE PARTIES WAIVE THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION RELATING TO THIS ASSIGNMENT.

SECTION 7. Severability. If any term or other provision of this Assignment is determined to be invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced by any applicable law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Assignment shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.

 

2


SECTION 8. Counterparts. This Assignment may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission) in counterparts, each of which, when executed, shall be deemed to be an original, and both of which shall collectively constitute one and the same instrument. PDF or electronic signatures shall serve as originals to bind the Parties to this Assignment.

SECTION 9. Amendment; Waiver. This Assignment may be amended only by a written instrument signed by the Parties. No waiver by any Party hereto of any of the provisions hereof shall be effective unless set forth in a writing executed by the Party so waiving. The rights and remedies of the Parties under this Assignment shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which either Party would otherwise have hereunder or at law or in equity or by statute, and no failure or delay by either Party in exercising any right or remedy shall impair any such right or remedy or operate as a waiver of such right or remedy, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any power or right preclude such Party’s other or further exercise or the exercise of any other power or right. The waiver by any Party of a breach of any provision of this Assignment shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach and no failure by either Party to exercise any right or privilege hereunder shall be deemed a waiver of such Party’s rights or privileges hereunder or shall be deemed a waiver of such Party’s rights to exercise the same at any subsequent time or times hereunder.

SECTION 10. Entire Agreement; Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Assignment constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both oral and written, between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. No provision of this Assignment is intended to confer any rights, benefits, remedies, obligations or liabilities hereunder upon any person other than the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.

[signature page follows]

 

3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Trademark Assignment and License to be executed by their duly authorized representatives effective as of the date first written above.

 

ASSIGNOR:

/s/ Whitney Wolfe Herd

By: WHITNEY WOLFE HERD

[Signature Page to Trademark Assignment and License]


ASSIGNEE:

/s/ Whitney Wolfe Herd

BUMBLE HOLDING LIMITED
By: Whitney Wolfe Herd

[Signature Page to Trademark Assignment and License]

Exhibit 10.23

RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGREEMENT

This Restrictive Covenant Agreement (as amended, restated, supplemented or modified from time to time, the “Agreement”), dated as of November 8, 2019, is entered into between Buzz Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (including its successors and assigns, “Parent”), and Whitney Wolfe Herd (“WWH”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Parent has entered into the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Parent, Buzz Merger Sub Ltd., an exempted limited company incorporated under the Laws of Bermuda (“Merger Sub”), Worldwide Vision Limited, an exempted limited company incorporated under the Laws of Bermuda (the “Company”) and Buzz SR Limited, an English private limited company, solely in its capacity as the representative of the Sellers, pursuant to which, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, the Company will merge with and into Merger Sub with Merger Sub continuing as the surviving company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. Capitalized or other terms used and not defined herein but defined in the Merger Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement;

WHEREAS, in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, WWH and Parent are entering into the Founder Agreement (the “Founder Agreement”);

WHEREAS, WWH is a shareholder of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries and a key and significant member of its management who will receive a substantial economic benefit upon the consummation and as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;

WHEREAS, WWH acknowledges that the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement is subject to certain covenants and conditions set forth therein, including the execution and delivery of this Agreement by WWH;

WHEREAS, WWH is willing to enter into this Agreement as a condition to the Closing and to protect Parent’s legitimate interests as the purchaser of the Company; and

WHEREAS, WWH acknowledges and agrees that Parent would not have entered into the Merger Agreement unless this Agreement was executed and delivered by WWH.

NOW, THEREFORE, intending to be legally bound and to induce Parent to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree to the terms and conditions herein.

1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

(a) “Business” means (i) the business of online, web-based or mobile-based applications established or used for the purposes of (1) match-making for dating or romance or (2) professional networking and (ii) any business activity known to WWH that is competitive with the current or demonstrably planned, in each case, as of the date hereof and/or as of the Closing Date, business activities of Parent and its Subsidiaries.

 

1


(b) “Competitive Business” means any Person performing, distributing, manufacturing, producing, marketing, selling, offering to sell, or otherwise involved in a business consisting of, the activities, products or services which are competitive with the Business; provided that (A) online, web-based or mobile-based applications established and predominantly used for any purposes other than the Business (even if such applications, for the avoidance of doubt, incidentally result in dating, romance or professional networking), shall not constitute a Competitive Business; and (B) WWH’s participation in speaking arrangements, seminars or other conferences in accordance with the WWH Term Sheet and WWH’s activities with respect to female empowerment and entrepreneurialism and social justice shall not, for the avoidance of doubt, in any such case be deemed to be engaging in a Competitive Business.

(c) “Confidential Information” means all trade secrets and all other information, knowledge, ideas or data, in whatever form, relating to any Group Entity, including any customer or vendor lists, customer or vendor data or information, prospective customer or vendor names, business strategies, acquisition candidates, models and techniques, management, business and marketing plans, financial statements, financial information and projections, know-how, pricing policies, pricing information and pricing methodologies, operational methods, methods of doing business, compensation, technical processes, formulae, designs and design projects, inventions, computer hardware, software programs, files, software, code, reports, documents, manuals, forms, business plans and projects or prospective projects pertaining to any Group Entity and including any information of others that any Group Entity, to the actual knowledge of WWH, has agreed to keep confidential; provided, that “Confidential Information” shall not include any information that, following the date hereof, has entered or enters the public domain through no breach of this Agreement by WWH or any Controlled Affiliate.

(d) “Controlled Affiliate” means WWH’s controlled Affiliates (including any Person that becomes a controlled Affiliate of WWH after the date hereof, but excluding Parent, the Company and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates). For this purpose, “controlled” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise.

(e) “Current Customer” means a customer of the Company on either the Closing Date or during the twelve (12) month period prior to such date.

(f) “Current Vendor” means any vendor, supplier, licensor, licensee, lessor or lessee, service provider or other business relation of the Company on either the Closing Date or during the twelve (12) month period prior to such date.

(g) “Geographic Scope” means (i) the United States and (ii) any other country or region in the world where the Company operates, markets or distributes products and services or otherwise carries on a material portion of its Business or has material plans to operate in if WWH is aware of such plans on the date hereof and/or the Closing Date.

(h) “Group Entity” or “Group Entities” means, individually or collectively, Parent, the Company and their respective Subsidiaries.

(i) “Restricted Period” means the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Closing Date.

(j) “Securities” means any class or series of capital stock or evidences of indebtedness, shares, equity interests (including membership and partnership interests), rights, options, warrants or other securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for common stock, preferred stock, equity interests or other types of securities or capital stock.

 

2


(k) “Solicit” and “Solicitation” mean solicit, sell to, accept business from, recruit, divert or take away, or attempt to solicit, sell to, accept business from, recruit, divert or take away from any Group Entity, or offer employment or any consulting arrangement to any employee of any Group Entity or otherwise interfere with the business relationship of any Group Entity.

(l) “WWH Term Sheet” means the Equity Arrangement Term Sheet attached as Exhibit A to the Founder Agreement or, once signed and delivered by Parent, WWH and the other parties thereto, the Limited Partnership Agreement (as defined in the Founder Agreement).

2. Scope and Reasonableness. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (a) the covenants of WWH set forth in this Agreement constitute a material inducement for Parent to execute and deliver the Transaction Documents and consummate the transactions contemplated thereby, (b) such covenants are an integral and essential element of the transactions contemplated thereby and necessary to protect and preserve Parent’s and each other Group Entity’s legitimate business interests and to prevent any unfair advantage conferred on WWH taking into account and in specific consideration of the undertakings and obligations of the parties under the Transaction Documents, (c) but for such covenants, Parent would not have entered into or consummated the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and (d) irreparable harm would result to Parent and the Group Entities as a result of a violation or breach (or potential violation or breach) by WWH of this Agreement. WWH acknowledges and agrees that the restrictions contained in this Agreement, including, with respect to the definition of the Business, the Geographic Scope and the Restricted Period, are reasonable in all respects, including for the purpose of preserving for Parent’s and each of the Group Entity’s proprietary rights, going business value and goodwill of the Company and the Business.

3. Non-Competition; Non-Investment; Customer and Vendor Non-Solicitation. WWH agrees that, during the Restricted Period, WWH will not, and shall cause each Controlled Affiliate not to, directly or indirectly:

(a) engage in, including serving as a principal, employee, advisor, representative, consultant or other agent with respect to, or otherwise be involved in any capacity with, or assist any other Person with, including by providing Confidential Information to, a Competitive Business anywhere in the Geographic Scope;

(b) acquire beneficial ownership or voting control of any class of Securities of, or, provide any loan or financial assistance (including any equity or debt financing) to any Person that, as of the time of the applicable acquisition, loan or financial assistance, is, or, to the actual knowledge of WWH, is reasonably expected to be, engaged in a Competitive Business anywhere in the Geographic Scope or be part of, or provide related advice to, a “deal team” that may provide any loan or financial assistance to any Person that, as of the time of the applicable loan or financial assistance, is, or, to the actual knowledge of WWH, is reasonably expected to be, engaged in a Competitive Business anywhere in the Geographic Scope; provided, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 3(b) will not prohibit WWH or any Controlled Affiliate from owning solely as a passive investment not in excess of five percent (5%) in the aggregate of any class of capital stock of any corporation if such stock is publicly traded and listed on any internationally recognized exchange, regardless of whether or not such corporation is engaging in a Competitive Business;

(c) Solicit or attempt to Solicit any business or Person that is a Current Customer or Current Vendor on behalf of or for purposes of providing any activity, product or service to a Person that is a Competitive Business; or

 

3


(d) induce or attempt to induce (including by making disparaging remarks about the Company, the Business, Parent, or any Group Entity or their respective current or former consultants, employees, officers, directors, managers, stockholders, partners, members, investors or other owners) any Current Customer or Current Vendor, to cease doing business with, or adversely modify its business relationship with, Parent or any Group Entity.

4. Employee Non-Solicitation; No-Hire. WWH agrees that, during the Restricted Period, WWH will not, and shall cause each Controlled Affiliate not to, directly or indirectly, individually or as a consultant, or employee, officer, director, manager, stockholder, partner, member, investor or other owner or participant in any Person, Solicit or hire any Person who is, as of the Closing Date, or was within the twelve (12) month period immediately prior to the Closing Date, employed by the Company and/or its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that it shall not be a violation of this Section 4 if an individual responds to a generalized employment search not targeted at such individual; provided that following such response, WWH shall be subject to, and shall comply with, the restrictions in this Section 4, including refraining from Soliciting or hiring such individual.

5. Confidential Information. WWH agrees that WWH will not, and, if applicable, shall cause each Controlled Affiliate not to, disclose or divulge any Confidential Information, except to the extent required by applicable Law or to any Governmental Entity (but only after WWH has provided Parent with reasonable notice and an opportunity to take legal action against such legally required disclosure), or otherwise in connection with any legal proceedings for the enforcement by WWH of its rights under this Agreement or any Transaction Document, or as otherwise set forth in Section 6.

6. Permitted Disclosures. Nothing in this Agreement, including the Confidentiality provisions in Section 5, shall prohibit or impede WWH from:

(a) communicating, cooperating or filing a complaint with any U.S. federal, state or local governmental or law enforcement branch, agency or entity (each, a “Governmental Entity”) with respect to possible violations of any U.S. federal, state or local law or regulation, or otherwise making disclosures to any Governmental Entity, in each case, that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any such law or regulation, provided that in each case such communications and disclosures are consistent with applicable law. WWH understands and acknowledges that an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (ii) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. WWH understands and acknowledges further that an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order. WWH does not need the prior authorization of (or to give notice to) any Group Entity regarding any such communication or disclosure. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph or under applicable Law, under no circumstance is WWH authorized to disclose any information covered by any Group Entity’s attorney-client privilege or attorney work product, or any Group Entity’s trade secrets, in each case without prior written consent of the applicable Group Entity; or

(b) disclosing (1) any Confidential Information that is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure, directly or indirectly, by a breach of this Agreement, (2) any information obtained by WWH following the Closing on a non-confidential basis from a third party not acting on behalf of Parent or the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, and of which WWH has no reason to believe is violating any obligation of confidentiality to Parent or the Company or any Subsidiary

 

4


of the Company, (3) any information that is independently developed by or for WWH or any Controlled Affiliate without the use of any Confidential Information, (4) any Confidential Information to WWH’s representatives who have a need to know such information for tax or financial reporting reasons and are informed of their obligation to hold such information confidential to the same extent as is applicable to WWH under Section 5 (provided, that WWH shall be responsible for the breach of any of the terms of Section 5 by such Persons as if they were WWH) or (5) any Confidential Information in the performance of WWH’s duties for or on behalf of such Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

7. Remedies. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached or threatened to be breached and that an award of money damages would be inadequate in such event. Accordingly, it is acknowledged that, the parties hereto shall be entitled to seek equitable relief, without proof of actual damages, including seeking an injunction or injunctions or order for specific performance to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity as a remedy for any such breach or threatened breach. Each party hereto further agrees that no other party hereto or any other Person shall be required to obtain, furnish or post any bond or similar instrument in connection with or as a condition to obtaining any remedy referred to in this Section 7, and each party hereto (a) irrevocably waives any right it may have to require the obtaining, furnishing or posting of any such bond or similar instrument and (b) agrees not to oppose the granting of such equitable relief on the basis that monetary damages would be an adequate remedy. This Section 7 shall not, however, be construed as a waiver of any of the rights which Parent or any other Group Entity may have for damages or otherwise.

8. Modification of Covenant and Severability. It is the desire and intent of the parties hereto that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible. Accordingly, the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof; provided, that the remedies and limitations thereon contained in this Agreement shall be construed as integral provisions of this Agreement and that such remedies and limitations shall not be severable in any manner that increases a Person’s liability or obligations hereunder. Upon such determination by a court of competent jurisdiction that any term or other provision, or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance, is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, (a) such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision shall, without further action of the parties, be modified or reformed so as to achieve the broadest restriction possible and to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability affect the validity, legality or enforceability of such provision, or the application thereof, in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if any covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement is found by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, including, because it extends for too long a period of time or over too great a range of activities or in too broad a geographic area or otherwise conflicts with applicable Law in any jurisdiction, then such court is empowered to, and the parties agree and intend for the court to, reform such covenant or agreement (including by reducing the scope, duration or geographic area of the term or provision, deleting specific words or phrases or replacing any invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision), and such covenant will be deemed reformed, only in such jurisdiction to extend only over the maximum period of time, range of activities or geographic area, or otherwise, so as to effect the original intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision and as to which it may be valid and enforceable.

 

5


9. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (a) when personally delivered, (b) the day following the day (except if not a Business Day then the next Business Day) on which the same has been delivered prepaid to a reputable national overnight air courier service, (c) when transmitted via e-mail (including via attached .pdf document) to the e-mail address set out below, if the sender on the same day sends a confirming copy of such notice by a recognized overnight delivery service (charges prepaid) or (d) the third (3rd) Business Day following the day on which the same is sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, in each case to the respective parties as applicable, at the address or e-mail address set forth below (or such other address or e-mail address as such party may specify by notice to the other parties in accordance with this Section 9):

WWH:

To the address as shown on the books and records of Parent, with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

450 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Attention: Evan Rose

Email: [email address]

and

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

5, Aldermanbury Square

Barbican, London EC2V 7HR

United Kingdom

Attention: Will Pearce

Email: [email address]

Parent:

Buzz Holdings L.P.

c/o The Blackstone Group, Inc.

345 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10154

Attention: Martin Brand

                 Jon Korngold

                 Sachin Bavishi

                 Vishal Amin

Email: [email address]

            [email address]

            [email address]

            [email address]

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

 

6


425 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Attention: Anthony F. Vernace; Robert Langdon

Email: [email address]; [email address]

or to such other Person or address as any party shall specify by notice in writing in accordance with this Section 9 to each of the other parties. Notices sent by multiple means, each of which is in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement will be deemed to have been received at the earliest time provided for by this Agreement.

10. Releases.

 

10.1

Effective as of the Closing, WWH hereby knowingly, fully, unconditionally and irrevocably releases, acquits and discharges forever (on behalf of itself and any successors, assigns, heirs, constituent stockholders, members or partners, officers, employees, agents, executors, administrators and legal representatives of WWH that might allege a claim through him, her or it) (collectively, with WWH, the “WWH Parties”), any and all claims, demands, proceedings, causes of action, orders, judgments, obligations, preemptive rights, shareholder rights, contracts, agreements, debts and liabilities of whatever kind or nature, whether at law or equity, that WWH has or may have arising prior to the Closing Date against any Group Entity, any present or former officers, partners, members, managers, directors, employees, agents, investors, attorneys, representatives, shareholders, administrators, affiliates, benefit plans, plan administrators, insurers, trustees, divisions and subsidiaries of any Group Entity, and any affiliate of, predecessor and successor entities and assigns of the foregoing (including the Surviving Company) (collectively, the “Parent Released Parties”), whether asserted or unasserted, known or unknown, contingent or noncontingent, or past or present, in WWH’s capacity as an equity holder, officer, director, employee or consultant of the Company or otherwise, arising or resulting from or relating, directly or indirectly, to the conduct, management or operation of the business and affairs of the Company, or any act, omission, event or occurrence prior to the Closing relating to the Company and the Company Shares held by the undersigned, or any Equity Rights or other rights or interests in any other securities of the Company (including any options to acquire Company Shares) including, without limitation, a breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the approval of the Merger Agreement that WWH may have against the Company or its Subsidiaries or any of their respective current and former officers, partners, members, managers, directors, employees, agents, investors, attorneys, representatives, shareholders, administrators, affiliates, benefit plans, plan administrators, insurers, trustees, divisions and subsidiaries and predecessor and successor entities and assigns, including, without limitation:

(a) any investment by WWH in the Company or its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, any act or omission of, or transaction, negotiation, agreement, performance or failure to perform, breach, default, circumstance or other occurrence involving any Seller with respect to the acquisition, arrangement, negotiation, holding, or disposition of any such investment);

(b) any act or omission of, or transaction, negotiation, agreement, performance or failure to perform, breach, default, circumstance or other occurrence involving, any Parent Released Party in any such Parent Released Party’s capacity as officers, partners, members, managers, directors, employees, agents, investors, attorneys, representatives, shareholders, administrators, affiliates, benefit plans, plan administrators, insurers, trustees, divisions and subsidiaries of the Company or its Subsidiaries; and

(c) any disclosure made or not made by any Parent Released Party to any Person arising out of or related to the items in (a) through (b) immediately above.

 

7


Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 10.1 will be deemed to constitute, or constitute, a release by WWH of (A) any right of WWH or any other WWH Party under the Merger Agreement, the Escrow Agreement or any other Transaction Documents or the Founder Agreement, or any other agreement referred to therein or herein, (B) if WWH was an employee or consultant of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (i) any rights with respect to salaries, bonuses, consulting fees and expenses that accrued prior to the Closing in the ordinary course of business including but not limited to accrued but unpaid compensation and reimbursement of business related expenses, (ii) any rights under any Benefit Plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any rights to change in control benefits set forth in any written agreement with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (C) any rights under agreements entered into with Parent or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger (e.g., employment offer letters or employment agreements).

 

10.2

Effective as of the Closing, Parent hereby knowingly, fully, unconditionally and irrevocably releases, acquits and discharges forever (on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries and any of their respective successors, assigns, heirs, constituent stockholders, members or partners, officers, employees, agents, executors, administrators and legal representatives that might allege a claim through him, her or it) (collectively, with Parent, the “Parent Releasing Parties”), any and all claims, demands, proceedings, causes of action, orders, judgments, obligations, preemptive rights, shareholder rights, contracts, agreements, debts and liabilities of whatever kind or nature, whether at law or equity, that Parent or any Parent Released Party has or may have arising prior to the Closing Date against the WWH Parties, whether asserted or unasserted, known or unknown, contingent or noncontingent, or past or present, relating to or in respect of the WWH Parties or otherwise, arising or resulting from or relating, directly or indirectly, to the conduct, management or operation of the business and affairs of the Company, or any act, omission, event or occurrence prior to the Closing relating to the Company, including, without limitation:

(a) any act or omission of, or transaction, negotiation, agreement, performance or failure to perform, breach, default, circumstance or other occurrence involving, any WWH Party in any such WWH Party’s capacity as officers, partners, members, managers, directors, employees, agents, investors, attorneys, representatives, shareholders, administrators, affiliates, benefit plans, plan administrators, insurers, trustees, divisions and subsidiaries of the Company or its Subsidiaries; and

(b) any disclosure made or not made by any WWH Party to any Person arising out of or related to the items in (a) immediately above.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 10.2 will be deemed to constitute, or constitute, a release by Parent of any right of Parent or any other Parent Releasing Party under the Merger Agreement, the Escrow Agreement or any other Transaction Documents or the Founder Agreement or any other agreement referred to therein or herein.

11. Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may not be amended, supplemented or modified except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of the parties. Any term or condition of this Agreement may be waived at any time by the party that is entitled to the benefit thereof, but no such waiver shall be effective, unless set forth in a written instrument duly executed by or on behalf of the party waiving such term or condition. No waiver by any party of any term or condition of this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a waiver of the same or any other term or condition of this Agreement on any future occasion.

 

8


12. Assignment and Successors. Parent may assign this Agreement or any of its rights and duties hereunder, without WWH’s consent, to any Subsidiary or Affiliate of Parent or any Person which acquires all or substantially all of the capital stock, assets or business of Parent or any of the Group Entities. This Agreement is personal to WWH and may not be assigned by WWH and any such assignment shall be void. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement binds and benefits the parties, WWH’s legal representatives, administrators, executors, heirs and permitted assigns, and Parent’s successors and assigns.

13. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Transaction Documents (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the WWH Term Sheet), constitutes the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter contained herein.

14. Tolling of Periods. Any applicable period of time during which any covenant or agreement in this Agreement is in effect shall be tolled during any period of breach of such covenant or agreement by the party obligated to perform or observe such covenant or agreement.

15. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Service of Process. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED AND CONTROLLED AS TO VALIDITY, ENFORCEMENT, INTERPRETATION, CONSTRUCTION, EFFECT AND IN ALL OTHER RESPECTS BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISION OR RULE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE PARTIES AGREES (I) THAT ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING, WHETHER AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THE STATE OR FEDERAL COURTS SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK (AND APPELLATE COURTS THEREOF) AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS ITSELF IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURT IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, (II) NOT TO BRING OR PERMIT ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES TO BRING OR SUPPORT ANYONE ELSE IN BRINGING ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY OTHER COURT AND (III) THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICE OR DOCUMENT BY REGISTERED MAIL ADDRESSED TO THEM AT THEIR RESPECTIVE ADDRESSES PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 9 HERETO SHALL BE EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS AGAINST IT FOR ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE, AND THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF, ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT IN ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK (AND APPELLATE COURTS THEREOF). EACH PARTY AGREES THAT LIABILITY OF THE SPONSORS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DETERMINED SOLELY BY A FINAL AND NON-APPEALABLE JUDGMENT IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING (OR A SETTLEMENT TANTAMOUNT THERETO) AND, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, ANY SUCH FINAL AND NON-APPEALABLE JUDGMENT SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT IN ANY JURISDICTION WITHIN OR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED IN LAW OR IN EQUITY.

 

9


16. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LEGAL ACTION ARISING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION, (B) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (C) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (D) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 16.

17. Construction. The headings in this Agreement are provided for convenience only and are not intended to affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. Any reference in this Agreement to a “Section” refers to the corresponding Section of this Agreement, unless the context indicates otherwise. The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “including,” “includes,” or “include” are to be read as listing non-exclusive examples of the matters referred to, whether or not words such as “without limitation” or “but not limited to” are used in each instance. Where this Agreement states that a party “shall”, “will” or “must” perform in some manner or otherwise act or omit to act, it means that the party is legally obligated to do so in accordance with this Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the terms “employment,” “employ” or words of similar import shall include any period in which WWH is a consultant to any Group Entity. In the negotiation of this Agreement, each party has received advice from its own attorney. The language used in this Agreement is the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no provision of this Agreement will be interpreted for or against either party because that party or its attorney drafted the provision. Each of the “Recitals” in this Agreement is true and correct and incorporated into this Agreement by reference.

18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including via electronic signature, facsimile or scanned pdf image) in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original instrument, and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same agreement.

19. Effectiveness; Termination of Merger Agreement. This Agreement is entered into and effective as of the date set forth above. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, if the Merger Agreement terminates pursuant to the terms thereof, then this Agreement immediately shall terminate and be of no further force or effect, and neither Parent nor WWH shall have any Liability or obligations hereunder.

20. Miscellaneous. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall apply for the benefit of Parent and/or any other Group Entity if and so long as it’s a subsidiary of Parent, if applicable, and each Group Entity shall be an intended third party beneficiary of this Agreement.

[Signature page follows]

 

10


The parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

SELLER:

 

/s/ Whitney Wolfe Herd

Name: Whitney Wolfe Herd

[Signature Page to Restrictive Covenant Agreement]


PARENT:
Buzz Holdings L.P.

/s/ Jonathan Korngold

Name: Jonathan Korngold
Title: President

[Signature Page to Restrictive Covenant Agreement]

Exhibit 10.24

AMENDED AND RESTATED

INCENTIVE UNIT SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

(Class B Units of Parent)

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED INCENTIVE UNIT SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) by and between Buzz Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Parent”), and the Person named on the Signature Page hereto (“Executive Investment Vehicle”) is made as of the date set forth on such Signature Page.

WHEREAS, Parent is, or is an indirect interest holder of, the entity that employs Whitney Wolfe Herd (“Executive”), Executive Investment Vehicle’s controlling equityholder (the “Employer”);

WHEREAS, Parent and Executive Investment Vehicle previously entered into an Incentive Unit Subscription Agreement (the “Prior Agreement”), pursuant to which Executive Investment Vehicle previously subscribed for and acquired from Parent, and Parent issued and provided to Executive Investment Vehicle, 81,764,248.00 Class B Units of Parent;

WHEREAS, in connection with adjustments made to the capitalization of Parent following the closing of the Merger and such other adjustment to which Executive has agreed, the parties hereto desire to amend and restate the Prior Agreement to reflect the reduction in the number of Class B Units granted to the Executive Investment Vehicle to the amount set forth on the Signature Page, as hereinafter set forth (the “Incentive Units”); and

WHEREAS, the Prior Agreement was one of several agreements being entered into by Parent or Buzz Management Aggregator, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Aggregator”) with certain Persons who are or will be directors or key employees or advisors of Parent or one or more of its Subsidiaries, as part of management equity purchase plans designed to comply with Regulation D or Rule 701, as applicable, promulgated under the Securities Act.

NOW, THEREFORE, in order to implement the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Definitions. Defined terms are as set forth in Exhibit I hereto and capitalized terms not defined herein or in Exhibit I shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan or, if not defined in the Plan, as defined in the Parent LP Agreement, or if not defined in the Plan or the Parent LP Agreement, as defined in the Securityholders Agreement.

2. Incentive Units.

2.1 Grant of Incentive Units of Parent. Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement, Executive Investment Vehicle hereby subscribes for, and Parent hereby agrees to issue and award to Executive Investment Vehicle on the date specified on the Signature Page (the “Closing Date”), the number of Incentive Units set forth on Executive Investment Vehicle’s Signature Page in exchange for the services performed by Executive to or for the benefit of Parent, the Employer and/or one of their respective Subsidiaries (the “Company Group”), and subject to vesting in accordance with Schedule A hereto.


2.2 The Closing. The closing (the “Closing”) of the grant of Incentive Units hereunder shall take place on the Closing Date immediately after the closing of the Merger (as defined in the Merger Agreement).

2.3 Section 83(b) Election. Within 10 days after the Closing Date, Executive shall provide Parent with a copy of a completed election with respect to the Incentive Units subscribed for at the Closing under Section 83(b) of the Code in the form attached hereto. Executive should consult Executive’s tax advisor regarding the consequences of a Section 83(b) election, as well as the receipt, vesting, holding and sale of the Incentive Units.

3. Investment Representations and Covenants of Executive and Parent. Executive acknowledges and represents the representations and warranties as set forth in Exhibit II hereto as of the date hereof and the Closing Date. Parent acknowledges and represents the representations and warranties as set forth in Exhibit III hereto as of the date hereof and the Closing Date.

4. Certain Sales and Forfeitures Upon Termination of Employment.

4.1 Call Options.

(a) If (i) Executive’s employment with the Company Group is terminated by a Company Group member for Cause, (ii) Executive voluntarily resigns Executive’s employment with the Company Group when grounds for Cause exist, or (iii) a material Restrictive Covenant Violation occurs, Parent shall have the right, for 12 months following, as applicable, each of (x) the Termination Date or (y) the date of such Restrictive Covenant Violation (or, if later, the date on which a member of the Board (other than Executive and Executive’s designee(s), if applicable) has actual knowledge of such Restrictive Covenant Violation), to purchase (together with the rights in Section 4.1(b), the “Call Option”), and each member of Executive’s Group shall be required to sell to Parent, all but not less than all of the Vested Incentive Units then held by such member of Executive’s Group at a purchase price per Vested Incentive Unit equal to the lesser of (1) Fair Market Value (measured as of the date of the Call Notice (as defined below) is delivered, the “Repurchase Notice Date”) and (2) Cost; provided, that such purchase price shall not be less than zero.

(b) If Executive’s employment with the Company Group terminates for any reason other than as provided for in Section 4.1(a), Parent shall have the right, for 12 months following the Termination Date, to purchase, and each member of Executive’s Group shall be required to sell to Parent, all but not less than all of the Vested Incentive Units then held by such member of Executive’s Group at a purchase price per Vested Incentive Unit equal to Fair Market Value (measured as of the Repurchase Notice Date); provided, that such purchase price shall be paid in cash and shall not be less than zero and the purchase price shall be payable in full on the closing date of the repurchase as provided in this Section 4.1.

(c) If Executive’s employment with the Company Group terminates for any reason, except as set forth on Schedule A, all Unvested Incentive Units will be forfeited immediately without further action by Parent.

 

2


(d) If Parent desires to exercise the Call Option pursuant to this Section 4.1, Parent shall send written notice to each member of Executive’s Group of its intention to purchase Vested Incentive Units, specifying the number of Vested Incentive Units to be purchased and the purchase price thereof (the “Call Notice”). Subject to the provisions of Section 5, the closing of the purchase shall take place at the principal office of Parent on a date specified by Parent not later than the 10th day after the Repurchase Notice Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Parent elects not to exercise the Call Option pursuant to this Section 4.1, Sponsor may elect to cause one of its Affiliates or another designee to purchase such Vested Incentive Units within the time period set forth in this Section 4.1 and otherwise on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 4.1 by providing written notice to each member of Executive’s Group of its intention to purchase Vested Incentive Units.

4.2 Obligation to Sell Several. If there is more than one member of Executive’s Group, the failure of any one member thereof to perform its obligations hereunder shall not excuse or affect the obligations of any other members thereof, and the closing of the purchases from such other members by Parent shall not excuse, or constitute a waiver of its rights against, the defaulting member.

5. Payment Provisions.

5.1 Certain Limitations on Parents Obligations to Purchase Incentive Units. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Parent shall not be obligated to purchase any Vested Incentive Units at any time pursuant to Section 4, regardless of whether it has delivered a notice of its election to purchase any such Vested Incentive Units, to the extent that the purchase of such Vested Incentive Units would result in a violation of any law, statute, rule regulation, policy, order, writ, injunction, decree or judgment promulgated or entered by any federal, state, local, foreign court or governmental authority applicable to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their property.

5.2 Payment for Incentive Units. If at any time Parent elects to purchase any Vested Incentive Units pursuant to Section 4, Parent shall pay the purchase price for the Vested Incentive Units it purchases by Parent’s delivery of a check or wire transfer of immediately available funds for the purchase price, against delivery of the certificates or other instruments, if any, representing the Vested Incentive Units so purchased, duly endorsed.

5.3 Repayment of Proceeds. If (a) Parent discovers following Executive’s termination of employment that grounds for a termination for Cause existed at the time of such termination (which grounds are in fact substantiated), or (b) (i) a material Restrictive Covenant Violation of any restrictive covenant contained in Section 1 of Appendix A occurs or (ii) a material Restrictive Covenant Violation of any restrictive covenant contained in Section 2 or Section 3 of Appendix A occurs within two years following the Termination Date or, if later, prior to the date on which Executive no longer holds Executive’s Threshold Stake, then Executive shall be required, in addition to any other remedy available (on a non-exclusive basis) at law or pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement, to pay to Parent, within 10 Business Days after Parent’s request to Executive therefor, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the aggregate after-tax proceeds (taking into account all amounts of tax that would be recoverable upon a claim of loss for payment of such proceeds in the year of repayment) received by any member of the Executive’s Group upon the sale of Executive’s Vested Incentive Units pursuant to Section 4.1 of this Agreement over (B) the aggregate Cost of such Incentive Units. Any references in this Section 5.3 to grounds existing for a termination for Cause shall be determined without regard to any notice or cure period required prior to a finding of, or termination for, Cause.

 

3


6. Restrictive Covenants (Appendix A). Executive acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of the Company Group and accordingly agrees, in Executive’s capacity as an indirect equity holder in Parent and its Subsidiaries, to the provisions of Appendix A to this Agreement. Executive acknowledges and agrees that remedies of Parent and their Subsidiaries at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of Appendix A would be inadequate, and Parent and its Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates may suffer irreparable damages as a result of such breach or threatened breach by Executive, regardless of whether Executive then holds Incentive Units. In recognition of this fact, Executive agrees that, in addition to any remedies at law, (a) in the event of such a breach, Parent and its Affiliates shall be entitled to cease making any payments otherwise required by this Agreement and (b) in the event of such a breach, Parent and its Affiliates, without posting any bond, shall be entitled to obtain equitable relief (to the extent ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction) in the form of specific performance, temporary restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available.

7. Miscellaneous.

7.1 Transfers. The Incentive Units may only be transferred if permitted by the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders’ Agreement, and, prior to any transfer of Incentive Units to a Permitted Transferee, Executive Investment Vehicle shall deliver to Parent a written agreement of the proposed transferee evidencing such Person’s undertaking to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders Agreement (unless such Person is already party thereto). Any transfer or attempted transfer of Incentive Units in violation of any provision of this Agreement, the Plan, the Parent LP Agreement or the Securityholders Agreement shall be void, and Parent shall not record such transfer on its books or treat any purported transferee of such Incentive Units as the owner of such Incentive Units for any purpose. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Parent LP Agreement or the Securityholders Agreement, no Unvested Incentive Unit shall be transferred without the prior written consent of Parent, which may be withheld in its sole discretion (except for transfers after the second anniversary of the applicable date of grant to any trusts or other estate planning vehicles beneficially owned or controlled by Executive).

7.2 Recapitalizations, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting Incentive Units. The provisions of this Agreement shall apply, to the full extent set forth herein with respect to Incentive Units, to any and all securities of Parent or any successor or assign of Parent (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued in respect of, in exchange for, or in substitution of the Incentive Units, by reason of any dividend payable in Incentive Units, issuance of Incentive Units, combination, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or otherwise.

7.3 Executive’s Employment by the Employer. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to obligate any Company Group member to employ Executive in any capacity whatsoever or to prohibit or restrict any Company Group member from terminating the employment of Executive at any time or for any reason whatsoever, with or without Cause.

 

4


7.4 Cooperation. Executive agrees to reasonably cooperate with Parent in taking action reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

7.5 Binding Effect. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and accrue to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns; provided, that no Permitted Transferee shall derive any rights under this Agreement unless and until such Permitted Transferee has executed and delivered to Parent a valid undertaking and becomes bound by the terms of this Agreement; provided, further, that Sponsor is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement and shall have the right to enforce the provisions hereof.

7.6 Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument signed by the parties hereto. No waiver by any party hereto of any of the provisions hereof shall be effective unless set forth in a writing executed by the party so waiving.

7.7 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed therein (except that the provisions of Section 1 of Appendix A shall be governed by the law of the State of Texas, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof that would direct the application of the law of any other jurisdiction). Any suit, action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, or any judgment entered by any court in respect of any thereof, shall be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware, and each of Parent, Executive Investment Vehicle, Executive and the members of Executive’s Group hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such court for the purpose of any such suit, action, proceeding or judgment. Each of Executive Investment Vehicle, Executive, the members of Executive’s Group and Parent hereby irrevocably waives (a) any objections which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware, (b) any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in any inconvenient forum and (c) any right to a jury trial.

7.8 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or overnight courier or three postal delivery days after it has been mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses set forth below in this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

(a) If to Parent:

Buzz Holdings L.P.

c/o The Blackstone Group Inc.

345 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10154

Attention:  Martin Brand

    Jon Korngold

Email:        [email address]

[email address]

 

5


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

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Attention:  Anthony Vernace

    Gregory T. Grogan

Email:        [email address]

[email address]

with a copy to:

Buzz Holdings L.P.

1105 W. 41st Street, Suite A

Austin, TX 78756

Attention:  General Counsel

(b) If to Executive Investment Vehicle:

To the most recent address of Executive set forth in the personnel records of Parent.

7.9 Integration. This Agreement and the documents referred to herein or delivered pursuant hereto which form a part hereof, including without limitation, the Plan, the Parent LP Agreement, the Securityholders’ Agreement and that certain Loan and Security Agreement entered into between Executive and Parent, dated as of January 29, 2020, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof; provided, that if any Company Group member or any of its Affiliates from time to time is or becomes a beneficiary under one or more other confidentiality, nondisclosure, non-competition, non-solicitation or non-disparagement provisions applicable to Executive under a written agreement, policy and/or plan, such other agreement(s), policy(ies) and/or plan(s) shall remain in full force and effect and continue in addition to this Agreement. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings with respect to the subject matter hereof other than those expressly set forth herein and therein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter (including, but not limited to, the Prior Agreement and the Term Sheet, dated November 8, 2019), subject to the proviso in the first sentence of this Section 7.9.

7.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, and by different parties on separate counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

6


7.11 Injunctive Relief. Executive and Executive Investment Vehicle and its Permitted Transferees each acknowledge and agree that a violation of any of the terms of this Agreement may cause Parent and its Subsidiaries irreparable injury for which adequate remedy at law is not available. Accordingly, it is agreed that Parent and/or the applicable Subsidiaries shall be entitled to an injunction, restraining order or other equitable relief (to the extent ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction) to prevent breaches of Sections 4 and 6 of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of Sections 4 and 6 hereof in any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States or any state thereof, in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled at law or equity.

7.12 Rights Cumulative; Waiver. The rights and remedies of Executive Investment Vehicle and Parent under this Agreement shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which either would otherwise have hereunder or at law or in equity or by statute, and no failure or delay by either party in exercising any right or remedy shall impair any such right or remedy or operate as a waiver of such right or remedy, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any power or right preclude such party’s other or further exercise or the exercise of any other power or right. The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach and no failure by either party to exercise any right or privilege hereunder shall be deemed a waiver of such party’s rights or privileges hereunder or shall be deemed a waiver of such party’s rights to exercise the same at any subsequent time or times hereunder.

7.13 Joinder to Parent LP Agreement and Securityholders Agreement. By executing and delivering this Agreement, Executive Investment Vehicle hereby adopts and approves the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders Agreement and agrees, effective commencing on the date on which Executive Investment Vehicle first becomes the owner of any Incentive Units or otherwise holds any interests of Parent in accordance with this Agreement, the Plan, the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders Agreement, to be bound by, and to comply with, the provisions of the Parent LP Agreement as a Partner and the provisions of the Securityholders Agreement as a “Securityholder” in the same manner as if Executive Investment Vehicle were an original signatory to each such agreement.

 

7


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amended and Restated Incentive Unit Subscription Agreement as of June 19, 2020. By executing this signature page (the “Signature Page”), the parties also are agreeing to be bound by the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders Agreement, effective as of the Closing Date.

 

BUZZ HOLDINGS L.P.
By: Buzz Holdings GP L.L.C., its general partner

/s/ Idan Wallichman

By: Idan Wallichman
Title: Chief Financial Officer


ACCEPTED AND AGREED:     EXECUTIVE INVESTMENT VEHICLE:
    BEEHIVE HOLDINGS II, LP
    By: Beehive Holdings Management II, LLC, its general partner
EXECUTIVE     By:  

/s/ Whitney Wolfe Herd

    Name:   Whitney Wolfe Herd
    Its:   Sole Member

/s/ Whitney Wolfe Herd

     
Name: Whitney Wolfe Herd      

[address]

     
Address      

[email address]

     
Email address      

Please check the appropriate box:

 

Executive is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Executive is not an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Number of Class B Units

     80,411,518.00  

Closing Date

     January 29, 2020  

Vesting Reference Date

     January 29, 2020  

 

2


Schedule A

Vesting of Incentive Units

All Incentive Units initially shall be Unvested Incentive Units upon the Closing Date.

Incentive Units—Time-Vesting

60% of the Incentive Units granted hereunder (the “Time-Vesting Profits Interests”) shall become Vested Incentive Units as to 20% of such Time-Vesting Profits Interests on each of the first five anniversaries of the Vesting Reference Date, subject to Executive’s continued employment through each applicable vesting date.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, immediately prior to and following the occurrence of a Change of Control that occurs prior to the Termination Date, 100% of the Time-Vesting Profits Interests shall become Vested Incentive Units.

If Executive’s employment is terminated by (i) a Company Group member without Cause or (ii) Executive for Good Reason, an additional 20% of the Time-Vesting Profits Interests will vest upon the Termination Date.

Except as set forth above, upon any Termination Date, all Time-Vesting Profits Interests that are Unvested Incentive Units will be forfeited (provided, that if Executive’s employment is terminated by a Company Group member for Cause (or Executive resigns while grounds for Cause exist), all Vested Incentive Units shall also be forfeited, if such Vested Incentive Units are not repurchased pursuant to the Call Option under Section 4 of the Agreement).

Incentive Units—Performance-Vesting

40% of the Incentive Units granted hereunder (the “Performance-Vesting Profits Interests”) shall become Vested Incentive Units at such time, prior to a Termination Date, or instead, if applicable, the expiration of the Tail Period (as defined below), that the Sponsor Group shall have received cash proceeds (excluding Tax Distributions to the Sponsor Group up to the Sponsor Group’s pro rata share of Parent’s net taxable income multiplied by a 30% combined U.S. federal and state tax rate) in respect of the Sponsor Group’s investment in Class A Units held from time to time by the Sponsor Group in an amount necessary to ensure both (x) a specified return on the Sponsor Group’s cumulative Capital Contributions (the “MOIC Hurdle”) and (y) a specified annual internal rate of return on the Sponsor Group’s cumulative Capital Contributions (the “IRR Hurdle”), as follows:


Portion of Performance-Vesting Profits Interests

   MOIC Hurdle      IRR Hurdle  

33.3%

     2.5x MOIC        17.5 % IRR 

33.3%

     3.0x MOIC        17.5 % IRR 

33.4%

     3.5x MOIC        17.5 % IRR 

For purposes of determining whether the applicable MOIC Hurdle and/or IRR Hurdle has been satisfied, as applicable:

 

   

MOIC calculations shall exclude any amount invested by the Sponsor Group for the purpose of reducing MOIC (and not for any bona fide business purpose) and any returns thereon;

 

   

For purposes of calculating MOIC and IRR, any portion of Sponsor Group’s investment that is Transferred pursuant to a Post-Closing Syndication shall not be treated as a Capital Contribution (i.e., any portion of such investment will be treated as never having been invested by the Sponsor Group and the investment and any associated return shall be disregarded);

 

   

If the Sponsor Group receives Marketable Securities in respect of its Capital Contributions (it being understood that, for the avoidance of doubt, the listing on a public stock market or exchange of equity securities in Parent (or an Affiliate or reorganized entity) held directly or indirectly by the Sponsor Group in connection with an Initial Public Offering will not constitute the “receipt” by the Sponsor Group of Marketable Securities), then such Marketable Securities shall be considered “cash” for purposes of determining achievement of the applicable MOIC Hurdle and IRR Hurdle;

 

   

Any Capital Contributions by the Sponsor Group within the immediately preceding 12-month period prior to a Change of Control shall only be required to achieve a 1.0x MOIC Hurdle; and

 

   

For the avoidance of doubt, the satisfaction of the MOIC Hurdles and IRR Hurdles shall not be dependent on the occurrence of a Change of Control.

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control that occurs prior to the Termination Date or instead, if applicable, the expiration of the Tail Period, the Performance-Vesting Profits Interests will become Vested Incentive Units to the extent both the applicable MOIC Hurdle and IRR Hurdle for such Performance-Vesting Profits Interests are satisfied in connection with such Change of Control (after taking into account any cash or Marketable Securities received by the Sponsor Group in respect of the Sponsor Group’s cumulative Capital Contributions prior to such Change of Control). Any Performance-Vesting Profits Interests that do not vest pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence upon such Change of Control will remain outstanding and eligible to vest to the extent that the applicable MOIC and IRR Hurdle for such Performance-Vesting Profits Interests are satisfied in connection with any future receipt by the Sponsor Group of cash or Marketable Securities by the Sponsor Group in respect of its cumulative Capital Contributions (with such receipt occurring prior to forfeiture of the Performance-Vesting Profits Interests upon the Termination Date or instead, if applicable, upon expiration of the Tail Period, as set forth below).


Upon the occurrence of a Subsidiary Distribution, the General Partner shall, in good faith consultation with Executive, make such equitable adjustment or proportionate adjustment, if any, as is necessary to prevent dilution (including with respect to value) of Executive Investment Vehicle’s rights with respect to Incentive Units granted hereunder. The General Partner and Executive shall consult in good faith regarding such Subsidiary’s adoption of (a) a long-term management equity incentive plan with terms substantially similar to the Plan, including with respect to the relative value of awards granted under such plan, or (b) another alternative incentive compensation structure that is appropriate for such Subsidiary under the circumstances.

If Executive’s employment is terminated by (i) a Company Group member without Cause or (ii) Executive for Good Reason, any Performance-Vesting Profits Interests that are Unvested Incentive Units will remain outstanding and eligible to vest to the extent both the applicable MOIC Hurdle and IRR Hurdle for such Performance-Vesting Profits Interests are satisfied within 180 days following the Termination Date (the “Tail Period”). Any Performance-Vesting Profits Interests that do not vest on or prior to the end of the Tail Period will be forfeited at the end of the Tail Period without consideration therefor, and any Performance-Vesting Profits Interests that become Vested Incentive Units during the Tail Period will be subject to the Call Option under Section 4 of the Agreement.

Except as set forth above, upon the Termination Date, all Performance-Vesting Profits Interests that are Unvested Incentive Units will be forfeited (provided, that if Executive’s employment is terminated by a Company Group member for Cause (or Executive resigns while grounds for Cause exist), all Vested Incentive Units shall also be forfeited, if such Vested Incentive Units are not repurchased pursuant to the Call Option under Section 4 of the Agreement).


Exhibit I

Definitions

Agreement. The term “Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preface.

Cause. The term “Cause” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Executive’s Employment Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2020, with Buzz Holdings L.P., as may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time by the parties thereto (the “Employment Agreement”).

Closing. The term “Closing” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

Closing Date. The term “Closing Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

Code. The term “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

Competing Business. The term “Competing Business” shall mean (i) the business of online, web-based or mobile-based applications established or used for the purposes of (1) match-making for dating or romance or (2) professional networking and (ii) any business activity known to Executive that is competitive with the then-current or demonstrably planned business activities of the Company Group; provided, that online, web-based or mobile-based applications established and predominantly used for any purposes other than those described above (even if such applications, for the avoidance of doubt, incidentally result in dating, romance or professional networking) shall not constitute a Competing Business.

Cost. The term “Cost” shall mean the amount paid by Executive per Incentive Unit on the Closing Date, if any, and reduced by the amount of any distributions (other than Tax Distributions) paid on the Incentive Units; provided, that “Cost” may not be less than zero.

Disability. The term “Disability” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Employment Agreement.

Employee and Employment. The term “employee” shall mean, without any inference as to negate Executive’s status as an indirect Partner of Parent, if applicable, for all purposes hereunder (subject to the terms hereof) and for federal and other tax purposes, any employee (as defined in accordance with the regulations and revenue rulings then applicable under Section 3401(c) of the Code) of any member of the Company Group, and the term “employment” shall include service as a part- or full-time employee of the Company Group.

Executive. The term “Executive” shall have the meaning set forth in the preface.

Executive’s Group. The term “Executive’s Group” shall mean Executive, Executive Investment Vehicle and Executive Investment Vehicle’s Permitted Transferees.


Fair Market Value. The term “Fair Market Value” shall mean, when used in connection with the value of Class A Units or Class B Units, (i) if there is a public market for equity of Parent on the applicable date, the value for the Class A Units or Class B Units shall be implied by the average of the high and low closing bid prices of such equity during the immediately preceding 10 trading days on the stock exchange on which the equity is principally trading or (ii) if there is no public market for the equity on such date, the value for the Class A Units or Class B Units shall be determined by the General Partner in good faith (it being understood that the value of the Class A Units or Class B Units shall be determined based on an equity valuation of Parent (defined as the price in cash that a willing buyer not affiliated with the seller and under no compulsion to buy would pay in an arms-length purchase from a willing seller not affiliated with the buyer under no compulsion to sell), which could then be converted formulaically into a fair market value for the Class A Units or Class B Units in accordance with Section 5.5 of the Parent LP Agreement); provided, that if Executive disagrees with the computation of Fair Market Value with respect to Class A Units or Class B Units held by the Executive Group and Executive and the General Partner are unable to resolve such disagreement in good faith, Parent shall engage either Duff & Phelps or Houlihan Lokey (or their successors), as jointly agreed by Executive and the General Partner, to determine the Fair Market Value. The determination of Fair Market Value by any such firm will be binding and conclusive on Executive and the General Partner. Fair Market Value shall be determined assuming that there is no discount attributable to such security because of either (A) the existence of one or more large or controlling Partners or any minority discount, (B) the terms and conditions of the Parent LP Agreement or the Securityholders Agreement applicable to such Class A Units or Class B Units at such time (other than application of Section 5.5 of the Parent LP Agreement) or (C) the fact that the Class A Units or Class B Units may be illiquid.

Good Reason. The term “Good Reason” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Employment Agreement.

Marketable Securities. The term “Marketable Securities” shall mean publicly tradable marketable securities, i.e., securities that are not subject to transfer restrictions or lock-up, and shall not include, for the avoidance of doubt, any securities received in a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), reverse-IPO transaction, or similar event.

Parent LP Agreement. The term “Parent LP Agreement” shall mean the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Parent, dated as of January 29, 2020, as may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Permitted Transferee. The term “Permitted Transferee” means any Person to whom Executive Investment Vehicle transfers Incentive Units in accordance with the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders Agreement (other than Parent, the Blackstone Members and their respective Affiliates and except for transfers pursuant to a Public Offering).

Plan. The term “Plan” shall mean the Buzz Holdings L.P. Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and/or restated from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Public Offering. The term “Public Offering” shall have the meaning set forth in the Securityholders Agreement.

Restrictive Covenant Violation. The term “Restrictive Covenant Violation” shall mean Executive’s breach of any provision of Appendix A hereto or any similar corresponding provision applicable to Executive under the Employment Agreement or the Restrictive Covenant Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2019, between Parent and Executive.


Securities Act. The term “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.

Securityholders Agreement. The term “Securityholders Agreement” shall mean the Securityholders Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2020, by and among Parent and the other parties thereto, as it may be amended or supplemented thereafter from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Sponsor. The term “Sponsor” shall mean The Blackstone Group Inc. and its Affiliates.

Sponsor Group. The term “Sponsor Group” shall mean any Blackstone Anchor or any Person that is a Permitted Transferee of any Blackstone Anchor (including any Blackstone Initial Limited Partner).

Termination Date. The term “Termination Date” shall mean the date upon which Executive’s employment with the Company Group is terminated for any reason (including death or Disability).

Unvested Incentive Units. The term “Unvested Incentive Units” means, with respect to Executive Investment Vehicle’s Incentive Units, the number of Incentive Units that are not Vested Incentive Units.

Vested Incentive Units. The term “Vested Incentive Units” means, with respect to Executive Investment Vehicle’s Incentive Units, the number of such Incentive Units that are vested and nonforfeitable, as determined in accordance with Schedule A.


Exhibit II

Representations and Warranties of Executive

1. Incentive Units Unregistered. Executive acknowledges and represents that Executive has been advised by Parent that:

(a) the offer and sale of the Incentive Units have not been registered under the Securities Act;

(b) the Incentive Units must be held indefinitely and Executive must continue to bear the economic risk of the indirect investment in the Incentive Units, unless the offer and sale of the Incentive Units are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available (or as otherwise provided in the Parent LP Agreement or Securityholders Agreement);

(c) there is no established market for the Incentive Units and it is not anticipated that there will be any public market for the Incentive Units in the foreseeable future;

(d) a restrictive legend in the form set forth below (and any legends required by the Parent LP Agreement) shall be placed on the certificates, if any, representing the Incentive Units:

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN REPURCHASE OPTIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN AN INCENTIVE UNIT SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT WITH THE ISSUER, AS AMENDED AND MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED BY THE HOLDER HEREOF AT THE ISSUER’S PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS WITHOUT CHARGE”; and

(e) a notation shall be made in the appropriate records of Parent that the Incentive Units are subject to restrictions on transfer, as provided herein, in the Parent LP Agreement and in the Securityholders Agreement, and if Parent should at some point in the future engage the services of a securities transfer agent, appropriate stop-transfer instructions will be issued to such transfer agent with respect to the Incentive Units.

2. Additional Investment Representations. Executive represents and warrants that:

(a) Executive’s financial situation is such that Executive can afford to bear the economic risk of holding the indirect interest in the Incentive Units for an indefinite period of time, has adequate means for providing for Executive’s current needs and personal contingencies, and can afford to suffer a complete loss of Executive’s indirect investment in the Incentive Units;

(b) Executive’s knowledge and experience in financial and business matters are such that Executive is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the indirect investment in the Incentive Units;


(c) Executive understands that the Incentive Units are a speculative investment which involves a high degree of risk of loss of Executive’s indirect investment therein, there are substantial restrictions on the transferability of the Incentive Units and, on the Closing Date and for an indefinite period following the Closing, there will be no public market for the Incentive Units and, accordingly, it may not be possible for Executive to liquidate Executive’s indirect investment in case of emergency, if at all;

(d) the terms of this Agreement provide that if Executive ceases to be an employee of the Company Group, Parent has the right to repurchase or redeem the Incentive Units at a price which may, under certain limited circumstances, be less than the Fair Market Value thereof;

(e) Executive understands and has taken cognizance of all of the risk factors related to the purchase of the Incentive Units and, other than as set forth in this Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders Agreement, no representations or warranties have been made to Executive Investment Vehicle, Executive or Executive’s representatives concerning the Incentive Units or Parent or their prospects or other matters;

(f) Executive has been given the opportunity to examine all documents and to ask questions of, and receive answers from, Parent and its representatives concerning the Company Group, the Parent LP Agreement, the Securityholders Agreement, Parent’s organizational documents and the terms and conditions of the purchase of the Incentive Units and to obtain any additional information which Executive deems necessary;

(g) all information which Executive has provided to Parent and Parent’s representatives concerning Executive and Executive’s financial position is complete and correct as of the date of this Agreement in all material respects; and

(h) Executive is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act, as indicated on Executive’s Signature Page.

 

II - 2


Exhibit III

Representations and Warranties of Parent

Parent represents and warrants to Executive as of the date hereof as follows:

(a) It is a duly organized limited partnership, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware, and has all requisite legal power to enter into this Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders Agreement, perform its obligations hereunder, and own its properties and assets.

(b) All actions on the part of Parent necessary for the execution and delivery by it of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder have been taken. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Parent and it constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of Parent, except as enforceability may be limited by Laws relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and creditors’ rights and by the availability of injunctive relief, specific performance and other equitable remedies.

(c) None of the execution and delivery by Parent of this Agreement, the consummation by Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby, or compliance by Parent with any of the provisions hereof does or will conflict with, or result in any violation of or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under (i) any order of any governmental entity applicable to Parent or by which any of the properties or assets of Parent are bound or (ii) any organizational documents of Parent.

(d) Save as set out in this Agreement, no member of the Company Group has relied on, or been induced to enter into this Agreement by, any information (written or oral), statements or warranties or representations of any description made, supplied or given by or on behalf of Executive or any of Executive’s agents or advisers in relation to the assets and liabilities of the Company Group, their value or amount, or the businesses or affairs of the Company Group or otherwise.

(e) Except for the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, the Founder Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders Agreement, Executive has not made and does not make any other representations or warranties, written or oral, statutory, express or implied, in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.


Appendix A

RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

1. Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation. Executive acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of the Company Group and its Affiliates and further acknowledges and recognizes that Executive has received, and will receive, Confidential Information (as defined below) and other trade secrets of the Company Group, and accordingly agrees as follows:

(a) Non-Competition.

(i) During Executive’s employment with the Company Group and until the later of (i) the third anniversary of the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement (the “Post-Closing Restricted Period”) and (ii) the second anniversary of Executive’s Termination Date (such actual period of restriction, whether such period ends upon or after the expiration of the Post-Closing Restricted Period, the “Restricted Period”), Executive will not, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any Person, directly or indirectly solicit or assist in soliciting in competition with the Company Group the business of any then current or prospective client or customer with whom Executive (or Executive’s direct reports) had personal contact or dealings on behalf of Parent during the one-year period preceding the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company Group.

(ii) During the Restricted Period, Executive will not directly or indirectly:

(A) engage in any business activities involving any Competing Business, individually or through an entity, as an employee, director, officer, owner, investor, partner, member, consultant, contractor, agent, joint venturer or otherwise, in any geographical area where any member of the Company Group engages in its business;

(B) acquire a financial interest in, or otherwise become actively involved with, any Competing Business, directly or indirectly, as an individual, partner, shareholder, officer, director, principal, agent, trustee or consultant; or

(C) interfere with, or attempt to interfere with, business relationships (whether formed before, on or after the date of this Agreement) between the members of the Company Group and any of their clients, customers, suppliers, partners, members or investors.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (A) Executive may, directly or indirectly, own, solely as an investment, securities of any Competing Business which are publicly traded on a national or regional stock exchange or on the over-the-counter market if Executive does not, directly or indirectly, own 5% or more of any class of securities of such Person; and (B) this Section 1(a) shall not restrict (x) Executive’s participation in the activities set forth on Schedule I to the Employment Agreement or (y) Executive’s activities with respect to female empowerment and entrepreneurialism and social justice.


(iv) For purposes of this Agreement, “Competing Business” means (A) the business of online, web-based or mobile-based applications established or used for the purposes of (I) match-making for dating or romance or (II) professional networking and (B) any business activity known to Executive that is competitive with the then-current or demonstrably planned business activities of the Company Group; provided, that online, web-based or mobile-based applications established and predominantly used for any purposes other than those described above in clause (A) or (B) (even if such applications, for the avoidance of doubt, incidentally result in dating, romance or professional networking) shall not constitute a Competing Business.

(b) Employee Non-Solicitation. During the Restricted Period, Executive will not, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any Person, directly or indirectly:

(i) solicit or encourage any employee of the Company Group to leave the employment of the Company Group;

(ii) hire or solicit for employment any employee who was employed by the Company Group as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company Group for any reason or who left the employment of the Company Group coincident with, or within one year prior to, the date of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company Group for any reason; or

(iii) encourage any material consultant of the Company Group to cease working with the Company Group.

(c) It is expressly understood and agreed that although Executive and Parent consider the restrictions contained in this Section 1 to be reasonable and necessary to protect Parent’s legitimate business interests and to be in consideration of the Executive’s Capital Contributions and of Parent’s grant of Units pursuant to this Agreement, in each case, in connection with the Transaction, if a final judicial determination is made by a court of competent jurisdiction that the time or territory or any other restriction contained in this Agreement is an unenforceable restriction against Executive, the provisions of this Agreement shall not be rendered void but shall be deemed amended to apply as to such maximum time and territory and to such maximum extent as such court may judicially determine or indicate to be enforceable. Alternatively, if any court of competent jurisdiction finds that any restriction contained in this Agreement is unenforceable, and such restriction cannot be amended so as to make it enforceable, such finding shall not affect the enforceability of any of the other restrictions contained herein.

(d) The period of time during which the provisions of this Section 1 shall be in effect shall be extended by the length of time during which Executive is in breach of the terms hereof as determined by any court of competent jurisdiction on Parent’s application for injunctive relief.

 

A - 2


(e) The provisions of this Section 1 shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, including but not limited to, any termination other than for Cause.

2. Confidentiality; Intellectual Property.

(a) Confidentiality.

(i) Executive will not at any time (whether during or after Executive’s employment with Parent), (x) retain; or (y) disclose, divulge, reveal, communicate, share, transfer or provide access to any Person outside any Company Group member (other than (A) Executive’s professional advisers who are bound by confidentiality obligations, (B) in performance of Executive’s duties under Executive’s employment and pursuant to customary industry practice, (C) in connection with any litigation proceedings for enforcement by Executive of Executive’s rights under this Agreement and (D) to Executive’s representatives who have a need to know such information for tax or financial reporting reasons), any non-public, proprietary or confidential information (in any form or medium, including text, digital or electronic) – including, without limitation, trade secrets, know-how, research and development, software, databases, inventions, processes, formulae, technology, designs and other intellectual property, information concerning finances, investments, profits, pricing, costs, products, services, vendors, customers, clients, partners, investors, personnel, compensation, recruiting, training, advertising, sales, marketing, promotions, government and regulatory activities and approvals (in any form or medium, tangible or intangible) – concerning the past, current or future business, activities and operations of any Company Group member and/or any third party that has disclosed or provided any of same to any Company Group member on a confidential basis (“Confidential Information”) without the prior written authorization of the Board. Executive will not at any time (whether during or after Executive’s employment with the Company Group) use any Confidential Information for the benefit, purposes or account of Executive or any other Person, other than in the performance of Executive’s duties under the Employment Agreement.

(ii) “Confidential Information” shall not include any information that is (A) generally known to the industry or the public other than as a result of Executive’s breach of this covenant; (B) made available to Executive by a third party without breach of any confidentiality obligation or other wrongful act of which Executive has knowledge; (C) required by law to be disclosed; provided, that with respect to subsection (C) Executive shall (to the extent legally permissible and reasonably practicable) give prompt written notice to Parent of such requirement, disclose no more information than is so required, and reasonably cooperate with any attempts by any Company Group member to obtain a protective order or similar treatment; or (D) permitted to be disclosed pursuant to any organizational document of the Company Group.

 

A - 3


(iii) Except as required by law, Executive will not disclose to anyone, other than Executive’s family (it being understood that, in this Agreement, the term “family” refers to Executive, Executive’s spouse, spouse equivalent, children, parents, spouse’s parents and spouse equivalent’s parents) and advisors, the existence or contents of this Agreement; provided, that Executive may disclose to any prospective future employer executive compensation and the provisions of this Appendix A, and may disclose the existence or contents of this Agreement in connection with any litigation proceedings for enforcement by Executive of Executive’s rights under this Agreement (provided that, in connection with any such litigation or proceedings not involving Parent or any of its Affiliates, Executive shall (to the extent legally permissible and reasonably practicable) disclose no more information than is required). This Section 2(a)(iii) shall terminate if Parent publicly discloses a copy of this Agreement (or, if Parent publicly discloses summaries or excerpts of this Agreement, to the extent so disclosed).

(iv) Upon termination of Executive’s employment with the Company Group for any reason, Executive shall, upon Parent’s request, promptly destroy, delete, or return to Parent, at Parent’s option, all originals and copies in any form or medium (including memoranda, books, papers, plans, computer files, letters and other data) in Executive’s possession or control (including any of the foregoing stored or located in Executive’s office, home, laptop or other computer, whether or not Parent property) that contain Confidential Information, except that Executive may retain only those portions of any personal notes, notebooks and diaries that do not contain any Confidential Information and nothing herein shall require Executive to destroy any computer records or files containing Confidential Information which Executive is required to maintain pursuant to applicable law or in connection with any litigation proceedings for enforcement by Executive of Executive’s rights under this Agreement; provided, that the provisions of this Agreement will continue to apply to such Confidential Information.

(v) Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or impede Executive from communicating, cooperating or filing a complaint with any U.S. federal, state or local governmental or law enforcement branch, agency or entity (or similar bodies of relevant foreign jurisdictions) (collectively, a “Governmental Entity”) with respect to possible violations of any applicable law or regulation, or from otherwise making disclosures to any Governmental Entity that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any such law or regulation; provided, that in each case such communications and disclosures are consistent with applicable law, and nothing herein shall preclude Executive’s right to receive an award from a Governmental Entity for information provided under any whistleblower program. Executive does not need the prior authorization of (or to give notice to) Parent regarding any such communication or disclosure.

(vi) Pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, Parent and Executive hereby confirm, understand and acknowledge that Executive shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any applicable federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made (A) in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, in each case solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (B) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Parent and Executive hereby confirm, understand and acknowledge further that if Executive files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law, Executive may disclose the trade secret to Executive’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if Executive (x) files any document containing

 

A - 4


the trade secret under seal and (y) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order. Moreover, Executive does not need the prior authorization of (or to give notice to) Parent regarding any such communication or disclosure. Except as required by applicable law, under no circumstance will Executive be authorized to disclose any information covered by attorney-client privilege or attorney work product of Parent, without prior written consent of Parent’s General Counsel or other officer designated by Parent.

(b) Intellectual Property.

(i) If Executive creates, invents, designs, develops, contributes to or improves any works of authorship, inventions, concepts, intellectual property, materials, trademarks or similar rights, documents or other work product (including without limitation, research, reports, software, algorithms, techniques, databases, systems, applications, presentations, textual works, content, improvements, or audiovisual materials), whether or not patentable or registrable under patent, trademark, copyright or similar laws (“Works”), either alone or with third parties, at any time during Executive’s employment by the Company Group members and within the scope of such employment (it being understood that, for the avoidance of doubt, the activities set forth on Schedule I of the Employment Agreement shall not be considered within the scope of such employment for the purposes of this Section 2) and/or with the use of any resources of any Company Group member or their respective Affiliates, such Works shall be “Company Group Works” (it being understood that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall Executive’s name, likeness, image or any other rights of publicity be considered Company Group Works). Executive agrees that all such Company Group Works shall, as between the parties hereto, be the sole and exclusive property and intellectual property of Parent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive hereby irrevocably assigns, transfers and conveys (and agrees to so assign, transfer and convey), to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, all of Executive’s right, title, and interest therein (including rights under patent, industrial property, copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition, other intellectual property laws, and related laws) to the Company Group members to the extent ownership of any such rights does not vest originally in such Company Group members whether as a “work made for hire” or by virtue of the prior sentence. If Executive creates any written records (in the form of notes, sketches, drawings, or any other tangible form or media) of any Company Group Works, such records will remain, as between the parties hereto, the sole property and intellectual property of the Company Group members at all times. For clarity, any activities using Executive’s name, likeness, image or any other rights of publicity, to the extent such activities (A)(x) would not otherwise be prohibited by Section 1(a) and (y) are outside of the ordinary course of business of the Company Group, as such business exists now or at any time in the future or (B) are otherwise approved by the Board (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) shall not be considered within the scope of Executive’s employment for purposes of this Section 2.

 

A - 5


(ii) Executive hereby assigns and agrees to assign all of Executive’s rights of attribution, paternity, integrity, modification, disclosure and withdrawal, and any other rights throughout the world that may be known as or referred to as “moral rights,” “artist’s rights,” “droit moral,” or the like (collectively, “Moral Rights”) in any of the Company Group Works. To the extent that Moral Rights cannot be assigned under applicable law, Executive hereby waives and agrees not to enforce any and all such Moral Rights, including, without limitation, any limitation on subsequent modification, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law.

(iii) Executive shall take all reasonably requested actions and execute all reasonably requested documents (including any licenses or assignments required by a government contract) at the expense of any Company Group member (but without further remuneration) to assist the applicable Company Group member or its affiliates in validating, maintaining, protecting, enforcing, perfecting, recording, patenting or registering any of the Company Group members’ rights in the Company Group Works. Executive hereby designates and appoints Parent and its designees as Executive’s agent and attorney-in-fact, to act for and in Executive’s behalf and stead solely to the extent necessary to execute and file such documents and solely to the extent Executive is unable or unwilling to do so. This power of attorney is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable. Executive shall not knowingly take any actions inconsistent with Parent’s ownership rights set forth in this Section 2, including by filing to register any Company Group Works in Executive’s own name.

(iv) Executive shall not improperly use for the benefit of, bring to any premises of, divulge, disclose, communicate, reveal, transfer or provide access to, or share with any Company Group member or their respective Affiliates any confidential, proprietary or non-public information or intellectual property relating to a former employer or other third party without the prior written permission of such third party. Executive shall comply with all relevant policies and guidelines of the Company Group that are from time to time previously disclosed to Executive, including regarding the protection of Confidential Information and intellectual property and potential conflicts of interest.

(v) Executive has listed on the attached Schedule A-1, Works that are owned by Executive, in whole or jointly with others prior to Executive’s employment with the Company Group (such Works, together with any Works owned by Executive in whole or jointly with others prior to Executive’s employment with the Company Group, collectively, “Prior Works”). Executive shall not use any Prior Work in connection with Executive’s employment with the Company Group without prior written consent of Parent. If, in connection with Executive’s employment with Parent, Executive incorporates into any Parent product, service or process any Prior Work (or any portion of a Prior Work), in any manner whatsoever, Executive grants Parent a non-exclusive perpetual (or the maximum time period allowed by applicable law), sublicensable, assignable, royalty-free right and worldwide license to use, modify, reproduce, reduce to practice, market, distribute, communicate and/or sell such Prior Work or portion of such Prior Work solely to the extent necessary for Parent to exploit such Parent product, service or process. Parent, on behalf of itself and the other members of the Company Group, agrees that any and all Prior Works shall, as between the parties hereto, be and remain the sole and exclusive property and intellectual property of Executive. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall any Prior Works (or any portion thereof) be considered “Confidential Information” under this Agreement.

 

A - 6


(c) The provisions of Section 2 hereof shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason (except as otherwise set forth in Section 2(a)(iv) hereof).

3. Non-Disparagement. During the period of Executive’s employment with the Company Group and following a termination of employment for any reason (i) Executive agrees not to make, or direct any other Person to make, any Disparaging Statement (as defined below) about the Company Group, Sponsor or any of their respective Affiliates (or any of their respective officers or directors) (it being understood that comments made in Executive’s good faith performance of Executive’s duties hereunder shall not be deemed disparaging or defamatory for purposes of this Agreement) and (ii) Parent shall instruct the members of the Board that are affiliated with Sponsor not to make, or direct any other Person to make, any Disparaging Statement about Executive or Executive’s spouse. In addition, following the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company Group for any reason, Parent shall instruct the members of the Company Group’s management team and any other individual who is authorized to make any public statement on behalf of the Company Group not to make, or direct any other Person to make, any Disparaging Statement about Executive or Executive’s spouse. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Disparaging Statement” shall mean any communication that is intended to defame or disparage, or has the effect of defaming or disparaging.

 

A - 7

Exhibit 10.25

INCENTIVE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

(Incentive Units of Partnership)

THIS INCENTIVE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) by and between Buzz Management Aggregator L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Partnership”), Buzz Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Parent”), and the individual named on the Signature Page hereto (“Participant”) is made as of the date set forth on such Signature Page.

WHEREAS, Partnership is an interest holder in Parent, and Parent is an indirect interest holder of the entity that employs Participant (the “Employer”);

WHEREAS, on the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, Participant desires to subscribe for and acquire from Partnership, and Partnership desires to issue and provide to Participant Class B Units of Partnership (collectively, the “Incentive Units”), in the amounts set forth on the Signature Page, as hereinafter set forth;

WHEREAS, on the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, Partnership desires to acquire from Parent, and Parent desires to issue and provide to Partnership, Class B Units of Parent, which shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as the Incentive Units; and

WHEREAS, this Agreement is one of several agreements being entered into by Partnership and Parent with certain persons who are or will be directors or key employees or advisors of Parent or one or more of its Subsidiaries, as part of management equity purchase plans designed to comply with Regulation D or Rule 701, as applicable, promulgated under the Securities Act.

NOW, THEREFORE, in order to implement the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Definitions. Defined terms are as set forth in Exhibit I hereto and capitalized terms not defined herein or in Exhibit I shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan or, if not defined in the Plan, as defined in the Partnership LP Agreement, or, if not defined in the Plan or the Partnership LP Agreement, as defined in the Parent LP Agreement, or if not defined in the Plan, the Partnership LP Agreement or the Parent LP Agreement, as defined in the Securityholders Agreement.

2. Incentive Units.

2.1 Grant of Incentive Units of Partnership. Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement, Participant hereby subscribes for, and Partnership hereby agrees to issue and award to Participant on the date specified on the Signature Page (the “Closing Date”), the number of Incentive Units set forth on the Signature Page in exchange for the services performed to or for the benefit of Partnership, Parent, the Employer and/or one of their respective Subsidiaries by Participant, and subject to vesting in accordance with Schedule A hereto.

2.2 Grant of Class B Units of Parent. In connection with the grant of the Incentive Units hereunder by Partnership to Participant, Parent hereby grants to Partnership, effective as of the Closing Date, an equivalent number of Class B Units of Parent, with a Base Price applicable to such Class B Units specified on the Signature Page, subject to the terms of the Parent LP Agreement.


2.3 The Closing. The closing (the “Closing”) of the grant of Incentive Units hereunder shall take place on the Closing Date.

2.4 Section 83(b) Election. Within 10 days after the Closing, Participant shall provide Partnership and the Employer with a copy of a completed election with respect to the Incentive Units subscribed for at the Closing under Section 83(b) of the Code, and the regulations promulgated thereunder in the form attached hereto. Participant should consult Participant’s tax advisor regarding the consequences of a Section 83(b) election, as well as the receipt, vesting, holding and sale of the Incentive Units.

2.5 Closing Conditions. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Partnership shall be under no obligation to issue or grant to Participant any Incentive Units unless (a) Participant is an employee of, or service provider to, the Employer, Parent or one of their respective Subsidiaries on the Closing Date; (b) the representations of Participant contained in Section 3 hereof are true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date; and (c) Participant is not in breach of any agreement, obligation or covenant herein required to be performed or observed by Participant on or prior to the Closing Date.

3. Investment Representations and Covenants of Participant. Participant acknowledges and represents the representations and warranties as set forth in Exhibit II hereto.

4. Certain Sales and Forfeitures Upon Termination of Employment.

4.1 Call Options.

(a) If (i) Participant’s employment with or service to the Employer, Parent and their Subsidiaries is terminated by Employer, Parent or its Subsidiaries for Cause, (ii) Participant voluntarily resigns Participant’s employment with or services to the Employer, Parent and its Subsidiaries when grounds for Cause exist, or (iii) a Restrictive Covenant Violation occurs, Partnership shall have the right, for 12 months following, as applicable, each of (x) the Termination Date or (y) the date of such Restrictive Covenant Violation (or, if later, the date on which a member of the Board (other than Participant and Participant’s designee(s), if applicable) has actual knowledge thereof), to purchase (together with the rights in Section 4.1(b) and Section 4.1(c), the “Call Option”), and each member of Participant’s Group shall be required to sell to Partnership, all or any portion of the Vested Incentive Units then held by such member of Participant’s Group at a purchase price per Vested Incentive Unit equal to the lesser of (1) Fair Market Value (measured as of the date of the Call Notice (as defined below) is delivered, the “Repurchase Notice Date”) and (2) Cost; provided, that such purchase price shall not be less than zero.

(b) If Participant’s employment with or service to, as applicable, Parent and its Subsidiaries terminates for any reason other than as provided for in Section 4.1(a), Partnership shall have the right, for 12 months following the Termination Date, to purchase, and each member of Participant’s Group shall be required to sell to Partnership, all or any portion of the Vested Incentive Units then held by such member of Participant’s Group at a purchase price per Vested Incentive Unit equal to Fair Market Value (measured as of the Repurchase Notice Date); provided, that such purchase price shall not be less than zero.

(c) In the event that Participant engages in a Competing Business (as defined in Appendix A) at any time after Participant’s Termination Date (regardless of whether such conduct constitutes a Restrictive Covenant Violation), then Partnership shall have the right, for 12 months following the date of such engagement in a Competing Business (or, if later, the date on which the Board

 

2


(other than Participant and Participant’s designee(s), if applicable) has knowledge thereof), and each member of Participant’s Group shall be required to sell to Partnership, all or any portion of the Vested Incentive Units then held by such member of Participant’s Group at a purchase price per Vested Incentive Unit equal to Fair Market Value (measured as of the Repurchase Notice Date). Partnership may elect to exercise its Call Option in Section 4.1(a) in lieu of this Section 4.1(c), to the extent applicable.

(d) If Participant’s employment with Parent and its Subsidiaries terminates for any reason, all Unvested Incentive Units will be forfeited immediately without further action by Parent (or to the extent a forfeiture is not permissible under applicable law for any reason, such Unvested Incentive Units shall be subject to the Call Option in Section 4.1(a), with the purchase price per Unvested Incentive Unit equal to the lesser of (1) Fair Market Value (measured as of the Repurchase Notice Date) and (2) Cost); provided, that such purchase price shall not be less than zero.

(e) If Partnership desires to exercise the Call Option pursuant to this Section 4.1, Partnership shall send written notice to each member of Participant’s Group of its intention to purchase Incentive Units, specifying the number of Incentive Units to be purchased and the purchase price thereof (the “Call Notice”). Subject to the provisions of Section 5, the closing of the purchase shall take place at the principal office of Partnership on a date specified by Partnership not later than the 10th day after the giving of the Call Notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Partnership elects not to exercise the Call Option pursuant to this Section 4.1 (or elects to exercise the Call Option with respect to less than all Incentive Units), Sponsor may elect to cause one of its Affiliates or another designee to purchase such Incentive Units on the same terms and conditions set forth in this Section 4.1 by providing written notice to each member of Participant’s Group of its intention to purchase Incentive Units. For avoidance of doubt, Participant shall retain Vested Incentive Units (as determined in accordance with Schedule A) following a Termination to the extent that the Partnership (or, as applicable, one of Sponsor’s Affiliates or designees) does not elect to exercise the Call Option pursuant to this Section 4.1.

4.2 Obligation to Sell Several. If there is more than one member of Participant’s Group, the failure of any one member thereof to perform its obligations hereunder shall not excuse or affect the obligations of any other members thereof, and the closing of the purchases from such other members by Partnership shall not excuse, or constitute a waiver of its rights against, the defaulting member.

5. Payment Provisions.

5.1 Certain Limitations on Partnerships Obligations to Purchase Incentive Units. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Partnership shall not be obligated to purchase any Incentive Units at any time pursuant to Section 4, regardless of whether it has delivered a notice of its election to purchase any such Incentive Units, to the extent that the purchase of such Incentive Units or the payment to Partnership, Parent or one of its respective Subsidiaries of a cash dividend or distribution by Parent or a Subsidiary of Parent to fund such purchase (together with any other purchases of Incentive Units pursuant to Section 4 or pursuant to similar provisions in agreements with other employees, service providers or equityholders, as applicable, of Parent and its Subsidiaries of which Partnership has at such time been given or has given notice and together with cash dividends and distributions to fund such other purchases) would result in a violation of any law, statute, rule regulation, policy, order, writ, injunction, decree or judgment promulgated or entered by any federal, state, local, foreign court or governmental authority applicable to Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their property.

5.2 Payment for Incentive Units. If at any time Partnership elects to purchase any Incentive Units pursuant to Section 4, Partnership shall pay the purchase price for the Incentive Units it purchases (i) first, by the cancellation of indebtedness of any kind, if any, owing from Participant to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (which indebtedness shall be applied pro rata against the proceeds receivable by each

 

3


member of Participant’s Group receiving consideration in such repurchase) and (ii) then, by Partnership’s delivery of a check or wire transfer of immediately available funds for the remainder of the purchase price, if any, against delivery of the certificates or other instruments, if any, representing the Incentive Units so purchased, duly endorsed; provided, that if (x) any of the conditions set forth in Section 5.1 exists, (y) Partnership has a lack of available cash to purchase such Incentive Units, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Board or (z) such purchase of Incentive Units would result in a Financing Default (either directly or indirectly as a result of the prohibition of a related cash dividend or distribution) (each a “Cash Payment Restriction”), Partnership may (I) if the purchase of such Incentive Units is pursuant to the Call Option, defer the Call Option until the date that is 18 months following such time as the Board concludes that such Cash Payment Restriction no longer exists or (II) satisfy payment of the portion of the cash payment so prohibited, to the extent such payment is not prohibited, by Partnership’s delivery of a junior subordinated promissory note from Parent (which shall be subordinated and subject in right of payment to the prior payment of any debt outstanding under the senior Financing Agreements and any modifications, renewals, extensions, replacements and refunding of all such indebtedness) of Parent (a “Junior Subordinated Note”) in a principal amount equal to the balance of the purchase price, payable within 90 days following the date that is 12 months following such time as the Board concludes that a Cash Payment Restriction no longer exists), and bearing interest payable (and compounded to the extent not so paid) as of the last day of each year at the “prime rate” (as published for JPMorgan Chase Bank, from time to time), and all such accrued and unpaid interest payable on the date of the payment of principal (or, if applicable, the last installment of principal), with payments to be applied in the order of: first to any enforcement costs incurred by Participant or Participant’s Group, second to interest and third to principal. Partnership shall have the rights set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 5.2 whether or not Participant or any member of Participant’s Group is selling such Incentive Units even if Participant’s Group is not an obligor of Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries. The principal of, and accrued interest on, any such Junior Subordinated Note may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time at the option of Partnership; provided, that upon a Change of Control or an initial public offering of Parent, the principal of, and accrued interest on, any Junior Subordinated Note shall become immediately due and payable. To the extent that Parent is restricted from paying accrued interest that is required to be paid on any Junior Subordinated Note prior to maturity, due to the existence of any Cash Payment Restriction, such interest shall be cumulated, compounded annually, and accrued until and to the extent that such Cash Payment Restriction no longer exists, at which time such accrued interest shall be immediately paid. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, Partnership may elect to pay the purchase price hereunder in shares or other equity securities of one of Parent’s direct or indirect Subsidiaries with a fair market value equal to the applicable purchase price; provided, that such Subsidiary redeems such shares or other equity securities as soon as reasonably practicable for cash equal to the applicable purchase price or a Junior Subordinated Note with a principal amount equal to the applicable purchase price.

5.3 Repayment of Proceeds. If (a) Participant’s employment or service, as applicable, is terminated by Parent or its Subsidiaries for Cause, (b) Parent or any of its Subsidiaries discovers following Participant’s termination of employment or service, as applicable, that grounds for a termination for Cause existed at the time of such termination, or (c)(i) a Restrictive Covenant Violation of any restrictive covenant contained in Section 1 of Appendix A occurs or (ii) a Restrictive Covenant Violation of any restrictive covenant contained in Section 2 or Section 3 of Appendix A occurs within two years following the Termination Date, then Participant shall be required, in addition to any other remedy available (on a non-exclusive basis), to pay to Parent or Partnership, as applicable, within 10 Business Days following Parent’s or Partnership’s request to Participant therefor, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the sum of (x) the value of Participant’s Incentive Units (to the extent then held by Participant’s Group) and (y) the aggregate after-tax proceeds (taking into account all amounts of tax that would be recoverable upon a claim of loss for payment of such proceeds in the year of repayment) Participant or any of Participant’s Permitted Transferees received upon the sale or other disposition of, or

 

4


distributions in respect of, Participant’s Incentive Units over (B) the aggregate Cost of such Incentive Units. Any references in this Section 5.3(b) to grounds existing for a termination with Cause shall be determined without regard to any cure period or other procedural delay or event required prior to a finding of, or termination for, Cause.

6. Parent Purchases. In the event that any Incentive Units are purchased by Partnership pursuant to the applicable terms of this Agreement, an equal number of Class B Units of Parent held by Partnership shall automatically and simultaneously be purchased by Parent on the same terms unless otherwise determined by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, purchases under this Agreement may, in the sole and absolute discretion of the Managing Member, be effected by (a) causing Partnership to redeem the relevant Incentive Units of Partnership in exchange for the corresponding Class B Units of Parent that are held by Partnership and (b) following the redemption in clause (a), Parent purchasing such Class B Units from the relevant holder pursuant to the applicable terms of this Agreement (including, as applicable, the Partnership LP Agreement, Parent LP Agreement and Securityholders Agreement).

7. Restrictive Covenants (Appendix A). Participant acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of Parent and its Subsidiaries and accordingly agrees, in consideration of the receipt of Incentive Units hereunder, in Participant’s capacity as an indirect equity holder in Parent and its Subsidiaries, to the provisions of Appendix A to this Agreement. Participant acknowledges and agrees that remedies of Partnership, Parent and their Subsidiaries at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of Appendix A would be inadequate, and Partnership, Parent and its Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates may suffer irreparable damages as a result of such breach or threatened breach by Participant, regardless of whether Participant then holds Incentive Units. In recognition of this fact, Participant agrees that, in addition to any remedies at law, (a) in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, Partnership, Parent, Sponsor and their Affiliates shall be entitled to cease making any payments or providing any payments or providing any benefit otherwise required by this Agreement and (b) in the event of such a breach, Partnership, Parent and their Affiliates, or, if applicable Participant, as the case may be, without posting any bond, shall be entitled to obtain equitable relief (to the extent ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction) in the form of specific performance, temporary restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available.

8. Miscellaneous.

8.1 Transfers. The Incentive Units may only be transferred if permitted by the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders’ Agreement, and, prior to any transfer of Incentive Units to a Permitted Transferee, Participant shall deliver to Partnership a written agreement of the proposed transferee evidencing such Person’s undertaking to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and the Partnership LP Agreement and acknowledging that any corresponding Units of Parent held by Partnership are subject to the terms of the Securityholders Agreement and the Parent LP Agreement. Any transfer or attempted transfer of Incentive Units in violation of any provision of this Agreement, the Plan, the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement or the Securityholders Agreement shall be void, and Partnership shall not record such transfer on its books or treat any purported transferee of such Incentive Units as the owner of such Incentive Units for any purpose. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement or the Securityholders Agreement, no Unvested Incentive Unit shall be transferred without the prior written consent of Partnership, which may be withheld in its sole discretion.

 

5


8.2 Recapitalizations, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting Incentive Units. The provisions of this Agreement shall apply, to the full extent set forth herein with respect to Incentive Units, to any and all securities of Partnership, Parent or any successor or assign of Partnership or Parent (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued in respect of, in exchange for, or in substitution of the Incentive Units, by reason of any dividend payable in Incentive Units, issuance of Incentive Units, combination, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or otherwise.

8.3 Participant’s Employment by, or Provision of Services to, the Employer. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to obligate Partnership, Parent, the Employer or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of any of them to employ Participant in any capacity whatsoever or to prohibit or restrict any of them from changing Participant’s role from a management-level employee to a non-management level employee or terminating the employment of, or provision of services by, Participant at any time or for any reason whatsoever, with or without Cause.

8.4 Cooperation. Participant agrees to reasonably cooperate with Partnership and Parent in taking action reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

8.5 Binding Effect. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and accrue to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns; provided, that no Permitted Transferee shall derive any rights under this Agreement unless and until such Permitted Transferee has executed and delivered to Partnership a valid undertaking and becomes bound by the terms of this Agreement; provided, further, that Sponsor is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement and shall have the right to enforce the provisions hereof.

8.6 Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument signed by the parties hereto. No waiver by any party hereto of any of the provisions hereof shall be effective unless set forth in a writing executed by the party so waiving.

8.7 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed therein (except that the provisions of Section 1 of Appendix A shall be governed by the law of the state where Participant is principally employed by, or providing services to, Parent or its Subsidiaries or, if Participant and Parent or its Subsidiaries are party to an Employment Agreement, the law of the state that governs such Employment Agreement). Any suit, action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, or any judgment entered by any court in respect of any thereof, shall be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware, and each of Partnership, Parent, Participant and the members of Participant’s Group hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such court for the purpose of any such suit, action, proceeding or judgment. Each of Participant, the members of Participant’s Group, Partnership and Parent hereby irrevocably waives (a) any objections which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware, (b) any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in any inconvenient forum and (c) any right to a jury trial.

8.8 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or overnight courier or three postal delivery days after it has been mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses set forth below in this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

 

6


(a) If to Partnership:

Buzz Management Aggregator L.P.

c/o The Blackstone Group Inc.

345 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10154

Attention: Martin Brand

                  Jon Korngold

Email:    [email address]

                [email address]

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

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Attention:    Anthony Vernace

                    Gregory T. Grogan

Email:         [email address]

                    [email address]

with a copy to:

Buzz Holdings L.P.

1105 W. 41st Street, Suite A

Austin, TX 78756

Attention: General Counsel

(b) If to Parent:

Buzz Holdings L.P.

c/o The Blackstone Group Inc.

345 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10154

Attention: Martin Brand

                 Jon Korngold

Email:      [email address]

                 [email address]

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

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Attention:    Anthony Vernace

                    Gregory T. Grogan

Email:         [email address]

                    [email address]

 

7


with a copy to:

Buzz Management Aggregator L.P.

1105 W. 41st Street, Suite A

Austin, TX 78756

Attention: General Counsel

(c) If to Participant:

To the most recent address of Participant set forth in the personnel records of Parent.

8.9 Integration. This Agreement and the documents referred to herein or delivered pursuant hereto which form a part hereof, including without limitation, the Plan, the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders’ Agreement, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof; provided, that if Partnership, Parent, the Employer, or any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates from time to time is or becomes a beneficiary under one or more other confidentiality, nondisclosure, non-competition, non-solicitation, intellectual property or non-disparagement provisions applicable to Participant under a written agreement, policy and/or plan, such other agreement(s), policy(ies) and/or plan(s) shall remain in full force and effect and continue in addition to this Agreement. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings with respect to the subject matter hereof other than those expressly set forth herein and therein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter, subject to the proviso in the first sentence of this Section.

8.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, and by different parties on separate counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original copy and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument, binding on all parties hereto.

8.11 Injunctive Relief. Participant and Participant’s Permitted Transferees each acknowledge and agree that a violation of any of the terms of this Agreement will cause Partnership, Parent and its Subsidiaries irreparable injury for which adequate remedy at law is not available. Accordingly, it is agreed that Partnership, Parent and/or the applicable Subsidiaries shall be entitled to an injunction, restraining order or other equitable relief (to the extent ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction) to prevent breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States or any state thereof, in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled at law or equity.

8.12 Rights Cumulative; Waiver. The rights and remedies of Participant, Partnership and Parent under this Agreement shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which either would otherwise have hereunder or at law or in equity or by statute, and no failure or delay by either party in exercising any right or remedy shall impair any such right or remedy or operate as a waiver of such right or remedy, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any power or right preclude such party’s other or further exercise or the exercise of any other power or right. The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach and no failure by either party to exercise any right or privilege hereunder shall be deemed a waiver of such party’s rights or privileges hereunder or shall be deemed a waiver of such party’s rights to exercise the same at any subsequent time or times hereunder.

8.13 Joinder to the Partnership LP Agreement, Parent LP Agreement and Securityholders Agreement. By executing and delivering this Agreement, Participant hereby adopts and approves the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders Agreement and agrees, effective commencing on the date on which Participant first becomes the owner of any Incentive Units or otherwise holds any interests of Partnership in accordance with this Agreement, the Plan, the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders Agreement, to be bound by, and to

 

8


comply with, the provisions of the Partnership LP Agreement as a Member and the provisions of the Securityholders Agreement as a “Securityholder” in the same manner as if Participant were an original signatory to each such agreement; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent Participant does not directly hold Class B Units of Parent, Participant will not be a “Member” under the Parent LP Agreement or a “Securityholder” under the Securityholders Agreement, but Participant acknowledges that any Class B Units of Parent held by Partnership that correspond with Participant’s Incentive Units will be subject to the terms of the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders Agreement to which Partnership has become a party by executing and delivering this Agreement (or another Incentive Unit Award Agreement if executed and delivered prior to the date hereof).

 

9


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Incentive Unit Award Agreement as of August 8, 2020. By executing the Signature Page, the parties also are agreeing to be bound by the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders Agreement, effective as of the Closing Date.

 

BUZZ MANAGEMENT AGGREGATOR L.P.
By: Buzz Holdings GP L.L.C., its general partner

/s/ Whitney Wolfe Herd

By:   Whitney Wolfe Herd
Title: Chief Executive Officer
BUZZ HOLDINGS L.P.
By: Buzz Holdings GP L.L.C., its general partner

/s/ Whitney Wolfe Herd

By:   Whitney Wolfe Herd
Title: Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Incentive Unit Award Agreement]


PARTICIPANT

/s/ Tariq Shaukat

Name: Tariq Shaukat

[address]
Address
[email address]
Email address
Please check the appropriate box:

❑ Participant is an “accredited investor”1 within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

❑ Participant is not an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Number of Class B Units

   24,532,328.00

Closing Date

   August 8, 2020

Vesting Reference Date

   July 20, 2020

Base Price

   $0.00

 

 

1

You are an “accredited investor” if you meet any of the following tests:

 

  1.

You are a director or executive officer of Parent;

 

  2.

You have an individual net worth, or joint net worth with your spouse, at the time of your purchase exceeding $1,000,000. For purposes of this item, “net worth” means the excess of total assets at fair market value, including automobiles and other personal property but excluding the value of the primary residence of such natural person (and including property owned by a spouse other than the primary residence of the spouse), over total liabilities. The amount of any mortgage or other indebtedness secured by an investor’s primary residence should not be included as a “liability,” except to the extent the fair market value of the residence is less than the amount of such mortgage or other indebtedness;

 

  3.

You had individual income (excluding your spouse) in excess of $200,000 in both 2018 and 2019 and have a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in 2020; or

 

  4.

You and your spouse had joint income in excess of $300,000 in both 2018 and 2019 and have a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in 2020.

 

[Signature Page to Incentive Unit Award Agreement]


Schedule A

Vesting of Incentive Units

All Incentive Units initially shall be Unvested Incentive Units upon the Closing Date.

Time-Vesting Incentive Units

60% of the Incentive Units granted hereunder (the “Time-Vesting Incentive Units”) shall become Vested Incentive Units as to 20% of such Time-Vesting Incentive Units on each of the first five anniversaries of the Vesting Reference Date (as set forth on the Signature Page), subject to Participant’s continued employment or service through each applicable vesting date.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Participant’s employment or service, as applicable, is terminated without Cause by the Employer or its then-Affiliates in the two-year period following a Change of Control, then all then-outstanding Time-Vesting Incentive Units (or substitute equity or consideration of purchaser or its Affiliates, as applicable) shall vest upon the Termination Date.

Upon any Termination Date, (i) all outstanding Time-Vesting Incentive Units that are Unvested Incentive Units (after taking into account any accelerated vesting in accordance with the preceding paragraph, if applicable) will be forfeited (provided, that if Participant’s employment or service, as applicable, is terminated by Parent or its Subsidiaries for Cause (or Participant resigns while grounds for Cause exist), all Vested Incentive Units shall also be forfeited or, to the extent such Vested Incentive Units are not able to be forfeited under applicable law, subject to the Call Option pursuant to Section 4 of the Agreement) and (ii) all Vested Incentive Units will be subject to the Call Option pursuant to Section 4 of the Agreement.

Performance-Vesting Incentive Units

40% of the Incentive Units granted hereunder (the “Performance-Vesting Incentive Units”) shall become Vested Incentive Units at such time, prior to a Termination Date that Sponsor and its Affiliates shall have received cash proceeds (excluding tax distributions (as defined in the Parent LP Agreement) to Sponsor up to Sponsor’s pro rata share of Parent’s net taxable income multiplied by a 30% combined U.S. federal and state tax rate) in respect of Sponsor’s investment in Class A Units held from time to time by Sponsor in an amount necessary to ensure both (x) a specified return on Sponsor’s cumulative Capital Contributions (the “MOIC Hurdle”) and (y) a specified annual internal rate of return on Sponsor’s cumulative Capital Contributions (the “IRR Hurdle”), as follows:

 

Portion of

Performance-Vesting

Incentive Units

   MOIC Hurdle      IRR Hurdle  

33.3%

     2.5x MOIC        17.5 % IRR 

33.3%

     3.0x MOIC        17.5 % IRR 

33.4%

     3.5x MOIC        17.5 % IRR 

For purposes of determining whether the applicable MOIC Hurdle and/or IRR Hurdle has been satisfied, as applicable:

 

   

MOIC calculations shall exclude any amount invested by Sponsor for the purpose of reducing MOIC (and not for any bona fide business purpose) and any returns thereon; and

 

Schedule A-1


   

For purposes of calculating MOIC and IRR, any portion of Sponsor’s investment that is Transferred pursuant to a Post-Closing Syndication shall not be treated as a Capital Contribution (i.e., any portion of such investment will be treated as never having been invested by Sponsor and the investment and any associated return shall be disregarded).

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Performance-Vesting Incentive Units that would not become Vested Incentive Units upon the occurrence of such Change of Control shall be forfeited immediately prior to the occurrence of such Change of Control.

Upon the Termination Date, all Performance-Vesting Incentive Units that are Unvested Incentive Units will be forfeited (provided, that if Participant’s employment or service, as applicable, is terminated by Parent or its Subsidiaries for Cause (or Participant resigns while grounds for Cause exist), all Vested Incentive Units shall also be forfeited, or, to the extent such Vested Incentive Units are not able to be forfeited under applicable law, subject to the Call Option pursuant to Section 4 of the Agreement) and Vested Incentive Units will be subject to the Call Option pursuant to Section 4 of the Agreement.

 

Schedule A-2


Exhibit I

Definitions

Agreement. The term “Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preface.

Base Price. The term “Base Price,” when used in reference to a Class B Unit, such Class B Unit’s Deemed Unit Price.

Cause. The term “Cause” means (i) any breach by Participant of any of Participant’s obligations under any applicable employment or service, agreement, this Agreement (including, without limitation, a Restrictive Covenant Violation), the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement or the Securityholders Agreement; (ii) the continued failure or refusal of Participant to substantially perform the duties reasonably required of Participant as an employee or other service provider of Parent or its Subsidiaries; (iii) Participant’s commission or conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to (1) a felony or (2) a crime involving fraud or moral turpitude (or any other crime relating to Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries which would reasonable be expected to be materially injurious to Aggregate, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries; (iv) Participant’s theft, dishonesty or other misconduct that would reasonably be expected to be injurious to Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries); (v) Participant’s unauthorized use, misappropriation, destruction or diversion of any tangible or intangible asset of Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, Participant’s unauthorized use or disclosure of Confidential Information (as defined in Exhibit III) or other confidential or proprietary information) that would reasonably be expected to be injurious to Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries; (vi) unlawful use (including being under the influence) or possession of illegal drugs or alcohol on the premises of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or while performing the Participant’s duties and responsibilities as an employee, agent or service provider of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries; or (vii) any act(s) constituting employment discrimination or sexual harassment.

Closing. The term “Closing” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

Closing Date. The term “Closing Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

Code. The term “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

Competing Business. The term “Competing Business” shall mean any business activities, including any product, service or process or the research and development thereof in (i) the business of online, web-based or mobile-based matchmaking for dating or romance, (ii) online, web-based or mobile-based interpersonal matchmaking, including but not limited to professional networking; or (iii) any line of business in which Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (the “Company Group”) had demonstrable and detailed plans and intent to engage while Participant was employed by, or providing services to, the Company Group and of which Participant was aware. For the avoidance of doubt, products, services, and processes relating primarily to business-to-business interactions or to the business of providing technology systems and platforms to enable communication and collaboration between people or businesses, such as general purpose video conferencing, text messaging, or email services, are not included in Competing Businesses unless the Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is engaged in providing such products, services or processes or has demonstrable and detailed plans and intent to engage in said business or to provide such products, services or processes.

 

Exhibit I-1


Cost. The term “Cost” shall mean the amount paid by Participant per Incentive Unit on the Closing Date, if any, as proportionately adjusted for all subsequent distributions of Incentive Units and other recapitalizations, and reduced by the amount of any distributions made with respect to the Incentive Units pursuant to Partnership’s organizational documents, as applicable; provided, that “Cost” may not be less than zero.

Disability. The term “Disability” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Participant’s Employment Agreement, and if not so defined therein, or if no such Employment Agreement exists, “Disability” shall mean, as determined by Parent in good faith, Participant’s inability and failure to substantially render the services to be provided by Participant to Parent and its Subsidiaries for a period of at least 180 days out of any consecutive 360 days due to a mental or physical condition.

Employee and Employment. The term “employee” shall mean, without any inference as to negate Participant’s status as a Member of Partnership or of Parent, if applicable, for all purposes hereunder (subject to the terms hereof) and for federal and other tax purposes, any employee (as defined in accordance with the regulations and revenue rulings then applicable under Section 3401(c) of the Code) of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, and the term “employment” shall include service as a part- or full-time employee of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or member of the board of Parent or its Affiliates.

Fair Market Value. The term “Fair Market Value” shall mean, when used in connection with the value of Class A Units or Class B Units, (i) if there is a public market for equity of Partnership on the applicable date, the value for the Class A Units or Class B Units shall be implied by the average of the high and low closing bid prices of such equity during the immediately preceding 10 trading days on the stock exchange on which the equity is principally trading or (ii) if there is no public market for the equity on such date, the value for the Class A Units or Class B Units shall be determined by the General Partner in good faith (it being understood that the value of the Class A Units or Class B Units shall be determined based on an equity valuation of the Partnership (defined as the price in cash that a willing buyer not affiliated with the seller and under no compulsion to buy would pay in an arms-length purchase from a willing seller not affiliated with the buyer under no compulsion to sell), which could then be converted formulaically into a fair market value for the Class A Units or Class B Units in accordance with Section 4.5 and Section 5.2 of the Parent LP Agreement). Fair Market Value shall be determined assuming that there is no discount attributable to such security because of either (A) the existence of one or more large or controlling Partners or any minority discount, (B) the terms and conditions of this Agreement applicable to such Class A Units or Class B Units at such time (other than application of Section 4.5 and Section 5.2 of the Parent LP Agreement) or (C) the fact that the Class A Units or Class B Units may be illiquid.

Financing Default. The term “Financing Default” shall mean an event which would constitute (or with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute) an event of default under any of the financing documents of Parent or its Affiliates from time to time (collectively, the “Financing Agreements”) and any restrictive financial covenants contained in the organizational documents of Partnership, Parent or their respective Affiliates.

Parent LP Agreement. The term “Parent LP Agreement” shall mean the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Parent, dated as of January 29, 2020 as may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Participant. The term “Participant” shall have the meaning set forth in the preface.

Participant’s Group. The term “Participant’s Group” shall mean Participant and Participant’s Permitted Transferees.

 

Exhibit I-2


Partnership LP Agreement. The term “Partnership LP Agreement” shall mean the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Partnership, dated as of January 29, 2020, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Permitted Transferee. The term “Permitted Transferee” means any Person to whom Participant transfers Incentive Units in accordance with the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders Agreement (other than Partnership, Parent, the Blackstone Members and their respective Affiliates and except for transfers pursuant to a Public Offering).

Plan. The term “Plan” shall mean the Buzz Management Aggregator L.P. Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and/or restated from time to time.

Public Offering. The term “Public Offering” shall have the meaning set forth in the Parent LP Agreement.

Restrictive Covenant Violation. The term “Restrictive Covenant Violation” shall mean Participant’s breach of any provision of Appendix A hereto or any similar corresponding provision applicable to Participant under a written agreement between Participant and Partnership, Parent or any of Parent’s Subsidiaries from time to time.

Securities Act. The term “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.

Securityholders Agreement. The term “Securityholders Agreement” shall mean the Securityholders Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2020, by and among Parent and the other parties thereto, as it may be amended or supplemented thereafter from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Sponsor. The term “Sponsor” shall mean The Blackstone Group Inc. and its Affiliates.

Termination Date. The term “Termination Date” shall mean the date upon which Participant’s employment with or service to, as applicable, Parent and its Subsidiaries is terminated for any reason (including death or Disability).

Unvested Incentive Units. The term “Unvested Incentive Units” means, with respect to Participant’s Incentive Units, the number of Incentive Units that are not Vested Incentive Units.

Vested Incentive Units. The term “Vested Incentive Units” means, with respect to Participant’s Incentive Units, the number of such Incentive Units that are vested as determined in accordance with Schedule A.

 

Exhibit I-3


Exhibit II

Representations and Warranties

1. Incentive Units Unregistered. Participant acknowledges and represents that Participant has been advised by Partnership that:

(a) the offer and sale of the Incentive Units have not been registered under the Securities Act;

(b) the Incentive Units must be held indefinitely and Participant is in a financial position to continue to bear the economic risk of the investment in the Incentive Units unless the offer and sale of such Incentive Units are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available (or as otherwise provided in the Partnership LP Agreement, Parent LP Agreement or Securityholders Agreement);

(c) there is no established market for the Incentive Units and it is not anticipated that there will be any public market for the Incentive Units in the foreseeable future;

(d) a restrictive legend in the form set forth below, or in such other form as may be determined by Partnership pursuant to the Partnership LP Agreement, shall be placed on the certificates, if any, representing the Incentive Units:

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN REPURCHASE OPTIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN AN INCENTIVE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT WITH THE ISSUER, AS AMENDED AND MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED BY THE HOLDER HEREOF AT THE ISSUER’S PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS WITHOUT CHARGE”; and

(e) a notation shall be made in the appropriate records of Partnership indicating that the Incentive Units are subject to restrictions on transfer, as provided herein, in the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and in the Securityholders Agreement, and if Partnership or Parent should at some point in the future engage the services of a securities transfer agent, appropriate stop-transfer instructions will be issued to such transfer agent with respect to the Incentive Units.

2. Additional Investment Representations. Participant represents and warrants that:

(a) Participant’s financial situation is such that Participant can afford to bear the economic risk of holding the Incentive Units for an indefinite period of time, has adequate means for providing for Participant’s current needs and personal contingencies, and can afford to suffer a complete loss of Participant’s investment in the Incentive Units;

(b) Participant’s knowledge and experience in financial and business matters are such that Participant is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment in the Incentive Units;

(c) Participant understands that the Incentive Units are a speculative investment which involves a high degree of risk of loss of Participant’s investment therein, there are substantial restrictions on the transferability of the Incentive Units and, on the Closing Date and for an indefinite period following the Closing, there will be no public market for the Incentive Units and, accordingly, it may not be possible for Participant to liquidate Participant’s investment in case of emergency, if at all;

 

Exhibit II-1


(d) the terms of this Agreement provide that if Participant ceases to be an employee or service provider of Parent or its Subsidiaries, Partnership has the right to repurchase or redeem the Incentive Units at a price which may, under certain circumstances, be less than the Fair Market Value thereof;

(e) Participant understands and has taken cognizance of all of the risk factors related to the purchase of the Incentive Units and, other than as set forth in this Agreement, the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders Agreement and any other agreement or certificate delivered hereby or thereby, no representations or warranties have been made to Participant or Participant’s representatives concerning the Incentive Units or Partnership or Parent or their prospects or other matters;

(f) Participant has been given the opportunity to examine all documents and to ask questions of, and receive answers from, Partnership and its representatives concerning Partnership, Parent and its Subsidiaries, the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement, the Securityholders Agreement, Partnership’s organizational documents and the terms and conditions of the purchase of the Incentive Units and to obtain any additional information which Participant deems necessary;

(g) all information which Participant has provided to Partnership and Partnership’s representatives concerning Participant and Participant’s financial position is complete and correct as of the date of this Agreement; and

(h) Participant is or is not an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act, as indicated on Participant’s Signature Page.

3. Other Representations. Participant acknowledges that Sponsor and its Affiliates may, from time to time, provide services to Parent and its Affiliates for which a fee will be paid by Parent or its Affiliates, including an annual monitoring/advisory fee and/or transaction fees.

 

A-2


Exhibit III

FORM OF SECTION 83(b) ELECTION

ELECTION TO INCLUDE UNITS IN GROSS

INCOME PURSUANT TO SECTION 83(b) OF THE

INTERNAL REVENUE CODE

The undersigned acquired units (the “Units”) of Buzz Management Aggregator L.P. (the “Partnership”) on August 8, 2020 (the “Acquisition Date”).

The undersigned desires to make an election to have the Units taxed under the provision of Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code §83(b)”), at the time the undersigned acquired the Units.

Therefore, pursuant to Code §83(b) and Treasury Regulation §1.83-2 promulgated thereunder, the undersigned hereby makes an election, with respect to the Units (described below), to report as taxable income for calendar year 2020 the excess, if any, of the Units’ fair market value on the Acquisition Date over the acquisition price thereof.

The following information is supplied in accordance with Treasury Regulation §1.83-2(e):

The name, address and social security number of the undersigned:

Tariq Shaukat

[address]

                                             SSN: [social security number]

A description of the property with respect to which the election is being made:

24,532,328.00 Class B Units in Partnership

The date on which the property was transferred: the Acquisition Date. The taxable year for which such election is made: calendar year 2020.

The restrictions to which the property is subject include the following: If the undersigned ceases to be employed by or provide services to Parent or certain affiliates of Parent under certain circumstances, all or a portion of the Units may be subject to forfeiture. The Units are also subject to transfer restrictions.

The aggregate fair market value (on a liquidation basis) on the Acquisition Date of the property with respect to which the election is being made, determined without regard to any lapse restrictions: $0

The aggregate amount paid for such property: $0

The undersigned taxpayer will file this election with the Internal Revenue Service office with which taxpayer files his or her annual income tax return not later than 30 days after the date of the transfer of the property. A copy of the election will also be furnished to the person for whom the services were performed. The undersigned is the person performing the services in connection with which the property was transferred.

A copy of this election has been furnished to Partnership and Parent pursuant to Treasury Regulations §1.83-2(e)(7).

 

Dated: August 28, 2020           

/s/ Tariq Shaukat

      Tariq Shaukat

 

Exhibit III-1


Appendix A

RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

1. Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Non-Interference. Participant acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of Parent and its Affiliates and accordingly agrees as follows:

(a) During Participant’s employment or services with Parent or its Subsidiaries and (i) if the termination of Participant’s employment or services occurs prior to July 20, 2022, until the 18-month anniversary of such termination of employment or services with the Company Group or (ii) if the termination of Participant’s employment or services occurs on or following July 20, 2022, until the second anniversary of such termination of employment or services with the Company Group (the period of Participant’s employment or services and the applicable period in clause (i) or (ii), together, the “Restricted Period”), directly or indirectly solicit or assist in soliciting in competition with the Company Group the business of any then current or prospective client or customer with whom Participant (or Participant’s direct reports at the direction of Participant) had personal contact or personal dealings on behalf of the Company Group during the one-year period preceding Participant’s termination of employment. During the Restricted Period, Participant will not, whether on Participant’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any person, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation or other business organization, entity or enterprise whatsoever (“Person”), directly or indirectly:

(i) engage in any business activities involving any Competing Business in any geographical area where any member of the Company Group engages in its business;

(ii) acquire a financial interest in, or otherwise become actively involved with, any Competing Business, directly or indirectly, as an individual partner, shareholder, officer, director, principal, agent, trustee or consultant; or

(iii) interfere with, or attempt to interfere with, business relationships (whether formed before, on or after the date hereof) between the members of the Company Group and any of their clients, customers, suppliers, partners, members or investors.

(b) During the Restricted Period, Participant will not, whether on Participant’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any Person directly or indirectly:

(i) solicit or encourage any employee of the Company Group to leave the employment of the Company Group;

(ii) hire or solicit for employment any employee who was employed by the Company Group as of the date of Participant’s termination of employment or services with the Company Group for any reason or who left the employment of the Company Group coincident with, or within six months prior to, the date of Participant’s termination of employment or services with the Company Group for any reason; or

(iii) encourage any material consultant of the Company Group to cease working with the Company Group.

(c) During the Restricted Period, Participant will not, whether on Participant’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any Person, directly or indirectly:

 

A-1


(i) solicit or induce any supplier, licensee or other business, or knowingly or intentionally solicit or induce any customer, in any case, that has a relationship with any member of the Company Group to cease doing business with, materially reduce the amount of business conducted with any member of the Company Group, interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee or other business and any member of the Company Group; or

(ii) knowingly or intentionally assist any Person in any substantive or direct way to do, or attempt to do, anything prohibited by clause (c)(i) above.

(d) If a final and non-appealable judicial determination is made that any of the provisions of this Section 1 constitutes an unreasonable or otherwise unenforceable restriction against Participant, the provisions of this Section 1 will not be rendered void but will be deemed to be modified to the minimum extent necessary to remain in force and effect for the longest period and largest geographic area that would not constitute such an unreasonable or unenforceable restriction. Moreover, notwithstanding the fact that any provision of this Section 1 is determined not to be specifically enforceable, Parent will nevertheless be entitled to recover monetary damages as a result of Participant’s breach of such provision.

(e) The period of time during which the provisions of this Section 1 shall be in effect shall be extended by the length of time during which Participant or the Company Group, as the case may be, is in breach of the terms hereof as determined by any court of competent jurisdiction on a party’s application for injunctive relief.

(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 1 of Appendix A to the contrary, Participant may, directly or indirectly, own, solely as an investment, securities of any Competing Business which are either (a) publicly traded on a national or regional stock exchange or on the over-the-counter market if Participant (x) is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group which controls, such Person and (y) does not, directly or indirectly, own 2% or more of any class of securities of such Person or (b) not so publicly traded if Participant (x) is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group which controls, such Person, and (y) does not, directly or indirectly, own 5% or more of any class of securities of such Person. Furthermore, if a business enterprise that engages in or is actively planning to engage in a Competing Business also engages in or actively plans to engage in any business other than a Competing Business (“Other Business Lines”), then nothing in this Appendix A shall prohibit Participant from providing services or advice exclusively with respect to such Other Business Lines; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, Participant shall be prohibited from providing services or advice to an Other Business Line of any entity listed on Schedule A-1 hereto.

(g) The provisions of Section 1 hereof shall survive the termination of Participant’s employment or services for any reason.

2. Confidentiality; Intellectual Property.

(a) Confidentiality.

(i) Participant acknowledges that the Confidential Information (as defined below) obtained by Participant while employed by or providing services to Parent and its Subsidiaries is the property of the Company Group. Therefore, Participant agrees that Participant shall not disclose to any unauthorized Person or use for Participant’s own purposes (when during or after Participant’s employment or services with the Company Group, other than to perform Participant’s duties and responsibilities for the Company Group) any Confidential Information without the prior written authorization of Parent, unless and to the extent that the aforementioned

 

A-2


matters become generally known to and available for use by the public other than as a result of Participant’s acts or omissions in violation of this Agreement; provided, that if Participant receives a request to disclose Confidential Information pursuant to a deposition, interrogation, request for information or documents in legal proceedings, subpoena, civil investigative demand, governmental or regulatory process, or similar process, (A) Participant shall, to the extent practicable and not prohibited by law, notify Parent promptly, and consult with and assist (to the extent practicable and not prohibited by law), Parent, at Parent’s expense, in seeking a protective order, (B) in the event that such protective order is not obtained, or if Parent waives compliance with the terms hereof, Participant shall disclose only that portion of the Confidential Information which, based on the advice of Participant’s legal counsel, is legally required to be disclosed and shall exercise reasonable best efforts to provide that the receiving Person shall agree to treat such Confidential Information as confidential to the extent possible (and permitted under applicable law) in respect of the applicable proceeding or process, and (C) Parent shall be given an opportunity to review the Confidential Information prior to disclosure thereof.

(ii) For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means information, observations, and data concerning the business or affairs of Parent and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, including, without limitation, all business information (in any form or medium, including text, digital or electronic) that relates to any member of the Company Group, or its customers, suppliers, or contractors or any other third parties in respect of which Parent or any member of the Company Group has a business relationship or owes a duty of confidentiality, or their respective businesses or products, and that is not known to the public generally other than as a result of Participant’s breach of this Agreement or as a result of a breach of any confidentiality obligation or other wrongful act by a third party of which Participant has knowledge, including but not limited to, technical information or reports, formulas, trade secrets, unwritten knowledge and “know-how,” operating instructions, training manuals, customer lists, customer buying records and habits, product sales records and documents, and product development, marketing, and sales strategies, market surveys, marketing plans, profitability analyses, product cost, long-range plans, information relating to pricing, competitive strategies, and new product development, information relating to any forms of compensation or other personnel-related information, contracts, and supplier lists (in any form or medium, tangible or intangible). Confidential Information will not include such information generally known to the industry or the public or known to Participant prior to Participant’s involvement with Parent or any predecessor thereof, information rightfully obtained from a third party (other than pursuant to a breach by Participant of this Agreement or as a result of a breach of any confidentiality obligation or other wrongful act by a third party of which Participant has knowledge) or information independently developed by Participant without violation of this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, Participant and Parent each agree, to the extent not prohibited, to keep confidential the existence of, and any information concerning, any dispute between Participant and Parent or any member of the Company Group, except that Participant and Parent each may disclose information concerning such dispute to the court that is considering such dispute or to their respective legal counsel (provided that such legal counsel agrees not to disclose any such information other than as reasonable to the prosecution or defense of such dispute).

(iii) Participant acknowledges that all notes, memoranda, specifications, devices, formulas, records, files, lists, drawings, documents, models, equipment, property, computer, software, or intellectual property relating to the businesses of the Company Group, in whatever form (including electronic), and all copies thereof, that are received or created by Participant while an employee or service provider of Parent and its Subsidiaries that constitute Confidential Information and Inventions shall remain the property of the Company Group, and Participant shall as promptly as practicable return such property to Parent upon the termination of

 

A-3


Participant’s employment or service and, in any event, at Parent’s request. Participant agrees further that any property situated on the premises of, and owned by, Parent or any member of the Company Group, including disks and other storage media, filing cabinets, and other work areas, is subject to inspection by Parent’s personnel at any time with or without notice.

(iv) Participant agrees further that Participant will not improperly use or disclose any confidential information or trade secrets, if any, of any former employers or any other Person to whom Participant has an obligation of confidentiality, and will not bring onto the premises of Parent or any member of the Company Group any unpublished documents or any property belonging to any former employer or any other Person to whom Participant has an obligation of confidentiality unless consented to in writing by the former employer or other Person.

(v) Pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, nothing in this Agreement, including but not limited to the Confidentiality provisions in this Section 1 and the Non-Disparagement provisions in Section 3, shall prohibit or impede Participant from communicating, cooperating or filing a complaint on possible violations of U.S. federal, state or local law or regulation to or with any governmental agency or regulatory authority (collectively, a “Governmental Entity”), including, but not limited to, the SEC, EEOC, OSHA, or the NLRB, or from making other disclosures to any Governmental Entity that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of U.S. federal, state or local law or regulation, provided that in each case such communications and disclosures are consistent with applicable law. Participant understands and acknowledges that (a) Participant shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any U.S. federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made (i) in confidence to a U.S. federal, state, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (ii) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal, and (b) if Participant files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law, Participant may disclose the trade secret to Participant’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if Participant (x) files any document containing the trade secret under seal and (y) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order. Moreover, Participant shall not be required to give prior notice to (or get prior authorization from) any member of the Company Group regarding any such communication or disclosure. Except as required by applicable law, under no circumstance is Participant authorized to disclose any information covered by Parent’s or its Affiliates’ attorney-client privilege or attorney work product or Parent’s or its Affiliates’ trade secrets without prior written consent of the General Partner.

(b) Intellectual Property.

(i) Participant agrees that the results and proceeds of Participant’s services for the Company Group (including, but not limited to, any Confidential Information and other trade secrets, products, services, processes, know-how, designs, developments, innovations, analyses, drawings, reports, techniques, formulas, methods, developmental or experimental work, improvements, discoveries, inventions, concepts, ideas, source and object codes, programs, software, algorithms, techniques, intellectual property, improvements, matters of a literary, musical, dramatic, or otherwise creative nature, writings, and other works of authorship) resulting from services performed while an employee or service provider of Parent and any works in progress, whether or not patentable or registrable under patent, trademark, copyright or similar statutes, that were made, developed, conceived, or reduced to practice or learned by Participant, either alone or jointly with others (collectively, “Inventions”), shall be works-made-for-hire, and

 

A-4


Parent (or, if applicable or as directed by Parent, any member of the Company Group) shall be deemed the sole owner throughout the universe of any and all trade secret, patent, copyright, and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “Proprietary Rights”) of whatsoever nature therein, whether or not now or hereafter known, existing, contemplated, recognized, or developed, with the right to use the same in perpetuity in any manner Parent determines in its sole discretion, without any further payment to Participant whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, for any reason, any of such results and proceeds shall not legally be a work-made-for-hire or there are any Proprietary Rights that do not accrue to Parent (or, as the case may be, any member of the Company Group) under the immediately preceding sentence, then Participant hereby irrevocably assigns, transfers and conveys and agrees to so assign, transfer and convey any and all of Participant’s right, title, and interest thereto, including any and all Proprietary Rights of whatsoever nature therein, whether or not now or hereafter known, existing, contemplated, recognized, or developed, to Parent (or, if applicable or as directed by Parent, any member of the Company Group), and Parent or such member of the Company Group shall have the right to use the same in perpetuity throughout the universe in any manner determined by Parent or such member of the Company Group without any further payment to Participant whatsoever. As to any Invention that Participant is required to assign, transfer or convey, Participant shall promptly and fully disclose to Parent all information known to Participant concerning such Invention.

(ii) Participant agrees that, from time to time, as may be requested by Parent and at Parent’s sole cost and expense, Participant shall do any and all things that Parent may reasonably deem useful or desirable to establish or document Parent’s exclusive ownership throughout the United States of America or any other country of any and all Proprietary Rights in any such Inventions, including the execution of appropriate copyright or patent applications or assignments. To the extent that Participant has any Proprietary Rights in the Inventions that cannot be assigned in the manner described above, Participant unconditionally and irrevocably waives the enforcement of such Proprietary Rights. This Section 2(b)(ii) is subject to and shall not be deemed to limit, restrict, or constitute any waiver by Parent of ownership of any Proprietary Rights to which Parent may be entitled by operation of law by virtue of Parent’s being Participant’s employer or service recipient. Participant agrees further that, from time to time, as may be requested by Parent and at Parent’s sole cost and expense, Participant shall assist Parent in every reasonable, proper and lawful way to obtain and from time to time enforce Proprietary Rights relating to Inventions in any and all countries. To this end, Participant shall execute, verify, and deliver such documents and perform such other acts (including appearances as a witness) as Parent may reasonably request for use in applying for, obtaining, perfecting, evidencing, sustaining, and enforcing such Proprietary Rights and the assignment thereof. In addition, Participant shall execute, verify, and deliver assignments of such Proprietary Rights to Parent or its designees. Participant’s obligation to assist Parent with respect to Proprietary Rights relating to such Inventions in any and all countries shall continue beyond the termination of Participant’s employment with or services to Parent. Participant hereby designates and appoints Parent and its designees as Participant’s agent and attorney-in-fact, to act for and in Participant’s behalf and stead to execute and file documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts in connection with the foregoing to the extent Participant is unable or unwilling to do so. This power of attorney is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable. Participant shall not take any actions inconsistent with the Company Group’s ownership rights set forth in this Section 2, including by filing to register any Inventions in Participant’s own name.

(iii) Participant hereby assigns and agrees to assign all rights of attribution, paternity, integrity, modification, disclosure and withdrawal, and any other rights throughout the world that may be known as or referred to as “moral rights,” “artist’s rights,” “droit moral,” or the like (collectively, “Moral Rights”) related to any Inventions. To the extent that Moral Rights cannot be assigned under applicable law, Participant hereby waives and agrees not to enforce any and all such Moral Rights, including, without limitation, any limitation on subsequent modification, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law.

 

A-5


(iv) Participant hereby waives and quitclaims to the Company Group any and all claims, of any nature whatsoever, that Participant now or may hereafter have for infringement of any Proprietary Rights assigned hereunder to the Company Group.

(v) Participant has listed on the attached Appendix A-2 Inventions that are owned by Participant, in whole or jointly with others prior to Participant’s employment with, or service to, Parent and its Subsidiaries (collectively “Prior Works”). Participant shall not use any Prior Works during Participant’s employment with, or service to, Parent and its Subsidiaries, without prior written consent of Parent. If, during Participant’s employment or service with the Company Group, Participant uses or incorporates into any Company Group product, service or process any Prior Work (or any portion of a Prior Work), in any manner whatsoever, Participant grants Parent a perpetual (or the maximum time period allowed by applicable law), sublicensable, assignable, royalty-free right and worldwide license to use, modify, reproduce, reduce to practice, market, distribute, communicate and/or sell such Prior Work or portion of such Prior Work used by Participant in such Company Group product, service or process.

3. Non-Disparagement. Participant agrees not to make, or cause any other Person to make, any communication that is intended to defame or disparage, has the effect of defaming or disparaging, or is in any manner likely to be harmful to, or to the business or personal reputation of, Parent, Partnership or any member of the Company Group or any of their affiliates, agents or advisors (or any of its or their respective employees officers or directors) (it being understood that comments made in Participant’s good faith performance of Participant’s duties hereunder shall not be deemed disparaging or defamatory for purposes of this Agreement). Following termination of Participant’s employment or services with the Company Group, (a) no statement will be made in the name of or on behalf of Parent or Partnership and (b) Parent and Partnership shall instruct their respective executive officers, the members of their respective governing body and those who routinely participate in Company Group management and governance meetings to not make any communication, in either case of clause (a) or (b), that is intended to defame or disparage, has the effect of defaming or disparaging, or is in any manner likely to be harmful to, or to the business or personal reputation of, Participant (it being understood that comments made in the ordinary course of an individual’s good faith performance of one’s duties shall not be deemed disparaging or defamatory for purposes of this Agreement). Nothing contained in this Section 3 is intended to prevent any Person from testifying truthfully in any legal proceeding.

 

A-6

Exhibit 10.27

INCENTIVE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

(Incentive Units of Partnership)

THIS INCENTIVE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) by and between Buzz Management Aggregator L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Partnership”), Buzz Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Parent”), and the individual named on the Signature Page hereto (“Participant”) is made as of the date set forth on such Signature Page.

WHEREAS, Partnership is an interest holder in Parent, and Parent is an indirect interest holder of the entity to whom Participant provides services (the “Employer”);

WHEREAS, on the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, Participant desires to subscribe for and acquire from Partnership, and Partnership desires to issue and provide to Participant Class B Units of Partnership (collectively, the “Incentive Units”), in the amounts set forth on the Signature Page, as hereinafter set forth;

WHEREAS, on the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, Partnership desires to acquire from Parent, and Parent desires to issue and provide to Partnership, Class B Units of Parent, which shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as the Incentive Units; and

WHEREAS, this Agreement is one of several agreements being entered into by Partnership and Parent with certain persons who are or will be directors or key employees or advisors of Parent or one or more of its Subsidiaries, as part of management equity purchase plans designed to comply with Regulation D or Rule 701, as applicable, promulgated under the Securities Act.

NOW, THEREFORE, in order to implement the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Definitions. Defined terms are as set forth in Exhibit I hereto and capitalized terms not defined herein or in Exhibit I shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan or, if not defined in the Plan, as defined in the Partnership LP Agreement, or, if not defined in the Plan or the Partnership LP Agreement, as defined in the Parent LP Agreement, or if not defined in the Plan, the Partnership LP Agreement or the Parent LP Agreement, as defined in the Securityholders Agreement.

2. Incentive Units.

2.1 Grant of Incentive Units of Partnership. Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement, Participant hereby subscribes for, and Partnership hereby agrees to issue and award to Participant on the date specified on the Signature Page (the “Closing Date”), the number of Incentive Units set forth on the Signature Page in exchange for the services performed to or for the benefit of Partnership, Parent, the Employer and/or one of their respective Subsidiaries by Participant, and subject to vesting in accordance with Schedule A hereto.

2.2 Grant of Class B Units of Parent. In connection with the grant of the Incentive Units hereunder by Partnership to Participant, Parent hereby grants to Partnership, effective as of the Closing Date, an equivalent number of Class B Units of Parent, with a Base Price applicable to such Class B Units specified on the Signature Page, subject to the terms of the Parent LP Agreement.

 


2.3 The Closing. The closing (the “Closing”) of the grant of Incentive Units hereunder shall take place on the Closing Date.

2.4 Section 83(b) Election. Within 10 days after the Closing, Participant shall provide Partnership and the Employer with a copy of a completed election with respect to the Incentive Units subscribed for at the Closing under Section 83(b) of the Code, and the regulations promulgated thereunder in the form attached hereto. Participant should consult Participant’s tax advisor regarding the consequences of a Section 83(b) election, as well as the receipt, vesting, holding and sale of the Incentive Units.

2.5 Closing Conditions. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Partnership shall be under no obligation to issue or grant to Participant any Incentive Units unless (a) Participant is an employee of, or service provider to, the Employer, Parent or one of their respective Subsidiaries on the Closing Date; (b) the representations of Participant contained in Section 3 hereof are true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date; and (c) Participant is not in breach of any agreement, obligation or covenant herein required to be performed or observed by Participant on or prior to the Closing Date.

3. Investment Representations and Covenants of Participant. Participant acknowledges and represents the representations and warranties as set forth in Exhibit II hereto.

4. Certain Sales and Forfeitures Upon Termination of Employment.

4.1 Call Options.

(a) If (i) Participant’s employment with or service to the Employer, Parent and their Subsidiaries is terminated by Employer, Parent or its Subsidiaries for Cause, (ii) Participant voluntarily resigns Participant’s employment with or services to the Employer, Parent and its Subsidiaries when grounds for Cause exist, or (iii) a Restrictive Covenant Violation occurs, Partnership shall have the right, for 12 months following, as applicable, each of (x) the Termination Date or (y) the date of such Restrictive Covenant Violation (or, if later, the date on which a member of the Board (other than Participant and Participant’s designee(s), if applicable) has actual knowledge thereof), to purchase (together with the rights in Section 4.1(b) and Section 4.1(c), the “Call Option”), and each member of Participant’s Group shall be required to sell to Partnership, all or any portion of the Vested Incentive Units then held by such member of Participant’s Group at a purchase price per Vested Incentive Unit equal to the lesser of (1) Fair Market Value (measured as of the date of the Call Notice (as defined below) is delivered, the “Repurchase Notice Date”) and (2) Cost; provided, that such purchase price shall not be less than zero.

(b) If Participant’s employment with or service to, as applicable, Parent and its Subsidiaries terminates for any reason other than as provided for in Section 4.1(a), Partnership shall have the right, for 12 months following the Termination Date, to purchase, and each member of Participant’s Group shall be required to sell to Partnership, all or any portion of the Vested Incentive Units then held by such member of Participant’s Group at a purchase price per Vested Incentive Unit equal to Fair Market Value (measured as of the Repurchase Notice Date); provided, that such purchase price shall not be less than zero.

 

2


(c) In the event that Participant engages in a Competing Business (as defined in Appendix A) at any time after Participant’s Termination Date (regardless of whether such conduct constitutes a Restrictive Covenant Violation), then Partnership shall have the right, for 12 months following the date of such engagement in a Competing Business (or, if later, the date on which the Board (other than Participant and Participant’s designee(s), if applicable) has knowledge thereof), and each member of Participant’s Group shall be required to sell to Partnership, all or any portion of the Vested Incentive Units then held by such member of Participant’s Group at a purchase price per Vested Incentive Unit equal to Fair Market Value (measured as of the Repurchase Notice Date). Partnership may elect to exercise its Call Option in Section 4.1(a) in lieu of this Section 4.1(c), to the extent applicable.

(d) If Participant’s employment with or service to Parent and its Subsidiaries terminates for any reason, all Unvested Incentive Units will be forfeited immediately without further action by Parent (or to the extent a forfeiture is not permissible under applicable law for any reason, such Unvested Incentive Units shall be subject to the Call Option in Section 4.1(a), with the purchase price per Unvested Incentive Unit equal to the lesser of (1) Fair Market Value (measured as of the Repurchase Notice Date) and (2) Cost); provided, that such purchase price shall not be less than zero.

(e) If Partnership desires to exercise the Call Option pursuant to this Section 4.1, Partnership shall send written notice to each member of Participant’s Group of its intention to purchase Incentive Units, specifying the number of Incentive Units to be purchased and the purchase price thereof (the “Call Notice”). Subject to the provisions of Section 5, the closing of the purchase shall take place at the principal office of Partnership on a date specified by Partnership not later than the 10th day after the giving of the Call Notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Partnership elects not to exercise the Call Option pursuant to this Section 4.1 (or elects to exercise the Call Option with respect to less than all Incentive Units), Sponsor may elect to cause one of its Affiliates or another designee to purchase such Incentive Units on the same terms and conditions set forth in this Section 4.1 by providing written notice to each member of Participant’s Group of its intention to purchase Incentive Units. For avoidance of doubt, Participant shall retain Vested Incentive Units (as determined in accordance with Schedule A) following a Termination to the extent that the Partnership (or, as applicable, one of Sponsor’s Affiliates or designees) does not elect to exercise the Call Option pursuant to this Section 4.1.

4.2 Obligation to Sell Several. If there is more than one member of Participant’s Group, the failure of any one member thereof to perform its obligations hereunder shall not excuse or affect the obligations of any other members thereof, and the closing of the purchases from such other members by Partnership shall not excuse, or constitute a waiver of its rights against, the defaulting member.

5. Payment Provisions.

5.1 Certain Limitations on Partnerships Obligations to Purchase Incentive Units5.1 . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Partnership shall not be obligated to purchase any Incentive Units at any time pursuant to Section 4, regardless of whether it has delivered a notice of its election to purchase any such Incentive Units, to the extent that the purchase of such Incentive Units or the payment to Partnership, Parent or one of its respective Subsidiaries of a cash dividend or distribution by Parent or a Subsidiary of Parent to fund such purchase (together with any other purchases of Incentive Units pursuant to Section 4 or pursuant to similar provisions in agreements with other employees, service providers or equityholders, as applicable, of Parent and its Subsidiaries of which Partnership has at such time been given or has given notice and together with cash dividends and distributions to fund such other purchases) would result in a violation of any law, statute, rule regulation, policy, order, writ, injunction, decree or judgment promulgated or entered by any federal, state, local, foreign court or governmental authority applicable to Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their property.

5.2 Payment for Incentive Units. If at any time Partnership elects to purchase any Incentive Units pursuant to Section 4, Partnership shall pay the purchase price for the Incentive Units it purchases (i) first, by the cancellation of indebtedness of any kind, if any, owing from Participant to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (which indebtedness shall be applied pro rata against the proceeds receivable by each member of Participant’s Group receiving consideration in such repurchase) and (ii) then, by Partnership’s delivery of a check or wire transfer of immediately available funds for the remainder of the purchase

 

3


price, if any, against delivery of the certificates or other instruments, if any, representing the Incentive Units so purchased, duly endorsed; provided, that if (x) any of the conditions set forth in Section 5.1 exists, (y) Partnership has a lack of available cash to purchase such Incentive Units, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Board or (z) such purchase of Incentive Units would result in a Financing Default (either directly or indirectly as a result of the prohibition of a related cash dividend or distribution) (each a “Cash Payment Restriction”), Partnership may (I) if the purchase of such Incentive Units is pursuant to the Call Option, defer the Call Option until the date that is 18 months following such time as the Board concludes that such Cash Payment Restriction no longer exists or (II) satisfy payment of the portion of the cash payment so prohibited, to the extent such payment is not prohibited, by Partnership’s delivery of a junior subordinated promissory note from Parent (which shall be subordinated and subject in right of payment to the prior payment of any debt outstanding under the senior Financing Agreements and any modifications, renewals, extensions, replacements and refunding of all such indebtedness) of Parent (a “Junior Subordinated Note”) in a principal amount equal to the balance of the purchase price, payable within 90 days following the date that is 12 months following such time as the Board concludes that a Cash Payment Restriction no longer exists), and bearing interest payable (and compounded to the extent not so paid) as of the last day of each year at the “prime rate” (as published for JPMorgan Chase Bank, from time to time), and all such accrued and unpaid interest payable on the date of the payment of principal (or, if applicable, the last installment of principal), with payments to be applied in the order of: first to any enforcement costs incurred by Participant or Participant’s Group, second to interest and third to principal. Partnership shall have the rights set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 5.2 whether or not Participant or any member of Participant’s Group is selling such Incentive Units even if Participant’s Group is not an obligor of Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries. The principal of, and accrued interest on, any such Junior Subordinated Note may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time at the option of Partnership; provided, that upon a Change of Control or an initial public offering of Parent, the principal of, and accrued interest on, any Junior Subordinated Note shall become immediately due and payable. To the extent that Parent is restricted from paying accrued interest that is required to be paid on any Junior Subordinated Note prior to maturity, due to the existence of any Cash Payment Restriction, such interest shall be cumulated, compounded annually, and accrued until and to the extent that such Cash Payment Restriction no longer exists, at which time such accrued interest shall be immediately paid. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, Partnership may elect to pay the purchase price hereunder in shares or other equity securities of one of Parent’s direct or indirect Subsidiaries with a fair market value equal to the applicable purchase price; provided, that such Subsidiary redeems such shares or other equity securities as soon as reasonably practicable for cash equal to the applicable purchase price or a Junior Subordinated Note with a principal amount equal to the applicable purchase price.

5.3 Repayment of Proceeds. If (a) Participant’s employment or service, as applicable, is terminated by Parent or its Subsidiaries for Cause, (b) Parent or any of its Subsidiaries discovers following Participant’s termination of employment or service, as applicable, that grounds for a termination for Cause existed at the time of such termination, or (c)(i) a Restrictive Covenant Violation of any restrictive covenant contained in Section 1 of Appendix A occurs or (ii) a Restrictive Covenant Violation of any restrictive covenant contained in Section 2 or Section 3 of Appendix A occurs within two years following the Termination Date, then Participant shall be required, in addition to any other remedy available (on a non-exclusive basis), to pay to Parent or Partnership, as applicable, within 10 Business Days following Parent’s or Partnership’s request to Participant therefor, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the sum of (x) the value of Participant’s Incentive Units (to the extent then held by Participant’s Group) and (y) the aggregate after-tax proceeds (taking into account all amounts of tax that would be recoverable upon a claim of loss for payment of such proceeds in the year of repayment) Participant or any of Participant’s Permitted Transferees received upon the sale or other disposition of, or distributions in respect of, Participant’s Incentive Units over (B) the aggregate Cost of such Incentive Units. Any references in this Section 5.3(b) to grounds existing for a termination with Cause shall be determined without regard to any cure period or other procedural delay or event required prior to a finding of, or termination for, Cause.

 

4


6. Parent Purchases. In the event that any Incentive Units are purchased by Partnership pursuant to the applicable terms of this Agreement, an equal number of Class B Units of Parent held by Partnership shall automatically and simultaneously be purchased by Parent on the same terms unless otherwise determined by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, purchases under this Agreement may, in the sole and absolute discretion of the Managing Member, be effected by (a) causing Partnership to redeem the relevant Incentive Units of Partnership in exchange for the corresponding Class B Units of Parent that are held by Partnership and (b) following the redemption in clause (a), Parent purchasing such Class B Units from the relevant holder pursuant to the applicable terms of this Agreement (including, as applicable, the Partnership LP Agreement, Parent LP Agreement and Securityholders Agreement).

7. Restrictive Covenants (Appendix A). Participant acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of Parent and its Subsidiaries and accordingly agrees, in consideration of the receipt of Incentive Units hereunder, in Participant’s capacity as an indirect equity holder in Parent and its Subsidiaries, to the provisions of Appendix A to this Agreement. Participant acknowledges and agrees that remedies of Partnership, Parent and their Subsidiaries at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of Appendix A would be inadequate, and Partnership, Parent and its Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates may suffer irreparable damages as a result of such breach or threatened breach by Participant, regardless of whether Participant then holds Incentive Units. In recognition of this fact, Participant agrees that, in addition to any remedies at law, (a) in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, Partnership, Parent, Sponsor and their Affiliates shall be entitled to cease making any payments or providing any payments or providing any benefit otherwise required by this Agreement and (b) in the event of such a breach, Partnership, Parent and their Affiliates, without posting any bond, shall be entitled to obtain equitable relief (to the extent ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction) in the form of specific performance, temporary restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available.

8. Miscellaneous.

8.1 Transfers. The Incentive Units may only be transferred if permitted by the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders’ Agreement, and, prior to any transfer of Incentive Units to a Permitted Transferee, Participant shall deliver to Partnership a written agreement of the proposed transferee evidencing such Person’s undertaking to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and the Partnership LP Agreement and acknowledging that any corresponding Units of Parent held by Partnership are subject to the terms of the Securityholders Agreement and the Parent LP Agreement. Any transfer or attempted transfer of Incentive Units in violation of any provision of this Agreement, the Plan, the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement or the Securityholders Agreement shall be void, and Partnership shall not record such transfer on its books or treat any purported transferee of such Incentive Units as the owner of such Incentive Units for any purpose. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement or the Securityholders Agreement, no Unvested Incentive Unit shall be transferred without the prior written consent of Partnership, which may be withheld in its sole discretion.

8.2 Recapitalizations, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting Incentive Units. The provisions of this Agreement shall apply, to the full extent set forth herein with respect to Incentive Units, to any and all securities of Partnership, Parent or any successor or assign of Partnership or Parent (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued in respect of, in exchange for, or in substitution of the Incentive Units, by reason of any dividend payable in Incentive Units, issuance of Incentive Units, combination, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or otherwise.

 

5


8.3 Participant’s Employment by, or Provision of Services to, the Employer. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to obligate Partnership, Parent, the Employer or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of any of them to employ Participant in any capacity whatsoever or to prohibit or restrict any of them from changing Participant’s role from a management-level employee to a non-management level employee or terminating the employment of, or provision of services by, Participant at any time or for any reason whatsoever, with or without Cause.

8.4 Cooperation. Participant agrees to reasonably cooperate with Partnership and Parent in taking action reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

8.5 Binding Effect. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and accrue to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns; provided, that no Permitted Transferee shall derive any rights under this Agreement unless and until such Permitted Transferee has executed and delivered to Partnership a valid undertaking and becomes bound by the terms of this Agreement; provided, further, that Sponsor is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement and shall have the right to enforce the provisions hereof.

8.6 Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument signed by the parties hereto. No waiver by any party hereto of any of the provisions hereof shall be effective unless set forth in a writing executed by the party so waiving.

8.7 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed therein (except that the provisions of Section 1 of Appendix A shall be governed by the law of the state where Participant is principally employed by, or providing services to, Parent or its Subsidiaries or, if Participant and Parent or its Subsidiaries are party to an Employment Agreement, the law of the state that governs such Employment Agreement). Any suit, action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, or any judgment entered by any court in respect of any thereof, shall be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware, and each of Partnership, Parent, Participant and the members of Participant’s Group hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such court for the purpose of any such suit, action, proceeding or judgment. Each of Participant, the members of Participant’s Group, Partnership and Parent hereby irrevocably waives (a) any objections which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware, (b) any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in any inconvenient forum and (c) any right to a jury trial.

8.8 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or overnight courier or three postal delivery days after it has been mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses set forth below in this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

(a) If to Partnership:

Buzz Management Aggregator L.P.

c/o The Blackstone Group Inc.

345 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10154

  Attention:

Martin Brand

 

6


Jon Korngold

  Email:

[email address]

[email address]

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

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

  Attention:

Anthony Vernace

Gregory T. Grogan

  Email:

[email address]

[email address]

with a copy to:

Buzz Holdings L.P.

1105 W. 41st Street, Suite A

Austin, TX 78756

  Attention:

General Counsel

(b) If to Parent:

Buzz Holdings L.P.

c/o The Blackstone Group Inc.

345 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10154

  Attention:

Martin Brand

Jon Korngold

  Email:

[email address]

[email address]

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

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

  Attention:

Anthony Vernace

Gregory T. Grogan

  Email:

[email address]

[email address]

with a copy to:

Buzz Management Aggregator L.P.

1105 W. 41st Street, Suite A

Austin, TX 78756

  Attention:

General Counsel

 

7


(c) If to Participant:

To the most recent address of Participant set forth in the personnel records of Parent.

8.9 Integration. This Agreement and the documents referred to herein or delivered pursuant hereto which form a part hereof, including without limitation, the Plan, the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders’ Agreement, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof; provided, that if Partnership, Parent, the Employer, or any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates from time to time is or becomes a beneficiary under one or more other confidentiality, nondisclosure, non-competition, non-solicitation, intellectual property or non-disparagement provisions applicable to Participant under a written agreement, policy and/or plan, such other agreement(s), policy(ies) and/or plan(s) shall remain in full force and effect and continue in addition to this Agreement. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings with respect to the subject matter hereof other than those expressly set forth herein and therein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter, subject to the proviso in the first sentence of this Section.

8.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, and by different parties on separate counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original copy and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument, binding on all parties hereto.

8.11 Injunctive Relief. Participant and Participant’s Permitted Transferees each acknowledge and agree that a violation of any of the terms of this Agreement will cause Partnership, Parent and its Subsidiaries irreparable injury for which adequate remedy at law is not available. Accordingly, it is agreed that Partnership, Parent and/or the applicable Subsidiaries shall be entitled to an injunction, restraining order or other equitable relief (to the extent ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction) to prevent breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States or any state thereof, in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled at law or equity.

8.12 Rights Cumulative; Waiver. The rights and remedies of Participant, Partnership and Parent under this Agreement shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which either would otherwise have hereunder or at law or in equity or by statute, and no failure or delay by either party in exercising any right or remedy shall impair any such right or remedy or operate as a waiver of such right or remedy, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any power or right preclude such party’s other or further exercise or the exercise of any other power or right. The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach and no failure by either party to exercise any right or privilege hereunder shall be deemed a waiver of such party’s rights or privileges hereunder or shall be deemed a waiver of such party’s rights to exercise the same at any subsequent time or times hereunder.

8.13 Joinder to the Partnership LP Agreement, Parent LP Agreement and Securityholders Agreement. By executing and delivering this Agreement, Participant hereby adopts and approves the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders Agreement and agrees, effective commencing on the date on which Participant first becomes the owner of any Incentive Units or otherwise holds any interests of Partnership in accordance with this Agreement, the Plan, the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders Agreement, to be bound by, and to comply with, the provisions of the Partnership LP Agreement as a Member and the provisions of the Securityholders Agreement as a “Securityholder” in the same manner as if Participant were an original signatory to each such agreement; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent Participant does not directly hold Class B Units of Parent, Participant will not be a “Member” under the Parent LP

 

8


Agreement or a “Securityholder” under the Securityholders Agreement, but Participant acknowledges that any Class B Units of Parent held by Partnership that correspond with Participant’s Incentive Units will be subject to the terms of the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders Agreement to which Partnership has become a party by executing and delivering this Agreement (or another Incentive Unit Award Agreement if executed and delivered prior to the date hereof).

 

 

9


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Incentive Unit Award Agreement as of ________________, 20__. By executing the Signature Page, the parties also are agreeing to be bound by the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders Agreement, effective as of the Closing Date.

 

BUZZ MANAGEMENT AGGREGATOR L.P.
 

 

By:  
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

 

[Signature Page to Incentive Unit Award Agreement]


PARTICIPANT

 

Name:

 

 

 

Address

 

Email address
Please check the appropriate box:
  Participant is an “accredited investor”1 within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
  Participant is not an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Number of Class B Units

Closing Date

Vesting Reference Date

Base Price

 

1

You are an “accredited investor” if you meet any of the following tests:

 

  1.

You are a director or executive officer of Parent;

 

  2.

You have an individual net worth, or joint net worth with your spouse, at the time of your purchase exceeding $1,000,000. For purposes of this item, “net worth” means the excess of total assets at fair market value, including automobiles and other personal property but excluding the value of the primary residence of such natural person (and including property owned by a spouse other than the primary residence of the spouse), over total liabilities. The amount of any mortgage or other indebtedness secured by an investor’s primary residence should not be included as a “liability,” except to the extent the fair market value of the residence is less than the amount of such mortgage or other indebtedness;

 

  3.

You had individual income (excluding your spouse) in excess of $200,000 in both 2018 and 2019 and have a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in 2020; or

 

  4.

You and your spouse had joint income in excess of $300,000 in both 2018 and 2019 and have a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in 2020.

 

[Signature Page to Incentive Unit Award Agreement]


CONSENT OF SPOUSE

I, _________________, the undersigned spouse of _________________, hereby acknowledge that I have read the attached Incentive Unit Award Agreement, the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and Securityholders Agreement (collectively, the “Equity Documents”) and that I understand their contents. I am aware that the Equity Documents provide for the forfeiture of my spouse’s Class B Units (as defined in the Equity Documents and for purposes of this consent, the “Equity”) under certain circumstances and that the Equity Documents impose other restrictions on the transfer of such Equity. I agree that my spouse’s interest in the Equity is subject to the Equity Documents and any interest I may have in such Equity shall also be irrevocably bound by such Equity Documents and, further, that my community property interest in such Equity, if any, shall be similarly bound by such Equity Documents.

I am aware that the legal, financial and other matters contained in the Equity Documents are complex and I am encouraged to seek advice with respect thereto from independent legal and/or financial counsel. I have either sought such advice or determined after carefully reviewing the Equity Documents that I hereby waive such right.

Acknowledged and agreed this ___ day of _____ 20__.

 

Spouse:
Name:  

 

Address:  

 

 

Signature:  

 

Witness:
Name:  

 

Address:  

 

 

Signature:  

 


Schedule A

Vesting of Incentive Units

All Incentive Units initially shall be Unvested Incentive Units upon the Closing Date.

Time-Vesting Incentive Units

60% of the Incentive Units granted hereunder (the “Time-Vesting Incentive Units”) shall become Vested Incentive Units as to 20% of such Time-Vesting Incentive Units on each of the first five anniversaries of the Vesting Reference Date (as set forth on the Signature Page), subject to Participant’s continued employment or service through each applicable vesting date.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Participant’s employment or service, as applicable, is terminated without Cause by the Employer or its then-Affiliates in the two-year period following a Change of Control, then all then-outstanding Time-Vesting Incentive Units (or substitute equity or consideration of purchaser or its Affiliates, as applicable) shall vest upon the Termination Date.

Upon any Termination Date, (i) all outstanding Time-Vesting Incentive Units that are Unvested Incentive Units (after taking into account any accelerated vesting in accordance with the preceding paragraph, if applicable) will be forfeited (provided, that if Participant’s employment or service, as applicable, is terminated by Parent or its Subsidiaries for Cause (or Participant resigns while grounds for Cause exist), all Vested Incentive Units shall also be forfeited or, to the extent such Vested Incentive Units are not able to be forfeited under applicable law, subject to the Call Option pursuant to Section 4 of the Agreement) and (ii) all Vested Incentive Units will be subject to the Call Option pursuant to Section 4 of the Agreement.

Performance-Vesting Incentive Units

40% of the Incentive Units granted hereunder (the “Performance-Vesting Incentive Units”) shall become Vested Incentive Units at such time, prior to a Termination Date that Sponsor and its Affiliates shall have received cash proceeds (excluding tax distributions (as defined in the Parent LP Agreement) to Sponsor up to Sponsor’s pro rata share of Parent’s net taxable income multiplied by a 30% combined U.S. federal and state tax rate) in respect of Sponsor’s investment in Class A Units held from time to time by Sponsor in an amount necessary to ensure both (x) a specified return on Sponsor’s cumulative Capital Contributions (the “MOIC Hurdle”) and (y) a specified annual internal rate of return on Sponsor’s cumulative Capital Contributions (the “IRR Hurdle”), as follows:

 

Portion of

Performance-Vesting

Incentive Units

   MOIC Hurdle      IRR Hurdle  

33.3%

     2.5x MOIC        17.5% IRR  

33.3%

     3.0x MOIC        17.5% IRR  

33.4%

     3.5x MOIC        17.5% IRR  

For purposes of determining whether the applicable MOIC Hurdle and/or IRR Hurdle has been satisfied, as applicable:

 

   

MOIC calculations shall exclude any amount invested by Sponsor for the purpose of reducing MOIC (and not for any bona fide business purpose) and any returns thereon; and

 

Schedule A-1


   

For purposes of calculating MOIC and IRR, any portion of Sponsor’s investment that is Transferred pursuant to a Post-Closing Syndication shall not be treated as a Capital Contribution (i.e., any portion of such investment will be treated as never having been invested by Sponsor and the investment and any associated return shall be disregarded).

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Performance-Vesting Incentive Units that would not become Vested Incentive Units upon the occurrence of such Change of Control shall be forfeited immediately prior to the occurrence of such Change of Control.

Upon the Termination Date, all Performance-Vesting Incentive Units that are Unvested Incentive Units will be forfeited (provided, that if Participant’s employment or service, as applicable, is terminated by Parent or its Subsidiaries for Cause (or Participant resigns while grounds for Cause exist), all Vested Incentive Units shall also be forfeited, or, to the extent such Vested Incentive Units are not able to be forfeited under applicable law, subject to the Call Option pursuant to Section 4 of the Agreement) and Vested Incentive Units will be subject to the Call Option pursuant to Section 4 of the Agreement.

 

Schedule A-2


Exhibit I

Definitions

Agreement. The term “Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preface.

Base Price. The term “Base Price,” when used in reference to a Class B Unit, such Class B Unit’s Deemed Unit Price.

Cause. The term “Cause” means (i) any breach by Participant of any of Participant’s obligations under any applicable employment or service, agreement, this Agreement (including, without limitation, a Restrictive Covenant Violation), the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement or the Securityholders Agreement; (ii) the continued failure or refusal of Participant to substantially perform the duties reasonably required of Participant as an employee or other service provider of Parent or its Subsidiaries; (iii) Participant’s commission or conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to (1) a felony or (2) a crime involving fraud or moral turpitude (or any other crime relating to Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries which would reasonable be expected to be materially injurious to Aggregate, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries; (iv) Participant’s theft, dishonesty or other misconduct that would reasonably be expected to be injurious to Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries); (v) Participant’s unauthorized use, misappropriation, destruction or diversion of any tangible or intangible asset of Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, Participant’s unauthorized use or disclosure of Confidential Information (as defined in Exhibit III) or other confidential or proprietary information) that would reasonably be expected to be injurious to Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries; (vi) unlawful use (including being under the influence) or possession of illegal drugs or alcohol on the premises of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or while performing the Participant’s duties and responsibilities as an employee, agent or service provider of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries; or (vii) any act(s) constituting employment discrimination or sexual harassment.

Closing. The term “Closing” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

Closing Date. The term “Closing Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

Code. The term “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

Competing Business. The term “Competing Business” shall mean any business activities involving in any way (i) the business of online, web-based or mobile-based applications established, operated or used for the purposes of (A) “meeting” or “connecting” functionality enabling users to communicate with both known and previously unknown third parties, including, without limitation, professional networking; or (B) matchmaking for dating or romance; or (ii) any line of business in which any member of the Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (collectively, the “Company Group”) had demonstrable plans to engage while Participant was employed by, or providing services to, the Company Group and of which Participant was aware.

Cost. The term “Cost” shall mean the amount paid by Participant per Incentive Unit on the Closing Date, if any, as proportionately adjusted for all subsequent distributions of Incentive Units and other recapitalizations, and reduced by the amount of any distributions made with respect to the Incentive Units pursuant to Partnership’s organizational documents, as applicable; provided, that “Cost” may not be less than zero.

 

Exhibit I-1


Disability. The term “Disability” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Participant’s Employment Agreement, and if not so defined therein, or if no such Employment Agreement exists, “Disability” shall mean, as determined by Parent in good faith, Participant’s inability and failure to substantially render the services to be provided by Participant to Parent and its Subsidiaries for a period of at least 180 days out of any consecutive 360 days due to a mental or physical condition.

Employee and Employment. The term “employee” shall mean, without any inference as to negate Participant’s status as a Member of Partnership or of Parent, if applicable, for all purposes hereunder (subject to the terms hereof) and for federal and other tax purposes, any employee (as defined in accordance with the regulations and revenue rulings then applicable under Section 3401(c) of the Code) of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, and the term “employment” shall include service as a part- or full-time employee of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or member of the board of Parent or its Affiliates.

Fair Market Value. The term “Fair Market Value” shall mean, when used in connection with the value of Class A Units or Class B Units, (i) if there is a public market for equity of Partnership on the applicable date, the value for the Class A Units or Class B Units shall be implied by the average of the high and low closing bid prices of such equity during the immediately preceding 10 trading days on the stock exchange on which the equity is principally trading or (ii) if there is no public market for the equity on such date, the value for the Class A Units or Class B Units shall be determined by the General Partner in good faith (it being understood that the value of the Class A Units or Class B Units shall be determined based on an equity valuation of the Partnership (defined as the price in cash that a willing buyer not affiliated with the seller and under no compulsion to buy would pay in an arms-length purchase from a willing seller not affiliated with the buyer under no compulsion to sell), which could then be converted formulaically into a fair market value for the Class A Units or Class B Units in accordance with Section 4.5 and Section 5.2 of the Parent LP Agreement). Fair Market Value shall be determined assuming that there is no discount attributable to such security because of either (A) the existence of one or more large or controlling Partners or any minority discount, (B) the terms and conditions of this Agreement applicable to such Class A Units or Class B Units at such time (other than application of Section 4.5 and Section 5.2 of the Parent LP Agreement) or (C) the fact that the Class A Units or Class B Units may be illiquid.

Financing Default. The term “Financing Default” shall mean an event which would constitute (or with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute) an event of default under any of the financing documents of Parent or its Affiliates from time to time (collectively, the “Financing Agreements”) and any restrictive financial covenants contained in the organizational documents of Partnership, Parent or their respective Affiliates.

Parent LP Agreement. The term “Parent LP Agreement” shall mean the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Parent, dated as of January 29, 2020 as may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Participant. The term “Participant” shall have the meaning set forth in the preface.

Participant’s Group. The term “Participant’s Group” shall mean Participant and Participant’s Permitted Transferees.

Partnership LP Agreement. The term “Partnership LP Agreement” shall mean the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Partnership, dated as of January 29, 2020, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Permitted Transferee. The term “Permitted Transferee” means any Person to whom Participant transfers Incentive Units in accordance with the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders Agreement (other than Partnership, Parent, the Blackstone Members and their respective Affiliates and except for transfers pursuant to a Public Offering).

 

Exhibit I-2


Plan. The term “Plan” shall mean the Buzz Management Aggregator L.P. Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and/or restated from time to time.

Public Offering. The term “Public Offering” shall have the meaning set forth in the Parent LP Agreement.

Restrictive Covenant Violation. The term “Restrictive Covenant Violation” shall mean Participant’s breach of any provision of Appendix A hereto or any similar corresponding provision applicable to Participant under a written agreement between Participant and Partnership, Parent or any of Parent’s Subsidiaries from time to time.

Securities Act. The term “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.

Securityholders Agreement. The term “Securityholders Agreement” shall mean the Securityholders Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2020, by and among Parent and the other parties thereto, as it may be amended or supplemented thereafter from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Sponsor. The term “Sponsor” shall mean The Blackstone Group Inc. and its Affiliates.

Termination Date. The term “Termination Date” shall mean the date upon which Participant’s employment with or service to, as applicable, Parent and its Subsidiaries is terminated for any reason (including death or Disability).

Unvested Incentive Units. The term “Unvested Incentive Units” means, with respect to Participant’s Incentive Units, the number of Incentive Units that are not Vested Incentive Units.

Vested Incentive Units. The term “Vested Incentive Units” means, with respect to Participant’s Incentive Units, the number of such Incentive Units that are vested as determined in accordance with Schedule A.

 

Exhibit I-3


Exhibit II

Representations and Warranties

1. Incentive Units Unregistered. Participant acknowledges and represents that Participant has been advised by Partnership that:

(a) the offer and sale of the Incentive Units have not been registered under the Securities Act;

(b) the Incentive Units must be held indefinitely and Participant is in a financial position to continue to bear the economic risk of the investment in the Incentive Units unless the offer and sale of such Incentive Units are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available (or as otherwise provided in the Partnership LP Agreement, Parent LP Agreement or Securityholders Agreement);

(c) there is no established market for the Incentive Units and it is not anticipated that there will be any public market for the Incentive Units in the foreseeable future;

(d) a restrictive legend in the form set forth below, or in such other form as may be determined by Partnership pursuant to the Partnership LP Agreement, shall be placed on the certificates, if any, representing the Incentive Units:

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN REPURCHASE OPTIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN AN INCENTIVE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT WITH THE ISSUER, AS AMENDED AND MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED BY THE HOLDER HEREOF AT THE ISSUER’S PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS WITHOUT CHARGE”; and

(e) a notation shall be made in the appropriate records of Partnership indicating that the Incentive Units are subject to restrictions on transfer, as provided herein, in the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and in the Securityholders Agreement, and if Partnership or Parent should at some point in the future engage the services of a securities transfer agent, appropriate stop-transfer instructions will be issued to such transfer agent with respect to the Incentive Units.

2. Additional Investment Representations. Participant represents and warrants that:

(a) Participant’s financial situation is such that Participant can afford to bear the economic risk of holding the Incentive Units for an indefinite period of time, has adequate means for providing for Participant’s current needs and personal contingencies, and can afford to suffer a complete loss of Participant’s investment in the Incentive Units;

(b) Participant’s knowledge and experience in financial and business matters are such that Participant is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment in the Incentive Units;

(c) Participant understands that the Incentive Units are a speculative investment which involves a high degree of risk of loss of Participant’s investment therein, there are substantial restrictions on the transferability of the Incentive Units and, on the Closing Date and for an indefinite period following the Closing, there will be no public market for the Incentive Units and, accordingly, it may not be possible for Participant to liquidate Participant’s investment in case of emergency, if at all;

 

Exhibit II-1


(d) the terms of this Agreement provide that if Participant ceases to be an employee or service provider of Parent or its Subsidiaries, Partnership has the right to repurchase or redeem the Incentive Units at a price which may, under certain circumstances, be less than the Fair Market Value thereof;

(e) Participant understands and has taken cognizance of all of the risk factors related to the purchase of the Incentive Units and, other than as set forth in this Agreement, the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement and the Securityholders Agreement and any other agreement or certificate delivered hereby or thereby, no representations or warranties have been made to Participant or Participant’s representatives concerning the Incentive Units or Partnership or Parent or their prospects or other matters;

(f) Participant has been given the opportunity to examine all documents and to ask questions of, and receive answers from, Partnership and its representatives concerning Partnership, Parent and its Subsidiaries, the Partnership LP Agreement, the Parent LP Agreement, the Securityholders Agreement, Partnership’s organizational documents and the terms and conditions of the purchase of the Incentive Units and to obtain any additional information which Participant deems necessary;

(g) all information which Participant has provided to Partnership and Partnership’s representatives concerning Participant and Participant’s financial position is complete and correct as of the date of this Agreement; and

(h) Participant is or is not an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act, as indicated on Participant’s Signature Page.

3. Other Representations. Participant acknowledges that Sponsor and its Affiliates may, from time to time, provide services to Parent and its Affiliates for which a fee will be paid by Parent or its Affiliates, including an annual monitoring/advisory fee and/or transaction fees.

 

Exhibit II-2


Exhibit III

FORM OF SECTION 83(b) ELECTION

ELECTION TO INCLUDE UNITS IN GROSS

INCOME PURSUANT TO SECTION 83(b) OF THE

INTERNAL REVENUE CODE

The undersigned acquired units (the “Units”) of Buzz Management Aggregator L.P. (the “Partnership”) on _____________, 20__ (the “Acquisition Date”).

The undersigned desires to make an election to have the Units taxed under the provision of Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code §83(b)”), at the time the undersigned acquired the Units.

Therefore, pursuant to Code §83(b) and Treasury Regulation §1.83-2 promulgated thereunder, the undersigned hereby makes an election, with respect to the Units (described below), to report as taxable income for calendar year 20__ the excess, if any, of the Units’ fair market value on the Acquisition Date over the acquisition price thereof.

The following information is supplied in accordance with Treasury Regulation §1.83-2(e):

The name, address and social security number of the undersigned:

[PARTICIPANT NAME]

[PARTICIPANT ADDRESS]

SSN: ____-___-_____

A description of the property with respect to which the election is being made:

_____ Class B Units in Partnership

The date on which the property was transferred: the Acquisition Date. The taxable year for which such election is made: calendar year 20__.

The restrictions to which the property is subject include the following: If the undersigned ceases to be employed by or provide services to Parent or certain affiliates of Parent under certain circumstances, all or a portion of the Units may be subject to forfeiture. The Units are also subject to transfer restrictions.

The aggregate fair market value (on a liquidation basis) on the Acquisition Date of the property with respect to which the election is being made, determined without regard to any lapse restrictions: $0

The aggregate amount paid for such property: $0

The undersigned taxpayer will file this election with the Internal Revenue Service office with which taxpayer files his or her annual income tax return not later than 30 days after the date of the transfer of the property. A copy of the election will also be furnished to the person for whom the services were performed. The undersigned is the person performing the services in connection with which the property was transferred.

A copy of this election has been furnished to Partnership and Parent pursuant to Treasury Regulations §1.83-2(e)(7).

 

Dated: __________ __, 20__  

 

  
  [PARTICIPANT NAME]   

 

Exhibit III-1


Appendix A

RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

1. Non-Solicitation; Non-Interference. Participant acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of Parent and its Affiliates and accordingly agrees as follows:

(a) During Participant’s employment or services with Parent or its Subsidiaries and until the later of (i) January 29, 2023 and (ii) the second anniversary of Participant’s Termination Date, Participant will not directly or indirectly:

(i) (A) solicit or induce any customer, supplier, licensee, or other business relation (or any actively sought prospective customer, supplier, licensee, or other business relation) of Parent or any member of the Company Group to cease doing business with, materially reduce the amount of business conducted with Parent or any member of the Company Group, interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee, or other business relation (or any actively sought prospective customer, supplier, licensee, or other business relation by such Participant) and Parent or any member of the Company Group;

(B) enter into a contractual relationship or have any business dealings with any customers with respect to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries has a direct or indirect contractual relationship; or

(C) knowingly or intentionally assist any Person in any substantive or direct way to do, or attempt to do, anything prohibited by clause (A) or (B) above; or

(ii) (A) solicit or hire, directly or indirectly, for employment, or assist others in hiring, employing, inducing, or soliciting for employment (except in the performance of Participant’s duties), any executive, management, or other personnel of Parent or any member of the Company Group (or individuals who were employed during the six-month period prior to the termination of Participant’s employment or service with Parent and its Subsidiaries); or

(B) knowingly or intentionally assist any Person in any substantive or direct way to do, or attempt to do, anything prohibited by clause (A) above; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or otherwise restrict the general solicitation for employment (including in any newspaper or magazine, over the Internet or by any search or employment agency) that is not specifically directed towards any such employees.

 

A-1


(b) If a final and non-appealable judicial determination is made that any of the provisions of this Section 1 constitutes an unreasonable or otherwise unenforceable restriction against Participant, the provisions of this Section 1 will not be rendered void but will be deemed to be modified to the minimum extent necessary to remain in force and effect for the longest period and largest geographic area that would not constitute such an unreasonable or unenforceable restriction. Moreover, notwithstanding the fact that any provision of this Section 1 is determined not to be specifically enforceable, Parent will nevertheless be entitled to recover monetary damages as a result of Participant’s breach of such provision.

(c) The period of time during which the provisions of this Section 1 shall be in effect shall be extended by the length of time during which Participant is in breach of the terms hereof.

(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 1 of Appendix A, Participant may own, directly or indirectly, up to two percent of any class of “publicly-traded securities” of any Person.

(e) The provisions of Section 1 hereof shall survive the termination of Participant’s employment or services for any reason.

2. Confidentiality; Intellectual Property.

(a) Confidentiality.

(i) Participant acknowledges that the Confidential Information (as defined below) obtained by Participant while employed by or providing services to Parent and its Subsidiaries is the property of the Company Group. Therefore, Participant agrees that Participant shall not disclose to any unauthorized Person or use for Participant’s own purposes any Confidential Information without the prior written consent of Parent, unless and to the extent that the aforementioned matters become generally known to and available for use by the public other than as a result of Participant’s acts or omissions in violation of this Agreement; provided, that if Participant receives a request to disclose Confidential Information pursuant to a deposition, interrogation, request for information or documents in legal proceedings, subpoena, civil investigative demand, governmental or regulatory process, or similar process, (A) Participant shall, to the extent practicable and not prohibited by law, notify Parent promptly, and consult with and assist (to the extent practicable and not prohibited by law) Parent, at Parent’s expense, in seeking a protective order, (B) in the event that such protective order is not obtained, or if Parent waives compliance with the terms hereof, Participant shall disclose only that portion of the Confidential Information which, based on the advice of Participant’s legal counsel, is legally required to be disclosed and shall exercise reasonable best efforts to provide that the receiving Person shall agree to treat such Confidential Information as confidential to the extent possible (and permitted under applicable law) in respect of the applicable proceeding or process, and (C) Parent shall be given an opportunity to review the Confidential Information prior to disclosure thereof.

(ii) For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means information, observations, and data concerning the business or affairs of Parent and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, including, without limitation, all business information (in any form or medium, including text, digital or electronic) that relates to any member of the Company Group, or its customers, suppliers, or contractors or any other third parties in respect of which Parent or any member of the Company Group has a business relationship or owes a duty of confidentiality, or their respective businesses or products, and that is not known to the public generally other than as a result of Participant’s breach of this Agreement or as a result of a breach of any

 

A-2


confidentiality obligation or other wrongful act by a third party of which Participant has knowledge, including but not limited to, technical information or reports, formulas, trade secrets, unwritten knowledge and “know-how,” operating instructions, training manuals, customer lists, customer buying records and habits, product sales records and documents, and product development, marketing, and sales strategies, market surveys, marketing plans, profitability analyses, product cost, long-range plans, information relating to pricing, competitive strategies, and new product development, information relating to any forms of compensation or other personnel-related information, contracts, and supplier lists (in any form or medium, tangible or intangible). Confidential Information will not include such information known to Participant prior to Participant’s involvement with Parent or any predecessor thereof, information rightfully obtained from a third party (other than pursuant to a breach by Participant of this Agreement or as a result of a breach of any confidentiality obligation or other wrongful act by a third party of which Participant has knowledge) or information independently developed by Participant without violation of this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, Participant and Parent each agree, to the extent not prohibited, to keep confidential the existence of, and any information concerning, any dispute between Participant and Parent or any member of the Company Group, except that Participant and Parent each may disclose information concerning such dispute to the court that is considering such dispute or to their respective legal counsel (provided that such legal counsel agrees not to disclose any such information other than as reasonable to the prosecution or defense of such dispute).

(iii) Participant acknowledges that all notes, memoranda, specifications, devices, formulas, records, files, lists, drawings, documents, models, equipment, property, computer, software, or intellectual property relating to the businesses of the Company Group, in whatever form (including electronic), and all copies thereof, that are received or created by Participant while an employee or service provider of Parent and its Subsidiaries that constitute Confidential Information and Inventions shall remain the property of the Company Group, and Participant shall as promptly as practicable return such property to Parent upon the termination of Participant’s employment or service and, in any event, at Parent’s request. Participant agrees further that any property situated on the premises of, and owned by, Parent or any member of the Company Group, including disks and other storage media, filing cabinets, and other work areas, is subject to inspection by Parent’s personnel at any time with or without notice.

(iv) Participant agrees further that Participant will not improperly use or disclose any confidential information or trade secrets, if any, of any former employers or any other Person to whom Participant has an obligation of confidentiality, and will not bring onto the premises of Parent or any member of the Company Group any unpublished documents or any property belonging to any former employer or any other Person to whom Participant has an obligation of confidentiality unless consented to in writing by the former employer or other Person.

(v) Pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, nothing in this Agreement, including but not limited to the Confidentiality provisions in this Section 1 and the Non-Disparagement provisions in Section 3, shall prohibit or impede Participant from communicating, cooperating or filing a complaint on possible violations of U.S. federal, state or local law or regulation to or with any governmental agency or regulatory authority (collectively, a “Governmental Entity”), including, but not limited to, the SEC, EEOC, OSHA, or the NLRB, or from making other disclosures to any Governmental Entity that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of U.S. federal, state or local law or regulation, provided that in each case such communications and disclosures are consistent with applicable law. Participant understands and acknowledges that (a) Participant shall not be held criminally or civilly liable

 

A-3


under any U.S. federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made (i) in confidence to a U.S. federal, state, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (ii) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal, and (b) if Participant files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law, Participant may disclose the trade secret to Participant’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if Participant (x) files any document containing the trade secret under seal and (y) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order. Moreover, Participant shall not be required to give prior notice to (or get prior authorization from) any member of the Company Group regarding any such communication or disclosure. Except as required by applicable law, under no circumstance is Participant authorized to disclose any information covered by Parent’s or its Affiliates’ attorney-client privilege or attorney work product or Parent’s or its Affiliates’ trade secrets without prior written consent of the General Partner.

(b) Intellectual Property.

(i) Participant agrees that the results and proceeds of Participant’s services for the Company Group (including, but not limited to, any Confidential Information and other trade secrets, products, services, processes, know-how, designs, developments, innovations, analyses, drawings, reports, techniques, formulas, methods, developmental or experimental work, improvements, discoveries, inventions, concepts, ideas, source and object codes, programs, software, algorithms, techniques, intellectual property, improvements, matters of a literary, musical, dramatic, or otherwise creative nature, writings, and other works of authorship) resulting from services performed while an employee or service provider of Parent and any works in progress, whether or not patentable or registrable under patent, trademark, copyright or similar statutes, that were made, developed, conceived, or reduced to practice or learned by Participant, either alone or jointly with others (collectively, “Inventions”), shall be works-made-for-hire, and Parent (or, if applicable or as directed by Parent, any member of the Company Group) shall be deemed the sole owner throughout the universe of any and all trade secret, patent, copyright, and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “Proprietary Rights”) of whatsoever nature therein, whether or not now or hereafter known, existing, contemplated, recognized, or developed, with the right to use the same in perpetuity in any manner Parent determines in its sole discretion, without any further payment to Participant whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, for any reason, any of such results and proceeds shall not legally be a work-made-for-hire or there are any Proprietary Rights that do not accrue to Parent (or, as the case may be, any member of the Company Group) under the immediately preceding sentence, then Participant hereby irrevocably assigns, transfers and conveys and agrees to so assign, transfer and convey any and all of Participant’s right, title, and interest thereto, including any and all Proprietary Rights of whatsoever nature therein, whether or not now or hereafter known, existing, contemplated, recognized, or developed, to Parent (or, if applicable or as directed by Parent, any member of the Company Group), and Parent or such member of the Company Group shall have the right to use the same in perpetuity throughout the universe in any manner determined by Parent or such member of the Company Group without any further payment to Participant whatsoever. As to any Invention that Participant is required to assign, transfer or convey, Participant shall promptly and fully disclose to Parent all information known to Participant concerning such Invention.

(ii) Participant agrees that, from time to time, as may be requested by Parent and at Parent’s sole cost and expense, Participant shall do any and all things that Parent may reasonably deem useful or desirable to establish or document Parent’s exclusive ownership throughout the United States of America or any other country of any and all Proprietary Rights in

 

A-4


any such Inventions, including the execution of appropriate copyright or patent applications or assignments. To the extent that Participant has any Proprietary Rights in the Inventions that cannot be assigned in the manner described above, Participant unconditionally and irrevocably waives the enforcement of such Proprietary Rights. This Section 2(b)(ii) is subject to and shall not be deemed to limit, restrict, or constitute any waiver by Parent of ownership of any Proprietary Rights to which Parent may be entitled by operation of law by virtue of Parent’s being Participant’s employer or service recipient. Participant agrees further that, from time to time, as may be requested by Parent and at Parent’s sole cost and expense, Participant shall assist Parent in every reasonable, proper and lawful way to obtain and from time to time enforce Proprietary Rights relating to Inventions in any and all countries. To this end, Participant shall execute, verify, and deliver such documents and perform such other acts (including appearances as a witness) as Parent may reasonably request for use in applying for, obtaining, perfecting, evidencing, sustaining, and enforcing such Proprietary Rights and the assignment thereof. In addition, Participant shall execute, verify, and deliver assignments of such Proprietary Rights to Parent or its designees. Participant’s obligation to assist Parent with respect to Proprietary Rights relating to such Inventions in any and all countries shall continue beyond the termination of Participant’s employment with or services to Parent. Participant hereby designates and appoints Parent and its designees as Participant’s agent and attorney-in-fact, to act for and in Participant’s behalf and stead to execute and file documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts in connection with the foregoing to the extent Participant is unable or unwilling to do so. This power of attorney is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable. Participant shall not take any actions inconsistent with the Company Group’s ownership rights set forth in this Section 2, including by filing to register any Inventions in Participant’s own name.

(iii) Participant hereby assigns and agrees to assign all rights of attribution, paternity, integrity, modification, disclosure and withdrawal, and any other rights throughout the world that may be known as or referred to as “moral rights,” “artist’s rights,” “droit moral,” or the like (collectively, “Moral Rights”) related to any Inventions. To the extent that Moral Rights cannot be assigned under applicable law, Participant hereby waives and agrees not to enforce any and all such Moral Rights, including, without limitation, any limitation on subsequent modification, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law.

(iv) Participant hereby waives and quitclaims to the Company Group any and all claims, of any nature whatsoever, that Participant now or may hereafter have for infringement of any Proprietary Rights assigned hereunder to the Company Group.

(v) Participant has listed on the attached Appendix A-1 Inventions that are owned by Participant, in whole or jointly with others prior to Participant’s employment with, or service to, Parent and its Subsidiaries (collectively “Prior Works”). Participant shall not use any Prior Works during Participant’s employment with, or service to, Parent and its Subsidiaries, without prior written consent of Parent. If, during Participant’s employment or service with the Company Group, Participant uses or incorporates into any Company Group product, service or process any Prior Work (or any portion of a Prior Work), in any manner whatsoever, Participant grants Parent a perpetual (or the maximum time period allowed by applicable law), sublicensable, assignable, royalty-free right and worldwide license to use, modify, reproduce, reduce to practice, market, distribute, communicate and/or sell such Prior Work or portion of such Prior Work used by Participant in such Company Group product, service or process.

 

A-5


3. Non-Disparagement. Participant shall not, whether in writing (electronically or otherwise) or orally, malign, denigrate, or disparage Parent, any other member of the Company Group, or any of their respective predecessors or successors, or any of their respective current or former directors, officers, employees, shareholders, partners, members, agents, or representatives, with respect to any of their respective past or present activities, or otherwise publish (whether in writing (electronically or otherwise) or orally) statements that tend to portray any of the aforementioned parties in an unfavorable light.

 

A-6


Schedule A-1

Prior Works

The following is a list of all Prior Works that are owned by Participant, in whole or jointly with others prior to Participant’s employment with the Company Group:

 

Title

  

Date

  

Description (including any registration or
application numbers)

Except as indicated above on this List (and on any supporting sheets as indicated below), Participant has no Prior Works to disclose pursuant to this Agreement.

Please send any supporting sheets to [email address].

 

PARTICIPANT

 

Date:                                                                                       

Exhibit 10.30

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

This SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), by and between Buzz Management Aggregator L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”) and the individual named on the signature page hereto (the “Participant”), is made as of the date set forth on the signature page hereto (the “Signature Page”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in Annex I hereto. All references herein to “dollars” or “$” are to United States dollars. The parties to this Agreement are sometimes referred to herein together as the “Parties” and individually as a “Party”.

WHEREAS, the Participant desires to invest cash in the Partnership in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership to the Participant of a number of Class A Units of the Partnership;

WHEREAS, upon the issuance of Class A Units of the Partnership to the Participant pursuant to this Agreement, Buzz Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Parent”) will automatically issue a corresponding number of Class A Units of Parent to the Partnership;

WHEREAS, this Agreement is one of several agreements being entered into by the Partnership with certain persons who are or will be directors or key employees or advisors of the Partnership or one or more Subsidiaries as part of a management equity purchase plan designed to comply with Regulation D or Rule 701, as applicable, promulgated under the Securities Act; and

WHEREAS, the Parties hereto desire to make certain agreements, representations, warranties and covenants in connection with the contributions contemplated by this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in order to implement the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, the Parties agree as follows:

1. Subscription for Capital Interests.

1.1. Investment. At the Closing, the Partnership shall issue to the Participant the number of Class A Units of the Partnership set forth on the Signature Page hereto (the “Subscribed Units”) in exchange for the payment to the Partnership of $1,000,000.00 (the “Investment Amount”) by the Participant (the “Investment”).

1.2. Governing Documents. The Participant shall deliver to the Partnership complete copies of the (a) if applicable, the Consent of Spouse attached hereto as Exhibit A, duly executed by the Participant’s spouse, and (b) such other definitive documentation as is reasonably requested by the Partnership.

1.3. Closing. The closing (the “Closing”) of the issuance of the Subscribed Units hereunder shall take place on the date on which, unless otherwise agreed between the Partnership and the Participant in writing, the execution and delivery of this Agreement occurs (such date of the Closing, the “Closing Date”); provided, that the contribution, delivery and payment of the Investment Amount is made by the Participant to the Partnership within thirty (30) calendar days


following the Closing Date. If the Participant fails to deliver the Investment Amount in accordance with the foregoing, unless otherwise agreed between the Partnership and the Participant in writing, the Participant shall forfeit the Subscribed Units upon the expiration of such thirty (30)-calendar day period with no consideration therefor.

1.4. Closing Condition. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Partnership shall be under no obligation to issue and sell to the Participant any Class A Units of the Partnership unless (a) the Participant is an employee of, or consultant to, Parent or one of its Subsidiaries on the Closing Date; (b) the representations of the Participant contained in Annex II are true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date; and (c) the Participant is not in breach of any agreement, obligation or covenant herein required to be performed or observed by the Participant on or prior to the Closing Date.

2. Certain Sales Upon Termination of Employment or Service.

2.1. Call Option.

(a) If (i) the Participant’s employment with or service to the Employer is terminated by Employer for Cause, (ii) the Participant voluntarily resigns the Participant’s employment with or services, as applicable, to the Employer when grounds for Cause exist, or (iii) a Restrictive Covenant Violation occurs, the Partnership shall have the right, for 12 months following, as applicable, each of (x) the Termination Date or (y) the date of such Restrictive Covenant Violation (or, if later, the date on which the General Partner has actual knowledge thereof), to purchase (together with the rights in Sections 2.1(b) and 2.1(c), the “Call Option”), and each member of the Participant’s Group shall be required to sell to the Partnership, all or any portion of the Subscribed Units then held by such member of the Participant’s Group at a purchase price per Subscribed Unit equal to the lesser of (1) Fair Market Value (measured as of the date of the election to purchase such units is delivered, the “Repurchase Notice Date”) and (2) Cost; provided, that such purchase price shall not be less than zero.

(b) If the Participant’s employment with or service to, as applicable, Parent and its Subsidiaries terminates for any reason other than as provided for in Section 2.1(a), the Partnership shall have the right, for 12 months following the Termination Date, to purchase, and each member of the Participant’s Group shall be required to sell to the Partnership, all or any portion of the Subscribed Units then held by such member of the Participant’s Group at a purchase price per Subscribed Unit equal to Fair Market Value (measured as of the Repurchase Notice Date); provided, that such purchase price shall not be less than zero.

(c) In the event that the Participant engages in a Competing Business at any time after the Participant’s Termination Date (regardless of whether such conduct constitutes a Restrictive Covenant Violation), then the Partnership shall have the right, for 12 months following the date of such engagement in a Competing Business (or, if later, the date on which the General Partner has knowledge thereof), and each member of the Participant’s Group shall be required to sell to the Partnership, all or any portion of the Subscribed Units then held by such member of the Participant’s Group at a purchase price per Subscribed Unit equal to Fair Market Value (measured as of the Repurchase Notice Date). The Partnership may elect to exercise its Call Option in Section 2.1(a) in lieu of this Section 2.1(c), to the extent applicable.

 

2


(d) If the Partnership desires to exercise the Call Option pursuant to this Section 2.1, the Partnership shall send written notice to each member of the Participant’s Group of its intention to purchase the Subscribed Units, specifying the number of Subscribed Units to be purchased and the purchase price thereof (the “Call Notice”). Subject to the provisions of Section 3, the closing of the purchase shall take place at the principal office of the Partnership on a date specified by the Partnership not later than the 30th day after the giving of the Call Notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Partnership elects not to exercise the Call Option pursuant to this Section 2.1 (or elects to exercise the Call Option with respect to less than all the Subscribed Units), the Sponsor may elect to cause one of its Affiliates or another designee to purchase such Subscribed Units on the same terms and conditions set forth in this Section 2.1 by providing written notice to each member of the Participant’s Group of its intention to purchase Subscribed Units.

2.2. Obligation to Sell Several. If there is more than one member of the Participant’s Group, the failure of any one member thereof to perform its obligations hereunder shall not excuse or affect the obligations of any other members thereof, and the closing of the purchases from such other members by the Partnership shall not excuse, or constitute a waiver of its rights against, the defaulting member.

3. Certain Payment Provisions.

3.1. Certain Limitations on the Partnerships Obligations to Purchase Subscribed Units. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Partnership shall not be obligated to purchase any Subscribed Units at any time pursuant to Section 2, regardless of whether it has delivered a Call Notice, to the extent that the purchase of such Subscribed Units or the payment to the Partnership, Parent or one of its respective Subsidiaries of a cash dividend or distribution by Parent or a Subsidiary of Parent to fund such purchase (together with any other purchases of Class A Units pursuant to Section 2 or pursuant to similar provisions in agreements with other employees, service providers or equityholders, as applicable, of Parent and its Subsidiaries of which the Partnership has at such time been given or has given notice and together with cash dividends and distributions to fund such other purchases) would result in a violation of any law, statute, rule regulation, policy, order, writ, injunction, decree or judgment promulgated or entered by any federal, state, local, foreign court or governmental authority applicable to the Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their property.

3.2. Payment for Subscribed Units. If at any time the Partnership elects to purchase any Subscribed Units pursuant to Section 2, the Partnership shall pay the purchase price for the Subscribed Units it purchases (i) first, by the cancellation of indebtedness of any kind, if any, owing from the Participant to the Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (which indebtedness shall be applied pro rata against the proceeds receivable by each member of the Participant’s Group receiving consideration in such repurchase) and (ii) then, by the Partnership’s delivery of a check or wire transfer of immediately available funds for the remainder of the purchase price, if any, against delivery of the certificates or other instruments, if any, representing the Subscribed Units so purchased, duly endorsed; provided, that if (x) any of the conditions set forth in Section 3.1 exists, (y) the Partnership has a lack of available cash to purchase such Subscribed Units, as reasonably determined in good faith by the General Partner or (z) such purchase of Subscribed Units would result in a Financing Default (either directly or indirectly as a result of the prohibition

 

3


of a related cash dividend or distribution) (each a “Cash Payment Restriction”), the Partnership may (I) if the purchase of such Subscribed Units is pursuant to the Call Option, defer the Call Option until the date that is 18 months following such time as the General Partner concludes that such Cash Payment Restriction no longer exists or (II) satisfy payment of the portion of the cash payment so prohibited, to the extent such payment is not prohibited, by the Partnership’s delivery of a junior subordinated promissory note from Parent (which shall be subordinated and subject in right of payment to the prior payment of any debt outstanding under the senior Financing Agreements and any modifications, renewals, extensions, replacements and refunding of all such indebtedness) of Parent (a “Junior Subordinated Note”) in a principal amount equal to the balance of the purchase price, payable within 90 days following the date that is 12 months following such time as the General Partner concludes that a Cash Payment Restriction no longer exists, and bearing interest payable (and compounded to the extent not so paid) as of the last day of each year at the “prime rate” (as published for JPMorgan Chase Bank, from time to time), and all such accrued and unpaid interest payable on the date of the payment of principal (or, if applicable, the last installment of principal), with payments to be applied in the order of: first to any enforcement costs incurred by the Participant or the Participant’s Group, second to interest and third to principal. The Partnership shall have the rights set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 3.2 whether or not the Participant or any member of the Participant’s Group is selling such Subscribed Units even if the Participant’s Group is not an obligor of the Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries. The principal of, and accrued interest on, any such Junior Subordinated Note may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time at the option of the Partnership; provided, that upon a Change of Control or an initial public offering of Parent, the principal of, and accrued interest on, any Junior Subordinated Note shall become immediately due and payable. To the extent that Parent is restricted from paying accrued interest that is required to be paid on any Junior Subordinated Note prior to maturity, due to the existence of any Cash Payment Restriction, such interest shall be cumulated, compounded annually, and accrued until and to the extent that such Cash Payment Restriction no longer exists, at which time such accrued interest shall be immediately paid. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, the Partnership may elect to pay the purchase price hereunder in shares or other equity securities of one of Parent’s direct or indirect Subsidiaries with a fair market value equal to the applicable purchase price; provided, that such Subsidiary redeems such shares or other equity securities as soon as reasonably practicable for cash equal to the applicable purchase price or a Junior Subordinated Note with a principal amount equal to the applicable purchase price.

3.3. Repayment of Proceeds. If (a) the Participant’s employment or service, as applicable, is terminated by the Employer for Cause, (b) Parent or Employer discovers following the Participant’s termination of employment or service, as applicable, that grounds for a termination for Cause existed at the time of such termination, or (c) a Restrictive Covenant Violation occurs, then the Participant shall be required, in addition to any other remedy available (on a non-exclusive basis), to pay to Parent or the Partnership, as applicable, within 10 business days after Parent’s or the Partnership’s request to the Participant therefor, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the sum of (x) the value of the Participant’s Subscribed Units (to the extent then held by the Participant’s Group) and (y) the aggregate after-tax proceeds (taking into account all amounts of tax that would be recoverable upon a claim of loss for payment of such proceeds in the year of repayment) the Participant or any of the Participant’s permitted transferees received upon the sale or other disposition of, or distributions in respect of, the Participant’s Subscribed Units over (B) the aggregate Cost of such Subscribed Units. Any references in this Section 3.3 to grounds existing for a termination with Cause shall be determined without regard to any cure period or other procedural delay or event required prior to a finding of, or termination with, Cause.

 

4


3.4. Parent Purchases. In the event that any Subscribed Units are purchased by the Partnership pursuant to the applicable terms of this Agreement, an equal number of Class A Units of Parent held by the Partnership shall automatically and simultaneously be purchased by Parent on the same terms unless otherwise determined by the board of directors (if any) or general partner of Parent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, purchases under this Agreement may, in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner, be effected by (a) causing the Partnership to redeem the relevant Class A Units of the Partnership in exchange for the corresponding Class A Units of Parent that are held by the Partnership and (b) following the redemption in clause (a), Parent purchasing such Class A Units from the relevant holder pursuant to the applicable terms of this Agreement (including, as applicable, the Limited Partnership Agreement).

4. Restrictive Covenants (Annex III). The Participant acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of Parent and its Subsidiaries and accordingly agrees, in the Participant’s capacity as an indirect equityholder in Parent and its Subsidiaries, to the provisions of Annex III to this Agreement. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that remedies of the Partnership, Parent and their Subsidiaries at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of Annex III would be inadequate, and the Partnership, Parent and its Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates may suffer irreparable damages as a result of such breach or threatened breach by the Participant, regardless of whether the Participant then holds Class A Units. In recognition of this fact, the Participant agrees that, in addition to any remedies at law, (a) in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, the Partnership, Parent, Sponsor and their Affiliates shall be entitled to cease making any payments or providing any payments or providing any benefit otherwise required by this Agreement and (b) in the event of such a breach, the Partnership, Parent and their Affiliates, without posting any bond, shall be entitled to obtain equitable relief in the form of specific performance, temporary restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available.

5. Miscellaneous.

5.1. Transfer Prohibited. The Participant shall not transfer the Subscribed Units except to the extent permitted under the terms of the Limited Partnership Agreement, and then only after the Participant has become a party thereto. Any transfer or attempted transfer of Subscribed Units in violation of any provision of this Agreement or the Limited Partnership Agreement shall be void, and any such purported transferee of such Subscribed Units will not be recorded on the Partnership’s books or treated as the owner of such Subscribed Units for any purpose.

5.2. Recapitalizations, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting Units. The provisions of this Agreement shall apply, to the full extent set forth herein with respect to the Subscribed Units, to any and all securities of the Partnership or any successor or assign of the Partnership (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued in respect of, in exchange for, or in substitution of Subscribed Units, by reason of any dividend or distribution payable in securities of the Partnership or of Parent, issuance of Class A Units, combination, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or otherwise.

 

5


5.3. Representations and Warranties. The Participant hereby makes to the Partnership, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, the representations and warranties set forth on Annex II. The representations and warranties set forth on Annex II shall survive the Closing.

5.4. Employment by or Service with Parent or Other Subsidiaries of Parent. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to (x) obligate the Partnership, Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent to employ or otherwise engage the services of the Participant in any capacity whatsoever or (y) prohibit or restrict the Partnership, Parent or any such Subsidiary from terminating the employment or service of the Participant at any time or for any reason whatsoever.

5.5. Cooperation. The Participant agrees to cooperate with the Partnership in taking action reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

5.6. Binding Effect. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and accrue to the benefit of the Parties and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns; provided, however, that no transferee shall derive any rights under this Agreement unless and until such transferee has executed and delivered to the Partnership a valid undertaking and becomes bound by the terms of this Agreement and the Limited Partnership Agreement; provided, further, that Parent is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement and shall have the right to enforce the provisions hereof.

5.7. Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument signed by the Parties. No waiver by either Party of any of the provisions hereof shall be effective unless set forth in a writing executed by the Party so waiving.

5.8. Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of law principles thereof. Each of the Parties irrevocably agrees that any legal action or proceeding arising out of, in connection with, or relating to this Agreement or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect hereof brought by the other Party or its successors or assigns shall be brought and determined exclusively by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or if such court will not accept jurisdiction, any federal court, or if such courts will not accept jurisdiction, any state court, in each case in the State of New York), and each of the Parties (on behalf of itself and any Person claiming by, through or on behalf of such Party) hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid court for itself and with respect to its property, generally and unconditionally, with regard to any such action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (and agrees not to commence any action, suit or proceeding relating thereto except in such courts). Each of the Parties further agrees to accept service of process in any manner permitted by such court. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion or as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (a) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts for any reason other than the failure lawfully to serve process, (b) that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such court (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise) and (c) to the fullest extent permitted by law, that (i) the suit, action or proceeding in any such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (ii) the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper or (iii) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.

 

6


5.9. Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVES THE RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY AGREEMENT CONTEMPLATED TO BE EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH, OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER VERBAL OR WRITTEN), ACTIONS OR OMISSIONS OF ANY PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OF SUCH AGREEMENTS.

5.10. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered, one business day after deposit with a reputable overnight delivery service for next business day delivery (charges prepaid), and three days after deposit in the U.S. mail (postage prepaid and return receipt requested), in each case with concurrent delivery by electronic mail (receipt confirmed), to the address set forth below or such other address as the recipient Party has previously specified to the sending Party.

(a) If to the Partnership, to:

Buzz Management Aggregator L.P.

c/o The Blackstone Group Inc.

345 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10154

Attention: Martin Brand; Jon Korngold

Email: [email address]

  [email address]

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

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017-3954

Attention: Gregory Grogan; Anthony F. Vernace

Email: [email address]

  [email address]

(b) If to the Participant, to the address and email address as shown on the books and records of the Partnership.

 

7


5.11. Integration. This Agreement and the documents referred to herein or delivered pursuant hereto which form a part hereof contain the entire understanding of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof; provided, that if the Partnership, Parent, the Employer, or any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates from time to time is or becomes a beneficiary under one or more other confidentiality, nondisclosure, non-competition, non-solicitation or non-disparagement provisions applicable to the Participant under a written agreement, policy and/or plan, such other agreement(s), policy(ies) and/or plan(s) shall remain in full force and effect and continue in addition to this Agreement. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings with respect to the subject matter hereof other than those expressly set forth herein and therein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the Parties with respect to such subject matter other than as specifically provided for herein.

5.12. Injunctive Relief; Specific Performance. Each Party and any permitted transferee each acknowledges and agrees that a violation of any of the terms of this Agreement will cause irreparable injury for which adequate remedy at law may not be available. Accordingly, it is agreed that the harmed party shall be entitled to an injunction, restraining order or other equitable relief to prevent breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled at law or equity.

5.13. Rights Cumulative; Waiver. The rights and remedies of the Participant and the Partnership under this Agreement shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which either Party would otherwise have hereunder or at law or in equity or by statute, and no failure or delay by either Party in exercising any right or remedy shall impair any such right or remedy or operate as a waiver of such right or remedy, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any power or right preclude such Party’s other or further exercise or the exercise of any other power or right. The waiver by any Party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach and no failure by either Party to exercise any right or privilege hereunder shall be deemed a waiver of such Party’s (x) rights or privileges hereunder or (y) rights to exercise the same at any subsequent time or times hereunder.

5.14. Interpretation. The article and section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring either Party because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

5.15. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.

5.16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, and by different Parties on separate counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original, but together which shall constitute one and the same instrument. Electronic forms of signatures (including e-mail, portable document format (.pdf) or similar generally accepted electronic means) shall be deemed to be originals.

 

8


5.17. Joinder to Limited Partnership Agreement. By executing and delivering this Agreement, the Participant hereby adopts and approves the Limited Partnership Agreement and agrees, effective commencing on the date the Participant first becomes the owner of any Units or otherwise holds any interests of the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement and the Limited Partnership Agreement to be bound by, and to comply with, the provisions of the Limited Partnership Agreement as an “Employee Limited Partner” in the same manner as if the Participant were an original signatory to such agreement.

[The remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]

 

9


BUZZ MANAGEMENT AGGREGATOR L.P.
By: Buzz Holdings GP L.L.C., its general partner
By:  

/s/ Whitney Wolfe Herd

  Name: Whitney Wolfe Herd
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

Date: August 1, 2020

 

[Signature Page to Subscription Agreement]


PARTICIPANT

/s/ Tariq Shaukat

Name: Tariq Shaukat
[address]
Current Address
[address]
Permanent Address

[email

address]

Email address
Please check the appropriate box:

❑  Participant is an “accredited investor”1 within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

❑  Participant is not an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                1,000,000.00             

Number of Subscribed Units

 

1

You are an “accredited investor” if you meet any of the following tests:

 

  1.

You are a director or executive officer of the Partnership;

 

  2.

You have an individual net worth, or joint net worth with your spouse, at the time of your purchase exceeding $1,000,000. For purposes of this item, “net worth” means the excess of total assets at fair market value, including automobiles and other personal property but excluding the value of the primary residence of such natural person (and including property owned by a spouse other than the primary residence of the spouse), over total liabilities. The amount of any mortgage or other indebtedness secured by an investor’s primary residence should not be included as a “liability”, except to the extent the fair market value of the residence is less than the amount of such mortgage or other indebtedness;

 

  3.

You had individual income (excluding your spouse) in excess of $200,000 in both 2018 and 2019 and have a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in 2020; or

 

  4.

You and your spouse had joint income in excess of $300,000 in both 2018 and 2019 and have a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in 2020.

 

[Signature Page to Subscription Agreement]


Exhibit A

FORM OF SPOUSAL CONSENT

I,                 , the undersigned spouse of                (the “Participant”), hereby acknowledge that I am aware that the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Buzz Management Aggregator L.P., dated as of                , 2020 (as may be amended from time to time, the “Partnership Agreement”), imposes certain transfer obligations and restrictions on my spouse’s Units (as defined in the Partnership Agreement). I agree that my spouse’s interest in the Units is subject to the Partnership Agreement and the agreements to be entered into in connection therewith and any interest I may have in such Units shall also be irrevocably bound by the Partnership Agreement and the agreements to be entered into in connection therewith and, further, that my community property interest in such Units, if any, shall be similarly bound by the Partnership Agreement and the agreements to be entered into in connection therewith.

I am aware that the legal, financial and other matters contained in the Partnership Agreement and the agreements to be entered into in connection therewith are complex and I am encouraged to seek advice with respect thereto from independent legal and/or financial counsel. I have either sought such advice or determined after carefully reviewing the Partnership Agreement and the agreements to be entered into in connection therewith that I hereby waive such right.

 

Acknowledged and agreed this 1st day of
August 2020

 

Signature of Spouse
Address of Spouse:

 

 

Telephone:                                                                                 
Facsimile:                                                                                


Annex I

Definitions

Affiliate. The term “Affiliate” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Limited Partnership Agreement.

Cause. The term “Cause” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Participant’s current written employment or service agreement, as applicable, with Parent, Employer or one of their respective Subsidiaries from time to time, as may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time by the parties thereto (the “Employment Agreement”), and if not so defined therein, or no such Employment Agreement exists, “Cause” shall mean (i) any breach by the Participant of any of the Participant’s obligations under the Employment Agreement, if applicable, or the Limited Partnership Agreement; (ii) the continued failure or refusal of the Participant to substantially perform the duties reasonably required of the Participant as an employee or other service provider of Parent or its Subsidiaries; (iii) the Participant’s commission or conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to (1) a felony or (2) a crime involving fraud or moral turpitude (or any other crime relating to the Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries which would reasonable be expected to be materially injurious to the Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries); (iv) the Participant’s theft, dishonesty or other misconduct that would reasonably be expected to be injurious to the Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries; (v) the Participant’s unauthorized use, misappropriation, destruction or diversion of any tangible or intangible asset of the Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, the Participant’s unauthorized use or disclosure of Confidential Information (as defined in Annex III) or other confidential or proprietary information) that would reasonably be expected to be injurious to the Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries; (vi) unlawful use (including being under the influence) or possession of illegal drugs on the premises of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or while performing the Participant’s duties and responsibilities as an employee, agent or service provider of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries; or (vii) any violation of any law regarding employment discrimination or sexual harassment/misconduct or any act which subjects the Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to payment or settlement of any claim on the basis of sex, age, race or other discrimination or harassment/sexual misconduct. Whether or not an event giving rise to “Cause” occurs will be determined by the General Partner in its sole discretion.

Change of Control. The term “Change of Control” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Parent LP Agreement.

Competing Business. The term “Competing Business” shall mean any business activities, including any product, service or process or the research and development thereof in (i) the business of online, web-based or mobile-based matchmaking for dating or romance, (ii) online, web-based or mobile-based interpersonal matchmaking, including but not limited to professional networking; or (iii) any line of business in which the Parent Group had demonstrable and detailed plans and intent to engage while the Participant was employed by, or providing services to, the Parent Group and of which the Participant was aware. For the avoidance of doubt, products, services, and processes relating primarily to business-to-business interactions or to the business of providing technology systems and platforms to enable communication and collaboration between people or businesses, such as general purpose video conferencing, text messaging, or email services, are not included in Competing Businesses unless the Partnership, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is engaged in providing such products, services or processes or has demonstrable and detailed plans and intent to engage in said business or to provide such products, services or processes.


Cost. The term “Cost” means the price per Subscribed Unit paid by the Participant, if any, as proportionately adjusted for all subsequent distributions of Units (other than Tax Distributions) and other recapitalizations and less the amount of any distributions made with respect to the Units pursuant to the Partnership’s organizational documents; provided, that “Cost” may not be less than zero.

Employer. The term “Employer” means the member of the Parent Group by whom the Participant is, or following the Termination Date was most recently, principally employed or providing services, as applicable, or to whom the Participant provides, or following the Termination Date was most recently providing, services, as applicable.

Fair Market Value. The term “Fair Market Value” means (i) if there is a public market for the equity of Parent on the applicable date, the value implied by the average of the high and low closing bid prices of such equity during the immediately preceding 10 trading dates on the stock exchange on which equity is principally trading or (ii) if there is no public market for the equity on such date, the value determined by the General Partner in good faith.

Financing Default. The term “Financing Default” means an event which would constitute (or with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute) an event of default under any of the financing documents of Parent or its Affiliates from time to time (collectively, the “Financing Agreements”) and/or any restrictive covenants contained in the organizational documents of the Partnership, Parent or their respective Affiliates.

General Partner. The term “General Partner” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Limited Partnership Agreement.

Limited Partnership Agreement. The term “Limited Partnership Agreement” means the Limited Partnership Agreement of Buzz Management Aggregator L.P. by and among Buzz Holdings GP L.L.C. and the other parties thereto, dated as of January 29, 2020, as may be amended from time to time.

Parent Group. The term “Parent Group” means Parent, its Subsidiaries and Affiliates.

Parent LP Agreement. The term “Parent LP Agreement” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Limited Partnership Agreement.

Participant’s Group. The term “Participant’s Group” means the Participant and the Participant’s permitted transferees.

Person. The term “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint stock company, business trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental authority or other entity of any nature whatsoever.

Restrictive Covenant Violation. The term “Restrictive Covenant Violation” means the Participant’s breach of any provision of Annex III hereto or any similar corresponding provision applicable to the Participant under a written agreement between Parent or its Subsidiaries from time to time.


Securities Act. The term “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.

Sponsor. The term “Sponsor” means The Blackstone Group Inc. and its Affiliates.

Subsidiary. The term “Subsidiary” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Limited Partnership Agreement.

Tax Distributions. The term “Tax Distributions” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Parent LP Agreement.

Termination Date. The term “Termination Date” means the date upon which the Participant’s employment with or service to, as applicable, the Employer is terminated for any reason (including death or disability).

Units. The term “Units” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Limited Partnership Agreement.


Annex II

Investment Representations and Covenants of the Participant

1. Subscribed Units Unregistered.

The Participant acknowledges and represents that the Participant has been advised by the Partnership that:

(a) the offer and sale of Class A Units of the Partnership have not been registered under the Securities Act;

(b) the Subscribed Units must be held indefinitely and the Participant must continue to bear the economic risk of the investment in the Subscribed Units unless the offer and sale of the Subscribed Units are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available;

(c) there is no established market for Class A Units of the Partnership and it is not anticipated that there will be any public market for the Class A Units of the Partnership in the foreseeable future;

(d) a restrictive legend in the form set forth below (and any legends required by the Limited Partnership Agreement) shall be placed on the certificates, if any, representing the Subscribed Units:

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OF THE ISSUER, AS AMENDED AND MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED BY THE HOLDER HEREOF AT THE ISSUER’S PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS WITHOUT CHARGE”; and

(e) a notation shall be made in the appropriate records of the Partnership indicating that the Subscribed Units are subject to restrictions on transfer and, if the Partnership should at some time in the future engage the services of a securities transfer agent, appropriate stop-transfer instructions will be issued to such transfer agent with respect to the Subscribed Units.

2. Additional Investment Representations. The Participant represents and warrants that:

(a) the Participant is or is not an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act, as indicated on the Signature Page;

(b) the Participant’s financial situation is such that the Participant can afford to bear the economic risk of holding the Subscribed Units for an indefinite period of time, has adequate means for providing for the Participant’s current needs and personal contingencies, and can afford to suffer a complete loss of the Participant’s investment in the Subscribed Units;


(c) the Participant’s knowledge and experience in financial and business matters are such that the Participant is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment in the Subscribed Units;

(d) the Participant understands that the Subscribed Units are a speculative investment which involves a high degree of risk of loss of the Participant’s investment therein, there are substantial restrictions on the transferability of the Subscribed Units and, on the Closing Date and for an indefinite period following the Closing, there will be no public market for the Subscribed Units and, accordingly, it may not be possible for the Participant to liquidate the Participant’s investment in case of emergency, if at all;

(e) the Participant understands and has taken cognizance of all the risk factors related to the purchase of the Subscribed Units and, other than as set forth in this Agreement, no representations or warranties have been made to the Participant or the Participant’s representatives concerning the Subscribed Units, the Partnership, Parent or their respective prospects or other matters; and

(f) the Participant (i) has been advised that Sponsor and/or its Affiliates have entered or will enter into a management services or similar agreement with Parent and certain of its Affiliates (the “Parent Parties”) providing for the payment of certain advisory, monitoring, transactional, oversight and similar fees and expenses to and indemnification of Sponsor and/or its Affiliates (and its and their respective employees, officers, directors, agents and advisors) by the Parent Parties (the “Management Agreements”) and (ii) waives any right the Participant may have to approve, or to claim any damages with respect to, the entry by the Parent Parties into the Management Agreements or the performance by the Parent Parties of their obligations thereunder.


Annex III

RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

1. Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Non-Interference. The Participant acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of Parent and its Affiliates and accordingly agrees as follows:

(a) During the Participant’s employment or services with Parent or its Subsidiaries and (i) if the termination of the Participant’s employment or services occurs prior to July 20, 2022, until the 18-month anniversary of such termination of employment or services with the Parent Group or (ii) if the termination of the Participant’s employment or services occurs on or following July 20, 2022, until the second anniversary of such termination of employment or services with the Parent Group (the period of the Participant’s employment or services and the applicable period in clause (i) or (ii), together, the “Restricted Period”), directly or indirectly solicit or assist in soliciting in competition with the Parent Group the business of any then current or prospective client or customer with whom the Participant (or the Participant’s direct reports at the direction of the Participant) had personal contact or personal dealings on behalf of the Parent Group during the one-year period preceding the Participant’s termination of employment. During the Restricted Period, the Participant will not, whether on the Participant’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any person, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation or other business organization, entity or enterprise whatsoever (“Person”), directly or indirectly:

(i) engage in any business activities involving any Competing Business in any geographical area where any member of the Parent Group engages in its business;

(ii) acquire a financial interest in, or otherwise become actively involved with, any Competing Business, directly or indirectly, as an individual partner, shareholder, officer, director, principal, agent, trustee or consultant; or

(iii) interfere with, or attempt to interfere with, business relationships (whether formed before, on or after the date hereof) between the members of the Parent Group and any of their clients, customers, suppliers, partners, members or investors.

(b) During the Restricted Period, the Participant will not, whether on the Participant’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any Person directly or indirectly:

(i) solicit or encourage any employee of the Parent Group to leave the employment of the Parent Group;

(ii) hire or solicit for employment any employee who was employed by the Parent Group as of the date of the Participant’s termination of employment or services with the Parent Group for any reason or who left the employment of the Parent Group coincident with, or within six months prior to, the date of the Participant’s termination of employment or services with the Parent Group for any reason; or

(iii) encourage any material consultant of the Parent Group to cease working with the Parent Group.


(c) During the Restricted Period, the Participant will not, whether on the Participant’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any Person, directly or indirectly:

(i) solicit or induce any supplier, licensee or other business, or knowingly or intentionally solicit or induce any customer, in any case, that has a relationship with any member of the Parent Group to cease doing business with, materially reduce the amount of business conducted with any member of the Parent Group, interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee or other business and any member of the Parent Group; or

(ii) knowingly or intentionally assist any Person in any substantive or direct way to do, or attempt to do, anything prohibited by clause (c)(i) above.

(d) If a final and non-appealable judicial determination is made that any of the provisions of this Section 1 constitutes an unreasonable or otherwise unenforceable restriction against the Participant, the provisions of this Section 1 will not be rendered void but will be deemed to be modified to the minimum extent necessary to remain in force and effect for the longest period and largest geographic area that would not constitute such an unreasonable or unenforceable restriction. Moreover, notwithstanding the fact that any provision of this Section 1 is determined not to be specifically enforceable, Parent will nevertheless be entitled to recover monetary damages as a result of the Participant’s breach of such provision.

(e) The period of time during which the provisions of this Section 1 shall be in effect shall be extended by the length of time during which the Participant or the Parent Group, as the case may be, is in breach of the terms hereof as determined by any court of competent jurisdiction on a party’s application for injunctive relief.

(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 1 of Appendix A to the contrary, the Participant may, directly or indirectly, own, solely as an investment, securities of any Competing Business which are either (a) publicly traded on a national or regional stock exchange or on the over-the-counter market if the Participant (x) is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group which controls, such Person and (y) does not, directly or indirectly, own 2% or more of any class of securities of such Person or (b) not so publicly traded if the Participant (x) is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group which controls, such Person, and (y) does not, directly or indirectly, own 5% or more of any class of securities of such Person. Furthermore, if a business enterprise that engages in or is actively planning to engage in a Competing Business also engages in or actively plans to engage in any business other than a Competing Business (“Other Business Lines”), then nothing in this Appendix A shall prohibit the Participant from providing services or advice exclusively with respect to such Other Business Lines; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant shall be prohibited from providing services or advice to an Other Business Line of any entity listed on Schedule III-1 hereto.

(g) The provisions of Section 1 hereof shall survive the termination of the Participant’s employment or services for any reason.


2. Confidentiality; Intellectual Property.

(a) Confidentiality.

(i) The Participant acknowledges that the Confidential Information (as defined below) obtained by the Participant while employed by or providing services to Parent and its Subsidiaries is the property of the Parent Group. Therefore, the Participant agrees that the Participant shall not disclose to any unauthorized Person or use for the Participant’s own purposes (when during or after the Participant’s employment or services with the Parent Group, other than to perform the Participant’s duties and responsibilities for the Parent Group) any Confidential Information without the prior written authorization of Parent, unless and to the extent that the aforementioned matters become generally known to and available for use by the public other than as a result of the Participant’s acts or omissions in violation of this Agreement; provided, that if the Participant receives a request to disclose Confidential Information pursuant to a deposition, interrogation, request for information or documents in legal proceedings, subpoena, civil investigative demand, governmental or regulatory process, or similar process, (A) the Participant shall, to the extent practicable and not prohibited by law, notify Parent promptly, and consult with and assist (to the extent practicable and not prohibited by law), Parent, at Parent’s expense, in seeking a protective order, (B) in the event that such protective order is not obtained, or if Parent waives compliance with the terms hereof, the Participant shall disclose only that portion of the Confidential Information which, based on the advice of the Participant’s legal counsel, is legally required to be disclosed and shall exercise reasonable best efforts to provide that the receiving Person shall agree to treat such Confidential Information as confidential to the extent possible (and permitted under applicable law) in respect of the applicable proceeding or process, and (C) Parent shall be given an opportunity to review the Confidential Information prior to disclosure thereof.

(ii) For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means information, observations, and data concerning the business or affairs of Parent and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, including, without limitation, all business information (in any form or medium, including text, digital or electronic) that relates to any member of the Parent Group, or its customers, suppliers, or contractors or any other third parties in respect of which Parent or any member of the Parent Group has a business relationship or owes a duty of confidentiality, or their respective businesses or products, and that is not known to the public generally other than as a result of the Participant’s breach of this Agreement or as a result of a breach of any confidentiality obligation or other wrongful act by a third party of which the Participant has knowledge, including but not limited to, technical information or reports, formulas, trade secrets, unwritten knowledge and “know-how,” operating instructions, training manuals, customer lists, customer buying records and habits, product sales records and documents, and product development, marketing, and sales strategies, market surveys, marketing plans, profitability analyses, product cost, long-range plans, information relating to pricing, competitive strategies, and new product development, information relating to any forms of compensation or other personnel-related information, contracts, and supplier lists (in any form or medium, tangible or intangible). Confidential Information will not include such information generally known to the industry or the public or known to the Participant prior to the Participant’s involvement with Parent


or any predecessor thereof, information rightfully obtained from a third party (other than pursuant to a breach by the Participant of this Agreement or as a result of a breach of any confidentiality obligation or other wrongful act by a third party of which the Participant has knowledge) or information independently developed by the Participant without violation of this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, the Participant and Parent each agree, to the extent not prohibited, to keep confidential the existence of, and any information concerning, any dispute between the Participant and Parent or any member of the Parent Group, except that the Participant and Parent each may disclose information concerning such dispute to the court that is considering such dispute or to their respective legal counsel (provided that such legal counsel agrees not to disclose any such information other than as reasonable to the prosecution or defense of such dispute).

(iii) The Participant acknowledges that all notes, memoranda, specifications, devices, formulas, records, files, lists, drawings, documents, models, equipment, property, computer, software, or intellectual property relating to the businesses of the Parent Group, in whatever form (including electronic), and all copies thereof, that are received or created by the Participant while an employee or service provider of Parent and its Subsidiaries that constitute Confidential Information and Inventions shall remain the property of the Parent Group, and the Participant shall as promptly as practicable return such property to Parent upon the termination of the Participant’s employment or service and, in any event, at Parent’s request. The Participant agrees further that any property situated on the premises of, and owned by, Parent or any member of the Parent Group, including disks and other storage media, filing cabinets, and other work areas, is subject to inspection by Parent’s personnel at any time with or without notice.

(iv) The Participant agrees further that the Participant will not improperly use or disclose any confidential information or trade secrets, if any, of any former employers or any other Person to whom the Participant has an obligation of confidentiality, and will not bring onto the premises of Parent or any member of the Parent Group any unpublished documents or any property belonging to any former employer or any other Person to whom the Participant has an obligation of confidentiality unless consented to in writing by the former employer or other Person.

(v) Pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, nothing in this Agreement, including but not limited to the Confidentiality provisions in this Section 2 and the Non-Disparagement provisions in Section 3, shall prohibit or impede the Participant from communicating, cooperating or filing a complaint on possible violations of U.S. federal, state or local law or regulation to or with any governmental agency or regulatory authority (collectively, a “Governmental Entity”), including, but not limited to, the SEC, EEOC, OSHA, or the NLRB, or from making other disclosures to any Governmental Entity that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of U.S. federal, state or local law or regulation, provided that in each case such communications and disclosures are consistent with applicable law. the Participant understands and acknowledges that (a) the Participant shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any U.S. federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made (i) in confidence to a U.S. federal, state, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (ii) in a complaint or other document filed in


a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal, and (b) if the Participant files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law, the Participant may disclose the trade secret to the Participant’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the Participant (x) files any document containing the trade secret under seal and (y) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order. Moreover, the Participant shall not be required to give prior notice to (or get prior authorization from) any member of the Parent Group regarding any such communication or disclosure. Except as required by applicable law, under no circumstance is the Participant authorized to disclose any information covered by Parent’s or its Affiliates’ attorney-client privilege or attorney work product or Parent’s or its Affiliates’ trade secrets without prior written consent of the General Partner.

(b) Intellectual Property.

(i) The Participant agrees that the results and proceeds of the Participant’s services for the Parent Group (including, but not limited to, any Confidential Information and other trade secrets, products, services, processes, know-how, designs, developments, innovations, analyses, drawings, reports, techniques, formulas, methods, developmental or experimental work, improvements, discoveries, inventions, concepts, ideas, source and object codes, programs, software, algorithms, techniques, intellectual property, improvements, matters of a literary, musical, dramatic, or otherwise creative nature, writings, and other works of authorship) resulting from services performed while an employee or service provider of Parent and any works in progress, whether or not patentable or registrable under patent, trademark, copyright or similar statutes, that were made, developed, conceived, or reduced to practice or learned by the Participant, either alone or jointly with others (collectively, “Inventions”), shall be works-made-for-hire, and Parent (or, if applicable or as directed by Parent, any member of the Parent Group) shall be deemed the sole owner throughout the universe of any and all trade secret, patent, copyright, and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “Proprietary Rights”) of whatsoever nature therein, whether or not now or hereafter known, existing, contemplated, recognized, or developed, with the right to use the same in perpetuity in any manner Parent determines in its sole discretion, without any further payment to the Participant whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, for any reason, any of such results and proceeds shall not legally be a work-made-for-hire or there are any Proprietary Rights that do not accrue to Parent (or, as the case may be, any member of the Parent Group) under the immediately preceding sentence, then the Participant hereby irrevocably assigns, transfers and conveys and agrees to so assign, transfer and convey any and all of the Participant’s right, title, and interest thereto, including any and all Proprietary Rights of whatsoever nature therein, whether or not now or hereafter known, existing, contemplated, recognized, or developed, to Parent (or, if applicable or as directed by Parent, any member of the Parent Group), and Parent or such member of the Parent Group shall have the right to use the same in perpetuity throughout the universe in any manner determined by Parent or such member of the Parent Group without any further payment to the Participant whatsoever. As to any Invention that the Participant is required to assign, transfer or convey, the Participant shall promptly and fully disclose to Parent all information known to the Participant concerning such Invention.


(ii) The Participant agrees that, from time to time, as may be requested by Parent and at Parent’s sole cost and expense, the Participant shall do any and all things that Parent may reasonably deem useful or desirable to establish or document Parent’s exclusive ownership throughout the United States of America or any other country of any and all Proprietary Rights in any such Inventions, including the execution of appropriate copyright or patent applications or assignments. To the extent that the Participant has any Proprietary Rights in the Inventions that cannot be assigned in the manner described above, the Participant unconditionally and irrevocably waives the enforcement of such Proprietary Rights. This Section 2(b)(ii) is subject to and shall not be deemed to limit, restrict, or constitute any waiver by Parent of ownership of any Proprietary Rights to which Parent may be entitled by operation of law by virtue of Parent’s being the Participant’s employer or service recipient. The Participant agrees further that, from time to time, as may be requested by Parent and at Parent’s sole cost and expense, the Participant shall assist Parent in every reasonable, proper and lawful way to obtain and from time to time enforce Proprietary Rights relating to Inventions in any and all countries. To this end, the Participant shall execute, verify, and deliver such documents and perform such other acts (including appearances as a witness) as Parent may reasonably request for use in applying for, obtaining, perfecting, evidencing, sustaining, and enforcing such Proprietary Rights and the assignment thereof. In addition, the Participant shall execute, verify, and deliver assignments of such Proprietary Rights to Parent or its designees. The Participant’s obligation to assist Parent with respect to Proprietary Rights relating to such Inventions in any and all countries shall continue beyond the termination of the Participant’s employment with or services to Parent. the Participant hereby designates and appoints Parent and its designees as the Participant’s agent and attorney-in-fact, to act for and in the Participant’s behalf and stead to execute and file documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts in connection with the foregoing to the extent the Participant is unable or unwilling to do so. This power of attorney is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable. the Participant shall not take any actions inconsistent with the Parent Group’s ownership rights set forth in this Section 2, including by filing to register any Inventions in the Participant’s own name.

(iii) The Participant hereby assigns and agrees to assign all rights of attribution, paternity, integrity, modification, disclosure and withdrawal, and any other rights throughout the world that may be known as or referred to as “moral rights,” “artist’s rights,” “droit moral,” or the like (collectively, “Moral Rights”) related to any Inventions. To the extent that Moral Rights cannot be assigned under applicable law, the Participant hereby waives and agrees not to enforce any and all such Moral Rights, including, without limitation, any limitation on subsequent modification, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law.

(iv) The Participant hereby waives and quitclaims to the Parent Group any and all claims, of any nature whatsoever, that the Participant now or may hereafter have for infringement of any Proprietary Rights assigned hereunder to the Parent Group.

(v) The Participant has listed on the attached Schedule III-2 Inventions that are owned by the Participant, in whole or jointly with others prior to the Participant’s employment with, or service to, Parent and its Subsidiaries (collectively “Prior Works”).


the Participant shall not use any Prior Works during the Participant’s employment with, or service to, Parent and its Subsidiaries, without prior written consent of Parent. If, during the Participant’s employment or service with the Parent Group, the Participant uses or incorporates into any Parent Group product, service or process any Prior Work (or any portion of a Prior Work), in any manner whatsoever, the Participant grants Parent a perpetual (or the maximum time period allowed by applicable law), sublicensable, assignable, royalty-free right and worldwide license to use, modify, reproduce, reduce to practice, market, distribute, communicate and/or sell such Prior Work or portion of such Prior Work used by the Participant in such Parent Group product, service or process.

3. Non-Disparagement. The Participant agrees not to make, or cause any other Person to make, any communication that is intended to defame or disparage, has the effect of defaming or disparaging, or is in any manner likely to be harmful to, or to the business or personal reputation of, Parent, Partnership or any member of the Parent Group or any of their affiliates, agents or advisors (or any of its or their respective employees officers or directors) (it being understood that comments made in the Participant’s good faith performance of the Participant’s duties hereunder shall not be deemed disparaging or defamatory for purposes of this Agreement). Following termination of the Participant’s employment or services with the Parent Group, (a) no statement will be made in the name of or on behalf of Parent or Partnership and (b) Parent and Partnership shall instruct their respective executive officers, the members of their respective governing body and those who routinely participate in Parent Group management and governance meetings to not make any communication, in either case of clause (a) or (b), that is intended to defame or disparage, has the effect of defaming or disparaging, or is in any manner likely to be harmful to, or to the business or personal reputation of, the Participant (it being understood that comments made in the ordinary course of an individual’s good faith performance of one’s duties shall not be deemed disparaging or defamatory for purposes of this Agreement). Nothing contained in this Section 3 is intended to prevent any Person from testifying truthfully in any legal proceeding.

Exhibit 16.1

 

LOGO

  

Ernst & Young LLP

One Cambridge Business Park

Cowley Road

Cambridge

CB4 0WZ

  

Tel: +44 122 339 4400
Fax: +44 122 339 4401
ey.com

 

October 30, 2020

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE

Washington, DC 20549

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have read the disclosure as it appears under the caption “Change in Auditor” in the Form S-1 of Bumble Inc. dated October 30, 2020 and are in agreement with the statements in the second, third and fourth paragraphs therein. We have no basis to agree or disagree with other statements of the registrant contained therein.

Regarding the registrant’s statement concerning the lack of internal control to prepare financial statements, as discussed under the caption “Risks Related to this Offering and Ownership of our Class A Common Stock” in the Form S-1 on page 52 therein, we had considered such matter in determining the nature, timing and extent of procedures performed in our audits of the Predecessor Company’s 2018 and 2019 financial statements.

Very truly yours,

 

LOGO

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Cambridge, United Kingdom

October 30, 2020

 

 

 

The UK Firm Ernst & Young LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC300 001 and is a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited. A list of members’ names is available for inspection at 1 More London Place, London SE1 2AF, the firm’s principal place of business and registered office. Ernst & Young LLP is a multi-disciplinary practice and is authorised and regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (authorisation number 614947), the Financial Conduct Authority (registration number 196203) and other regulators. Further details can be found at http:/www.ey.com/UK/en/Home/Legal

Exhibit 21.1

LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES

The following entities are subsidiaries of Bumble Inc. as of the time of this offering

 

Name

  

Jurisdiction of Organization or Incorporation

AMI Holdings Limited    Bermuda
Badoo App Limited    UK
Badoo Holding Limited    Cyprus
Badoo International Limited    UK
Badoo Limited    UK
Badoo Media Ltd    Cyprus
Badoo PartnerCo LLC    Delaware
Badoo Software Ltd    Cyprus
Badoo Technologies Ltd    Cyprus
Badoo Trading Limited    UK
Badoo US Marketing LLC    Delaware
Badoo Worldwide Ltd    Belize
Bumble AU Pty Ltd    Australia
Bumble Canada Enterprises Ltd.    Canada
Bumble Holding Limited    UK
Bumble IP Holdco LLC    Delaware
Bumble India Enterprises LLP    India
Bumble Marketing HoldCo Limited    UK
Bumble Trading LLC    Delaware
Buzz Holdings L.P.    Delaware
Buzz Intermediate L.L.C.    Delaware
Buzz BidCo L.L.C.    Delaware
Buzz Finco L.L.C.    Delaware
Chappy Holdings Limited    Bermuda
Chappy Limited    UK
Chappy, LLC    Delaware
Greysom Ltd    Cyprus
Huggle App (UK) Limited    UK
Influencer Holdings Limited    Bermuda
Lumen App LLC    Delaware
Lumen App Ltd    UK
OOO Badoo Developments LLC    Russian Federation
Or Not Limited    UK
Quack App Limited    UK
Social Online Payments International Limited    UK
Social Online Payments LLC    Delaware
Social Online Payments Ltd    Ireland
Wetrend Media Limited    UK

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” and to the use of our report dated October 30, 2020, with respect to the financial statement of Bumble Inc. included in the Registration Statement (Form S-1) and related Prospectus of Bumble Inc. for the registration of shares of its common stock.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Austin, Texas

January 15, 2021

Exhibit 23.2

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” and to the use of our report dated October 30, 2020, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Worldwide Vision Limited and subsidiaries included in the Registration Statement (Form S-1) and related Prospectus of Bumble Inc. for the registration of shares of its common stock.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Cambridge, United Kingdom

January 15, 2021

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.4

The undersigned hereby consents to being named in the registration statement on Form S-1 and in all subsequent amendments and post-effective amendments or supplements thereto and in any registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Registration Statement”) of Bumble Inc. (the “Company”) as an individual to become a director of the Company and to the inclusion of her biographical and other information in the Registration Statement. The undersigned also hereby consents to being named in any registration statement on Form S-8 filed by the Company that incorporates by reference the prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement.

[The remainder of this page intentionally left blank; signature page follows.]


In witness whereof, this consent is signed and dated as of the date set forth below.

Date: January 13, 2021

 

 

/s/ Amy Griffin

 
  Name: Amy Griffin  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Director Nominee Consent]

Exhibit 23.5

The undersigned hereby consents to being named in the registration statement on Form S-1 and in all subsequent amendments and post-effective amendments or supplements thereto and in any registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Registration Statement”) of Bumble Inc. (the “Company”) as an individual to become a director of the Company and to the inclusion of her biographical and other information in the Registration Statement. The undersigned also hereby consents to being named in any registration statement on Form S-8 filed by the Company that incorporates by reference the prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement.

[The remainder of this page intentionally left blank; signature page follows.]


In witness whereof, this consent is signed and dated as of the date set forth below.

Date: January 13, 2021

 

  

/s/ Jennifer B. Morgan

  
   Name: Jennifer B. Morgan   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Director Nominee Consent]